It’s a busy time of year with ‘Back to School’ season just around the corner and the Ex in full swing in Toronto. What better way to spend a weekend than with some wild food from the CNE that’s drawing everyone’s attention. This weekend, we picked a red wine that matches almost anything you would find at the Ex, or can think of cooking at home or ordering in. Go ahead and deep fry those chicken feet or that chocolate bar, and go a bit crazy this weekend!
Tasting Notes: Intense ruby-red in colour, this crowd-pleaser has a complex bouquet of cherries, blueberries, coconut, and vanilla with hints of spicy oak. In the mouth, it is full-bodied yet smooth and elegant, with soft, supple tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is long and lingering, with a burst of spice and bright fruit at the end. Very tasty!
Enjoy With: A casual dinner with friends. This big red wine will match most dishes you can think of, but is a home-run with BBQ ribs!
Style: Full-bodied and smooth red wine.
Terroir/Region: Grapes, like people, have a long and complex lineage. California Zinfandel and Puglia Primitivo share a common ancestor from Croatia called Crljenak (Tsir-elay-nak). To say that these cousins look a lot alike is an understatement. They share many of the same growing traits, aromatic features and flavours. Primitivo grapes for this wine come from low-yielding vineyards on Italy’s ‘heel’ in the Salento area of southern Puglia.
Producer: Orion Wines showcases Italy’s most famous wine regions including Abruzzo, Tuscany, and Piemonte throughout its catalogue. The company strives to bring intriguing, innovative and delicious wines to international markets by combining tradition, technology and a passion for what it does.
Availability: The Wanted Zin Old Vines Zinfandel is available year-round in the Italian section at the LCBO.
Price: $14.00
LCBO#: 416487
Size: 750 mL
Alcohol Content: 14.5% alc./vol.
