WHC Blog

Summer Wines a perfect match for the Season

Just last week The Peterborough Examiner published an article by Shari Darling with her comments on B.C. wines for summer. She reviewed a range of the award-winning Wild Horse Canyon wines and commented that "They certainly offer great value for their price."

The Wild Horse Canyon Shiraz was described as being a delightful quaffer to enjoy while sitting in a lawn chair, reading a good mystery novel this summer."

The Wild Horse Canyon Merlot suggested as being "a great choice for weddings this summer and....ideal for summer evening entertaining on the patio."

"It's a great buy" says the article of the Wild Horse Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon which is expected to be released soon in LCBO outlets. "Give me a warm summer evening, the company of my family or good friends, a bottle of Wild Horse Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon, and a rack of teriyaki barbecued pork ribs, and I would feel close to heaven."

In the article it goes on to talk about our white wines in Ontario - the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Please click the link to read the full article.

Wild Horse Canyon wines are available throughout Canada.Our wines are tasting great right now and I hope you will have a chance to pick up a bottle and enjoy it this summer.

Frequently Asked Questions - Wild Horse Canyon

We often get emails from customers asking where our wines are available and we thought this would be a great way to share the information as well as provide some FAQs you may not already know about Wild Horse Canyon.

Why are the wines named Wild Horse Canyon? Our winery is named in honour of the wild horses which can still be found today in California, Washington and British Columbia.

 

What is West Coast Appellation? Our Winemaker works with the best from British Columbia, Washington and California in order to craft the perfect wines. Each region is selected because of its different and special soils, climate and attributes. The results are balanced, fruit-forward wines: lush robust reds, and clean refreshing whites.

Check out the Grape Growing Facts of each of the regions on our website.

Where are your wines available? Our wines are available throughout Canada at many retailers. Here are some links that can help you locate your favourite Wild Horse Canyon wines nearest you. 

Artisan Wine Shops BC
BC Liquor Stores
Alberta*
Saskatchewan Liquor Stores
Manitoba Liquor Stores
Ontario Liquor Stores
Quebec Liquor Stores
Nova Scotia Liquor Stores

  *Alberta has a privatized liquor industry - inquire with your local retailer.

What varietals do you have? Wild Horse Canyon Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and our new Left Bank White (which is 100% BC and a blend of Chardonnay/Pinot Blanc).

 

Are you on any social networks? Yes. We hope you will follow us on Twitter and/or join us on Facebook.

Join our Facebook Group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2536222862

Follow us on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/WildHorseCanyon

Chatelaine Magazine has great taste!

Chatelaine Magazine's June 2009 issue features Wild Horse Canyon Sauvignon Blanc as a Top Bottle. Columnists Kelly Robson and Annie Reid have selected their top wine picks and paired the delicious "winsome white to keep on hand all summer" with chicken burgers. "We love its lemon-lime aromas and dry delivery that's bursting with citrus and sage."

Chicken burgers on the barbecue and a glass of Wild Horse Canyon Sauvignon Blanc sounds delightful! Barbecue season is almost here on the west coast and if you are looking for a perfect pairing for your favourite Wild Horse Canyon wines visit Chatelaine's virtual Sommelier - The Wine Chooser, run by wine writer Natalie MacLean.

This issue of the Canadian women's magazine features the loveable Jamie Oliver on the cover and as always some great seasonal recipes. Meals in minutes - hot off the grill, we can always use time savers.

Pick up a copy of the magazine and visit their website at www.chatelaine.com. The current issue is also linked on the website so you can be sure to catch all that is new.

Have you already planned your Mothers’ Day?

Mother's Day is already here! Sunday are you surprising your mom (or wife) with a treat for Mothers’ Day? Here are a few suggestions on things to do. Whether it is a home-cooked meal paired with some Wild Horse Canyon wine or indulging at one of your local restaurants plan ahead. Brunches are also very popular on Mother’s Day and it is suggested that you make a reservation beforehand so you aren't disappointed.

Here are some choices of meal plans for a family dinner at home. You could cook up a roast chicken with crispy, spiced potatoes and a side of fresh garden salad or (for all you vegetarians out there) cook a vegetable stir fry with a side of delicious stuffed mushrooms. If none of these have your belly rumbling check out these websites to find more mouth-watering recipes that will make mom love you even more (if that's possible). You can also visit these recipe websites for some other ideas. http://www.epicurious.com/, www.allrecipes.com.

 

If you have no time to prepare a meal then a restaurant is likely the best solution. The Food Vancouver website has restaurants listed for each city as well as a listing of Mother’s Day specials and events upcoming. http://www.foodvancouver.com/

 

Now if you haven’t already gotten something for your loved one and are still planning to, here are some ideas to think about.

• Gourmet Basket including Wild Horse Canyon wines (available at Artisan Wine Shops)
• Spa Certificate
• Gift cards (every girl loves to shop)
• Flowers

What type of mom do you have? Proud mom, Stylish mom, Eco mom - this site lets you pick what your mom would want based on the type you think she is. It also has a list of the top presents for Mothers’ Day! www.gifts.com/ideas/mothers-day

 

Happy Mother's Day!

 

Decanting Tips

Beppi Crosariol, Wine & Spirits Critic for the Globe & Mail in his debut video column from December 2008 talking about tips and technique for using decanters. He explains how, why and when in this short wine education video.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here to see the Globe & Mail Video

Two of the main reasons to decant your wine are:
1. Separating old wine from its sediment that may have settled to the bottom of the bottle.
2. To aerate a young red wine. By exposing the wine to air in the open decanter it helps to combine oxygen with the wine and allows for a softer, fruitier wine.

You will definitely taste the difference when you decant a wine. You may have noticed Beppi used Wild Horse Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon to help out with the lesson.

Wild Horse Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz & Merlot would be great for up to an hour in a decanter but you don't have to have the decanter to enjoy these wines. Each of these wines already tastes great directly from the bottle into your wine glass.

Good luck with your decanting! It is simple and there is a great variety out there for decanters, find one that works best for you!

Sauvignon Blanc–Steamed Mussels with Garlic Toasts

  

With Spring just around the corner, it's a great time to try some light recipes using white wine. If you're entertaining this weekend and want try something new,check out this great and easy recipe I found on www.foodandwine.com

 

 

 

  4 thick slices of white peasant bread

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing

2 garlic cloves—1 left whole, 1 thinly sliced

1 medium shallot, minced

Salt and freshly ground pepper

4 pounds mussels, scrubbed

1 1/2 cups Wild Horse Canyon Sauvignon Blanc

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/4 cup coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley

Directions

1. Preheat the broiler. Brush the bread with olive oil and transfer to a baking sheet. Broil the bread a few inches from the heat, turning once, for 2 minutes, until golden and toasted. Lightly rub the whole garlic clove over the toasts.
2. In a large, deep pot, heat the 1/4 cup of olive oil. Add the shallot and sliced garlic, season lightly with salt and pepper and cook over high heat, stirring, until the garlic is softened and lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add the mussels and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the wine, cover and steam the mussels until they open, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the mussels to 4 deep bowls, discarding any mussels that do not open.
3. Add the butter and parsley to the broth, swirling and shaking the pot until the butter melts. Slowly pour the broth over the mussels, stopping before you reach the grit at the bottom of the pot. Serve the mussels with the garlic toasts.

Supporting Canada's Artists

In an effort to continue supporting the local arts community, Wild Horse Canyon is proudly sponsoring Mass Art Guide's private cocktail reception this weekend. The event will be taking place tonight at the Liberty Market Building in Toronto. If you are amongst the invited art collectors, gallery owners, visual artists and museum executives gathered in attendance tonight, you will be able to enjoy a glass of Wild Horse Canyon Sauvignon Blanc or Shiraz while taking in the sounds of recording artists, Elsiane who will be giving an exclusive performance.The event in happening in conjunction with The Artist Project Toronto, an annual exhibition and sale of fine art created by independent artists. Mass Art Guide(MAG) is a monthly print and online resource for a comprehensive showcase of the best gallery and museum exhibitions in Canada and around the world. Over 15 000 copies are distributed monthly in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and and New York and can be found at museums, galleries, tourism centers, hotels and design firms.

 

 

 

 

Wild Horse Wins: 2009 is Off to a Great Start!

      

 

 

 

The first results of 2009 are in and Wild Horse Canyon Wines  was awarded twice at The Dallas Morning News Wine Competion which took place on Feb 16-17th.This year marked the 25th year annivesary of the competition and in commemoration of this occasion, recognition was given to the 25 wineries that have won the most awards since its beginning in 1985. There were 3,502 entries in total which were comprised of wines from 28 states and 18 countries. It was our reds that impressed the 55-person panel of qualified this time around, with our 2007 WHC Merlot and our 2007 WHC Shiraz which both brought home SILVERS for their respective categories. An up-to-date list of awards and accolades can be found on our site and surely, with more to come!

 

       

 

Winterlicious 2009 Extended

If you live in Toronto, Ontario or heading that way soon, consider sipping your next glass of Wild Horse Canyon while enjoying a meal at one of the participating restaurants during Toronto's most anticipated culinary events; Winterlicious. Originally scheduled to end on February 13th, the event has now been extended to run until February 28th. This  gastronomic celebration allows diners to take advantage of a city-wide promotion offering exclusive prix fixe menus at Toronto's top dining establishments.So whether you've missed that Valentine's Day dinner this past weekend or simply haven't had the chance to dine out recently, here's a great opportunity to check out some of the city's 'best' in just about any category.  Some of our faves, where you can be sure to find Wild Horse Canyon, include Biagio Ristorante located in the St Lawrence Town Hall; Azure inside the Intercontinental Hotel; The Boiler House in the Distillery District; and Marben (Spadina/Portland area).

For more information and a complete list and reviews of participating restaurants check out the following:

toronto.com

dine.to

dining.ca

 

Wild Horse Canyon Chardonnay: A 'Billy's Best' for 2009

Toronto-based wine writer and founder of Billy's Best Bottles Billy Munnely, ranks our Wild Horse Canyon 06 Chardonnnay as one of his 'best' picks of 2009, refering to its style as 'A California beach party' and describing its taste as 'fun fruity and awfully nice'. He also touches on the West Cost Appelation that is used in creating Wild Horse Canyon wines whereby our wine maker sources the best grapes from three West Coast wine regions, Washington, California and British Columbia; where the wines are eventually cellered. While perhaps not 'global', the wines are a definate tribute to North America's Western Coast.

The Billy's Best Bottles Wines for 2009 guide is available online as well as select bookstores across Canada. It's jam packed with reviews and suggestions to get your set for the new year. Billy Munnely has been delivering 'light hearted and enlightening wine advice' for 30 years with a goal to remove 'snobbery' from the wine selection process and take it a place where wine is discovered with feelings as well as with the senses.