You are here:  Tasters' ResourcesOver the top wine pairings
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Newport Liquor Merchants Minimize

215A Newport Drive
Port Moody, BC  V3H 5C9
Send email
604-461-0400
Get a Map!

  
Tasters' Resources Minimize
  
Search
Little Straw produces some rare wines from small vineyards Minimize
Location: BlogsReport from the Valley    
Posted by: johngerum 7/8/2008 12:37 PM
I had the privilege of visiting with one of the owners of Little Straw Vineyards, Rick Slamka, on a recent trip to the valley this spring. Construction of a comfortable new tasting room is completed and is welcoming visitors. I always enjoy wineries that produce rare and exceptional wines, such as Little Straw.
I had the privilege of visiting with one of the owners of Little Straw Vineyards, Rick Slamka, on a recent trip to the valley this spring.  Construction of a comfortable new tasting room is completed and is welcoming visitors. I always enjoy wineries that produce rare and exceptional wines, such as Little Straw.

The Wine Maker, Peter Slamka, produces the only Auxerrois Icewine in the world. This wine is produced from some of the oldest Auxerrois vines in the valley. The 2002 Auxerrois Icewine reveals a candied apricot, nectarine and burnt caramel nose. On the palate it displays butterscotch and spice with a soft clean and lingering finish.

The 2007 Sauvignon Blanc is one of the best I have tasted lately, and it displays lovely undertones of lemon, grapefruit and fresh cut grass aromas. Medium bodied with brisk acidity a perfect match for halibut or sole.

Another unusual and rare offering is the 2006 Sparkling Pinot Noir. Peter has added a tiny amount of CO2 to this wine. Easy drinking with hints of cherry and raspberry, this dry and earthy sparkler would be ideal as a salmon match this summer.

Pinot Noir has always been a strong suit for Little Straw and the 2005 Pinot Noir is no exception. The 2005 vintage was ideal for Pinot Noir and the wine displays darker colour than the 2004 and more fruit extract. Cassis, dark cherry, spice and smoke lead to a slight hint of moist earth. Beautifully balanced this wine is priced well compared to other high end Pinot Noirs' in the valley.

Next time you are near Westbank, Kelowna, stop by the gently slopping vineyards near Mount Boucherie and sample a few of the rarest wines in the valley.
Permalink |  Trackback
About the contributing chef and his restaurant Minimize

chefshayne.jpgShayne Shepherd, Executive Chef at St. James's Well in Newport Village (Port Moody, BC), brings his diverse experience in the kitchens of some of the most popular restaurants in Vancouver to the menu and kitchen at The Well;  Mediterrean and Italian cooking from The Moustache Cafe and CinCin; West Coast cuisine from Seasons in the Park and the Teahouse at Stanley Park; comfort food from the Rugby Club. 

A graduate of the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, Chef Shayne has championed change before.  As Executive Chef of the Teahouse at Stanley Park, he designed the menu and led the kitchen through it's transition to The Sequoia Grill.  He was hired as Head Chef by the Rugby Club specifically to upscale their menus, design a brunch menu and guide the kitchen staff through the menu evolutions. Chef Shayne is taking St. James's Well through a transition towards a gastropub menu. 

St. James’s Well (better known to locals simply as “The Well”) has long been a favorite spot for residents of Newport Village in Port Moody.  Without disturbing the things that draw patrons in, General Manager, Mike Read, and Executive Chef, Shayne Shepherd, are waging a quiet crusade to build upon the creature comforts that make The Well..well, The Well!!! aboutus2.jpg

The comfortable benches and chairs have been given a facelift.  The staff, both front-of-house and kitchen, has been expanded to include new faces and new talents.  And the food has gone through transitions which head the menu towards Chef Shayne’s dream of true gastropub cuisine. (See their page called, About Gastropubs).

There is a song that features the line, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”, and if Mike and Shayne are successful, they will see that line to fruition because they want to set the changes so naturally that it doesn’t appear anything has changed. 

If you haven’t been into The Well, why not stop in?  On Friday and Saturday night, there is live entertainment and every day is a good day to be part of the colorful, lively atmosphere that is..well,  The Well!

  
Visit Rocky Mountain Hospitality's Entire Family of Businesses!
 
topbar.jpg
rockymountainmenu_1.jpg rockymountainmenu_2.jpg rockymountainmenu_3.jpg rockymountainmenu_4.jpg
 
 
Privacy Statement | Terms Of Use Copyright (c) 2009 Newport Liquor Merchants