Australian Shiraz/Viognier originates in the Riverland region.  The grapes have a highly concentrated flavour, aroma and body.  Blending 90% red and 10% white grapes brings lush balance to this lively, deep ruby wine.  The wine has great structure but the overall impression is soft and velvety.  The long, gentle finish is ripe and appealing with surprising complexity.

Sweetness: 0 (dry)  Alcohol: 12.5-13%  Oak: 120g French  Body: Full

Pacifica White contains Semillon from Australia, Chardonnay from Black Sage Bench in the Okanagan Valley, and Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier from California’s north coast.  It showcases bright fruit, excellent structure and a long layered finish.  Delicious and ready to drink almost immediately this wine has the ability to change with time, evolving notes from one grape to the next.

Sweetness: 1 (off-dry – perfectly balanced and luscious)  Alcohol: 11.5-12%  Oak: none  Body: Medium-Full

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Select grapes from vineyards around the world are yours to enjoy with Selection Limited Edition – available for a limited time. Plan your own inspired evening with menu selections, wine pairings and helpful tips for hosting at limitededition2010.com

Find our more about our 2010 Limited Editions

I mentioned we blended three wines to keep my good friend Patti happy.  She loved the Limited Edition California Lake County Trio Blanca – but it’s no longer available.  We combined the Vintners Reserve Pinot Blanc, Selection Original Sauvignon Blanc and the Selection International South African Chenin Blanc.  Patti and I bottled the wine last Friday – and it tastes great!  I’ve put my share in the cellar, and will give it a couple of months, then compare it glass to glass with the Trio Blanca….because I have 2 cases of that in my cellar!  I wanted to name it Blankety Blanc, but Patti declared it was her inspiration, and therefore should be named “Inspired Trio”.  I’m good with that!

is how my friend Patti started the conversation – “I absolutely love the Limited Edition California Lake County Trio Blanca.  I want more!”

Unfortunately, there are no more kits available – which is one reason we encourage people to attend our Limited Edition Tasting Event and if they find a wine – or all 5 wines – they love, order more than one kit.  Now, you have to meet my friend Patti to know she wasn’t going to take no for an answer.  She just said – then make me a clone!

So – here’s my scoop…We’ve combined and blended three wines to see if we can come close to the Trio Blanca.  If you remember, it was a blend of Pinot Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc.  Right now, the blended wines are very happy sitting and waiting to finish.  The expected bottling date is August 23.  I’ll keep you posted and let you know how the wine turns out.  If it’s wonderful, we’re going to name it the Blankety Blanc wine!  Cheers!

We had our staff Christmas party on Saturday evening at my house.  Chef Tim Floritto of The Hungry Chef cooked up a meal we’ll remember for a long time!  We started with mixed baby greens with goat cheese, pumpkin seeds and thin slices of red onion, dressed with a raspberry vinaigrette. We enjoyed a glass of Millenium Sparkling wine with this. 

Then – my favourite – a smoked Italian Tomato soup.  Tim grew the heirloom tomatoes in his garden, and smoked them before freezing.  The soup had a bit of Gorgonzola cream in it, and was so delicious – a true taste from heaven, and the smoke flavour was fabulous.  We paired the soup with last year’s Limited Edition Italian Dolcetto.  It was a great pairing, since the wine is fairly light but has the acidity to marry well with the tomato.   

The next course was Spring Salmon wrapped in proscuito…cooked to perfection and served with a saffron risotto with some Fontina cheese in it.  My husband Jim had two helpings of the risotto!  The red wine drinkers among us enjoyed the Sonoma Valley Pinot Noir with this, and the white wine drinkers had a Limited Edition Alsation Riesling.   

And dinner went on…the next course was a knockout hit with everyone!  We had chicken breasts done with a mushroom sauce that was light but full of flavour at the same time.  The sighs of pleasure were audible!!  We enjoyed perfect asparagus with the chicken.  The red wine drinkers were adamant about sticking with red wines,  so we opened last year’s Limited Edition New Zealand Merlot and South African Cabernet Sauvignon.  The white wine drinkers enjoyed an Australian Riesling and a New Zealand Gewurztraminer. 

There was much merriment around the table as we regaled each other with stories of winemaking, our favourite customers, and some tall tales.  We finished our meal with a beautiful tiramasu, and paired it with the Chocolate Raspberry Port and Okanagan Peach Ice Wine. 

We then had a really fun gift exchange.  Everyone had 5 cards and as I pulled cards from a second deck, they were able to grab a gift from the pile.  Only one rule – when a person was down to one gift and no cards, you couldn’t take the gift.  You couldn’t unwrap the gift until everyone had one – and one only.  Lots of fun, and the gifts were imaginative and provided lots of laughs.

I’d like to thank Checkmate Cabs for getting everyone home safely.  We had a wonderful evening, and it was lovely knowing everyone was looked after.  Needless to say, I slept well after all that food and wine!  I’d also like to thank Chef Tim Floritto – check out his website at www.thehungrychef.net if you’re thinking of having a dinner party or would enjoy some cooking classes in the comfort of your own home.  He’s wonderful!