Every Wednesday, wine editor Alec Stuart shares a few tasting notes. This week it’s Henry Fessy Beaujolais Blanc.

Most people associate Beaujolais with red wine, specifically light and easy-drinking red wine. That’s not surprising, considering that the vast majority of the Beaujolais we see on this side of the ocean is light and easy-drinking red wine. But the Beaujolais region also does a pretty fine job with Chardonnay, even if you don’t see it very often.

One good example available locally is the Henry Fessy Beaujolais Blanc. This wine really is a textbook bistro white. It’s a crisp, food-friendly white with lots of beautiful fruit flavours (pears, melons and stone fruit) and a nice long finish.

You won’t find much of interest on the nose, but don’t worry. There’s plenty of flavour in the glass and it’s really easy to enjoy.

Chill it down to 10 degrees and serve it with roast chicken and a green salad. I highly recommend this wine–even in the darkest days of winter and you won’t come across many other French Chardonnays this good for under $20.

Henry Fessy Beaujolais Blanc
$19.97 @ Kenaston Wine Market

Running from February 17 – 26, Festival du Voyageur is a celebration of our province’s French-Canadian culture. In honour of Festival, Savour Winnipeg is devoting February to all things Francophone.

Only Winnipeggers…Winterpeggers…would have an outdoor festival in the middle of February. We’re proud of the fact. The colder it is, the better. Builds character, y’know…connects us with la joie de vivre des voyageurs when we scramble over icy embankments, clinging to the edge of perilously deep ditch-rows that line the lots of old Sain Bon-E Fass, even if it is in search of free parking. That’s another thing we hold chère à nos cœurs…we’re cheap. To line-up and pay for the privilege of parking, close as it is, is for les imbeciles suelement. Yuppies. Suburbanites. Besides, there are only so many line-ups we’ll suffer.

But line up we will, and we’ll do it patiently and courteously. We’ll ignore the uncouth and impulsive young men who abandon their dates to squeeze illegally between the gaps of a ragged palisade. They must be from the states…or Transcona, we’ll mutter as we remain among the shivering, huddled masses, breath forming icicles on the whiskers of the newly hirsute…casting halos around the glaring lights of the ticket window.

Beyond the gates, dramatically lit sculptures de neige tower above. Sentinels cast in snow, they pay silent tribute to those early pioneers for whom Fort Gibraltar was also refuge from the cold. Time enough to admire them later when we stumble drunk into their unprotected flanks.

Smoke hangs in the still air of the compound. Crowds gather around brightly burning fires sending shadows dancing across the glistening snow. From the belly of a massive tent a drum keeps in step with a lively fiddle, beckoning. It’s easy to imagine this very scene played out again and again over the centuries.

Inside the warm cocoon, bypass the toe tappers and revellers gathered by the stage. The hunt is on. This is what you’re here for, so close you can practically taste it. The mighty caribou.

Already a snarling pack has formed, clamouring for the blood letting and whistle wetting. Finally at the front of the pack its name bursts from your chest as you sight your prey. In a flash of movement, an exchange is made. Crimson stains the ice. Hoist high your frozen chalice in toast. He Ho.

Caribou. It’s a muscular beast. A fortified wine, its evolution is far more potable than its animal blood and backwoods whisky ancestor. Stay with it (puts hair on your chest) or switch to beer, there’s no shame in that. The shame rests only in the loss of the eponymous Fort Gibraltar Ale, even if it wasn’t to your taste. What’s the French word for corporate sponsorship? Je ne sais pas. C’est la vie. We’ll bemoan the loss of local fare over a Molson Coors product and slowly forget what beer is supposed to taste like.

Warmer now, you become acutely aware of how hungry you are. A hearty slice of tourtiere perhaps–seasoned meat pie smothered in thick gravy. That, at least, comes from Saint B based Mollie’s Meat Pies or Le Croissant. Even still, not all pies are portioned equal. Scout the concessions (vis a vis le bon marche).

N’aime pas le tourtiere? Then there’s Split Pea and Ham Soup. At its best it’s made with ham hocks, recovering flavour and hearty morsels of meat from an otherwise wasted bone. Again, scout the vendors. Avoid anaemic bowls of paste apologetically spiked with diced ham. If you do manage to score the real macoy, don’t dare waste a drop. Never was there a better vehicle for mopping and sopping soup than a generous chunk of buttered bannock. This dense dough is supremely filling. You have been warned.

No Festival experience would be complete without a visit to the sugar shack for a slice of stick to your ribs maple sugar pie. But if you’re feeling just a little full and the caribou hasn’t killed your craving for sweets, line up (oui, encore) for the maple snow candy. It’s a feast for the senses…the pièce de resistance. Watch the skilled hands pour perfect strips of maple syrup over an exquisitely groomed tray of fresh snow. At the appointed moment, wind the taffy-like treat around a popsicle stick and enjoy.

Sit back, relax and take in la musique or wander back into the night and join the shadows gathered around the fire. Hear les raconteurs tell tall tales of adventure and daring.

Of course you could just hit the ice bar drink your face off.

Festival du Voyageur runs February 17-26. Passes are available at the entrance to Voyageur Park and are also on sale now at Safeway.

Voyageur Park Admission

• Adult Day Pass- $13
• Youth (6-17 years old) – $7 (valid for 10 days)
• Children (5 and under) – free

Voyageur Pass

• Adult – $22
• Youth– $7
• Child (0-5) – FREE

It’s January 25. People the world over will celebrate the birthday of Scottish poet Robert Burns by cooking traditional dishes like Haggis, scones and home made whisky jam (well, oatcakes are preferred), or hosting a Burns Supper.

Last January I posted an entire series in honour of this nearly sacred event, highlighting where you can buy haggis and how to cook it, as well as 10 bold beers that pair well with Scottish fare. But one thing I neglected to call special attention to was scotch.

I don’t know why I missed this opportunity. In the words of anchorman Ron Burgundy, “I love Scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes, down into my belly.”

I’m rectifying that omission today by attending a Glenfiddich event called Cask of Dreams.

The Speyside distiller is rolling out 20 special casks across Canada. Canadians are being invited to complete the phrase “One Day I Will…” by signing the barrel which will return to Dufftown, Scotland to age a special batch of single malt.

Under the watchful eye of Malt Master, Brian Kinsman these Casks of Dreams made from American oak will spend three months imparting a uniquely rich, intense flavour to their single malt, creating a rare and personally significant bottling. Once matured, the special blend will be packaged in limited edition bottles and returned for sale in select Canadian cities.

Glenfiddich, not surprisingly, chose Robert Burns Day as the launch date. And while we might expect the starting point to be Halifax for proximity and cultural significance, or Toronto because it’s the centre of the universe, they selected Winnipeg as the launch point to roll out these special barrels.

“The rich, Scottish heritage, the celebration of Robbie Burns Day and the milestone of the Selkirk Settlement made Manitoba the perfect fit to launch the Cask of Dreams” says Beth-Anne Perry, Glenfiddich Brand Manager. “The dreams of Scottish pioneers helped shape Manitoba and we can’t wait to bring the dreams of today back to Dufftown.”

The limited edition scotch should return to Winnipeg for sale sometime in August 2012.

Every Wednesday, Savour Winnipeg wine editor Alec Stuart shares a few tasting notes from some his latest and most exciting discoveries. This week it’s Laboure-Roi ‘Les Sangliers’ Pinot Noir.

Drinkable, cheap Pinot Noir is a rare thing, but it’s great for a large gathering like a dinner party and this wine fits the bill both figuratively and literally.

For $12 at your local MLCC, you get an easy-drinking, light red that should pair well with most foods aside from beef or game.

This French pinot doesn’t feature as much acidity as I usually like, but it holds hints of earthiness on top of some very smooth blackberry flavours. In summary, a pretty tasty red and a reasonable price.

Every Wednesday, wine editor Alec Stuart will share a few tasting notes from some his latest and most exciting discoveries. This week, it’s Kung Fu Girl Riesling (USA).

This Washington State white shows off a nice balance of acidity and sweetness, with loads of beautiful lime and a mineral edge on the finish.

I’d like it better if the finish was a bit longer, but regardless, it’s an excellent wine and really good with food.

$17 ish at selected private wine stores.

Maple Cream Ale among select Granville Island Brewing products now available locally.

I’m not the only one who did a double take when the MLCC announced they would carry a select few offerings from West Coast darling Granville Island Brewing.

For now it’s limited to their English Bay Pale Ale and Kitsilano Maple Cream Ale, the latter an absolutely delicious brew for the beer afficianado or newbie alike.

TASTING NOTES

Brewed using a hint of pure Canadian maple syrup,it exhibits caramel malt with light hop bitterness, balanced with hints of maple without being sweet. Medium bodied, it actually lives up to its Cream Ale name.

FOOD PAIRINGS

It’s roasted, caramel malt flavours go well with all kinds of roasted meat like roast beef or BBQ ribs. In my opinion, it could work equally well with a big ‘ol stack of pancakes and syrup (no judgments), a maple infused dessert, or could stand as a dessert in its own right. This would also be a great beer to cook with.

PRODUCT DETAILS

6 x 351 ml

$10.85 @ most MLCC stores

This amazing white is the perfect pairing for this year’s Christmas turkey.

Signorello Vineyards ‘Seta’ (2009 vintage – USA): Let me start by saying that I rarely pay above $30 for a white wine unless it’s a good Riesling, an aged Semillon or a nice white Burgundy. Outside of those narrow confines, it’s got to be pretty special to make me open my wallet. This wine ($39 only at Kenaston) is that special, and it may be one of the only $35+ whites I will ever recommend on this site.

The Seta is a blend of Semillon (60%) and Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley’s Signorello Vineyard. The wine is fermented  in oak barrels for ten months, giving it a silky and luscious mouthfeel (since Seta means “silk” in Italian, the taste fits the name). The flavour shows off ripe peaches and canteloupe with hints of vanilla and a long, silky (again) finish. I’d pair this with a traditional turkey (local & free-range if possible) and buttery mashed potato dinner. Just hold the cranberry sauce, and pour yourself another glass of Seta before your father-in-law finishes it off.

Incidentally, the Signorello Cabernet Sauvignon is equally delicious in a big, luscious Napa Valley Cabernet kind of way.  It’s not cheap ($75 normally, $70 intro price at KWM), but if you’re into the big Napa Cabs, this one is pretty special.

If you’ve never been it’s a second to none opportunity to try over a hundred beers and related products (cider for instance) from 25 countries. And unlike the Winnipeg Wine Festival, all the packaged products are available at the MLCC.

Besides the unparalleled array of beer, I appreciate the opportunity to chat with the reps and (in most cases) learn more about products I’ve previously, or planned, to enjoy. If you’ll forgive a quick rant there was an MLCC rep who couldn’t tell me a thing about the Well’s IPA whose origins had elluded me in my current state (it was burton-on-trent). At a beerfestival, this nonchalant shrugging of shoulders is unforgivable. But the fact that MLCC monopolizes product offerings and distribution in the province, means we have to grovel in appreciation for any crumbs of knowledge or new product they afford us.

Thankfully brewmaster Dave Rudge of HalfPints filled my tank with a taste and description of their cask ale. Specially brewed for the Flatlanders Beer Festival, it was an intensely but well integrated citrus ale that (although not commercially available) further justified those 7am lineups at their 550 Roseberry retail store whenever they launch a new special.

They also offered the holy trinity of their product lineup–St. Jame’s Pale Ale, Bulldog Amber, and Stir Stick Stout, beers whose flavours once seemed to border on the ridiculous and now (educated) for me are the flavour standard by which all new market arrivals are measured.

It might seem weird or frustrating to encounter a brew that you can never buy, but these one-offs are the reason you should go to festivals and tasting nights. They offer the brewmasters a chance to market-test a product, the public a chance to weigh in and inform future product offerings, and are ultimately a shining example of the talent and ability of our local brewmasters.

Prime example being Fort Garry Brewery’s Ice Bock (a last minute replacement for the Special Dark Whiskey Infused). While most of Fort Garry’s line are too tame to be interesting for my taste, the Ice Bock blew my socks off and I learned is a sign of very exciting things to come.

The big buzz (besides the one I was sporting at this point) was Fort Garry’s recently completed amalgamation with west coast based Russel Brewing.

Russell puts out some decent brews (including the blood alley bitter that was on hand). This announcement means more offerings from out West. But it’s also going to shake things up locally.

While FGB will continue to offer their staple products, they’ll also begin to introduce four new craft brews to market each year under the auspices of the Brewmaster Series.

Keeping things fresh and interesting, they’ll drop the bottom two sellers each year replacing them with a brand new concoction.

Not only will these be available at the Liquor Mart, but on tap at select pubs and bars. According to the marketing manager, talks are happening right now but you can take an educated guess that beer friendly venues like The Grove, Luxalune, The Kings Head etc will be among the chosen.

I just hope the market will prove sud savvy and flavor adventurous enough to sustain some interesting product developments.

When the mercury moves towards the 30s those big wintertime reds can become too much. I don’t want a big meaty Shiraz on the patio, much less on the palate. I’d rather have something that will quench my thirst and cool me down.

To beat the heat, aim for acidity over sweetness, and look for the lightest-colour wines you can find. In most cases, that means something light and crisp–a Riesling vs. Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc over Cabernet Sauvignon.

Luckily, Canada just so happens to produce an awful lot of crisp, thirst-quenching wines.

Malivoire Ladybug Rosé

Niagara’s Malivoire Wine Company produces a number of excellent wines. The whites I’ve tried have been good, but are a little richer and more suited for cooler weather. But their “Ladybug” Rosé is perfect for one of those hot Winnipeg summer evenings.

It’s a very Canadian blend of Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Pinot Noir (all well-suited for Niagara’s climate) that shows nice berry aromas and a deeper flavour than you’d expect from a rosé. Plenty of crisp acidity and a very long finish make this a perfect match with just about anything.

You’ll find this one at specialty wine stores for around $18. If you’re going to share it with friends, make sure to have an extra bottle or two on hand, because you’ll need them!

Cave Springs Beamsville Bench Estate Bottled Riesling

You’ll find Riesling on any list of good summertime wines and Cave Springs makes a particularly excellent one in its Beamsville Bench Estate Bottled Riesling.

It’s dry but has just a hint of sweetness to balance the considerable acidity.

I found citrus and mineral aromas, and it showed both peach and citrus flavours.

It’s well worth its $21.99 price tag (at specialty wine stores) whether spoiling yourself or celebrating a special occasion, but if you’re so inclined, you could also age it for a decade or more. But summers are so short that it seems a shame to wait.

Quail’s Gate Chenin Blanc

One of my favourite summertime whites is the Quail’s Gate Chenin Blanc. There isn’t a lot of Chenin Blanc grown in Canada, and outside of the Loire (and maybe South Africa), the grape isn’t taken as seriously as it should be. But this fine example shows just how good Chenin Blanc can be in the right hands.

Cut with a small amount (10%) of barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc, making it a bit richer, it starts off softly with a hint of sweetness which is quickly subdued by citrus flavours and a dry finish. I’d be cautious about pairing it with anything stronger than light seafood, whitefish or scallops at most, but it’s also really good on its own.

As an aside, the 2007 vintage of this wine was served to President Obama at a state function in Ottawa two years ago. And much like the Cave Springs Riesling, this Chenin could age as much as 5 or 6 years. But do yourself a favour and try some now.

Pelee Island ‘Eco-Trail’ White

Last but certainly not least, Pelee Island’s ‘Eco-Trail’ (a blend of Auxerrois and Chardonnay) is a crowd-pleasing summertime wine perfect for picnics or family gatherings.

You won’t find a lot of strong flavour here, but it’s easy-drinking and crisp, with hints of melon and apple.

It’s a steal at $10.95 (at most Manitoba Liquor Marts) so pick up a case for your next family BBQ or just try a bottle of this everyday favourite next weekend.

SavourWinnipeg.com wine editor Alec Stuart has been in and out of the wine industry since 1996 and has spent the last ten years handling wine education for the Kenaston Wine Market. If you have a question for Alec or a suggestion for a future feature, drop us a line.

This time they’ve craftily created a special sud for Canada Day.

The limited edition beer box features art from Canadian painter Deborah Colvin.

The contents feature an auburn hued creamy brew with rich resinous hop and delicate oak on the nose.

It’s a creamy rich quaff with plenty of those signature toffee, vanilla and oak, offset by the subtle spice of the Fuggles hops.

A beautiful biscuit malt finish balanced by subtle hop bitterness belie a buzz inducing 8.3% ABV.

But we’re Canadians…we can take it.