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Wine

La Marca Prosecco is the Perfect Sparkling Wine

Aug 17, 2015 · Leave a Comment

So many of my friends are turning the big 40 this year. As a woman this is one of those ‘major’ mile stones in our lives, and definitely one to be celebrated with a little bubbly. That milestone has come and gone for me but I’m still excited to celebrate each earned wrinkle, grey hair and new aching joint with all my friends. Let’s face it, 40’s is the decade we need to start celebrating ourselves as women, and enjoy all those special occasions that come our way.

La Marca Prosecco arrived in Canada in 2014 and has become a brunch favourite. According to a study by International Wine and Spirit Research, its popularity is growing steadily with Canadian consumers, up 14 per cent over the last several years. Who doesn’t love a mimosa with their Sunday brunch – it’s the ultimate treat. This prosecco is fun to drink, affordable and the stylish bottle makes it look luxurious. I adore the bottle and I almost didn’t want to open it.

Winemaker Frabrizio Gatto crafts La Marca Prosecco out of grapes from Italy’s Veneto region. According to Gatto, La Marca is not just for special occasions. “It’s a crowd-pleasing wine that can be used in classic brunch cocktails, as well as adding a splash of flavor in a simple recipe.”

La Marca Prosecco was kind enough to share some prosecco with us to sample and share some of their favourite summer brunch recipes below. I tried it as is with a few berries and infused it with some french lavender and okanagan peaches-Oh la la. La Marca Prosecco is available in retail stores for under $20.

La Marca infused ricotta cheese with herbs, Canadian Prosciutto, wild flower honeycomb, toasted walnuts, and figs glazed in La Marca Prosecco, orange zest. 

Recipe by: Kevin Prendergast, Executive Chef, Hilton Toronto

Ingredients:

  • 500 mL (2 cups) La Marca Prosecco
  • 15 mL (1 tsbp.) wild flower honey
  • 2-3 fresh or dried figs
  • 125 mL (1/2 cup) ricotta cheese
  • 3-4 slices prosciutto
  • 3-4 pieces toasted walnuts
  • 1 wild flower honeycomb
  • chives, edible flowers, to garnish

Methods:

La Marca Prosecco Reduction:

  • 500 mL (2 cups) La Marca Prosecco
  • 15 mL (1 tsbp.) wild flower honey
  • Combine both ingredients together in sauce pan over medium heat (275F) and reduce until light golden syrupy consistency about 1/4 of a cup remaining and cool to room temperature.

Glazed Figs:

  • 2-3 fresh or dried figs
  • 30 mL (2 tbsp.) La Marca Prosecco reduction
  • Gently toss the fresh or dried figs into the La Marca Prosecco reduction and set aside to marinate.

La Marca Prosecco Spiked Ricotta with Fresh Herbs:

  • 125 mL (1/2 cup) ricotta cheese
  • 5 mL (1 tsp.) La Marca Prosecco reduction
  • Handful of chopped chives
  • Combine ingredients in a small mixing bowl and mix well, season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside in the fridge.

Plate assembly: With a small spatula, spread 50 grams of La Marca infused ricotta. Place 3-4 slices prosciutto, 3-4 pieces toasted walnuts, wild flower honeycomb, and edible flower garnish on the La Marca ricotta in an artistic fashion. Serves two as a shared plate. Enjoy!

Chef’s notes: Wildflower honeycomb, edible flowers as well as seedling are available at most gourmet grocery store

La Marca Prosecco
La Marca Prosecco

Beverages, Sponsored, tabletalk bubbly, Italy, La Marca, La Marca Prosecco, prosecco, sparkling wine, summer, summer sips, Wine

Salted Caramel Chocolate Tarts

Nov 18, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Several times a year I gather together a bunch of friends for a Moms Who Need Wine Night. Sometimes we have a theme like California wines, other times we go out on an adventure, or on occasion we’ve even hosted some sort of party. It never really matters what we do or where we go, just that we all have become good friends with kids the same ages in school and can decompress for a couple hours with good eats, beverages and conversation.

Recently I hosted a Ladies Wine Evening at my house with Spirit Hills Honey Winery. This evening came about following a trip out to the Millarville Farmer’s Market one Summer day to visit my friend Jay at his eatery, Eats of Asia. Side note Eats of Asia has since moved to the Calgary Farmers Market and Crossroads Farmers Market. As a family and even on a date, we enjoy wandering any market to take in all the amazing local food and finds.

Amidst fighting off the nasty wasp population, and taking a few down as we strolled along, we noticed wine. To be more exact, Spirit Hills Honey Winery. Not one to walk past an offering to sample wine we stopped to visit and discovered Mead. Did you know Honey Wine is Mead, or Mead is Honey Wine? We met Ilse, one of the owners, and learned much about Mead. This conversation lead to an in house demo and tasting for the ladies.

The story of Mead is fascinating. It’s an ancient wine believed to have been first made and enjoyed as early as the Neolithic Period, over 3000 years ago. Today Mead is experiencing a renaissance and there are at least 7 Wineries in Alberta producing Mead Wine. Spirit Hills Honey Winery is one of them.

Ilse from Spirit Hills Honey Winery
Ilse talking about the Dande Wine, from Spirit Hills Honey Winery

Ilse and Hugo, originally from Belgium, made their way to Canada to follow their dreams which lead them to becoming sustainable farmers who love what they do. Next came bee hives and eventually the Honey Winery. Their story is as fascinating as they are and one that gives you hope and inspiration. Ilse was our host for the evening, she is charming and friendly and her passion shines through as she speaks to the hard work and effort she and Hugo have put forth to live off the land and create the business they are now in.

Their Mead is made using only organic ingredients, local flowers, berries and honey from their sustainability managed bees. Running a bee farm is a feat unto itself. With currently 114 hives in operation and plans to add another 36, Ilse and Hugo definitely have their work cut out for them. But they seem to have mastered what is needed to be successful. Just check out some of the local liquor stores (Co-op Liquor Stores, Willow Park Wine & Spirits, J Webb) or restaurants (Teatro) who now carry Spirit Hills Honey Wine. Their wine is becoming so popular in fact, one of their favourites, Saskwatch, a big full bodied dry red, was one of the Judges Selections in the Alberta Beverage Awards 2013.

 

Ilse from Spirit Hills Honey Winery
The line up from Spirit Hills Honey Winery

 

Mead wine is unlike anything you’ve ever tasted, full of life, free of sulphates and addicting. Step back from the grape variety you are used to and try it at least once. I guarantee you’ll be surprised and most likely enjoy it.

When we ladies get together for our wine evenings we always bring a bite to share. Ilse gave us some suggestions on food to pair with the wine and I must say, as always, the food the ladies brought to share, was divine. During my quest for the perfect bite, I came across a chocolate ganache type tart with salted caramel. Salted caramel is right up my alley and chocolate was on the suggestion list, so I decided to give it a try. First time making caramel and I only burned myself once and the caramel 2 times. Third times a charm. Everything came together nicely. Husband Rob and I thought the tarts were decent, the ladies apparently loved them and most asked for the recipe.

And so here it is. In case you were wondering, these tarts pair fabulously with the Spirit Hills Honey Winery Dande honey wine.

 

 

 

Adventures, Wine chocolate ganache tarts, chocolate tarts, eats of asia, mead in alberta, mead in calgary, mead wine, salted caramel, salted caramel chocolate tarts, spirit hills honey winery, Wine

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Food and lifestyle blogger since 2006. A wahm who writes about events, wine, family adventures, recipes and eating out in Calgary, Alberta and beyond.

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