Between the Vines: One woman's wine-soaked musings

No perfume while tasting wines, please

Pretty puh-lease!

I know you love your expensive, exclusive perfume. But I don't.

It's not that I don't like the smell; rather, it's that I get a screaming headache from scents, save those derived from essential oils. (Women's perfumes and scented lotions, plug-in air fresheners, and Windex are the worse culprits.)

Now, if you don't care that I have to load up with anti-histamine and pre-emptive migraine medications when I go out in public, how about if you care that your perfumes and scented lotions interfere with the pleasure of tasting wine.

That's right. They do.

I would love it if all people who organize wine events would include this line (or something like it) in their promotional material and invitations:

Thank you for refraining from wearing perfumes, scented lotions, and fragranced cosmetics. Your fellow tasters will appreciate your consideration.

Salut!

Copyright © 2010 Kathleen Rake. All rights reserved.

Kathleen Rake's wine column in the May edition of My City, a monthly lifestyle magazine from the Abbotsford News

 
Click here to download my May, 2010 wine column featuring a short wine chat with Brittany Manulak, principal at Concept Plumbing & Gas in Abbotsford and Chilliwack.

I'm still polishing the tasting notes for the wines in the column (right now they're in my own form of shorthand that includes odd symbols and things) and will have them uploaded to Palate Press soon.

Salut!

Copyright © 2010 Kathleen Rake. All rights reserved.

Our wine lineup for tonight's teach 'n taste

Here is our wine lineup for tonight's teach 'n taste with Travis Rea of Feed the Fire, in order:

1. Sandhill Sauvignon Blanc (B.C.)
2. Gehringer Brothers Private Reserve Pinot Gris (B.C.)
3. Quails' Gate Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir (B.C.)
4. Castillo de Monséran Garnacha (Spain)
5. Rollingdale Pinot Noir Icewine (B.C.)

 Salut!

Copyright © 2010 Kathleen Rake. All rights reserved.

Food educator and personal chef Travis Rea comes to our house tonight to teach us how to "Feed the Fire"

Travis Rea from Feed the Fire, a food education and personal chef service, is coming to our house tonight for a little teach 'n taste. He'll show us how to prepare gourmet nibbles using whole, natural, and as-local-as-possible ingredients. I'll pick the wine.

On the menu:

1. Ahi Tuna Tartare with lime yogurt and garden-fresh chives, served on onion-oat blini
2. Organic Turkey Sliders with avocado, organic watercress, and local tomatoes
3. Mushroom-Pecan Stuffed Zucchini
4. Grilled Pork Skewers with ginger-orange glaze
5. Mixed berry pudding
6. Chocolate Ricotta bites

I'll report on the wine selections and how they worked with the food later on...

In the meantime, click here to check out some of Rea's recipes.

Salut!

Copyright © 2010 Kathleen Rake. All rights reserved.

 

Kathleen Rake's April wine column in the Abbotsford News

 
Click here to download my April, 2010 wine column featuring a short interview with Braden Douglas, principal at Relevention Marketing Solutions.