Tasting Canadian wine is already an adventure for me. Tasting Canadian wine from a hairdresser-turned-winemaker, well that just makes the experience all that more exciting. Anthony Buchanan left the world of hair design to study for his WSET levels 1 and 2 in the hopes of becoming a professionally certified sommelier. Through the course of these studies, he found his true passion was in the art of the winemaking science. So, Buchanan moved on to complete an oenology degree from Washington State, after which he returned home to BC, Canada to start his winemaking career. Today he is the head winemaker for Desert Hills Winery — also of BC, Canada — as well as owner and head winemaker of his eponymous label.
Tag: wine tasting
Celebrate the New Year 2018: Sparkling Wine Round Up!
We’re just a few short days from New Year’s Eve — and let’s face it, popping some bubbly is an international tradition. Luckily, I just ran a whole series dedicated to sparkling wine, so if you still aren’t stocked up for the big night, you’ve got a ton of options to chose from. Of course, make sure you read up on your Champagne 101 and Prosecco basics so you know how to chose the best bubbles for you and your crowd.
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM BRISCOEBITES!
Mezza di Mezzacorona – Italian Bubbly
I highly underestimated Mezzacorona’s sparkling wine. When I received the bottle, I fully intended to make a sparkling wine cocktail because I (incorrectly) assumed that compared to some of the more obscure bubbles I’ve been tasting, this quite popular “name brand,” with kind of a “party school” reputation would fall short of my sparkling wine bar. That’s not to say one couldn’t make a sparkling wine cocktail from this wine. Indeed, the Mezza website has a few fun cocktail recipes on their site. But one doesn’t necessarily need to. The Mezza di Mezzacorona Italian Bubbly may have a fun, quirky demeanor, but it can be enjoyed “seriously” as well. (However seriously one wants to take sparkling wine anyway…)
Yao Ming 2016 Napa Brut Sparkling Wine
With so many celebrities creating their own wine labels today, it’s hard to tell who’s making real wine and who’s just slapping their name on a bottle. Well ever since I tasted Yao Ming’s 2014 Cabernet, I’ve been dying to taste more. Lucky me, Yao Ming Family Wines came out with a sparkling wine just in time for the holiday season and — lucky me again — it was just as good as I wanted it to be…
Lamarca Prosecco
What I like about La Marca is that they don’t take themselves so seriously. Yes, this is the Prosecco you see lining the shelves year-round, the one that comes in little “goody-bag” -sized bottles to — what? give away at parties? sneak onto the train? pack in a picnic basket? Answer is, yes, all of the above. The La Marca mark is having a good, fun, sparkly time. Their website is riddled with fun party ideas and — while one can, and many do, drink La Marca on its own — they know that a glass of this stuff is best filled with flavors of the season. In honor of that, let’s enjoy a little Stacy-tail…
