In Canada, Icon wines have become a successful marketing tool to draw attention to wines of British Columbia across Canada and also the world.

Mission Hill, known for it's Iconic wine Oculus, has expanded it's portfolio to include a white - Perpetua and a red - Quatrain.  They recently released the first vintage of a 2005 red Quatrain. Different from the the Bordeaux style blend of Oculus, this second icon wine from Mission Hill represents more of the terroir.      

 

Oculus, Quatrain and Perpetua are availalble in store.

 

The ever popular Titanium Crystal Wine and Spirits glasses continue to garner praise.  Elegant and practical they are a great choice if you are considering replacing your current set of mis-matched glassware. Break resistant and dishwasher safe, these glasses will stand up to the most discerning guest or, the clutz at your table.

 

BREATHABLE GLASSES - Yes, glasses that breathe. Who knew?

The glass shapes of the "Eisch Superior Breathable" series have been designed according to the principle of optimally accentuating the character of the respective beverage. In addition, the glasses undergo an oxygenisation treatment which has the effect that bouquet and aromas open up within only a few minutes, which otherwise can only be achieved by decanting for 1 - 2 hours.
"Superior Breathable" wine glasses and goblets are made in leadfree crystal-glass quality in fully-automatic operation using state-of-the art technology.  

 

Being somewhat skeptical, Grant and I decided we would test them out at home.  We chose a "Cheap and Cheerful" Portuguese red wine which we have decanted and sipped before, so we know how it should taste.  As per the instructions that come with the glasses, we selected a similar size and shaped wine glass and made sure it was more than 18 inches from the Eisch glass on the counter.  We uncorked the wine and poured some into the regular wine glass and some into the breathable one.  We waited the suggested  2 minutes and then swirled and tasted the first sample from the regular glass.  Then, the second sample from the breathable glass.........we were both astonished at the difference!  It really did taste more "open" and less tannic as is often the case before decanting.  These glasses are not dishwasher safe nor break resistant, so require more care than the titanim ones, but we would definitely recommend them.

 

For next month, we will be testing another product we brought in that claims to "decant your wine in 30 minutes instead of 1 -2 hours" - "The Wine Cellar Express"- a magnetic coaster you place the bottle on before pouring the wine in your glass.....

 

        Until next time...keep sipping!