I have too much content and need to upgrade my blog account.  So I've transferred this blog over to my new blog domain and have already started to add new content, such as about my latest trip to Oregon to try pinot noir!  You can reach my new blog through the main www.mywinepal.com website, or by clicking on mywinepal blog link.

Enjoy my new blog!

Sometimes I hear about events at various restaurants with food and wine.  Here is a case in point.  Burnaby's Hart House is a beautiful heritage home at Deer Lake park.  They have just released their Summer Garden Parties announcement.  You may want to partake, and you may bump into me at one of them.  Enjoy!

Burnaby’s Hart House at Deer Lake is pleased to announce the dates for our summer garden party events.  Each garden party starts with a casual tasting of wines from the evening’s featured region, held in Hart House’s elegant gardens.  Guests may then purchase wines from the evening’s specially-selected wine list to pair with the al fresco dinner that follows.  Live music and a spectacular view of Deer Lake will add to diners’ enjoyment of the evening.
     
The 2009 summer event schedule includes:

-     Lobster Supper – Wednesday, June 17
     Fresh Nova Scotia lobster is the life of our annual Maritime-infused party.
     Wine sampling and live music help make this event a great way to welcome in the summer.

-     Italian Garden Party – Wednesday, July 22
     Our classic Italian Garden Party features Mediterranean cuisine paired with premium Italian wines. 
     Guests are welcome to stroll around the beautiful Hart House estate lawn and gardens.

-     Evening in Provence – Wednesday, August 19
     This is a celebration of the culture and flavours of Provence , France .
      A sampling of French wines in our gardens is followed by a dinner featuring Provence-inspired cuisine.

-     California Experience – Wednesday, September 9
     California’s world-class wines have earned a prominent place on the world stage in recent years.
     Here’s your chance to sample some of California ’s best, paired with exceptional cuisine.

     All events start at 6:00pm.  Reservations will be accepted starting May 21, 2009.

     Lobster Supper - Wednesday, June 17 2009
     $52 per person plus taxes and gratuity

     Italian Garden Party - Wednesday, July 22 2009
     Evening in Provence - Wednesday, August 19 2009
     California Experience - Wednesday, September 9 2009
     Above three are each $45 per person, plus taxes and gratuity

     Hart House at Deer Lake
     6664 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
     Reservations by phone only at 604-298-4278                   www.harthouserestaurant.com

There are two New Zealand wine events coming up in May in Vancouver that I thought you might be interested in attending.  The first is with the South World Wine Society, titled "Planning a New Zealand Vacation".  This event is on May 21.  It combines tasting a range of red and white wines from across New Zealand along with getting travel tips from a travel agent that has travelled extensively in New Zealand.  It should be alot of fun, plus the travel agent is offering discount coupons on travel to New Zealand.  Go to www.southworldwine.com to sign up.  $44 for members and $55 for non-members.  Comes with food too.

The other event is the New Zealand Wine Fair on May 28 at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre.  This is a yearly event and is a walk-about, with agents and/or winemakers at tables pouring their prized New Zealand wines.  There are many tables where you try wines that have never been in Canada before, so be the first to try something new!  Besides their trade mark Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, there are also lots of other varietals to try, like riesling, merlot, and pinot grigio.  To sign up for this event go to http://www.nzwine-events.ca/nzwines_content.htm

The French have been coming to Vancouver quite regularly recently.  Last week I had the pleasure of trying wines from across France at a Trade Only event.  There was red and white from Bordeaux, Sauternes, Languedoc, Rhone, organic wines, and more.  I also was able to taste a new red grape called Negrette, which I am told is originally from Cyprus, but happy to grow in France.  The Negrette grape has lots of sweet bon bon aroma, and bon bon / red crisp apple flavour.  I tried the Vin de Pays Comte Tolosan Terreo Negrette 2008.  It's always nice to try something different.  Many French wine makers are paying attention to the New World wineries that produce wines that are approachable and drinkable now.  Several wines were available to try in this category such as the Esprit du Sud AOC Languedoc 2007, made from Syrah and Grenache.

For those of you who haven't been to a wine tasting before, or had much exposure to southern hemisphere red wine, the upcoming "Cellar Select Premium Reds" tasting by the South World Wine Society is going to be a blockbuster.  Monday, Noon, April 13 is the deadline to sign up.

Many of these are iconic red wines in the southern hemisphere.  Some are from vintages no longer available, so if you want to try them, this may be the only place you can try them.  Here are the wines:

1. Pisano Uruguay Coastal Region 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon RPF
2. Saxenburg South Africa Stellenbosch 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Collection
3. Glen Carlou South Africa Paarl 2003 Syrah
4. Peter Lehmann Australia Barossa 2004 Shiraz The Futures
5. Tikal Argentina Mendoza 2006 Malbec Amorio
6. Benmarco Argentina Mendoza 2006 Red Blend Expresivo
7. Valdivieso Chile Central Valley Red Blend Caballo Loco No 7

From the website:

The Glen Carlou Syrah has won the John Platter Wine of the Year in South Africa. The Caballo Loco No 7 from Chile is blended and aged by the Solera method used for Spanish sherry, combining fractions of wine from Caballo Loco No 1 - 6 with 7. The Peter Lehmann Futures Shiraz 2004 is not only a benchmark Australian red, but comes from an outstanding Barossa Valley vintage. The Tikal Malbec was rated 91 points by Wine Spectator. The Benmarco Argentina Mendoza 2006 Expresivo is a beguiling blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Tannat, and is one of Argentina's top new wines. The Saxenberg Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the Cape's most elegant and highly regarded examples of this varietal.

You have till noon on Monday, April 13 to sign up.  It's a great deal for these premium wines, plus check out the appetizers:

Plate 1
Stilton cheese with toasted walnut and dried apricot
A Van Lawn beef slider
Seared diver scallop, red wine butter sauce
Reddened salmon, red wine butter sauce

Plate 2
Grilled lamb chop with olive crust, natural pan jus
Sautéed chicken liver “Diablo”
Prime rib “melt”
Torpedo Prawn with sweet chili sauce

You can directly link to the paysite through this link.