Spring Culinary Adventures with Exotic Food & Beverage

As we are nearing the end of the wine tasting season, the Guild is delighted to announce that we have partnered with Chef Joe Thottungal from Coconut Lagoon for a special evening to be held on Sunday June 4th, 2017, starting at 6:00 pm.

Joe will be on site to explain and describe every one of his dishes, including this year’s Gold Medal Plates Silver Medal winning dish “Kerala Infused Oil Poached Halibut”. We will be offering a 6-course menu at $110 cost (including HST and Gratuity) for Guild members and $125 for Sponsored Guests. There are only 50 seats available for this event. Make sure to reserve early.

The event will be lead by Guild Directors, Marie-France Champagne and Don Cook. They have challenged themselves to pair two beverages with every course and to explore the endless possibilities of wine and food pairing. These will not be typical Indian food pairings. Do not expect to taste a buttery Chardonnay or an off-dry Riesling at this event. You might however encounter some wine varietals that you have not tasted before. Perhaps, a local cider and maybe the odd beer pairing. We will be looking for our guests to provide us with feedback for each of the course’s best pairing.

Joe & his team are very pleased with their new look as they have recently completed renovations to both the exterior and interior of the restaurant. Parking is available on-site.

Please scroll below for the evening’s full menu. We will keep the pairings secret until the event!

http://www.coconutlagoon.ca/index.php

Lobster Samosa with Mango Coconut sauce + Kuchumber

Kerala spice infused Oil Poached Halibut +Fish Curry Crumbs

Mushroom Aviyal + Lentil Emulsion

Tandoori Duck Breast, Bed of Vegetable Slaw + Chili Lime Drizzle

Tellicherry Pepper Lamb Chop

Eggplant Chutney +Potato and Spinach Croquette + Beet Raitha +Rice Pedals

Lime Sorbet

Moong Dal Halwa + Ginger Ice Cream + Rasmalai Essence

“Tour the World with your Favorite Varietal”

Wednesday, May 10, 2017 – 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Vendange Institute
440 Albert Street, Room C108
Ottawa, ON K1R 5B5

The Sommelier Guild continues its “Tour the World with your Favorite Varietal” on Wednesday May 10 th , 7pm at the Vendange Institute.

For this edition, Guild Director Marie-France Champagne will take you around the world to discover the many facets of the second most planted red varietal, Merlot. Often misunderstood, under appreciated and having suffered a reputation issue, Merlot is not only planted widely around the world but is a crucial part of some of the world’s most prized wine regions and blends.

From New World to Old World, Merlot makes its mark everywhere it is planted. Although not really fussy or difficult, the terroir and winemaking techniques will leave a distinct footprint on every Merlot tasted that night!

Looking forward to getting re-acquainted with Merlot.

Please continue to send your suggestions to wine@sommelierguild.com

Members: ($50+HST) $56.50

Vintages Pre-Release Tasting—Washington and Oregon

Thursday, April 27, 2017 — Reported by Dawn Harvie

The last Vintages release of April was focussed on Washington and Oregon. There was a full house of eager tasters. The first flight was four whites. The Momo Pinot Gris was clean and crisp, had a decent balance with a touch of residual sugar, but was not overly complex. The Elk Cove Pinot Gris had a lot more going on with some minerality and white peach on both the nose and palate. The heavily toasted oak on the Chardonnay was evident through the smokey flavours in the wine and had good acidity. The Riesling had zippy acidity and pear and was off dry. Each of the wines had some fans, but the Chardonnay was the definite favourite. Continue reading “Vintages Pre-Release Tasting—Washington and Oregon” →

Vintages Pre-Release Tasting — Have your Say: B.C. Wines, Living on Edge!

Thursday, March 2, 2017 – 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Vendange Institute
440 Albert Street, Room C108
Ottawa, ON K1R 5B5

British Columbia offers many terroirs and a large selection of wine styles. In the same day, it is possible to drive down the Okanagan Valley to visit a cold climate sub-alpine vineyard in the Kelowna area and to see a semi-desertic vineyard further south on the Similkameen River. Vintage will release wines it brought in from beautiful British Columbia in early March.

Join the Guild at the Vendange Institute on March 2, 2017 for a sneak peak at a selection of fine wines from Canada’s west coast province. It is not always easy to get a hold of wines from that province here in Ottawa, or to get a chance to taste some of their higher end wines — this is your chance to do so. Furthermore, members who sign-up by Saturday, February 25th will have the opportunity to suggest which BC wine they may like to try as part of the blind tasting flights.

Guild Director Sylvain Segard will be leading this tasting.

Members: CA$56.50 ($50+HST)
Guests: CA$67.80 ($60+HST)

Nebbiolo and Small Plates at DiVino Wine Studio

Wednesday, February 22, 2017 – 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.
DiVino Wine Studio
225 Preston Street, Ottawa

To ward off the mid winter chill, the Guild has arranged a special evening at DiVino Wine Studio where guests will be treated to a delicious five course small plate dinner paired with a selection of Barolo and Barbaresco wines.

These wines from the Piedmont region of Italy, represent some of the best Italy has to offer and will pair beautifully with the menu created by DiVino’s chef.

Attendance will be limited to 24 guests so don’t forget to register early to avoid disappointment.

Members: $80.00 + HST = $90.40

Nonmembers: $90.00 + HST =$101.70

Vintages Pre-Release Tasting—Mediterranean—Have Your Say…

Thursday, February 2, 2017 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Vendange Institute, 440 Albert Street, Suite C108

Mid-winter. Names like Avignon & Bandol & Catalunya, Sicily & Sardinia. Other names like Aglianico & Assyrtiko, Cariñena/Carignan & Garnacha/Grenache & Monastrell/Mourvèdre, Picpoul & Viognier & Vermentino. Still dry rosé, whether from Provence, Languedoc or Lebanon. Cava made from Macabeo, Parellada, & Xarello plus other varieties. Mediterranean is a climate & attitude. So regions in Australia, California & South Africa, for example, may provide a few “new world” selections within these broadened definitions. Vintages tends in early new year to offer many affordable & interesting wines of quality, warming the moods if not the weather. The theme this time suggests anticipation for great stalwarts and a few fine surprises.

Please register early. Members signed up by Saturday, January 28th, will be invited to suggest a few of their preferred choices. Requests will be considered for the final selection, particularly the popular items along with intriguing specific thematic suggestions.

The VPR is a great “try before you buy” tasting opportunity of wines from the upcoming Vintages release. A chance to sample some selected, expensive, highly reputed wines that might not cross your palate otherwise and perhaps also bottles offering exceptional price/quality ratios and affordable lesser-known premium quality products that are unique bargains.

Members: ($45 + HST) $50.85
Sponsored Guests: ($55 + HST) $62.15

Small Plates Food and Wine Pairing

Monday, January 16, 2017 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Algonquin College, Restaurant International (H101)
1385 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa, ON

Happy New Year!

The Guild is partnering with Algonquin College Restaurant International again to offer outstanding value for the first wine and food pairing event of the year.
Join us and explore flights of wine, each paired with small plate creations by the Chef and students of this “learning restaurant”.
As we recover from the expenses of the holiday season, we will focus on great food friendly wines that offer excellent value, chosen to compliment and contrast the menu.
The restaurant venue provides a wonderful relaxed atmosphere to meet and socialize with other members while being guided through the flights by Director Sean O’Regan.

Parking is free in the lot in front of the restaurant off of Navaho Drive. We hope to see you there.
Sign up early to avoid disappointment.

Members: ($50 + HST) $56.50
Sponsored Guests: ($60 + HST) $67.80