Hi wine lovers and happy wine Wednesday!  I hope your week has been wonderful and everyone in Canada enjoyed the Victoria Day long weekend. Historically – this means a whole bunch of enthusiastic people heading out for the first camping trip of the year – only to encounter awful, rainy weather. This past weekend, however, saw just a brief rain shower and it was dry for most of the time – hurray!

My hubby and I had date night on Saturday and went to Burgoo on Main Street in Vancouver. I had an amazing quinoa and salmon salad which may have been the best salad I have ever eaten.  OMG.  Then went to the closing night of the Bare Bones One Act Theatre Company where we saw some great local, young talent perform one-act plays.  Very cool.  On Sunday night we all hung out with Dave’s extended family and had way too much fun and way too much wine!  Tried my first glass ever of Van Westen‘s Vino Grigio and I will be buying this fantastic bottle again.  Really delicious.

OK – onto the wines – as promised here is a list of BBQ and patio friendly B.C. reds for the season:

• Ganton & Larsen Prospect Merlot Cabernet Haynes Barn 2011 – this is my cheap and cheerful selection and a great crowd pleaser to have on hand when the gathering is going to be big.  At $14.99, it doesn’t break the bank and is full of nice red berry flavours with a hint of coffee.
• See Ya Later Ranch Pinot Noir 2011 – filled with black cherry and strawberry flavours with a hint of oak, this is a nice pairing with grilled chicken or grilled trout.  For $19.99 – again a great tasting wine for the crowd.
• Black Sage Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2011 – at $23.99, this enchanting wine from winemaker Jason James is sure to impress your host.  Full of blackberry and cherry flavours with nice oak and a touch of bell pepper – this wine shouts out to be paired with grilled kebobs and great conversation. Yum. 
• Upper Bench Winery ‘Upper Bench RED’ 2012 – here is a wine for adventure!  Made with 70% Zweigelt, 20% Merlot and 10% Pinot Meunier, this wine offers a huge range of flexibility and flavour because of its nice acidity and medium body profile.  This is a steal at $19 and one to talk about for sure!  Pair with anything off the BBQ or a selection of cheeses.
• La Frenz Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 – this wine is delicious and is to be shared and enjoyed with special people.  This Cabernet Sauvignon is a fantastic example of how B.C. can get it right – full of dark fruits, plum, chocolate and coffee – you cannot go wrong with this choice.  At $28, this is a great deal for an excellent wine.  Pair with a rib-eye steak on the grill along with a side of sautéed mushrooms and you will be in heaven!

Well – that was fun!  I am sure you can tell that I love sitting on a deck or patio with a great glass of wine in my hand.  Fresh air, great conversation and excellent wine and food is my happy place.  I wish you all a great weekend ahead and I am keeping my fingers crossed for some nice weather.

Enjoy!

XO
C