Recipes

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and the best possible gift you could give is time. The scarf, sweater or piece of jewelry might end up forgotten, but the laughs and stories shared over a few glasses of wine will be in your mom’s memories forever. 13th Street is one of my long-standing favourite wineries in Ontario. This week if you order 6 bottles or more from 13th Street Winery, you get FREE SHIPPING. Why not order a case for mom? Here are three of my top wine picks, and a delicious homemade meal that you can make with each one. It's a fabulous recipe for time spent together. Santé Maman!

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Today, we have UK photographer and foodie Veronica Shah sharing a special ice cream recipe that you can make yourself – oh, and it’s made from wine. This is a recipe that is sure to impress any wine-loving Mom!

This ice cream is simple to prepare and can be made in the comfort of your own home, without using an ice cream maker. It’s the perfect treat for celebrating Mother’s Day! All you need is a good wine (today we're sampling some gems from Sperling Vineyard - offering you free shipping all week long), some basic ingredients that you can find at your local grocery store, and a few common kitchen utensils. 

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Nova Scotia continues to be Canada’s hidden gem when it comes to wine. Producers in the Annapolis Valley and beyond are making reds, whites, rosés, bubblies, dessert wines and fruit-based bevvies that bring a unique sense of place.

Among the province’s best producers is Annapolis Highland Vineyards. Using grapes that are both estate-grown and sourced from throughout the region, they’re creating some of Nova Scotia’s most compelling and food-friendly wines.

See below for thoughts on their delicious wines and the food pairings that immediately popped to mind when enjoying a glass. (Sunny backyards, relaxation and enjoying with friends are also a must.)

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If you’re one of those people who starts a detox and renews their gym membership on January 1^st, by now you might be thinking: enough already! I read once that it was better to minimize alcohol consumption to a couple nights a week, instead of cutting it out cold turkey. I am not sure if it’s true but it certainly makes sense! I, personally, have never believed in extremes BUT….. I am on a cleanse too!! This is what I propose: let’s get back to real life in a way that’s slow and smart. Below are 4 healthy dishes that you can enjoy with a delicious glass of wine and have the bottle sent right to your door. It’s all about balance, isn’t it? Santé!

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Those holiday bells are just beginning to ring, and among an upswing in merriment and cheer, we’re finding ourselves increasingly likely to imbibe all things delicious. Yes, this often includes enjoyable pours from our favourite Canadian wineries, but when cocktails are in order, that doesn’t mean we necessarily have to cast aside our grape-oriented brethren.

Wine can be a key component of many an excellent cocktail, so if you’re looking to do a little stirring or shaking this holiday season, here are a few favourites....

So far this season, Vancouver has been typically and notoriously rainy. There have been a few years recently when winters have been uncharacteristically sunny and dry, but we’ve certainly been honouring tradition as of late.

With the rains come a desire to stay in once the work day’s done, and tuck into something warm and comforting for dinner. While it’s tempting to lean towards a rich pasta or meaty stew to sate such cravings, I’ve been trying to eat a little healthier as of late (knowing that it’s all going out the window as we get into the holiday season). Plus, with the free shipping deal from Lunessence Winery & Vineyards that's on right now, their wines are the perfect match for comfort food...

This past week has been heavy in emotion. The roller coaster of the US election, then the death of music legend Leonard Cohen. Add to that the days that are now getting darker and shorter. Well, we've got something that will brighten your day - free shipping from Benjamin Bridge! There is just something about bubbles that always makes you feel better. 

Lily Bollinger of Bollinger said it so well: “I drink Champagne when I'm happy and when I'm sad. Sometimes I drink it when I'm alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I'm not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it -- unless I'm thirsty.” But it’s not Champagne that I recommend drinking to lift your spirit. I don’t know about you but I have never been more proud to be Canadian than during this past week. So I propose a toast to our wonderful country with the stunning bubbles from acclaimed sparkling wine producer Benjamin Bridge in Nova Scotia.

Another reason to feel proud. Benjamin Bridge is offering you an unprecedented deal on their premium wines with free shipping this week on 6+ bottles. This is an excellent occasion to stock up for the holidays - take advantage now, because this deal won't be coming around again anytime soon...

Quidni Estate Winery is one of the newest faces on Naramata Bench, launching in 2014. Quidni, which means 'why not' in Latin, is the maxim the new owners adopted before taking the plunge into the world of wine. A beautiful property on Naramata Road, also home to their popular B & B, Quidni was previously 3 Mile Estate Winery. The new owners brought on Robert Thielicke, a winemaker who has valuable history with the Naramata Bench—he spent years working with Kettle Valley Winery and Joie Farm Winery. This week Quidni is offering free shipping on 12+ bottles or 50% off shipping on 6 bottles, and you can mix it up however you would like...

There's something about fall that gives me a serious craving for pasta. Hearty, savoury flavours; squashes, mushrooms, braises and ragus, all mixed in with perfectly cooked noodles. This week (and my pasta craving) coincides with My Wine Canada's free shipping offer on 12 or more bottles, or 50% off shipping on 6 bottles from Thornhaven Estates Winery, the Summerland winery with a stunning view above Okanagan Lake. Thornhaven's wines have been among my go-to Okanagan value picks for over a decade. This is a perfect time to dig up some pasta recipes and find a few great pairings to send right to your door...

We’re well on our way through autumn and, yup, winter will be here before we know it. Increasingly, comfort food becomes our go-to. For me, when it comes to familiar, tummy-warming, delicious meals for the season – it doesn’t get much better than fried chicken. In celebration of this week's free shipping deal, I've paired fried chicken dishes with three expertly crafted wines from Moraine Estate Winery in B.C.'s Okanagan Valley...