Blog
Paul and the many staff that participated were very excited to be included in Calgary International Beerfest 2013! We enjoyed seeing and catching up with many of our customers during this two day event. I can't think of a better place to be to see what is hot on trend and up and coming in the world of craft beer. We had the opportunity to try craft beer equivalents of some of our most popular add-pack recipes - such as Black Pilsners and Belgian Wits - confirming that what we can make at home is...
POSTED June 3rd, 2013 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
There has been a lot of buzz about the LE2012 Washington Riesling Chenin Blanc. Many of our staff and customers have just been bottling this March release, and the feedback has been tremendous. It's crisp with light acidity, soft fruits and just a hint of sweetness. This is such a crisp, pleasing and enjoyable sipping wine that you are sure to go back for another glass. Some of the feedback we have been hearing is:I was sampling when I was bottling, and had to have another glass, it's just so fantastic!This...
POSTED June 3rd, 2013 | 0 COMMENTS 
Another successful class last night at the North West Calgary store. Everyone enjoyed themselves while learning the process of making award winning wine and beer from our kits.We decided to brew one of our newest beer recipes, the Roggenbier add pack. This is one of my favourite new beers that we have brewed. On the wine side, we started up a Limited Ed Argentine Torrontes -- a trendy new wine !Check out our calendar for a listing of all upcoming classes.
POSTED May 23rd, 2013 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT Winexpert Kits Clean Up @ International Competition ! 
This just in from Winexpert > "Congrats to our 300+ medal winners at the WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition last weekend.More amateur winemakers won GOLD medals with Winexpert kits, than any other brand!Our Limited Edition Pacifica White also won Best of Show White!"
POSTED May 23rd, 2013 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
Visiting the Chateau Khoury winery in the Bekka Valley, we spent the afternoon with the owners sampling an array of vintages from thier collection paired with local cheeses. Amazing wines, this winery really aims for quality over quantity. Traveling with my two daughters and son-in-law, we used english, french and arabic to converse- but it worked out well. This is my ideal way to experience a winery, and a bottle of their top end wine, their Icone de Perseides, will be traveling back to Canada with me.
POSTED May 21st, 2013 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
A brief stop in the port city of Byblos turned into an overnight stay for my family. Calgarians know the Byblos ruins by the picture on the pita bread, we managed to get a restaurant table that overlooked the bay. Spending the afternoon drinking champagne and toasting our good luck. We found it hard to get local sparking wine, so we had to rely on the french. Apparently local sparkling wine is not a big thing here, but with the quality of grapes grown in this area, they could probably make some great...
POSTED May 21st, 2013 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
Arak what they call the local moonshine throughout both Lebanon and Syria. Just about every meal, it makes it’s appearance. it is a by-product of the wine industry, basically a brandy made from the leftover wine skins and flavoured with aniside. One third Arak, two thirds water, and then an ice cube. The mixture goes cloudy with the addition of water, because the aniside oil is soluble in alcohol but not in water. The best way to tell the differences in quality is by how you wake up the next morning.
POSTED May 21st, 2013 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
Spending a couple days in the Bekka valley in Lebanon, there are categories for new world and old world wines, but there should be a category for ancient world wines as this is thought to be the oldest wine region, dating back to biblical times. We visited the Ksara winery, some of these wines are available in Calgary and I would recommend them. Staying at the Hotel Akl in Zahle, very old heritage hotel.
POSTED May 16th, 2013 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
On April 27th, the Provincial level of the Amateur Winemaker's of Canada competition was held in Calgary. Our very own Home Vintner Wine Guild sent forward 52 bottles to be judged over 17 different categories. In total - the guild brought in 12 Silver Medals and 31 Bronze Medals - increasing our Guild's running award total by 43 to a grand total of 633! Please join us in congratulating our Guild on their success!Ken G. 5 Silver and 6 BronzeRon G. 2 Silver and 8 BronzeClarence G. 5 BronzeKellie B.
POSTED May 7th, 2013 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT Don't Miss the SPARKLING boat ! 
Many home wine vintners never think of sparkling beyond champagne. If you are not a champagne drinker, it's easy to think that sparkling is not for you - or too difficult to achieve. The reality is that several of our customers and staff bring a sparkle to wines such as Rose (Seasonal Selection - almost all gone for this year), Chardonnay, or even choices from the white Limited Releases. Recently several of our staff and guild members had the opportunity to taste a selection of sparkling Island...
POSTED April 26th, 2013 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT Wine Guild Judging March 23/13 
On March 23, judging was held for The Home Vintner Wine Guild as a qualifier for the Alberta Amateur Winemaker's Competition. This year the Provincial Competition is being held in Calgary on April 27. Twelve guild members entered 112 bottles of wine to be judged in 17 categories. All twelve members have bottles going forward to Provincial's, including three brand new guild members submitting for the first time! Congratulations to all!It was a very big couple of days making this event happen...
POSTED April 5th, 2013 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT Eclipse Sonoma Dry Creek Valley Unwooded Chardonnay 
Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape in the world, from Burgundy in France to Australia and back to California. Its reputation is well earned, as it makes delicious wines! The Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma produces some of the most sought-after wines in the world. With its combination of well drained, rich volcanic soil, long California growing seasons, copious sunshine and cool coastal breezes, it produces grapes of powerful and unique intensity.Our Chardonnay is a fres, well-balanced...
POSTED February 22nd, 2013 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT Wine & Beer Making Class at Cochrane store 
A great bunch at the Cochrane store on January 29th. Many positive accolades were received after class and great interaction and insightful questions.
POSTED February 5th, 2013 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT Add on packages and recipes for beer 
We have clients who have moved to Edmonton who return to Calgary stores because we have add on packages which take your beer to a new dimension. Exclusive to The Home Vintner – beer add on packages with instructions and the extra dry ingredients intended to pair with our Barons Beer Kits. We also have beer recipes that will add a new dimension to your beer cellar.• Belgian Wit – cracked wheat, oats, cracked coriander and orange peel. Use American Lite or Mexican Cerveza...
POSTED January 21st, 2013 | 2 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
It's time - those lucky customers that have already picked up and started your January LTD offerings will be thinking about drinking them soon! Thankfully - the January pairings were the easiest to replicate at home.A bit about: ARGENTINA MALBEC BONARDO - Over 60,000 acres are set aside in Argentina for growing the Malbec grape, and it is this grape that has put Argentina on the worldwide map for regions to watch. With more than 300 days of sunshine per year, this region has produced not just "exceptional"...
POSTED January 15th, 2013 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT |
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