22
• A P R I L 2 0 0 9 • F R I D AY ! M A G A Z I N E
winetrends
Wine meets art
Kathleen Rake
FRIDAY! Magazine
Y
ou don’t always have to pair
wine with food, you know.
Sometimes you can pair it with
art. Just ask Rose Siemens, manager
of Whatcom Wine & Spirits in
Abbotsford.
For the opening of B.C. artist Lou
Lynn’s exhibition Retro-active at The
Reach Gallery Museum Abbotsford,
Siemens chose two wines to
complement Lynn’s tool-like glass and
metal sculptures.
First was the Mionetto Il Prosecco
Frizzante N.V. ($21.99/10.5% ABV),
chosen to complement the glass. This
prosecco is a gentle sparkler that gives
the visual impression of glass with
movement.
On the palate, it presents as dry, with
apple, floral, and stone fruit notes,
moving to a slightly sweet and almostnutty finish. If I were to serve this wine
with food, I’d probably put together
appetizers such as sushi and tempura,
prosciutto-wrapped melon or slightly
spicy deep-fried spring rolls with a
plum or apricot sauce.
For the metal, Siemens chose the
2006 337 Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon
($22.99/14.5% ABV). The cabernet
sauvignon is a thick-skinned and hardy
grape that rarely gives in to rot or frost.
This particular example of the wine is
deeply coloured and full of ripe dark
cherries and blackberries, black currant,
a little coffee and chocolate and spice.
Top it off with smooth tannins that
are present but not intrusive and easy
acidity, and you have a relatively
complex wine that is as suitable for
sipping by itself as for putting together
with a meal. If I were to serve this
cabernet sauvignon with food, I’d
as happily put it with barbecued
hamburgers as lamb chops or grilled
steak.
I finally got to taste B.C.’s muchanticipated new Black Cloud Pinot
Noir. This is a wine that can easily
compete with any of the new world
pinots I’ve tasted. No kidding. It is
stuffed — on both the nose and palate
— with black cherries, ripe blueberries,
some cooked strawberries, tobacco
and the proverbial forest floor. It is
silky smooth with tannins that aren’t
yet finished and a level of acidity that
makes it the perfect food-friendly wine.
Kudos to wine maker Bradley
Cooper, of Township 7 fame, for his
dedication to excellence. If you don’t
want to take just my word for it, read
the commentary offered by B.C. wine
bloggers Karen Gurney (www.winebard.
ca) and Sean Calder (www.vinifico.
com).
Quick Wine Notes:
• Prosecco is a type of grape. In order for a wine to carry the
name, it must be made of 100% prosecco.
• The word frizzante refers to a gentle bubble, while the word
spumante refers to a more aggressive bubble.
• Lodi is an AVA (American Viticultural Area) within California’s
Central Valley region, which has been known for sound, valuedriven wines but is now developing a reputation for more
complex, award-winning wines.
Plan your Legacy for
Abbotsford now.
Here’s how...
To contribute to
Friday! Magazine’s
Wine Trends,
e-mail newsroom@
abbynews.com.
30
Working with
Professional Advisors
to Grow Community.
Include contact
information so we
can get in
touch for
photos.
Years
of Inspiration
Daily Lunch
ly
Specials On
$ 95
9
50% OFF
Winner
o
BEST IT f
RESTAUALIAN
RANT
in Abb
& Mapleotsford
Ridge!
Buy one meal at regular price & get a second meal of equal or lesser value at 50% off
(present coupon before ordering). Valid Sunday through Thursday until April 30, 2009.
Cannot be combined with any other offer or specials. Dine in only.
33886 Essendene Avenue, Abbotsford 604.855.1888
Now That’s Italian!
For the BEST casual dining surrounded by a cozy atmosphere & service with a smile!
604.855.1888
• 33886 Essendene
Corner of Essendene Ave & Gladys Ave
Avenue
Ph 604-850-3755
204-2890 Garden Street
Abbotsford V2T 4W7
www.abbotsfordcf.org