Plethora of fall events provide plentiful pairings

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/10/2022 (1110 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As we creep ever closer to the (gulp) holiday season, local makers and stores will turn their attention to the inevitable jump in retail traffic.

Until thern, there are all manner of tastings, dinners, tap takeovers, socials and more coming in the next few weeks. Here are but a few…

They’re still brewing at Oxus Brewing Co. for now, but Interlake Brewing Co.’s lineup of beers continues to grow in anticipation of opening its Gimli location in the coming months. Interlake is hosting a tap takeover at Oxus (1180 Sanford St.) today, where you can enjoy all seven of its current brews, a special surprise cask, as well as food from Loaf and Honey. There’s no charge to pop by (save for buying your beers, of course).

I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a little reminder plug about the Sips and Snacks event taking place this Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Nonsuch Brewing Co. (125 Pacific Ave.). I’ll be chatting with Nonsuch folks about all things beer, specifically After Deadline, the Italian grape ale I helped make in conjunction with the Free Press’s 150th anniversary. The evening will feature a three-course beer-and-food appetizer pairing. A handful of tickets remain (they’re $54.06 including fees) at wfp.to/afterdeadline.

On Thursday, cicerone (think sommelier, but for beer) Lauren Richard comes to town as part of The Common’s Uncommon Pours tastings at The Forks Market. The beer-and-cheese event has two seatings — one at 5 p.m. and another at 7 p.m. — and will include beers featured at The Common, pairings and plenty of first-hand expertise. Tickets are $30, and a few remain at wfp.to/uncommon.

The Caboto Centre (1055 Wilkes Ave.) will serve up all manner of food and wine on Friday at the Wine & Food Tasting Experience event, which begins at 7 p.m. Calabria Market is bringing over 40 wines to the event, which will feature an array of food catered by Sorrento’s at the Caboto Centre. Tickets are $90 plus fees at wfp.to/caboto.

Formerly known as De Luca Fine Wines, the recently rebranded The Pourium (942 Portage Ave.) is hosting a four-course pasta dinner by chef Alex from Casa Bianca on Thursday, Nov. 3, at 6:30 p.m., with each dish paired with a wine chosen by staff at The Pourium. Tickets are $129 and are available at wfp.to/pastanight. Oh, and The Pourium is having a 20 per cent off sale on everything (excluding listed wines and advent calendars) until the end of the day today.

Barn Hammer Brewing Co. is throwing a social in support of End Homelessness Winnipeg on Friday, Nov. 4, at the Centre culturel franco-manitobain (340 Provencher Blvd.). Details and ticket info/prices are forthcoming, but they’ve invited their pals at Black Wheat Brewing Co., Sookram’s Brewing Co. and Nonsuch Brewing Co. to take part as well. Watch their social media accounts in the coming week for more details.

Want to taste some killer Canadian wine paired with dishes created by some of the city’s top chefs, all while being serenaded by Canadian music royalty? Canada’s Great Kitchen Party returns to Winnipeg on Friday, Nov. 4, at the RBC Convention Centre, and will feature six local chefs competing for the best dish, who will then compete at the Canadian Culinary Championship in Ottawa in February 2023. Chefs from Bonnie Day, Yujiro, Harth, Prairie Kitchen, Thermëa and Canada Life Centre will square off at the event, which will feature music by Jim Cuddy, Anne Lindsay, Sam Polley, members of Whitehorse and more. Proceeds benefit MusiCounts, SpiritNorth and other grassroots food organizations for youth. For more info or to buy tickets, see wfp.to/kitchenparty.

uncorked@mts.net

Twitter: @bensigurdson

 

Drinks of the week

Interlake Brewing Co. Whitecaps wheat IPA (Winnipeg – $4.65/473ml cans, Oxus, Liquor Marts, beer vendors)

While crashing waves are shown on the can’s label, the name here also refers to the space Interlake Brewing Co. will take over on Gimli’s main drag in the coming months. The beer’s bright copper in colour and slightly hazy, while aromatically it brings tart citrus (grapefruit), fresh malt and wheat notes, with an underlying herbal note. There’s some pronounced (but not overpowering) bitterness on the dry, crisp palate that works really well with the grapefruit and pine notes, with the malt and wheat components coming before the medium-length finish (it’s six per cent alcohol). Very good stuff. Brewed at Oxus. 4/5

Cono Sur 2020 Bicicleta Pinot Grigio (Chile – around $14, private wine stores)

Cono Sur’s entry-level Bicicleta line typically provides pretty good bang for the buck, and its Pinot Grigio fits that bill. Pale gold in colour, aromatically it brings floral, red apple, peach and subtle spice notes. On the dry, light-bodied palate it’s more of the same, with the peach and apple front and centre and a crisp, clean finish. Simple and easygoing, but tasty all the same. Available (likely only) at The Winehouse. 3/5

Wente Vineyards 2020 Riva Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir (Arroyo Sec/Monterey, Calif. — $32.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

This single-vineyard Pinot Noir, sourced from the relatively cool-climate Monterey region, delivers plum, cherry, wet earth and savoury spice notes on the nose. It’s light-plus-bodied and dry, with tart cherry and raspberry flavours coming with plum and earthy notes, medium acidity, lighter tannins and a slightly warm finish (it’s 14 per cent alcohol). Decidedly New World in style, it never gets overly jammy or or hot, and manages to retain some elegance. 4/5

Catena 2019 Pasarisa Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina — $18.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

Brambly blackberry aromas show well here with plum, cocoa and white pepper notes. It’s full-bodied and dry but with good depth of fruit — particularly the dark berry and cherry core — that works well with the white pepper component, that hint of cocoa and the long, modestly tannic finish. Great for drinking now, but could be put away for 18-24 months. Offers solid value for the price. 4/5