Today is the day that I embark and the next leg of my personal and professional journey through the world of wine. Today is the day that I head off to South Africa.

I can honestly tell you that I am very excited. I am even looking forward to the 30 hour trek to get there.

My past trips have  been to different parts of places that I had been to before so this one holds just a little more ‘exoticness’ for me.

I received the itinerary for the trip today and over the course of 8 days I will have the good fortune of visiting 25 different wineries and have a Chenin Blanc only tasting. I am so looking forward to that.

I think part of my excitment lies in the fact that the South African category is currently pretty dull. We have seen the same players in it for the last 20 years and there is only about 30 skus in the whole category. It can’t be that the best of what South Africa’s wine country has to offer is brilliantly represented in the 30 or skus that are currently here.

As I embark upon this trip I have to admit that I am starting off with a few assumptions. Come on I am human after all.

My first assumption is premised on my recent experiences in tasting South African wines. Over the last few years I have tasted a number of expresssions and I have to say the whites have impressed me the most. Specifically the Chenin Blancs and Sauvignon Blancs. So incredibly expressive and alive that they seem to jump out of the glass.  The reds on the other hand have all tended to feature a dominant gamey nose and flavour. One that in the right balance is very intriguing, but when it over powers the fruit and other characters of the wine is a little off putting. Assumption number 1: I expect to come back with buys that feature more whites than reds.

Before I went to Chile a couple of years ago I remember thinking that the most engaing wines I was going to taste were Casablanca Pinot Noirs and Sauvignon Blancs. The reality was I came back gushing about Carmenere and being completely taken by surprise by the ’sheer awesomeness’ (to steal a phrase from Kung Fu Panda) of the Chardonnays. I found a ton of world class Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, but the Pinot Noirs for the price left me wonting. I am all a tingle about what surprises are in store over the next two weeks.

Did you know that South Africa is the 7th biggest producer of wines in the world and is responsible for 3% of the worlds total wine production. In the UK, Sweden and Finland, where Australian wines once reigned as King, South African wines have assumed the throne. In contrast, here in Canada and in the United States South African wines haven’t gotten any traction. I am not sure of why, but I suspect that we here don’t have a clear identity for South African wines. Let’s face it if I say South Africa you immediately think of Lions, Giraffes, and Wilderbeast. That image is wild and savage and doesn’t really go well with our preception of wine and food. This leads to Assumption Number 2: South African wines have not found their voice.

With all this in mind and the fresh memories of hugs from Chloe, the warm embrace and whispering words from Grace, and the supple kiss of my soulmate and wife Angela, I head off on my newest adventure in hopes that I find some killer Chenin Blanc, well balanced and delicious reds, the words to convey the voice of South African wines, and, perhaps most importantly, the experience and products that serve to improve the quality of life one sip at a time.

The next blog will be two days hence, thereafter, internet willing, I expect to blog each day of my adventure. As always let me know your thoughts and queries.

Cheers

Rod

I am so pumped for this one. It is not too often that we get to taste Highland Park or Macallan Single Malts, but to Gerry Tosh take us through the line up is the icing on the cake. Gerry was recently awarded the coveted Whisky Ambassador of the Year Award so you know he is a show in and of himself.

The tasting will start promptly at 3pm and go until about 5pm.

Here is the confirmed line up for the night:

Flight 1: Macallan 12yr ($82), Macallan 15yr ($120), Macallan 21yr ($400 – Special Order), Macallan 18yr ($225 – Special Order) – presented by Jay Wheelock of Beam Global.

Flight 2: Highland Park 12yr ($70), Highland Park 15yr ($110 – Special Order), Highland Park 18yr ($160), Highland Park 30yr ($400 – Special Order) – presented by Gerry Tosh – Whisky Ambassador of the Year.

There are only 20 seats available. Tickets are $10/head plus Eventbrite service fee of $1.40, all ticket revenues will be donated to our feature charity the Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society’s Music and Speech Therapy programs. Here is the link to reserve your seats: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/466236526

I hope to see you there…

Cheers

Rod Phillips- Buyer

New Event/Experience.

A tasting of my Top Picks for Thanksgiving Dinner… plus a few surprises

Date: October 8, 2009

Time: Sparkling Wine reception @6:15pm Tasting from 7-9pm

Where: Event Centre @ Liquor Plus on Douglas http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

Capacity: 40 people

Price: $10/head cost + Donations to Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society

Please RSVP via Twitter to Rod_Phillips or email to askrod@liquorplus.ca

Description: First things first – this tasting is intended to be a lot of fun and it will be a casual event with lots of conversation. I will take you through a tasting of my top 5-10 wines for Thanksgiving dinner, and answer whatever questions you have. The reception will start with some lovely sparkling wine and all the wines will be under $25.

One of my firm beliefs is that you don’t need to spend alot of money to get the right wine for such a big dinner.

Here are a few of the other events that we working firming up some details.

Highland Park Whisky Tasting with Gerry Tosh Brand Ambassador from Highland Park

Date: Oct. 28, 2009

Time: To be determined

Cost: Donations to the Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society

Seats: 30 + or -

Description: Gerry will take through a tasting of a number of different expressions of Highland Park Single Malt Whiskys.

Remy Martin Cognac & Cointreau Tasting

Date: Nov. 4, 2009

Time: To be determined

Cost: By Donations to (TBD)

Description: Dan Volnay will give us an overview of the Cognac region and take through a tasting of Remy Martins VS, VSOP and XO Cognacs in addition to Cointreau Orange Liqueur.

We have a ton of things in production and as details get firmed up I will post on this blog.

What I can tell you for sure is….

Stags Hollow Twitter Tasting

Date: Sept. 24, 2009

Time: 5-6pm with Sauvignon Blanc Reception at 4:30pm

Where: Event Centre @ Liquor Plus on Douglas http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

Capacity: 40 people

Price: Donations to Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society

Please RSVP via Twitter to Rod_Phillips or email to askrod@liquorplus.ca

Description: This will be the first Twitter based tasting held in Victoria. Dwight Sick, the winemaker at Stags Hollow, will guide through a tasting of the 2006 Stags Hollow Estate Merlot via Tweets. Participants will be from all over B.C.so bring your smartphone or laptop (wireless is available but limited in strength) so that you can tweet you questions to Dwight. We will also have a laptop or two setup. All the tweets will be broadcast on the big screen in the Event Centre.

The evening will start at 4:30 with a reception featuring the 2008 Stags Hollow Sauvignon Blanc (yum!) and we will provide a sneak taste of the 06 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.

I will be on hand as will Alfons Oberlacher who is the wineries local representative.

Here are a few of the other events that we working firming up some details.

Distillery Live- Live on-line tasting of Laphroaig 10yr, 18yr, 25yr & Maker’s Mark Bourbon

Date: Sept. 25, 2009

Time: 5-7pm with reception at 4:30pm

Cost: $20/head

Seats: 20

Status: To be confirmed

Description: An online guided tasting with John Campbell, Distillery Manager at Laphroaig, broadcast on line from the Maker’s Mark Distillery in Kentucky(where Laphroaig gets their barrels from).

Highland Park Whisky Tasting with Gerry Tosh Brand Ambassador from Highland Park

Date: Oct. 4, 2009

Time: To be determined

Cost: Donations to the Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society

Seats: 30 + or -

Description: Gerry will take through a tasting of a number of different expressions of Highland Park Single Malt Whiskys.

Remy Martin Cognac & Cointreau Tasting

Date: Nov. 4, 2009

Time: To be determined

Cost: By Donations to (TBD)

Description: Dan Volnay will give us an overview of the Cognac region and take through a tasting of Remy Martins VS, VSOP and XO Cognacs in addition to Cointreau Orange Liqueur.

Before getting into the ‘malt’ of this blog I want to offer credits to all my twitter friends who helped compile this. Great suggestions and the list is too many to mention, but thank you all.

The 16th Annual Great Canadian Beer Festival will held this Friday & Saturday at Royal Athletic Park. This year’s version features 45 craft brewers from Canada, Belgium and the Pacific Northwest USA. This means that once you enter the grounds you will have in front of you 167 different beers and 4 craft ciders (Merridale). That is a lot of choices.

What does survival mean. In my books you have survived if #1 you made it home and are functional the next day, #2 you can remember the names 5 of beers you tasted, #3 you remember tasting at least 4 of the most exotic styles, #4 There no compromising photos of you on facebook the next day #5 Plan a safe ride home – don’t drink and drive!

Safety first. Make sure you take enough money to buy some food. There are lots of great restaurants represented, that offer up some great food. Last year there were choices from premium smokies to pulled pork and samosas. In order to keep your palate as fresh as possible you will need to keep your body fed. Eat!

The second step for safety is to drink water. I suggest having a full glass of water every 2 or 3 booths that you visit. Doing this will allow you to enjoy Beerfest longer without severe consequences the next day.

Third, it is supposed to be sunny so take a hat.

Now let’s talk about the fun stuff. My strategy forbeerfest is similar to what I do at a wine or spirit tasting. Your palate will tire after 8-10 beers depending on the strength of those items. The more complex the beer the more it makes your palate and mind work.

The traditional approach would be to work from light to amber to dark & Stouts, but that always leaves the worn out palate for the behemoth beers like Crannogs Back Hand of God. So what I do and recommend it to pick 8-10 that you must taste. Get to those first and then taste whatever grabs your fancy after that.

Once you have finished tasting and are walking in the door of your home, to lessen any potential hangover drink two big glasses of water and take some Milk Thistle tablets. To be clear this won’t erase any hangover but it will lessen the severity.

Here is the link to the list of brewers attending this years beerfest and what they will be pouring http://www.gcbf.com/brewers.html have fun and let me know what your favourites are and I will try to get some into our stores.

Unfortunately I have already contact a few of the perennial favourites including Crannog, Dockside & Longwood and they are not yet able to offer their product for retail sales.

Have a great time!

Cheers

On Thursday September 24, 2009 we all have the opportunity to experience Stag’s Hollow Merlot as guided tasting by the winemaker – Dwight Sick (www.stagshollowwinery.com).

This will be the first of its in kind in Victoria as the tasting will be guided by Dwight over twitter and include people from all over B.C.

Being the first of its kind I can’t really describe exactly what it will be like or if Dwight is able to respond to every tweet. What I do know is that getting together with friends and tasting wine, no matter what you think of the wine, is a great deal of fun and we all learn something.

Now I do know that all the Stag’s Hollow wines are superb, I particularily like the Sauvignon Blanc. The Merlot is competing in a category that has a plethora of stunning wines from B.C. and first tasting of the new vintage suggests that it will be a standout.

The experience will take place on Sept. 24, 2009 in our demonstration kitchen at our Douglas Street Location (http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&tab=wl) between 5 & 6pm with a Sauvignon Blanc reception starting at 4:30pm.

All the tweets will be posted on the big screen that is in the room, but you will have to bring your phone and/or laptop (I suggest both as the strength of the wireless in the kitchen is iffy) to send tweets.

There is no cost for the tasting, however donations will be accepted for the Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society.

Please RSVP to rphillips@liquorplus.ca or on Twitter to www.twitter.com/Rod_Phillips

Cheers