Debbie’s Spring Picks
Piattelli Reserve Cafayate Torrontés
Get ready to spring into love with the beautiful and expressive Torrontés Riojano grape, a crisp and complex indigenous grape from Argentina. This Torrontés bursts with tropical aromas of pineapple, peach, and orange blossom. Aromatic notes continue in the mouth with fresh apricot, lychee, and a hint of orange zest. Acidity is well-balanced in the mouth with a citrusy medium finish.
Aromatic white wines are always a great option for refreshing brunch drinks made even more enjoyable when paired with the right dishes. Piattelli Reserve Torrontés is a fantastic Easter brunch wine pairing for dishes like avocado toast, bagels with smoked salmon lox any brunch salad, and herb-loaded frittatas.
Château Routas Rosé
Pink could become your favorite Spring-time shade after experiencing the refreshing and delicate flavors of Château Routas Rosé. This expertly crafted wine is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon which is produced in the famous Provence region of South East France.
Routas Rosé is an award winning wine that should be part of your warm weather wine line up. It opens with aromas of freshly cut watermelon, wild strawberries and pink grapefruit. The palate is dry and light with refreshing acidity and a creamy delicate palate. Routas is a great stand alone wine but pairs well with seafood dishes, veggie pizzas and soft cheese like brie and goat cheese.
La Marca Prosecco Rose
La Marca Prosecco Rosé offers the bright crisp fruit and floral essence of a traditional prosecco with the delicate elegance of Pinot Noir. This fresh and slightly sweet bubbly opens with classic aromas of citrus, pear and honey blended with and ripe red cherry and raspberry notes. The palate is light and lively a perfect pairing for weekend brunch.
Rossignol Marachal Foch
Rossignol Winery’s Marachal Foch and aged Island beef is a tasty example of the wine adage “what grows together goes together.” Foch, as it’s affectionately called, is a cold hardy disease resistant grape that is well suited to our cool Prince Edward climate. Rossignol Foch is a dry full-bodied red wine with aromas of blackberry, smoke and spice. Jammy, dark-fruit flavors and earthy notes are well integrated on the palate.
For an unforgettable Island experience pair with BBQ meats, charcuterie or chocolate desserts.
No Boats On Sunday Cider Variety Pack
Summertime and the sipping is easy with a can of No Boats on Sunday Cider in your hand. Crisp and off-dry with light carbonation and lower alcohol content are a few reasons why ciders are one of the most refreshing hot weather drinks.
Joining the original No Boats on Sunday apple cider the variety pack features both a pear and a peach cider. Cider pairs beautifully with food and the rule of thumb is to think about what ingredients go well with the fruit in the cider. With three fruit profiles in the pack the combinations of cider and food are plentiful.
Why not consider a cider punch at your next backyard BBQ? Mix equal parts of cider and ginger beer with a good splash of vodka, squeeze in some lime juice and a dash of bitters.
Island Honey Mead
Share some Island pride this Easter with gifts from Island Honey Wine Company. For the uninitiated, it can be surprising to discover the wide variety and styles of mead that are produced. Drinking Island mead is really a snapshot of time and place of PEI’s unique honey terroir and wouldn’t be the same if it were made anywhere else.
There are two meads that are a must to try, the Wildflower Mead and the Haskap Mead. The Wildflower is a good introduction to a traditional off dry table mead, it tastes different with every sip as the complexity of honey reveals itself on the palate. Wildflower has earned a place on many Island tables when poultry or creamy seafood dishes are served.
Haskap berries have been enjoyed in Japan for hundreds of years for its supposed health benefits. Honey is blended with the meadery’s own organic Haskap berries in a style called “mellomel”. The taste profile includes notes of raspberry, blueberry, and black current. This mead shares its big fruity presence and ruby color while retaining a serious commitment on the table with BBQ meats, lamb and dark chocolate.
Cointreau
Cointreau is a premium brand of triple sec created in France, famous for its tangy orange peel aroma and bittersweet orange flavor. It is a simple blend of sugar, water and bitter Caribbean and sweet European oranges. It is well regarded as having a perfect balance of warm spices and alcohol. The unique blend of sweet and bitter makes it a great addition to many creative cocktails and a key ingredient for Margaritas and Cosmopolitans. Cointreau surged in popularity during the Golden Age of Cocktails, first appearing in mixology manuals as early as 1922. Cointreau is not limited to a supporting role in mixed drinks,it is wonderful served as either an aperitif or digestif.
Cointreau is a definite asset to any home bar but it is also useful in the kitchen of many at home chefs. Planning for Easter family gatherings is a great opportunity to experiment with Cointreau’s many culinary talents. Use Cointreau in flavoured whipped butter, on warmed breakfast bread or croissants with morning coffee, its a great start to any day. For an unforgettable Easter dinner try roasting your turkey or ham with a pepper and Cointreau rub, the combination of sweet and spice will amaze your guests. It is also great alongside chocolate and fruit inspired salads and dessert.
Spring can be a busy social season with Easter gatherings Mothers Day Brunches and graduations. Having a quick and delicious cocktail recipe that’s also spring inspired is a great treat for your guests. The Cherry Blossom Tini is a Cosmo inspired drink with an interesting addition of Sake and bitters.
Cherry Blossom Tini
INGREDIENTS
- 1.5 oz of Gekkeikan Sake
- ½ oz Cointreau
- ½ oz cranberry juice
- Dash each of fresh orange and lime juice
- 3 dashes of Angostura Aromatic Bitters
METHOD
- Pour ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice
- Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass
Grand Marnier
Grand Marnier was first produced in France around 1850 and has become a staple for professional and home mixologists around the world. This bright topaz liquid sparkles with gold and amber tints. The nose opens with a complexity of orange and toffee notes. Flavors of sweet citrus and orange rind with touches of spice and brandy notes linger on the finish.
Grand Marnier is not just a dessert beverage it can be successfully paired with several appetizer and main course dishes. Beet and Kale Salad with aged balsamic and orange vinaigrette would be a beautiful addition to any spring brunch table. A main course featuring seared scallops with bacon jam and fennel lemon risotto requires a bit more time in the kitchen but the flavors are amazing and well worth the effort.
Grand Marnier’s versatility makes it a great choice to serve at an Easter or Mother’s Day brunch. This golden liquor can be served on the rocks, in your favorite blend of coffee or as a great complement to all the chocolate your Easter Bunny treated you to! Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge blends easily with many different dishes, try adding some to a festive Easter Cosmo recipe.
Grand O Pitcher
Yield 10 servings.
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups of Grand Marnier
- 2 cups of Orange Juice
- 2 cups Soda Water
- Hand full of Fresh Raspberries
- Lemon cut in half
- Pour all ingredients into pitcher half filled with ice.
- Squeeze half lemon into pitcher
- Stir
- Serve in rocks glass filled with ice
- Garnish with lemon and raspberries