| Wine & Food Show improves popular features |
| Thursday, 22 October 2009 | |
24th Ottawa Wine & Food Show
Each year, it seems, I write that it's going to be bigger and better than ever, and it does seem to go from strength to strength. Anyone who went to last year's show knows there were a few challenges, as the ownership had changed hands and it moved to a new location at Lansdowne Park while the Congress Centre is being rebuilt. But almost all the reaction I got from exhibitors and visitors was positive. A sign of that is that all 200-plus booths available for this year's show have been booked and the producer, Joan Culliton, is trying to find room for more exhibitors who want in. As she told me, "It's a good problem to have." These booths are the core of the show. Most pour wine, but many others represent restaurants, beer, spirits, wine accessories, magazines, books and the like. Most visitors simply like to wander the aisles, chatting with their friends and sampling wine and food. It makes for a great atmosphere. Even when younger crowds in their 20s and 30s pour in on Friday and Saturday nights — when you can hardly move, and when people give up trying to talk on their cellphones and turn to texting — it's overwhelmingly fun. Beyond the main act, this year's show will have improved features for visitors who want a bit more. For one thing, the Tasting Alley returns after a sell-out debut last year. You pay extra for this (the $75 cost includes entry to the show), but you get a chance to taste more than 50 higher-end wines in a less-crowded environment, enjoy a personal plate of artisanal cheeses, and chat to one or two wine critics. (I'm one of them, and I'll be there from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 7.) There's also a series of food and wine pairings featuring wines from Chile, California, Champagne and Greece. Again, you pay extra, and again the price includes entry to the show. Then there are tutored tastings, where wine professionals will talk about particular wines, which you will then get a chance to taste. The list isn't yet finalized, but the tastings will include wines from Chile, Burgundy, Argentina, Spain, Ontario, and very likely some other regions. In addition to that, there'll be cooking demonstrations, and you won't want to miss Charlie Ayers, a celebrity chef from California and former chef at Google and for the Grateful Dead. He has also cooked for the likes of Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and the sultan of Brunei, and he'll cook for you at the show. I'll be working with him to pair California wines with his dishes. What all this means is that the Ottawa Wine & Food Show offers something for everyone. If you just want to shmooze and taste with your friends, there's the main floor. If you want to sample higher-end wines, there's the Tasting Alley. For foodies, there are the pairings and chefs. What more could you ask for? Strewn Semi-Dry Riesling 2008 This Niagara Peninsula Riesling delivers attractive flavours and a crisp, zesty texture. It's off-dry and makes an excellent choice if you're having a spicy Asian meal. 10.9-per-cent alcohol; $11.95 (616599) Coyote's Run Pinot Gris/Pinot Blanc 2008 I really like this white blend from the Niagara Peninsula. It has solid fruit flavours with a lot of character, good balance and a crisp texture. Again, Asian food pairs well, but so does chicken. 12-per-cent alcohol; $15.95 (112144) Bosca 'Luigi IV' Merlot de Veneto 2007 This dry, medium-weight Italian merlot is straightforward and uncomplicated. You'll find good balance and solid fruit flavours with moderate complexity. Enjoy it with pasta or pizza. 12-per-cent alcohol; $7.90 (405365) L.A. Cetto Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 A recent addition to the LCBO, this Mexican cabernet delivers a lot of flavour, with good complexity and balance. It's dry and medium-bodied and goes well with burgers and red meats. 13.5-per-cent alcohol; $10.45 (114066) |