WHC Blog

Celebrating the Olympics and OTBN 2010 with that special wine!

The 11th Annual Open the Bottle Night and the last day of scheduled competition for the Olympics fall on the last Saturday of February this year. Don't hold that special bottle forever, what a better time than OTBN to plan a perfect evening around opening that special wine. Fortunately here in Canada, we are able to enjoy it two fold and toast in celebration of our athlete's achievements. Do you really need any other reasons?

To participate on February 27th, 2010 the only requirement is to have an unopened bottle of something special, uncorking it and enjoying the wine. There even is a website devoted to the annual event so you can follow along: http://www.openthatbottlenight.com/

You can also tweet about that special bottle on the day - What are you tasting? How does it taste?
#otbn on Twitter

Today OTBN is bigger than ever, with newspapers and restaurants throughout North America and bloggers from around the world sharing and creating their own OTBN communities. So many great stories shared and new memories created and all around that special wine.

Share your stories with us here or on twitter.

Enter to Win PuSh Festival Tickets

Wild Horse Canyon is a proud supporter of arts and community. We invite you to enter our contest to win 4 tickets to PuSh International Performing Arts Festival's presentation of William Yang's China playing Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 7:30pm.

China plays until February 6th.

Austrailian-born photographer-storyteller William Yang shares a deeply beautiful account of his personal pilgrimage to China - the country of his ancestors.

Click here to enter the Contest.

Sauvignon Blanc recipe with easy to follow video instructions

Le Gourmet TV has done it again. They have paired a delicious easy to prepare meal with our Wild Horse Canyon Sauvignon Blanc. This latest recipe the Pan Roasted Chicken Breast with Apples and Sauvignon Blanc includes chicken breast, apples, walnuts and Sauvignon Blanc among other things. The Sauvignon Blanc is a great pairing with its aromas of sweet melon, grass and floral notes. It offers generous citrus and melon flavours up front with a crisp clean acidity on the finish.

http://www.legourmet.tv/cooking/pan_roasted_chicken_with_apples.html

 

Seasonal Recipes

I am a big fan of seasonal recipes. I still haven't come to the realization that Fall is here but with the recent weather we have been experiencing and the evenings becoming darker earlier I am going to have to face it soon enough.

This Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe may help me get more into the spirit and be able to handle the cold days a bit easier. http://www.legourmet.tv/baking/pumpkin_cheesecake_recipe_video.html

I originally was looking for some recipes that might remind me of summer days not too far gone. I found this great Grilled Chardonnay Shrimp recipe that included Wild Horse Canyon Chardonnay and thought, this would be a nice dish that is easy to recreate but I think I'll maybe wait for better weather before I attempt. I have printed the card from the Le Gourmet TV site and added it to my collection.

I did try the Braised Beef Pasta Sauce that included the Wild Horse Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon last week - it was delicious! That would definitely be a great meal to enjoy this season. Check out the website for the video recipe and details on how to make this dish. Very easy to follow instructions and a great pairing with the Wild Horse Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon, enjoy! http://www.legourmet.tv/cooking/braised_beef_pasta_sauce_recipe.html

Wild Horse Canyon 2007 Left Bank White

If you haven't yet tried our new 2007 Left Bank White wine you should. This wine is a BC VQA wine that joins our Wild Horse Canyon West Coast range of wines. Our winemaker selects the best grapes from British Columbia, California and Washington to craft every vintage of wine. We were excited that this special blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc from 100% BC grapes was created.

This wine is crisp, delightfully aromatic and refreshing. Serve chilled either on its own or paired with roasted chicken, creamy pasta sauces, fresh seafood or with grilled vegetables.

Wine writers have also been saying great things about this wine:

Georgia Straight's Jurgen Gothe: 2007 Left Bank White. Jurgen Gothe says "it is simply sensational".

Kenji Hodgson in May 2009: "Wild Horse Canyon's new Left Bank White offers a generous glassful of flavour-packed Chardonnay blended with a dollop of apple-y Pinot Blanc. Plush aromas of melons, toast and McIntosh step up to bat while a soft texture and medium length play amicably in this easygoing wine. All in all great value."

John Schreiner in June 2009: "Left Bank White 2007 is a tasty white with layers of tropical fruit flavours and aromas of citrus and peach. Its soft acidity gives it a fullness on the palate. The finish is fruity but dry. 88 points."

Wine Diva in 2009: "...very good value...a fruitcup of aromas - sweet pineapple, apricot and honeydew melon, citrus and vanilla...sweet pineapple and vanilla caramel flavours, lingering spice lifted with tart citrus on the finish.

Gismondi on Wine in Sept 2009: "It soft and round and ripe and its tropical fruit flavours are easy to drink. The 65/35 blend of chardonnay and pinot blanc will please many palates."

The wine is available in select restaurants and specialty wine stores througout BC including Artisan Wine Shops and Everything Wine Stores.

Shiraz Grilled Flank Steak

Le Gourmet TV has posted a new video recipe online that includes the Wild Horse Canyon Shiraz within the recipe.

 

All about food & beverage, Le Gourmet TV’s website offers hundreds of videos that show experts and up-and-coming chefs demonstrating how to prepare a vast assortment of meals; from sophisticated gourmet recipes to the perfect barbecue meal. You can cook your own meals with confidence knowing exactly how the chef prepared the meal. Pairing wine with your meals or as a component within your meal adds complexity and makes the entire experience more enjoyable.

 

Visit the site and enjoy great tutorials offered including tips that are available right at your fingertips. What a great way to explore food & wine!

 

Click the link to watch the video and download the recipe card for the Shiraz Grilled Flank Steak recipe.

http://www.legourmet.tv/grilling/shiraz_flank_steak.html

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!