the WINE GUY
Allow me a little self indulgence this week as we head into the Father’s Day weekend. You see, I’m a dad and I’d be remiss if I didn’t admit that I have thought about different wines I would enjoy sipping in celebration.
So somewhat selfish, but here are three dad-worthy wines that I approve — and yes, all three bottles pair marvellously with grills and barbecue!
THE SWIRL: WINES OF SOUTH AFRICA ONLINE WINE COURSE
As we continue our advised physical distancing, why not look online to expand your wine knowledge? Wines of South Africa has come up with a timely course to take your attention away from Animal Crossing. There are six modules covering a range of topics related to the South African wine industry, from history and wine styles to tourism. Each module concludes with a multiple choice quiz, and getting 80 per cent or above correct is required to move on. Successful completion not only results in bragging rights among your peer group, but a downloadable certificate of completion as well. Head to wosa.co.za/ applications/wine-course/loginregister. aspx for complete details.
Roodeberg 2018 Red,
South Africa
($11.99, on sale until July 4, #7187)
Nostalgia has pull. And Roodeberg has long served me well as an all-purpose barbecue and campfire red. An undeclared blend — though further research highlights this is a robust mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Petit Verdot, and Tannat among other grapes — this red is full of dark fruit and memories of smoke with an easy, fruitforward and friendly finish. This is a panglobal red, easy to enjoy across settings — though particularly enjoyable when set alongside grilled chicken thighs, pork roast, or mid-week TexMex tacos.
Bottom line: B, Fan-favourite red
Coolshanagh 2016 Chardonnay, British Columbia
($36.90, limited availability through the winery and select private wine stores)
Then again, classic dads are into classic wines, and it doesn’t get more classic than Chardonnay. Sure, Chardonnay is the wine equivalent of vanilla ice cream. Which is to say that there is about a million different examples of each. But good vanilla ice cream is just plain good, and similarly a great bottle of Chardonnay is amazing for a reason. Simply put,
B.C. Chardonnay doesn’t get much better than Coolshanagh. This is a small batch Naramata Bench bottling that shows apple and citrus fruit, amazing texture, and engaging balance and acidity. It’s worth hunting for, especially to pair with local fish and seafood — think seared scallops and poached halibut.
Bottom line: A,
Effortless cool
Tenuta di Castellaro 2017 Ypsilon Rosso, Italy
($35.99, #143498)
On the other hand, this is for the dad who has everything! No, not really, but this is certainly a bottle for the curious wine enthusiast. It’s not every day that you see a bottle from the volcanic island of Lipari off the northern coast of Sicily. Nor is it likely that you have encountered the rare Corinto Nero grape found on the isle. Ypsilon Rosso is a blend of Corinto Nero (60 per cent) along with Nero d’Avola (30 per cent) and Alicante (10 per cent). The result is a lithe and vibrant red redolent of berries, herbs, and sun-baked earth. It’s a quintessential grilling wine, whether burgers, marinated flank steak, or anything in between is on the menu.
Bottom line: A-, Gutsy but elegant