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Movie night just got a whole lot classier!  Just because you’re chowing down on some casual fare doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a perfectly paired wine.  Whether its a date night in, girls night or simply enjoying your own spectacular company, we’ve got a great list of wines to pair with your favourite snacks!

Potato Chips and Sparkling Wine

This might sound like a strange pairing, but it’s actually a perfect match. The bubbles from the sparkling wine cut through the salt on the chips, thus allowing you to really appreciate the flavors in both the wine and your midnight snack. It also works well with French Fries!  If you like your fries with a touch of truffle oil or shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, you’re in for a special treat. Talk about a gourmet snack!

Popcorn and Chardonnay

Movie nights are synonymous with delicious, buttery popcorn.  So it should come as no surprise that popcorn’s perfect pairing is a chardonnay.  Just like your popcorn, chardonnay can have a buttery taste yet crisp finish, making this duo a perfect match.

Pepperoni Pizza and Sangiovese

Pepperoni has a variety of spices and no fat at all (shhh).  This spicy meat imbues its flavor throughout the cheese on every slice. To counteract it, you’ll need a strong wine with intense flavors to counterbalance ‘the pepperoni effect’. Sangiovese is a classic choice as the most popular red grape of Italy.

Chips and Salsa and Riesling

Riesling perfectly pairs with the salt, acidity and spice of chips and salsa.  It’s residual sweetness and lower “alcoholic warmth” combines well with the spice of the salsa and saltiness of the chips, reducing the chances of an explosive burning sensation in your mouth.  Additionally, the moderate acidity of the Riesling complements the salivation-inducing qualities of the salsa’s matching acidity.

Chicken Wings and Zinfandel

The dark, yet jammy, Zinfandel plays well with saucy meats.  It has enough boldness and structure to hold up against some spicy buffalo wings.  Just be careful not to drop your glass with those saucy fingers!

Pretzels and Riesling or Pinot Noir

The lemon zest and green apple of the Riesling pairs well with the salt and spice of pretzels and cheese.  Plus, why not pair this German snack with its ‘vined’ counterpart?!  If you’re opting for the more traditional pretzels with mustard, try it with a Pinot Noir.  It’s bright raspberry notes, earthiness and mild acidity make a great companion for the strong flavour of the mustard.

So you’re getting married?!  Congratulations!  We know you want to make your wedding as special as possible and you would probably like to keep the festivities affordable as well!  One way to add that extra special touch, without breaking the budget (yes we’re serious!), is to craft your very own wine.  Add your own personal touch with a custom label on every bottle!  Your custom wine is great to serve at your reception or as a gift for your guests to take-home.

The question is, where do we start?!  With so many wines to choose from, selecting a wine or wines that will complement your meal and that your guests will love can be a bit daunting.  Don’t worry though!  We’re here to help!  We’re wine lovers and many of us have been in this industry for over 15 years.

Your next question might be, when should we make our wine?  You will most likely find your wine quite enjoyable on the day it’s bottled.  We recommend, however, that you leave whites about two to three months and reds at least four months before serving them at your wedding.  Just like commercial wine, your crafted wine will get better with age!  On top of the aging time, it can take four to eight weeks to make your wine; our most popular wedding wines take six weeks.  With that in mind, you will want to give yourself five to six months (ideally) to prepare your wedding wine.

Your last question is probably, “how much wine do we need?”  These amounts can vary, but the guidelines below provide a good estimate.

1. Calculate how many people will be drinking at the event.
2. Multiply this number by four (this is the maximum number of standard drinks per person you will need).
3. Divide number of standard drinks by five per bottle
4. Divide number of bottles by 30 to determine the number of batches and then round up

For example:

1. 100 wine drinking guests
2. 100 x 4 standard drinks = 400 standard drinks
3. 400 / 5 (5 glasses per 750ml bottle) = 80 bottles of wine
4. 80/30 750ml bottles per batch = 2.67 or 3 batches of wine will be needed

Therefore, you could make one batch of red wine, one batch of white wine, and one batch of rosé wine.

The last step is to get in touch with us and let us show you how we can help you craft your very own custom wedding wine!  You can get in touch with us by CLICKING HERE.

We can’t wait to hear from you!

Unfortunately it is winter.  While that means colder weather, it also means lots of delicious, hearty meals and relaxing around the fire.  With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of great winter wines that are guaranteed to keep you warm this season!

Nebbiolo

It may look light and pleasant like Pinot Noir, but the Nebbiolo has high acidity and big tannins making it an experience you won’t soon forget while that cold weather grips you. It is a highly complex wine with floral notes and dark cherry flavours which are complemented by rich, earthy truffles.  This wine won’t let you down.  Try it in our 4, 6 or 8 week varieties.

• Food Pairings: risotto, charcuterie, winter squash, mushrooms and truffles

Shiraz

When the weather gets cold, a trip to the Outback is very much welcome!  Australian Shiraz is known for its powerful black fruit flavors, savory undertones, and high ABV (14%-15%), thanks to plentiful Down Under sunshine. It’s not for the faint of heart or palate, but it’ll warm you up in a hurry.  Try one of our many Shiraz or Shiraz blends.

• Food Pairings: grilled meats, venison, and boar

Sangiovese

Earthy and rustic, it goes with all kinds of winter eats.  This blend is famous for its full, dry character and elegant flavours of cherries and blackberries. Sturdy and robust, with tangy undertones and a slight spiciness.  Check out our 4, 6 and 8 week varieties!

• Food Pairings: tomato sauce, roasted winter veggies, sausage, pizza and hard cheeses

Cabernet Sauvignon

We know this is an obvious choice, but it wouldn’t be a winter wine list without Cabernet Sauvignon. We’re all eating big, hearty meals in preparation for hibernation, and Cab is an obvious choice for pairing.  The Cab has rich, intense aromas, deep berry fruits, healthy tannins, and a smooth, lingering finish.  Try our Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia, France or California.

• Food Pairings: pepper steak, brisket, holiday roast, duck, goose, lentils, and mashed potatoes

Chardonnay

Sure, not everyone likes a nice oaked Chardonnay, but there is a time and place for every wine; and right now, its time for rich, buttery Chardonnay. Full-bodied with dominant flavors of vanilla, butter, caramel—and a touch of citrus—it’s quite an alternative to egg nog and hot buttered rum.  We’ve got a Chardonnay for that!

• Food Pairings: chicken, turkey, sea bass, lobster, comté and gruyere cheese, mushrooms, cream sauce pasta, and cream-based soups

Viognier

Sure it seems like this flowery white wine known for its apricot, peach and honeysuckle flavors doesn’t belong on a winter wine list.  We bet, however, that by Late January you’re probably going to need springtime in a glass.  Check out our lovely Viogniers!

Mourvèdre

A gamier, more untamed alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon.   This beautiful wine has aromas of ripe berries & subtle spice.  On the palate, sweet plum & black fruit with a hint of tobacco. It is the perfect accompaniment for hearty meat dishes, lamb or herbed pork tenderloin.  Check out our Mourvedre blends!

With everything that goes on around Christmas, it can be difficult to come up with ideas for everyone on the list.  Worry not!  We’ve taken some time to search out some great gift ideas for the wine-o’s in your life.  Many of them would also make great host(ess) gifts!  We’ve included our choice of where to get them for yourself as well!

Batch or Bottle of Wine

This list just wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t include actual wine on it.  Wine is the ultimate hostess gift and if you’re attending a few parties this year, why not gift all the host(ess)’s with a bottle of your very own wine!  We can create a custom holiday label with a matching cap to complete your gift of wine.  Need something a little more than a bottle?  Why not gift a whole batch of wine?!  That’s 30 bottles for a fraction of the cost of commercial wine.  We’ve got prices to suit every budget, so your holiday gift list doesn’t have to break the bank!  Take a look at all the different varietals we have to choose from HERE.

 

Wine ‘n Dine Party Plate

For the hostess-with-the-mostest on your holiday list.  These little plates are perfect for that holiday cocktail party!  There’s a slot on the plate to hold your wine glass leaving your hand free to enjoy those mini appetizers.  The only problem with them, is that now you have no excuse for being unable to shake the hand of your mom’s friend’s sister’s son…

Get them at Bed Bath & Beyond!

Cork USB Flash Drive

For the wine-techie in your life.  A USB flash drive that looks like a cork!  Save your files, just be sure you don’t recycle this cork!

Get them on Amazon.

 

Redneck Wine Glass

This hilarious wine glass is the perfect gift for office gift exchanges or the humorous wineos on your list. Made of glass, it is a mason jar turned wine glass with a stem.

Get them from us at Peninsula U-Brew Winery!

 

Electric Wine Bottle Opener

There’s no need for battling your bottle.  This electric wine bottle opener offers an effortless release of your wine at the touch of a button. When fully charged, its cordless operation easily opens up to 30 bottles of wine, and sits in the compact recharging base for convenience and mobility. Now get to it! #FreeTheWine

Get them at Bed Bath and Beyond!

 

Wine Preserver

In case you didn’t finish your bottle…no comment…you’ll want to make sure you keep it safe from spoiling.  Wine preservers can keep wine fresh up to 2 weeks.  The pump and stoppers work together to remove a precise amount of air from bottles to hold a perfect seal. The result is great tasting wine that last days.

Get them at Bed Bath and Beyond!

 

Wine Posters

Wine Folly has so many great prints that are designed to help you learn about wine and also be visually appealing on your wall.  They have various prints including wine descriptions, food and wine pairings, maps of wine regions and more!  A great gift for a wine connoisseur or newbie!

Check them out at Wine Folly.

 

Wine Picnic Tote Bag

A wine picnic bag is the perfect gift for a traveling or outdoorsy wine-enthusiast! It’ great for enjoying wine on picnics, trips to the beach, camping, or anywhere else!  It comes with everything you need for wine on the go: 2 bottle insulated compartment, 2 acrylic wine glasses, 2 napkins, 1 Truetap corkscrew, and 1 bottle stopper.  

Get yours at Amazon!

 

 

Corkcicle

The all-in-one solution for perfect wine every time.  Store in your freezer for 90 minutes and insert into your favorite bottle of room-temp red or chilled white.  The pour-through feature enables you to serve wine easily and elegantly and even aerates your wine as you pour.

Get yours from Corkcicle!