EZ Rock Wedding Wines
Hosting a wedding is a wonderful, exciting and daunting task. It is a big day that everyone involved wants a success! We cannot control the weather, but we can control the wine!
Wine served at the dinner table usually consists of a white and a red. After the table pours their selection, a casting of eyes to other tables usually ensues. The people are usually looking for the table that has extra reds, the preferred wine. A good rule for wine at the table is two reds and one white or half a bottle per person. This is only two glasses each.
Here are some good quality wines that would be easy to please. All are around $15.00.
Trapiche, Malbec. Canada loves this wine. It is from, Mendoza, Argentina. Malbec is a soft, fruit forward, low tannin grape that makes big juicy wine.
Banrock Station, Shiraz. Australian wines have maintained quality and dropped prices. This is a great wine. Soft and smooth. Look at this one pairing easily with a range of food.
Inniskillin, Ontairo, Chardonnay. This cool climate Chardonnay has a touch of oak, but is not swimming in it. It is complex and elegant. Enjoy without breaking the bank.
Gehringer Brothers, Ehrenfelser. Yes this is an odd sounding grape, but when there is a tasting event in town, this is the favorite. It has a huge fruity taste that works with food. It is so delicious, I cannot say enough about it! This isn’t a complex wine, but simply darn easy to sip!
Find the wines. Go to www.alberta-liquor-guide.com and follow the directions. Call the shop before going, just to make sure the wines are in the store. Wedding wines purchases usually have a discount attached. Your store will give you details.

EZ Rock Summer Sippers with a Difference.
Heather Kingston
ISG Certified Sommelier
We are all pretty familiar with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, but do you know about Vermintino and Semillon? Here are two grapes that make spectacular wines under $20.00.
Vermintino is an Italian grape. The area it grows in is around Cinque Terre, west of Tuscany. The area is very small and we are lucky to have this wine in our market. The wine comes from a 17th century wine house, but there has been over 2000 years of wine production in this area. Vermintino does not have the typical fruit characteristics in white wine. There tends to be a soft floral approach, with a tang of minerals on the finish. This wine goes with strong cheeses. When I do wine and cheese seminars, this is a crowd favorite match up.
Semillon is a grape I have enjoyed for a few years now. It is originally a grape from the French region of Bordeaux. Usually, it is blended with Sauvignon Blanc. If you see a white from this region, this is what you are drinking. I have tried many Semillons and have to say the Peter Lehmann Semillon is a winner. It is crisp, steely, minerally and dusty. A wine like this pairs well with Ceasar Salad and Thai food choices. I am sold at under $15.00!
Find the wines.
Lunae Vermintino and Peter Lehmann Semillon can be found by going to www.alberta-liquor-guide.com and follow the directions. This wonderful site will tell you within 5 km where you can find the wine. Call before you go to make sure they have some in stock.

EZ Rock Summer Sippers with a Difference.
Heather Kingston
ISG Certified Sommelier
We are all pretty familiar with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, but do you know about Vermintino and Semillon? Here are two grapes that make spectacular wines under $20.00.
Vermintino is an Italian grape. The area it grows in is around Cinque Terre, west of Tuscany. The area is very small and we are lucky to have this wine in our market. The wine comes from a 17th century wine house, but there has been over 2000 years of wine production in this area. Vermintino does not have the typical fruit characteristics in white wine. There tends to be a soft floral approach, with a tang of minerals on the finish. This wine goes with strong cheeses. When I do wine and cheese seminars, this is a crowd favorite match up.
Semillon is a grape I have enjoyed for a few years now. It is originally a grape from the French region of Bordeaux. Usually, it is blended with Sauvignon Blanc. If you see a white from this region, this is what you are drinking. I have tried many Semillons and have to say the Peter Lehmann Semillon is a winner. It is crisp, steely, minerally and dusty. A wine like this pairs well with Ceasar Salad and Thai food choices. I am sold at under $15.00!
Find the wines.
Lunae Vermintino and Peter Lehmann Semillon can be found by going to www.alberta-liquor-guide.com and follow the directions. This wonderful site will tell you within 5 km where you can find the wine. Call before you go to make sure they have some in stock.

EZ Rock Wine Chat Canadian Wines
ISG Certified Sommelier and Alberta Liquor Store Association Educator
Canadian Wines to Sample This Summer
Canadians have plenty to be proud of in terms of our up and coming wine industry. I ran into a fellow ISG Sommelier, who last year had said it had a ways to go and this year is feeling very positive about Canadian wine. I have always loved and supported Canadian wines. There are not that many growing regions in the world if you look at a map. We have a small, compared to the likes of France, but viable wine industry here.
We are on a virtual road trip. If you are headed to Vancouver Island, pack a lunch and head up island to Averil Creek. They have a splendid deck with a breathtaking view. You are welcome to sit, sip and eat your own food! They make excellent Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio, a red blend and a dessert wine. Pack chocolate bars to have with the sweet Cowichan Black. Go to www.averilcreek.ca
In that area, you can take a short drive to The Merridale Cidery. It is gorgeous! Apple trees in a sloping orchard with the sun beating down. They have a tasting room and a self guided tour. It is a lovely way to spend time on a holiday! They do have a restaurant and the food is locally sourced! www.merridalecider.com
Find the Wines? Sorry they are not in our market quite yet. Therefore, you must head west, drive through B.C. to the coast. At that point, take a ferry to Vancouver Island and make your way one of the most beautiful places in Canada.

EZRock Wine Chat
B.C. Wines with Alberta Flair
Heather Kingston
ISG Certified Sommelier
This week we embarked on the British Columbia wine journey. There are many wonderful wineries to visit, with more and more springing up every year. Here are two Albertans who are deep into wine country. Jeff Harder, from Ardrossan, Alberta, has become a very successful vineyard owner. His brother, James, has Nine North Wine Company, in Napa, California. Following in the family footsteps, Jeff and co-proprietors Twyla and Jay Paulson have joined the wine making world. Ex Nihilo Vineyards is located outside of Kelowna on Camp Road.
They are producing Pinot Gris, a wonderful white wine. It won Silver at the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival. The other notable wine is the Ex Nihilo, 2006, Night. It is a Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot blend, aged 20 months in French and American oak, then cellared for one year. Worth a visit just to try these wines!
Terry Lynn Meyer, our T.V. personality and business woman from Edmonton, has joined her family in the wine making business. We wondered where Terry Lynn was going to pop up. She popped up in the most beautiful place! The Meyer Family Vineyards are located in Okanagan Falls. Visit the new wine shop and tasting room – there will be some delights to sample. Here are two wines they may have available to taste. They have the ‘2008 Tribute Series – Steve Yzerman’ and a 2009 Gewurztraminer. Happy sampling!

Napa Balloon Ride for Blog

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EZ Rock Wine Chat Health Benefits Part Four
Heather Kingston ISG Certified Sommelier
ALSA Educator
We are all looking to live longer and healthier, so study is welcomed. For all of us who enjoy a glass of wine and are interested in more information, there is a wealth of education on the internet. I used the Wine Spectator site and my own ISG textbook [reliable resources], to find the health benefit information. I look forward to more research and enjoying wine for ‘medicinal purposes’. Look for ongoing information on red wine as a healthy alternative to other alcohol.
Please remember to enjoy wine in moderation.
Here are two wines under $15.00 that I enjoy.
Cedar Creek, Proprietors Red, B.C. This red is a blend of Merlot and Pinot Noir. I am impressed by the quality of the wine for such a good price. We call this a ‘Killer Value Wine”
Castillo de Monseran, Spain. The grape is Grenache, but in Spain they call it Garnacha. This is an easy going wine with lots up front ripe cherry fruit. Low tannins make this a wine for any time; with or without food. The price ranges between $10.00 and $15.00. Great Value!
Find the wines in your area.
www.alberta-liquor-guide.com

Health Benefits of Wine Part Three
EZ Rock Health Benefits of Wine Part Three
Heather Kingston ISG Certified Sommelier
ALSA Educator
The health effect of wine consumption can be dated back to early Egyptian times. Recipes for wine based medicines have been found on papyri and tablets unearthed in archeological digs. It has been used as a disinfectant, medicine and a part of a healthy diet in many ancient cultures. In several places, wine would be safer to drink than the water. Medicines were not available, so wine had properties that made good alternatives. As I mentioned in part one, the moderate consumption of wine has been recognized as part of a healthy lifestyle. There is ongoing research, so it is difficult to report any type of conclusions. I am writing about a broad nature of studies, so please see a physician for your own personal health inquiries as to how much, if any wine, is healthy for you. Cancer researchers have been inspired to take a serious look at how wine can be a part of a healthy defense. It is the antioxidants in red wine that are beneficial. These come from the phenolics in the skins and pips of the red grape. Red wine is made with the skins and pips while white wine is made with the juice coming from the pulp. Unfortunately, alcohol in wine is destructive to the body and creates an added risk for digestive tract and breast cancer. Studies have been done on dementias and moderate wine drinking. This is better news for us aging baby boomers. Moderate wine drinkers are less likely to develop various dementias, including Alzheimer’s. Another study reported a combination of wine, dark chocolate and tea in moderate amounts helped elderly people stay bright and alert. Even the liver can benefit from a glass of red wine. We all know alcohol abuse can ruin the liver, but a daily glass of wine decreases the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. New and exciting research is on the SIRT1 gene associated with aging and resveratrol. We are all looking to live longer and healthier, so this is welcome study.
Here is another Joe Dobbes Pinto Noir.
Dobbes Family Estate Grand Assemblage, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, 2007 CSPC 733494. Only two tons per acre are produced. This gives concentration to the grapes. The grapes are sourced from nine different vineyards with each site contributing subtle nuances. The mouth feel is rich with strawberry, red and black currants and cherries. This is a great wine!

EZ Rock Wine Chat Health Benefits Part Two
Heather Kingston
ISG Certified Sommelier
ALSA Educator
One of the main ingredients in red wine to be of benefit is Resveratrol, a compound found in the skins of the red grape. Resveratrol in an antioxidant and works to inhibit the growth of blood clots. Red wine is the superior drink for health benefits. The amount of daily consumption for benefit is still under investigation. It is difficult to recommend a daily amount. The different studies I have read seem to indicate any amount between one and three glasses a day. It depends on your age, sex, build, genetic makeup, state of health and consumption, with or without food. Women absorb more alcohol than men so our daily limits are lower. Pregnant women should abstain from all alcohol. There is scientific proof that the baby takes a drink when pregnant mom takes a drink. This can cause abnormal facial features and low intelligence. It is called “Fetal Alcohol Syndrome”.
It is important to understand that sensible, moderate consumption is important. The “one is good, ten is better” will not work with alcohol. In part two of “Health Benefits of Wine”, I will continue pointing out the various effects on our bodies if we abide by moderate enjoyment.
Here are a couple of great reds to try.
Heartland, Shiraz, Australia,CSPC#714167. A classic Australian Shiraz rich in big fruit. Plums and black berries. Loaded with antioxidants!
Chateau D’Argadens, France,CSPC#721241. There are two clues on the bottle that help decipher the contents of this Bordeaux red. Sichel is the name of the wine making family. They make superior Bordeaux wines from this entry level, right up to very pricy wines to cellar.

EZ Rock Wine Chat
Heath Benefits of Wine – Part One.
Heather Kingston ISG Certified Sommelier
ALSA Educator

For quite some time we have been hearing about the health benefits of wine. Various research groups make claims for improved health. Moderate drinking may improve memory, help circulation, regulate insulin and maintain a healthy heart. Research is going on all the time to find the extent of health spin offs the grape has to offer us. This new interest in health benefits contradicts the message sent out in the 1970s and 1980s that any alcohol was toxic. The result of consumption would be liver damage and brain damage. Since then, moderate consumption has been touted as a convincing healthy living strategy.
It seems moderate alcohol consumption improves the balance between the harmful and beneficial forms of cholesterol. Without cholesterol clogging the arteries, the blood flow is rapid and can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. One of the main ingredients in red wine to be of benefit is Resveratrol, a compound found in the skins of the red grape. Resveratrol in an antioxidant and works to inhibit the growth of blood clots. Red wine is the superior drink for health benefits.
Although Pinot Noir looks light in color it actually has plenty of antioxidants. This is a good wine grape for keep the free radicals in check! A good moderately priced Pinot Noir is, Wine By Joe – Pinot Noir. Light easy drinking and hails from Oregon, my favorite Pinot Noir growing area.
Note: I am not a doctor and I am not giving advice. The information is from studies published by various media.