I thoroughly enjoyed the UWO wine tasting you hosted last night. The wine selection, the accompanying nibbles, the atmosphere…everything was fantastic. I want to especially praise the Savvy Team who were so welcoming & helpful during the evening. And a special hats off to your great Cheese Sommelier who was soooo enthusiastic about Canadian cheese!
Not labeled as a Rosé, but this white wine has a pink tinge – on purpose! Pinot Gris grapes are naturally cooper coloured when fully ripened and the winemaker at Legends Estate Wineryin Niagara kept the grape skins in contact with the juice after the crush and magically the colouring happened to give it a lovely copper colour in the finished product. So it looks like a Rosé, but it is a white wine. Confused? Trust us…you’ll like it!
Savvy Sommelier Tasting Notes: A well balanced wine with aromas of freshly baked bread on the nose, hint of Earl Grey tea & reminders of clotted cream & fresh strawberries. Can you find any of this when you swirl & sip on this dry wine?
We discovered this wine last year and were so excited that there is still more available so we can enjoy it this summer too. Another Savvy discovery!
Allow to stand for several hours to marinate. Slice bread at an angle, brush one side with olive oil, and broil on each side until brown.
Best when served immediately to avoid getting soggy. Ingredients may be adjusted depending on your taste.
Mix diced tomatoes (juice and all), minced garlic, olive oil, lime juice, 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese (keep the rest for later), basil, and salt and pepper (to taste).
Spoon mixture onto bread, and top with reserved Parmesan. Broil until cheese has melted. Enjoy!
It’s time to Clink & Drink Pink! Summer is finally here & at Savvy Company HQ…that means relaxing on the deck or dock with a glass of Rosé wine in hand. And like everything we do at Savvy Company…we make it easy to have your fridge full of refreshing Rosé wines all summer long.
Choosing & stocking up on Rosé wines to enjoy this summer shouldn’t be a chore. So we’ve made it absolutely EASY & HASSLE free. Our Savvy Sommeliers have done the “tough work” – we have been sipping & sampling Ontario Rosé wines since the snow melted & have picked the most refreshing Rosé wines for our Deck Party Packs.
In July & August we will deliver different Deck Party Packs– either 6 bottles or a full case of 12 bottles of dry, crisp & delicious Rosé wines that will bust any heatwave & quench your thirst.
The COOLEST part… The Rosé wines we’ll send you AREN’T on the shelves at the LCBO.
Different wines each month! Our Deck Party Packschange every month giving you the best Rosé wines to enjoy all summer long. Here’s the Rosé wines we are featuring in July:
July Deck Party Pack – 6 bottles
Casa-Dea Estates Cabernet Franc Rosé … from Prince Edward County Kacaba Vineyards Rebecca Rosé … from Niagara KIN Vineyards Rosé … from Ottawa The Good Earth Rosé … from Niagara Vieni Estates Alleria Rosé … from Niagara Vieni Estates Bruce Trail Sparkling Rosé … from Niagara
Price: only $105!
July Deck Party Pack – 12 bottles
All of the Rosé wines above PLUS:
Casa-Dea Estates Sparkling Rosé … from The County Huff Estates Rosé … from The County Southbrook Seriously Cool Rosé … from Niagara-on-the-Lake Southbrook Estate Rosé … from Niagara-on-the-Lake Vieni Estates Momenti Rosé Sparkling … from Niagara Westcott Delphine Rosé … from Niagara
Stock up by ordering just July’s Deck Party Pack OR choose to auto-magically receive July AND August’s without lifting a finger. FREE shipping to addresses in major cities in Ontario.
Fine Print: if you don’t want sparkling wines in your Deck Party Pack, let us know & we will swap them out for a non-bubbly rosé wine – no problemo! Make room in your cooler! Place your order>
HOT PINK OFFER!
Order 12 & we’ll give you $50!
Order the July Deck Party Pack – 12 bottles and we’ll give you $50 off tickets to our next Taste & Buy event.
Pair like a Pro!
What summertime dishes to serve with Rosé? Our Sommeliers are posting easy-peasy recipes EVERY DAY – until the order deadline of July 16th. Each recipe is paired with an Ontario Rosé wine. Trust me…you’ll be craving for a glass of Rosé from our Deck Party Packwhen you read our tasting notes & see the pix of the dishes we paired with Rosé wines. Yum! Click to read our Rosé Report blog & check out the cool recipes >>
One of the first wineries in Prince Edward County, Casa-Dea Estates Winery is making a big impression with this sparkling rosé wine. Just released, this bubbly can be enjoyed on any occasion – picnic, Happy Hour, or stash away for Thanksgiving (if you have to!). For exactly this reason we included it in this month’s Deck Party Pack.
Here is a neat golden nugget to drop into conversation: Winemaker Paul Battilana was originally trained as a butcher, before he made the leap to winemaking after his curiosity transformed his career. And the wine industry is taking note as he was named by MacLean’s Magazine last year ‘as one of the Canadian winemakers to watch’.
Savvy Sommelier Tasting notes: Pretty in the glass, it is refreshing, bright, and reminds us of summer…all throughout the year. Light aromas of strawberry and juicy peaches, the acidity of this wine makes is perfect to start any occasion.
Suggested Food Pairings: Chips. Delicious Spiced Sweet Potato Chips. The salt plays with the bubbles of the wine and fireworks start off in your mouth. Try it!
Spiced Sweet Potato Chips
Serves 2
Recipe by The Editors of Prevention Magazine
Photo Credit: Mitch Mandel
Ingredients
1 12-oz sweet potato, peeled
½ tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp sugar
¼ tsp chili powder
¼ tsp salt
Directions
Heat oven to 375°F.
Slice potato into very thin slices using v-slicer mandoline. Spray 2 baking sheets with cooking spray. Arrange potato slices on the baking sheets in a single layer. Coat slices lightly with cooking spray.
Bake for 7 minutes, or until barely starting to brown. Turn potato slices over and return to the oven. Bake until lightly browned, about 7 to 10 minutes more. Transfer finished slices to a bowl and repeat with remaining slices, if necessary. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the cumin, sugar, chili powder, and salt.
Pour spice mixture over chips and toss well before serving.
Devil’s Wishbone Winery is the home of this delicious 2016 Pinot Gris Rosé along with many other amazing wines. Look at a map of The County & you’ll see the distinctive wishbone shape where the Bay of Quinte and Adolphus Reach meet at Picton. The “devil” part of this winery’s name comes from the poor soil quality in the area, where early settlers found it nearly impossible to grow anything. Yet winery owner Paul Gallagher researched that the clay and limestone mixed soil is perfect for growing vines.
Savvy Sommelier Tasting Notes: A colour that reminded all of our Sommeliers of a Ballerina-tutu (!) with an airy nose of fuzzy peaches, wild strawberries and maple sap. Slightly off-dry and juicy with a pleasant, refreshing summertime quench. Absolutely delicious!
Suggested Food Pairing: This wine has a hint of sweetness that will sing alongside this mouthwatering Crunchy Thai Salad with Peanut Dressing which will be your new vegetable obsession! Each bite packs a powerhouse of fresh superfoods all in one bowl.
2cupskalethinly sliced, or baby kale 1 1/2cupsnapa cabbagethinly sliced 1 1/2cupsred cabbagethinly sliced 1/2cupred bell pepperthinly sliced 1/2cupcarrotshredded 1mangothinly sliced 1/4cupcilantrochopped 8mint leavesthinly sliced 1tablespoongreen onionsthinly sliced 1/4cuppeanutsroasted, roughly chopped
Peanut Dressing
1/3cuppeanut butternatural creamy or smooth 2tablespoonslime juice 3tablespoonshoneyor pure maple syrup 1 1/2tablespoonsrice wine vinegar 1 1/2tablespoonssoy saucelow sodium 1teaspoonSesame oil 1teaspoonsriracha 1/2teaspoongingerminced 1clovegarlicroughly chopped 1tablespoonwater
Instructions
Thai Salad
In a large bowl, add all salad ingredients except peanuts; kale, cabbage, bell pepper, carrot, mango, cilantro, mint, and onions. Set aside while you make the dressing.
Peanut Dressing
In a blender add all peanut dressing ingredients; peanut butter, lime juice, honey, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, sriracha, ginger, garlic, and water. Puree until smooth and combined, about 1 minute. You can also whisk the ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl. Add more water if needed to thin out the dressing if desired. Season with salt and pepper as needed.
To Serve
Gradually add enough dressing to coat the salad, toss to combine. Drizzle with more dressing if there is any remaining, top with freshly cracked bell pepper and roasted peanuts. Enjoy!
You’ll know you’ve found the right place when you see the giant fork standing among the vines at Good Earth Food & Wine Company. And it may not even be big enough, if you want to try everything here….enjoy a meal at the bistro set amongst the vineyard or take part in a hands on cooking class – life is good!
Savvy Sommelier Tasting Notes: An interesting petal-soft texture of this wine makes summer sipping even more enjoyable. The medium to full bodied flavours of fresh sweet red berries, watermelon with a dash of floral and crisp acidity that balances out every sip.
6 cups baby spinach leaves, washed, and dried
1 large carrot, shredded
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/4 of a whole red onion, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon sesame seeds toasted
2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken or grilled chicken, sliced
Directions
Combine all salad dressing ingredients, except for sesame seeds, and using only 1 tablespoon of soy sauce. Whisk until emulsified. Taste your dressing and add another 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, if desired, to make it saltier. Add 2 tablespoons sesame seeds to the dressing and mix them in.
Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl, except for 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds and chicken. Add the salad dressing to the salad and toss – do not add all salad dressing at once: you might not need all of it. Add just enough salad dressing to coat the salad ingredients.
Serve the salad in the individual serving bowls and top with the remaining 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds and sliced chicken.
This is one of Huff Estates’ signature and most popular wines. Rosé and wine lovers clamor for it every year – Savvy Team included! Made with 100% Cabernet Franc grapes grown in The County, there is the regional characteristic of minerality & crisp acidity that makes this a class act wine.
Travel TIP: If you are heading to Prince Edward County this summer, plan to visit Huff on Sunday when they have live jazz performers playing on the el fresco patio overlooking the vineyard.
Sommeliers Tasting Notes: This refreshing wine is bone dry with a light pink hue that resembles classic Rosé wines from Tavel, France. Two words: Pink Grapefruit. Added to that, light floral notes with more citrus (think lime or mandarin) to create a well-crafted refreshing balance.
Now that you’ve been tipped off about this wine, you’ll be on the lookout for it each year.
Food Pairing suggestions: Serve chilled on its own to unwind, with sushi or pack for a picnic. Below we have included the Lemon Orzo with Baby Spinach and Feta recipe to make for your next picnic.
2 cup dried orzo (500 mL)
3 Tbsp vegetable oil (50 mL)
3 onions, sliced 6 clove garlic, minced
2 cup sliced green onions (500 mL) 2 cup feta cheese, diced or cubed (500 mL)
2 cup baby spinach (500 mL)
½ cup olive oil (125 mL)
Zest of 4 lemons
Juice of 1 lemon
½ tsp salt (2 mL)
¼ tsp pepper (1mL)
Directions
Cook orzo according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Reserve.
Heat a large heavy bottomed, wide-surfaced sauté pan, until very hot.
Reduce heat to medium-high. Add vegetable oil and sliced onions. Cook onions on high for about 10 minutes, adding up to 1 tablespoon more oil if pan
becomes dry. Reduce heat to medium-low, add garlic and continue to cook for another 20 minutes until golden.
In a large bowl, combine reserved orzo with green onions, feta cheese, baby spinach, mint, olive oil, lemon zest and lemon juice. Toss to mix. Add
caramelized onion and garlic mixture.
Season with salt and pepper.
Can be made 2 days in advance. Keep refrigerated until serving.
Care for a round of bocce? If you’re travelling to The County (aka Prince Edward County that is) this summer, stop by Casa-Dea Estates Winery and try your hand at Bocce – an Italian version of lawn bowling – on the pitch right beside Casa-Dea’s vineyards. The game is made even better with a chilled glass of Rosé playing along side with Casa-Dea’s cool winemaker Paul Battilana. He has a competitive streak!
Savvy Sommelier Tasting Notes: Brilliant clarity in this pinky-peach concoction. Abundant aromas of wildflowers and strawberries, juicy peaches, even a floral whiff that might remind you of the delicate flower of Lily of the Valley. Top it all off with subtle hints of fresh herbs with a silky texture balanced out with measured acidity and a lengthy finish. Mama Mia – it is good!
1/4 cup store bought or homemade mayonnaise 1 tablespoon milk
1 1/2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
2 cups thinly sliced green cabbage
1/2 cup very finely shredded carrot
1 tablespoon thinly sliced chives or scallions
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the pork burgers:
1/2 cup your favourite store-bought or homemade BBQ sauce (tomato-based)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 1/2 pounds ground pork
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil, for the grill rack
4 buns or Kaiser rolls or soft squishy breadstuff of some sort, split and toasted or grilled
Directions
Make the slaw:
In a bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, milk, and vinegar until smooth. Toss in the cabbage, carrot, chives, and salt and pepper to taste and gently mix to coat. Let the slaw stand at room temperature, uncovered, while you cook the burgers or, if you prefer your slaw crisp, cover it and refrigerate for up to 8 hours.
Make the BBQed pork burgers:
Prepare your grill for direct-heat cooking over medium-hot charcoal or medium heat for gas.
In a small bowl, stir together the barbecue sauce, cayenne, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and vinegar.
In a large bowl, gently mix together the pork, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce mixture until combined. Do not over mix. Using your hands, gently form the mixture into 4 patties, each about 4 inches in diameter and 3/4 inch thick, being careful not to pack the pork too tightly.
Carefully slick the grill rack with oil, plop the burgers on top, and grill them, flipping the burgers every few minutes, just until cooked through and no trace of pink remains, 6 to 10 minutes total. Then brush the top of each patty with 1 tablespoon remaining barbecue sauce mixture (or more if you like things mess), flip the burgers again, and grill for 30 seconds. Repeat, so that both sides have been slathered with the barbecue sauce mixture. Brush the cut sides of each of the buns with the remaining barbecue sauce mixture.
Assemble the BBQed pork burgers, starting with the buns and the burgers and adding a heaping spoonful of coleslaw atop each one. Don’t forget to grab a lot of napkins.
Corks will be popping at this all-Canadian Taste & Buy as we celebrate winemakers who have worked incredibly hard to put our country on the world wine map. Meet these Canadian wine rockstars, taste their wines that are WOWing the world…then order your favs to enjoy at home.
It’s THE event you have been waiting for…
The #1 question we get asked: Can you buy from BC, NS & Quebec wineries as well those in Ontario? YES you can! Oh Canada! Celebrate Red & White Taste & Buy event is all about ordering wines from BC, NS, Quebec and Ontario…then have them delivered directly to your home or office to enjoy all summer long.
What goes best with Canadian wines? Canadian artisan cheese of course! Cheesemakers & our Cheese Sommelier will be serving samples of award-winning cheeses that you can buy onsite too.
Create your own combo of Canadian wines to have delivered to your home after the event. You won’t find any of the featured wines at the LCBO – the wines will be delivered straight from the winery anywhere in Canada directly to you. AND…there’s FREE shippingon 6 or more bottles of your top picks.
Bring a picnic basket & fill it up with artisan cheeses & gourmet treats too.
You’ll enjoy red carpet treatment with advance access from 5 to 7pm to spend more time sipping & meeting the makers. Stay as long as you like for the main event.
DATE: Thursday June 22 – next week! VENUE: Horticulture Building @ Lansdowne Complex in Ottawa
TIMES: V.I.T. Reception – 5 to 7pm ($25 upgrade pass per person is required) Main Event – 7 to 9pm
ADVANCE TICKETS ONLY: $80 + bring a friend FREE OR Group of 4 people for $150 IDEA: Take the bus. OC Transpo is FREE – simply show a printout of your ticket.
Wear Red & White…Win $50
Be a proud Canadian – come to this Taste & Buy event dressed head to toe in red & white and we’ll automatically give you $50 off your ticket to our next Savvy Event.
Unable to make it, but want to order?
Don’t sweat it! The Savvy Team will help you stock up on featured wines showcased at this event. Call 613-SAVVYCO (728-8926) or email us & we’ll send you the complete list of wines & online order form. You too can get FREE shipping – your order needs to be received by midnight on Sunday June 25.
WIN TICKETS! Go on the Savvy Scavenger Hunt…
Find this video on our Facebook or Instagram pages, then…LIKE it & POST the name of your favorite Canadian wine. On Monday, we’ll pick 2 lucky people to receive a pair of tickets & V.I.T. Passes to join us at Oh Canada! Celebrate Red & White. It’s easy to win! On your mark…Get Set…GO!!!
Psst…it’s Father’s Day weekend!
Yikes…totally forgot? Our #1 Father’s Day gift is a subscription to our Savvy Hip Hops beer-o-month club.
Click here to subscribe your Dad for 4 or 6 months & his fridge will auto-magically be filled with the best craft beers from a different Ontario brewery each month – bottles, growlers & cans not available at LCBO or The Beer Store. 100% guaranteed to make your Dad smile from beer to beer!
We’re hiring…
We have cool summer job opportunities for a high school or university students to work with the Savvy Team at Savvy HQ in Ottawa. We’re looking for creative & savvy students who are keen to learn about Canadian wine, artisan cheese, craft beer & cider.
Interested?Contact us on 613-SAVVYCO (728-8926) or send your resume to cheers@savvycompany.ca
It is happening next week – Prince Edward County is coming to Ottawa! Over 150 bottles of hard-to-find wines, craft beers, ciders & artisanal spirits will be open for you to taste…and buy. None of these gems are at the LCBO.
County in the Capital is a discovery & tasting experience like no other. You’ll sip & savour new bevvies, meet the makers…then order your favorites to be delivered to your doorstep. It’s the SAVVY way to shop.
DATE: Thursday, April 20 COOL VENUE! Horticulture Building (in the Lansdowne Complex near TD Place) V.I.T. RECEPTION: 5 to 7pm – V.I.T. Passes required MAIN TASTING EVENT: 7 to 9pm
It is easy & hassle free to order – exactly like ordering from Amazon or an online store. Create your order as you taste the bevvies at the event or order online afterwards. Order 6 or more bottles of ANY combo of your favorite bevvies & we’ll deliver to your home or office – FREE.
Can’t make it but want to order?
Call the Savvy Team on 613-SAVVYCO (728-8926) to place your order & get FREE shipping. Deadline for all orders: April 23 @ midnight.
Next Event: A concert like NO other!
We are excited to announce our involvement in bringing one of Canada’s finest musicians – Chantal Kreviazuk – to Ottawa for a special concert on Friday May 26.
Only 300 tickets for this VIP concert featuring a world renown Canadian artist that includes canapes & Canadian wine all night long. After the show, Chantal will open the floor for an interactive chat about performing on the world stage.
Fabulous that the latest LCBO Vintages release features varietals from Oregon, Washington and Germany, yet I have chosen to focus on finding the best Rosésto highlight in this blog.
Warm weather is pushing the gauge on the thermometer higher every day. Nothing sends a more summer-like message than pulling out a chilled bottle of pink from the fridge or picnic cooler. In this release, powerful, playful, pretty, punchy pinks are yours for the picking at GREAT value. (How is that for alliteration?) Upon entry to any LCBO, your eye cannot help but being drawn to the beautiful rainbow of pinks on the shelves.
A provocative patio sipper, Rosé is also a great food match with anything from salads to fish to tacos and some, like the Serbal Malbec Rosé (below) will stand up to burgers and steak. How versatile is that?
I can’t wait to line up this eye-candy on my kitchen counter (and in my fridge too!).
Passionate about pink 😉
Julie
If I only had $100, I would buy . . . LCBO Vintages Release for Saturday April 29, 2017
Vina Esmeralda Rosé 2016
DO Catalunya, Torres, Spain
$13.95 (Vintages #490920) 12.5 % alcohol
Pale coral in colour, floral aromas, this wine is made with the Garnacha Tinto grape – the most heavily grown in the Mediterranean. Rosé is also known as Rosado in Spain and Portugal too. On the palate, ripe cherries burst with acidity leaving a tangy lime tangerine in the finish. Clean, refreshing and crisp….and a great price too!
Zone’s Footstep Scarlet Ladybird Rosé 2016
Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia
$15.95 (Vintages #408476) 13.5% alcohol
Aromas of red roses, pale pinkish with a hint of tangerine in colour. The flavours are lush and tart. Medium-weight, rhubarb galore with ripe strawberries weaving their way on the palate and fruity finish.
It is hard not to write about Featherstone’s Rosé every year. I confess to being a huge fan of all of their wines. Deep cranberry in colour, vegetal and mineral aromas that open to ripe red berriess on the palate. There’s some sour cherry at the end which makes it crisp and just plain de-e-e-e-licious.
The Atamisque Winery, maker of the Serbal line of wines, is located in the foothills of the Andes Mountain range. The winery also takes its name from the Serbal aboriginal bush. Bright ruby red, the Rosé wine literally glistens in the glass. Sour cherries and savoury spice explode in the taste buds with a noticeable seam of acidity. Add to this an interesting hint of black pepper. Bone dry and chewy for a Rosé, but packs full-bodied red fruit on the palate and the lengthy fruity finish.
Château de Berne Terres Rosé 2016
AC Côtes de Provence, France
$17.95 (Vintages #278861) 13% alcohol
I did not get a chance to taste this Rosé, but I have no difficulty recommending it & putting it in my shopping basket. Rosé wine was born in Provence and todate, it accounts for half to almost two thirds of all wine produced in the region. It’s also a classic blend of Cinsault and Grenache which offers raspberry, strawberry and red currant flavours. The rosés of Provence are often known for their food pairing matches with local Mediterranean cuisine. You just can’t go wrong.
Aromas of violets and ripe red berries that come from the Merlot grape flow through on the palate leaving a delicious seam of acidity on the finish. Aged in stainless steel, yet there’s creamy crispness to red juicy fruit. Perfect for happy hour or any hour for that matter.
100% PINK Magic
Enjoy your summer outside with our 
Ingredients
6 clove garlic, minced
Look who is coming:
TIP: Be a V.I.T!
Psst…it’s Father’s Day weekend!
Gourmet Goodies too!
Order your favorites! Shipping is FREE.
Next Event: A concert like NO other!
Warm weather is pushing the gauge on the thermometer higher every day. Nothing sends a more summer-like message than pulling out a chilled bottle of pink from the fridge or picnic cooler. In this release, powerful, playful, pretty, punchy pinks are yours for the picking at GREAT value. (How is that for alliteration?) Upon entry to any LCBO, your eye cannot help but being drawn to the beautiful rainbow of pinks on the shelves.
Featherstone Estate Winery Rosé 2015
Château de Berne Terres Rosé 2016
Brancaia Rosé 2016 
