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Vine Lines

VINE LINES — No matter what happens, my glass is always half full

VINE LINES — No matter what happens, my glass is always half full

Diane Nelson 6 minute read Friday, Jul. 19, 2019

It’s said that all good things must come to an end.

And it is with a heavy heart I tell you this is the last edition of Vine Lines in The Brandon Sun.

“The times, they are a changin’,” wrote Bob Dylan, and that’s exactly what’s happening here. After careful consideration of the results of the most recent readership survey, Sun management has decided that, after an almost 12-year run and close to 600 columns, it’s time for Vine Lines to say farewell.

To say I’ve enjoyed my time as “the wine lady,” as tons of people have flatteringly and affectionately called me over the last dozen years, would be a massive understatement. I’ve loved every minute of writing this column. And I’m humbled by the hundreds of responses I’ve received, by email and through Twitter, from all over southwestern Manitoba, all across the country and from California and Washington state as well.

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Another Okanagan winery tour slated for next May

Diane Nelson 6 minute read Preview

Another Okanagan winery tour slated for next May

Diane Nelson 6 minute read Friday, Jun. 21, 2019

I’d been excited about this particular stop for months.

Along with the other participants in Kemnay Travel’s Okanagan Winery Tour, I was finally going to visit Culmina Family Estate Winery.

I’d met Don and Elaine Triggs two years ago at the Winnipeg Wine Festival. Not only was Don (along with Allan Jackson) one of the founding partners of Jackson-Triggs, but this major player in the international wine scene was from Manitoba. Don was raised on a farm near Treherne, and Elaine hailed from Elgin, which is my mother’s home town. So we had plenty to talk about.

Don told me that after losing Jackson-Triggs in a hostile takeover, and after taking some time off, he and Elaine both agreed they missed the wine industry, and soon after, Culmina was born.

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Friday, Jun. 21, 2019

Columnist Diane Nelson being "blown away" by the Second Chapter Malbec. (Photo by Lynda Nay-Kamann)
Columnist Diane Nelson being

Okanagan wine tour out-of-this-world experience

Diane Nelson 6 minute read Preview

Okanagan wine tour out-of-this-world experience

Diane Nelson 6 minute read Friday, May. 24, 2019

It started out being all about the wine.

But very quickly, it became all about the people.

An enthusiastic collection of wine aficionados boarded a Brandon Bus Lines carriage on May 5, looking for adventure, hoping to explore the delights B.C.’s Okanagan Valley had to offer, and ready for some fun.

And boy, did they find it all!

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Friday, May. 24, 2019

Some of the gang at the tasting station at Poplar Grove Winery. (Submitted)
Some of the gang at the tasting station at Poplar Grove Winery. (Submitted)

Judging wine by its origins not always a good idea

Diane Nelson 5 minute read Preview

Judging wine by its origins not always a good idea

Diane Nelson 5 minute read Friday, May. 10, 2019

“I’m going home to Mexico to visit my parents,” my dear friend Malena said to me last summer. “And I’m going to bring you back some Mexican wine.”

I plastered a smile on my face and tried to look delighted. But inwardly, I shuddered. Mexican wine? There was no doubt in my mind it would be awful.

I kind of hoped she’d forget about it — I mean, what with travelling all that way and having family to focus on, surely wine for me would be extremely low on her priority list.

But I should have known better. We’ve been pals for 17 years, and in that time, I’ve never known her to forget to do anything she promised she would.

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Friday, May. 10, 2019
Judging wine by its origins not always a good idea

VINE LINES: A bevy of beauties to try before you buy

z Model 5 minute read Preview

VINE LINES: A bevy of beauties to try before you buy

z Model 5 minute read Friday, Apr. 26, 2019

“Wine Station.”

It sounds like a great name for a wine bar or a restaurant that boasts a superb wine list, doesn’t it?

And while establishments may exist that bear that moniker, the Wine Station I’m familiar with is a dispenser that’s used by some Liquor Marts to offer free samples to customers.

I love it because rather than experiment and purchase something I’ve never had before and risk disappointment, I get to try before I buy. And that makes me very happy.

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Friday, Apr. 26, 2019
VINE LINES: A bevy of beauties to try before you buy

Columbia wines a pleasant surprise

None 4 minute read Preview

Columbia wines a pleasant surprise

None 4 minute read Friday, Mar. 29, 2019

My friend Karen was over for supper recently and, not unexpectedly, brought some wine with her.

But there was a surprise in store for me.

“I thought we’d try these,” she said, proffering two bottles, a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon, for my inspection. “My niece works at the winery.”

“She what?” I practically yelled. “That’s so cool!”

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Friday, Mar. 29, 2019
Columbia wines a pleasant surprise

Winnipeg Whisky Fest superb sampling opportunity

Diane Nelson 6 minute read Preview

Winnipeg Whisky Fest superb sampling opportunity

Diane Nelson 6 minute read Friday, Mar. 15, 2019

In a word, wow.

And I do mean WOW!

The Winnipeg Whisky Festival was an exciting, eye-opening, palate-pleasing, sublime sensory adventure that I can’t recommend highly enough. What a superbly well-organized and elegant event! I’ve only attended one such session that could possibly compare — a Champagne sampling several years back that was a precursor to the Winnipeg Wine Festival’s Friday night public tasting. I must admit I headed to the Whisky Festival the first weekend in March with a fair bit of trepidation. I’m not a regular whisky drinker, although I’ve certainly tasted many different ones over the years. While I like whisky, it’s not something I would usually seek out. But since both my parents were Scotch aficionados, I would always try anything that presented itself with them in mind.

But the Whisky Festival was the big time. Producers, experts, much more experienced whisky tasters and appreciators than I. This was new territory for me.

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Friday, Mar. 15, 2019
Winnipeg Whisky Fest superb sampling opportunity

Winnipeg Whisky Fest a spirit-ual opportunity

None 4 minute read Preview

Winnipeg Whisky Fest a spirit-ual opportunity

None 4 minute read Friday, Feb. 15, 2019

I’ve been known to take a nip of whisky every now and then.

My folks were both Scotch drinkers — my mom still has the occasional one — and when my dad was alive, he was always trying to get me to try Scotch. Back then, though, I was a dedicated rum and cola drinker, which he couldn’t understand because he couldn’t stand rum. And if there’s one regret I have (I guess there are many), it’s that I discovered the pleasures of a wee dram of Scotch not long after he died. I know he’d really have enjoyed sharing his favourite beverage with his not-so-little girl.

But such are the vagaries of life, and while I’m not a regular whisky or whiskey or Scotch drinker, I enjoy a taste of them every now and then. And I’m about to get my fill at the upcoming Winnipeg Whisky Festival, which takes place March 1 and 2 at The Fairmont Winnipeg Hotel to benefit the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.

This event is the seventh annual, and it’s the first time organizers have broadened the popular event from one night to two, thus allowing more people to participate. The Whisky Festival is much the same format as a wine festival — you get quarter-ounce pours of whatever you choose. And believe me, there’ll be plenty to choose from.

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Friday, Feb. 15, 2019
Winnipeg Whisky Fest a spirit-ual opportunity

Okanagan wine tour planned for early May

Diane Nelson 6 minute read Preview

Okanagan wine tour planned for early May

Diane Nelson 6 minute read Friday, Jan. 18, 2019

By Diane Nelson

My phone rang while I was in Victoria for a family wedding this past October. I was perplexed.

First of all, the phone ringing was odd — I get way more texts than calls. Often people text to see if it’s OK if they call. Which is ridiculous, but I do it too.

Anyway, the call display showed the name of my longtime pal and musical collaborator Brent Campbell.

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Friday, Jan. 18, 2019
Okanagan wine tour planned for early May

A bounty of bubbly to ring in the New Year

Diane Nelson 5 minute read Preview

A bounty of bubbly to ring in the New Year

Diane Nelson 5 minute read Monday, Jan. 7, 2019

Like many of you, I presume, I was terribly spoiled this Christmas. And I loved every minute of it.

The first gift of the day, although we’d agreed we weren’t going to exchange presents this year, came from my husband. (I had a couple of items for him too, but nothing as fabulous as what he gave me.)

He’d hinted on Christmas Eve that he had something for me and said it was consumable, so I was reasonably certain it might be a bottle of my favourite Champagne, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut ($74.44), and it was.

But it wasn’t just the regular Veuve Brut. He’d gone all out and had purchased the vintage 2008 Veuve Clicquot Brut ($101.83)! He knows how much I love it, but it’s such an extravagance, I was totally shocked.

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Monday, Jan. 7, 2019
A bounty of bubbly to ring in the New Year

Versatile rosé a great choice no matter the season

None 5 minute read Preview

Versatile rosé a great choice no matter the season

None 5 minute read Friday, Dec. 7, 2018

Rosé in the wintertime?

Yes! Anytime!

And it’s an especially good choice for the holidays, since that’s often when we trot out special treats like creamy cheeses, luscious dips, and seafoods of all sorts, which are great matches for rosé.

And rosé goes really well with turkey too. Rosé is a very flexible wine. Often referred to as the red wine drinker’s white wine (and why not the white wine drinker’s red wine as well?), rosé can be, despite its misleadingly delicate colour, quite robust. It’s lovely to sip on its own, and is also a great accompaniment for all sorts of hors d’oeuvres and meals. I love it with salmon and shellfish — in addition to sampling them without food, my husband, Ken, and I tried the four listed below with mussels, and they were all superb with those delicious morsels from the sea.

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Friday, Dec. 7, 2018
Versatile rosé a great choice no matter the season

Vancouver Island boasts plethora of local wineries

6 minute read Preview

Vancouver Island boasts plethora of local wineries

6 minute read Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018

“We could check out some wineries while we’re there.”

My head snapped up in surprise at this comment from my husband Ken. I hadn’t even considered doing such a thing, which, given my passion for the fermented fruit of the vine, seemed completely ridiculous. Especially since I’ve sought out Vancouver Island wines in Victoria’s many liquor stores several times over the years.

But while we were flying to the Island for our nephew Jeremy’s wedding, we were renting a car and staying for a few extra days in Victoria after the festivities. And the vehicle would allow us the flexibility to visit some wineries and sample their wares.

“Cool!” I thought, and thanked my husband for being smarter than I was.

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Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018
Vancouver Island boasts plethora of local wineries

Westman Wine Festival offers delights for every palate

None 5 minute read Preview

Westman Wine Festival offers delights for every palate

None 5 minute read Friday, Oct. 19, 2018

Editor’s note: This column was originally slated to run on Oct. 12. It has been updated for today’s publication. We regret the error.

What a treat we’re in for!

Today, Friday, Oct. 19, is the 16th annual Rotary Westman Wine Festival public tasting. Our celebration of the fermented fruit of the vine has grown at lot in size and scope since it began, and this year’s event boasts 28 tables, almost all of which will be pouring four wines.

It’s an intense three hours — it starts at 7 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m. and will be in the Imperial Ballroom at the Victoria Inn — and it’s always fun. For the ticket price of $34.95 — and tickets are available at all Brandon Liquor Marts — you have the opportunity to sample more than 100 wines, although attempting to try them all would be folly, as I’ve said in this space many times before.

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Friday, Oct. 19, 2018

Rod Biebrich pours the fabulous Bottega Gold bubbly at the 2017 Westman Wine Festival public tasting. (Diane Nelson/The Brandon Sun)
Rod Biebrich pours the fabulous Bottega Gold bubbly at the 2017 Westman Wine Festival public tasting. (Diane Nelson/The Brandon Sun)

Higher-end homemade wine a real surprise

None 7 minute read Preview

Higher-end homemade wine a real surprise

None 7 minute read Friday, Sep. 28, 2018

“Ugh. No. Not again.”

That’s what the voice inside my head said a couple of weeks ago when I was offered a glass of homemade wine by my good friend Dave Scott after a rehearsal for an upcoming gig. (He plays drums, I sing and attempt to play piano.)

But since I really like Dave and didn’t want to insult him or hurt his feelings, I put on my game face and said yes to a glass of Chardonnay.

Dave being Dave, he poured me a generous glass, and again inwardly, I sighed. I braced myself as I sniffed the wine — it smelled OK — and prepared to take the first sip.

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Friday, Sep. 28, 2018
Higher-end homemade wine a real surprise

Gran Sello Tempranillo Syrah a great bargain

None 4 minute read Preview

Gran Sello Tempranillo Syrah a great bargain

None 4 minute read Friday, Sep. 21, 2018

A guy named Bill from the Forrest area has emailed me a couple of times during the past year or so.

His notes are brief and to the point, and I always enjoy hearing from him. He seems to like Vine Lines, he purchases some of the wines I suggest, and he occasionally comments on the points I’ve made in the column.

For instance, when I wrote back in April that it was often hard to get a good bottle of wine for less than $20, he emailed and said he agreed with that statement. But he also qualified that sometimes “$20 wines are underwhelming.” And I certainly agree with that! He suggested the 2016 Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo ($15.99) from Spain “isn’t too bad.”

And it’s not. With its red fruit vibrancy with notes of vanilla, chocolate and spice, the Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo is definitely worth a try.

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Friday, Sep. 21, 2018
Gran Sello Tempranillo Syrah a great bargain

Kim Crawford South Island solves Pinot Noir problem

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Kim Crawford South Island solves Pinot Noir problem

None 5 minute read Friday, Sep. 14, 2018

They call Pinot Noir the heartbreak grape.

And it’s been breaking my heart for all the wrong reasons lately.

Its moniker is attributed to the fickle and persnickety nature of the fruit, its tendency to be unpredictable and literally thin-skinned. The latter quality makes it susceptible to pests, rot and disease. It’s a challenging grape to grow because it apparently mutates easily, so what is planted might not result in what the producers hoped for.

And I know that, generally speaking, one gets what one pays for. But that, too, is up for debate, at least in this case.

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Friday, Sep. 14, 2018
Kim Crawford South Island solves Pinot Noir problem

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