michelle bouffard
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Pair It Up! Wine With Duck
For a moment, I felt like I was in a Seinfeld episode, or perhaps in the movie Groundhog Day. There was an unplanned recurring food theme during this past holiday: duck. That’s what I cooked on Christmas day and everywhere I went it was not turkey that people were serving but duck! I am not a big fan of the big bird so I was certainly not complaining. Duck can be prepared in many different ways and I had fun playing with wine pairings...
Keep ReadingPublished on: January 21, 2016 -
Top Wine Picks! Chardonnay For The Holidays
When it comes to wine for the holidays, I like to mix it up with the best of ‘em – from Gamay to Gewürztraminer, there are plenty of fun festive pairings to go with your big turkey dinner (or whatever it is you scarf down at your big holiday meal). In fact, Michelle Bouffard picked a great selection of wines for all your winter gatherings last week.
But I never like to overlook a grape variety that, in the effort to get creative, is sometimes forgotten for festive feasts – Chardonnay. Whether you prefer a crisp, unoaked Chard or something with a bit more richness and complexity, Chardonnay’s many styles can complement a wide variety of meals – including your holiday dinner. Here are some of my favourites...
Keep ReadingPublished on: December 14, 2015 -
Top Wine Picks! Michelle Bouffard's Holiday Wine Favourites
This is a hectic time of the year for all of us. Christmas parties have started, work is filled with deadlines before the holidays, and the To Do list is getting longer. To reduce the stress level, here is my gift to you - a wine selection that you can purchase right here, right now, to help you celebrate the season in style. Shopping has never been so easy: order online and it's done. Ahhh, now that's one less thing to do...
Keep ReadingPublished on: December 07, 2015 -
Pair It Up! Wine & Rabbit
Like many food lovers, I am addicted to cookbooks. I can’t walk by the Cooking section at a bookstore without stopping to peruse. Which most certainly leads to a purchase. Despite the wide selection, there is one that I always go back to when I want to spend a few hours in the kitchen: Bones by Jennifer McLagan...
Keep ReadingPublished on: December 03, 2015 -
Pair It Up! Cashews and Chardonnay
This year has been exceptionally busy with travel (yes, I love my job) and through such a hectic schedule, I started to notice that small things make a big difference. Habits that you repeat from one place to another start to comfort you. A home away from home. One of the simple pleasures during my latest travels has been to snack on cashews (and sometimes other nuts - specifically hazelnuts) and sip on Chardonnay...
Keep ReadingPublished on: November 26, 2015 -
Top Wine Picks! Getting Cozy For Fall
There is no doubt that I drink all colours year round. Whites quench my thirst, rosés bring some sunshine to my day and reds always manage to bring a sense of comfort. But inevitably, seasons do affect what I tend to reach for. As the days get cooler and the amount of daylight reduces, full-bodied reds are what I tend to crave. I call it my vitamin D of wine...
Keep ReadingPublished on: November 09, 2015 -
Canadian Winery Spotlight: Elephant Island Orchard Wines
I must admit, when I first came across the wines from Elephant Island Orchard Wines I was skeptical. For some reason, I always had reservations about fruit wine - then I had the privilege of staying at the winery for a few days! It was an idyllic place where I immersed myself in the world of fruit wine and developed an appreciation for it....
Keep ReadingPublished on: November 04, 2015 By: -
Top Wine Picks! Made In Canada
One of the perks of my job is that I get to travel abroad quite a bit. This year has been particularly spectacular, as I have been able to travel to France, Greece, Spain and now Australia. The thing I love the most about it is travelling with people from all over the world - you get to learn different wine markets and explore new perspectives on wine!...
Keep ReadingPublished on: October 13, 2015 By: -
Pair It Up! Bubbles and Chips
A friend of mine recently turned 50. She is a highly regarded sommelier, whose name shall remain confidential for the purpose of discretion. Her birthday party was filled with great people (lots of wine geeks) who were told to each bring two different bottles of wine. So what do you bring to a wine expert who’s celebrating a big number? Champagne of course - and lots of it!
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Keep ReadingPublished on: October 01, 2015 By: -
Wine 101: Cava
As I sip on a glass of Cava in the beautiful bay of Sitges in Catalonia, Spain, I am reminded how bubbles make me feel special. Yes, this setting is pretty magical, but regardless of where I am and what the day has been like, bubbles ALWAYS put a smile on my face...
Keep ReadingPublished on: September 21, 2015