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BBQ, People and Passion: Oakville Sommelier

OWEC BBQ OWEC BBQ Guest, President Glen Brannen,

OWEC BBQ Guest, President Glen Brannen,

and The Land Sharks - Photo credit: C.Silversides

Last week I attended the Oakville Wine Enthusiasts Club (OWEC) “year-end” BBQ. This was a wonderful event with live music by their house band The Land Sharks, beer by Highlander Brew Co. from South River, Ontario serving Twisted Spruce and Scottish Ale, and wine by Apparition Wines & Spirits out of Toronto.

The founder of Apparition, Katherine Mellin, is passionate about both wine and the people who make it. After dinner she gave us an excellent tutored wine tasting highlighting some of the wines her agency represents. She poured us two interesting Cantine Federiciane wines from the Campania region in southwest Italy. Their sparkling red wine Lettere is often served as an aperitif and goes well with salami due to its good acidity. Their Gragnano wine, another red, goes well with rustic dishes and pizza.

Benazzoli Chiaretto Spumante Brut Benazzoli Chiaretto Spumante Brut

Benazzoli Chiaretto Spumante Brut

Photo credit: C.Silversides

Via video we were greeted by the lovely Claudia Benazzoli. She and her sister began carrying on their great grandfather’s tradition of wine making by creating Benazzoli in the Bardolino area of Veneto - the largest wine producing region in Italy. Claudia explains to us that their region in northeast Italy has a good climate for vines and stated, “It’s about the people behind the wines, young, fresh wines to be enjoyed with friends.” Their Chiaretto is a rousing rosé made from two of the three grapes typically used to make Amarone: Corvina and Rondinella. An excellent choice for a picnic or BBQ, this might just be the perfect choice for your Canada Day festivities. There are also many amazing rosé wines coming out of the Niagara Peninsula wine region, and many of the wineries will be open on Canada Day. Let me know what you recommend!

Thinking about wine, what is happening in Oakville? The Ontario Wine Society (OWS) is presenting their first ever All-Chapters Social, “Sipping in the Sun at Coyote’s Run” in July. This event is taking place on the third day of the International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration (i4c) which includes wine, cheese, live jazz entertainment, and an optional vineyard walking tour.

So there you have it: BBQ, People, Passion


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