Gallery Archives

Fleur du Cap Wine and Artisanal Salt Pairing – A Unique Experience

South Africa’s critically acclaimed-chef Craig Cormack has teamed up with Fleur du Cap winery to create specially designed dishes, which are seasoned with unique salts and perfectly paired with award-winning unfiltered Fleur du Cap wines.

Just as there are regions for wine growing, there are also regions for salt. Craig has sourced out black lava salt from the volcanic rock pools of Hawaii, the sea and desert of South Africa’s arid West Coast, Khoisan and Oryx Desert salt, pink Murray River Salt from Australia, and rare Persian Blue Salt from rock crystals.

Craig explains the process: “One of the challenges when pairing salt and wine is to create food that will enhance the wine without dominating it. The natural process of crafting Fleur du Cap wines by allowing the style inherent in the grapes to guide the winemaking team, works particularly well with unrefined, artisanal salts, reverting back to nature in both the food and the wines.”

Some of Craig’s pairings include: Merlot paired with Beef Carpaccio paired with Kala Namak Salt; Chenin Blanc paired with Pizzadeliere paired with Caviar Salt; Cabernet Sauvignon paired with Salted Beef paired with Oryx Salt; Pinotage paired with Salted Peanut, Chocolate and Banana Mouse paired with Peruvian Salt, amongst others. Each dish has a unique salt profile which, when paired with Fleur du Cap wine, brings out the complex flavours of these varietals.

Situated in the hart of Stellenbosch wine country, Fleur du Cap vineyards reflect the rich biodiversity of the Cape Floral Kingdom. One of only six such plant kingdoms in the world – home to over 9,600 plant species.

“Our wines are crafted with nature in mind based on our winemaking philosophy of Regional Excellence”

My favorite pairing
Cabernet Sauvignon paired with Salted Beef paired with Oryx Salt

Oryx Salt
South Africa; natural white unprocessed and sundried; trace minerals

Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Tasting Notes

Complex flavours of blackcurrant, blueberry with hints of violets and mocha; integrated oaking adds firm tannins, which give a long finish.

Blend
100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Food Suggestions
This complex wine is the ideal accompaniment to fillet of beef and roast lamb but goes equally well with rich, robust dishes and strong cheeses.

Champagne physicist Gérard Liger-Belair’s recent observations revealed in the Journal of Food Engineering

Gérard Liger-Belair a physics professor at the University of Reims and expert in effervescence and oenology released his latest report entitled:

“Unveiling self-organized two-dimensional (2D) convective cells in champagne glasses”

Fabien Beaumont, Gérard Liger-Belair , Guillaume Polidori –
Laboratoire de Thermomécanique (GRESPI), UFR Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, BP 1039, 51687, Reims Cedex 2, France

Journal of Food Engineering

Volume 188, Pages 58–65

‘’’Our work around swirling movements which agitate the champagne in the flute (and their action on the exhaust of flavourings) continues.

In collaboration with our colleagues and friends of the grespi, we just released a new series of observations in the journal of food engineering, which makes the link between the number of vortices on the surface and the intensity of the effervescence in the glass.”

An Abstract of the Report

“Under standard tasting conditions, homogeneous stirring of champagne under the action of rising bubbles confers an advantage compared with a situation where the liquid phase would be at rest. Convection helps renewal of the immediate subsurface layers with champagne from the bulk, thus facilitating the evaporation of volatile organic compounds, and therefore better revealing the champagne “bouquet”. Here, spontaneous and self-organized two-dimensional convective cells were evidenced (at the air/champagne interface) in a laser-etched coupe poured with champagne, through laser tomography. Various regimes were evidenced, from a highly unstable 8-cells regime, to a very stable 4-cells regime. Moreover, by blowing air bubbles through a nozzle positioned at the bottom of a goblet poured with water, and by using Particle Image Velocimetry, similar 2D convective cells were also evidenced at the air/water interface, thus pointing out the crucial role of ascending bubbles behind the formation of self-organized 2D convection cells.”

“Amazing networks of convective cells revealed through laser tomography at the surface of champagne glasses.”

Highlights and Findings:

The stirring of champagne glasses under the action of rising bubbles increases the perception of aromas.

Self-organized 2D convective cells were observed in champagne glasses through laser tomography.

Identical convection cells were evidenced in a model experiment, with a bubbly flow blown in a water goblet.

Various regimes were evidenced, from a highly unstable 8-cells regime, to a very stable 4-cells regime.

LCBO ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO

LCBO’s Chair Edward Waitzer announced this week the appointment of Dr. George Soleas PhD to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of the LCBO.

“Dr. Soleas has successfully led many aspects of LCBO’s operations and built strong working relationships with suppliers and other key stakeholders. At a time when LCBO faces significant opportunities and challenges, he brings in-depth knowledge of the sector and organization, and a proven record of innovation, teamwork and public service,” says Waitzer.

George joined the LCBO as Director of Quality Assurance in 1997. Under his leadership the department was transformed into a state-of-the-art, profitable and internationally-endorsed laboratory facility. This success led to the expansion of his portfolio in 2008 to include Logistics, where he implemented a series of changes to improve the efficiency and safety of Specialty Services and LCBO retail distribution centres. This included championing the development of LCBO’s patent-pending automatic palletizer technology, which has won many domestic and international awards. In 2013, he was promoted to Executive Vice President, assuming responsibility for Information Technology, Store Development & Real Estate, and Resource Protection.

“LCBO is entering a more competitive marketplace and needs someone with both experience and passion to continue to fulfil its mandate as a profitable, customer-focused and socially responsible retailer. Given the depth of his involvement in the beverage alcohol industry, both inside and outside the LCBO, George is well positioned to guide the organization as it continues to evolve to meet the needs of the marketplace and serve its customers,” Waitzer added.

“I am confident that, with George’s distinguished expertise and intimate knowledge of the beverage alcohol sector, the LCBO will remain an innovative retailer that continues to demonstrate its ability to keep pace and lead changes in the retailing landscape in the province, across Canada and internationally. Under George’s leadership and vision, the LCBO will undoubtedly grow its business in a responsible manner, providing the knowledgeable and helpful experience that customers have come to expect while contributing revenues that help fund important social services Ontarians rely on like health care and education.” Honourable Charles Sousa, Ontario Minister of Finance

“George is known throughout the supplier and agent community as being a true partner. In Quality Assurance, Logistics and as EVP, he has significantly improved operational efficiency while ensuring a fair process for all. This professionalism earned him the Drinks Ontario Partnership Award in 2008. In his various roles with the LCBO he has earned a well-deserved reputation for working collaboratively to take advantage of opportunities and resolve issues quickly to improve the customer experience. With the changing landscape in the beverage alcohol industry, we look forward to continuing to work with George and the LCBO team.” Chris Churchill, President Drinks Ontario

Wine Review: Canadian Framboise [A Fruit Wine From Southbrook Vineyards, Niagara, Ontario]

Canadian Framboise

A Fruit Wine from Southbrook Vineyards, Niagara, Ontario

Style Sweet

Review by Liz Palmer

liz-palmer.com – June 1 2016

Rating: 92

This multi winning wine is produced entirely from Royalty Raspberries. Lovely ruby hue with fresh raspberry aromas. Nice medium body. The wine is finished sweet, with a slight tart edge with a long fruit finish. As a result, it is one of the few wines that can marry well with chocolate desserts. It can definitely enhance your summer cocktails, including mixing it with Champagne to create the classic ‘Kir Royale’

LCBO#: 341024 | $17.95

ProWine Asia switches to Annual Cycle (Alternating Between Singapore and Hong Kong)

ProWein has been organized by Messe Düsseldorf for more than 20 years as the most important trade fair for wine and spirits worldwide. In 2013 the successful concept was exported to Shanghai in the form of ProWine China, in a venture with China International Exhibitions Ltd, a member of Allworld Exhibitions. Once a year the wine sector from Mainland China meets here every November. April 2016 then saw the arrival of ProWine Asia in Singapore that was initially planned as a biennial event. Due to its great success and the great demand on the part of exhibitors ProWine Asia is now to run every year, alternating between Singapore and Hong Kong. The first ProWine Asia in Hong Kong will be held from 8 – 11 May 2017.

By extending ProWine Asia in Hong Kong Messe Düsseldorf is continuing its successful cooperation with the international Allworld Group. Like in Shanghai and Singapore ProWine Asia in Hong Kong will run in parallel with a leading food fair, in this case HOFEX. The contractual partners are Messe Düsseldorf China Ltd. and Hong Kong Exhibition Services Ltd. (HKES), a member of the international Allworld Exhibitions Network. HOFEX in Hong Kong is the most important trade fair for food and drinks in the region and next year it will be celebrating its 30^thanniversary. The last HOFEX in May 2015 attracted over 38,000 trade visitors from the food and catering trade. The former wine segment “Wine&Spirits@Hofex” will now be merged into ProWine Asia at the Hong Kong location and will be further extended with the help of Düsseldorf know-how. While ProWine Asia in Singapore predominantly addresses the South East Asian region ProWine Asia in Hong Kong is directed not only at the local market but also at other Asian markets such as Macao, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.

“With ProWine Asia in Singapore we have already made a very successful entry on the South East Asian wine market. Extending ProWine Asia was therefore simply a logical consequence, especially since we boast very great experience with our partners. The annual scheduling in combination with the alternating venue has immense potential. At the same time, we provide the sector with the perfect date with ProWine Asia being held in the first half of the year. With these strong cornerstones we offer all internationally operating producers an all-round carefree package for the entire Asian continent,” says Hans Werner Reinhard, Managing Director at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Messe Düsseldorf China Ltd. DanielCheung, General Manager at Hong Kong Exhibition Services Ltd adds: “We are delighted that we can offer such a qualified platform for the wine sector in parallel with HOFEX. With the experience we have gained over the past 30 years with HOFEX we know that trade visitors will very much welcome this offering in Hong Kong – especially because it comes care of such a strong brand as ProWein.”

ProWine Asia in Hong Kong and Singapore is like ProWine China in Shanghai a pure B2B trade show. The first edition of ProWine Asia in Hong Kong runs from 8 to 11 May 2017 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. In the following year ProWine Asia will then be held again in Singapore from 24 – 27 April 2018. Further information, and soon also registration documents for exhibitors, can be found at www.prowineasia.com.