#iyellow

Earphones,IYELLOW In-Ear Earbuds/Headphones/Earphone With Built in Microphone/Volume Control And Heavy Bass Sound for Apple Samsung Smartphone (Black)

I go through so many headphones, I was excited to get the iyellow in-earbuds/headphones/earphone with built in microphone/volume control and heavy bass sound for apple Samsung smartphone in the color black. When you get them, they arrive in a nice little case to store them in with different size ear buds to replace depending on what size you need. These are super comfortable earbuds, they fit…

Shot an editorial for Chloe Magazines Wine and Travel issue; of their lovely wine editor Angela Aiello. Check out the full issue chloemagazine.ca

Chloe Wine Editor: Angela Aiello

H&M: Luisa Duran

Stylist: Ashley Galang

Assistants: Lily Riad, Cam Smith

Shiraz is a wine that I love ... but don't drink enough of.  The thing about Shiraz is that it's something that Australia has taken and made their own.  Shiraz is begging to be paired with grilled meats of any sort.  Frankly, this is the sort of wine that you don't want to drink on an empty stomach because the alcohol content does start to get quite up there (15% is not unusual).

The iYellow Crew was out in full force pouring 17 wines from Australia.  This was a perfect way to spend a cold February night.  My hat goes off to Angela Aiello for pouring one mystery wine (to the far right).  The end of the night it was revealed that it was Yellow Tail.  Once you become a seasoned wine snob Yellow Tail becomes the butt of many jokes when it comes to talking about cheap wine... but even I'll admit that I didn't hate it.  There is definitely some residual sugar in the wine and it fell to the middle of the pack of the wines being poured.  What I found most interesting was talking to people about what they thought about the "Mystery Wine".  Most people sipping on it really enjoyed it not knowing what was in the glass.

None of the wines being poured are terribly expensive with the most expensive wine being the Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz that comes in at $34.95.  Tasting wines like this is a great way to see how price doesn't always dictate quality.  

There were three wines that stood out over the 17.  I will be enjoying all three of them with Barbeque Sauce on Pork or Beef Ribs or Steak seasoned with Montreal Steak Spice.  The big fruit and smoky flavours beg to be paired with red meat. 

2010 Small Gully Formula - Vintages 142935 - $19.95 - ***1/2+ - Smoky with lots of red fruit and a finish that is almost mellow... I realize it's hard to picture a big, in your face varietal like Shiraz coming off as elegant but Formula definitely does it.

2013 Jim Jim The Down-Underdog - Vintages 682005 - $15.95 - ***1/2 - A little rougher around the edges than the Small Gully Shiraz but still very nice with flavours or Blueberry and Raspberry.

3 weekends, 58 wineries, 15 events... this is Icewine in January in Niagara.  Everything you need to plan your visit can be found at www.niagarachilled.com.  The weather this week dipped below the magic number of -8°C when winemakers descend into the vineyards to harvest the frozen berries to extract their sweet nectar and turn it into wine.  This is also the perfect time to visit wine country.  Off-season you rarely need to deal with crowded tasting rooms.  It is the perfect time of year to visit wineries and go at your own pace.  

To kick off the month of celebrations in wine country I was fortunate enough to get a taste at the iYellow Wine Cave.  We were treated to three icewines and cheeses to match.  One of my favorite pairings is icewine with pretty much any cheese.  The salt and fat in the cheese make a perfect match to the sweetness of Icewine.  You can experience wine and cheese at various seminars being hosted in wine country (http://www.niagarawinefestival.com/wine-and-cheese-seminars) tickets are only $20 to attend.  

Taking place this weekend is the Winter Winefest in Twenty Valley takes over Jordan village bringing all sorts of wine and food all in one place saving you the drive.  I have attended in the past and it is definitely worth checking out.  The street festival in Niagara on the Lake takes place next weekend on January 16-18

I had a chance to taste three Icewines this evening.  

2013 Cave Spring Riesling Icewine - Vintages 447441 - $49.95 - ****1/2 - There is a slight mineral note on the nose with honey.  Flavours of honey, and tangerine are dominant with a slight floral feeling on the mid palate.   Fabulous bright crisp acidity helps cut right through the sugar on the finish of this wine.  This is an elegant icewine.  

2013 Peller Estates "Oak Aged" Vidal Icewine - $62.10 - **** - The nose and flavours in this wine is all Apple.  The acidity is a little lower than the Riesling Icewine which gives this wine a long finish.  This will make an ideal pairing to hard cheeses or blue cheese.  

2012 Chateau Des Charmes Cabernet Franc Icewine - Vintages 346692 - $75.00 - **** - Red Icewine is a very special product ... and a lot of people still don't know of its existence.  This is strawberry rhubarb pie in a glass balanced with nice acidity.  Icewine made from Cabernet Franc would be perfect for those people who think that it is too sweet.  The fruit profile on this wine helps make the wine seem less sweet than it is. 

It’s no secret that I do champagne taste on a beer budget. But one of the things I learned through the iYellow Wine Club is that great booze is a matter of personal taste and fantastic wine does not need to necessarily come at a premium.

I wrote a little while ago about my experience with iYellow and their #winemakerraw event with Flat Roof Manor. As someone who feels embarrassed after spending more than 10 minutes in the wine aisle the club is my help-line. But after having been invited to travel with them to Niagara I realize that they are much more than that. Not to be dramatic but the iYellow Wine Club is a revolution in wine culture.