Australian Wine Society of Ottawa

Upcoming Events

We encourage members to bring fresh ideas for events to the Board. Email your suggestions to events@awsottawa.com.

Comparative Trio Tasting Challenge,
Friday March 26 @ 6:30pm

A comparative tasting evening is set for you with a grape variety tasting challenge.

Three flights of red wines will be served in "trios" (2 Australians and 1 challenger from another country), and the reception wine. Each flight will be accompanied with the appropriate bite size appetizers. Taste the difference and discover great food and wine combinations!!!

What's included: A white reception wine, three "trios" of wine to compare/contrast (A flight of Pinot Noir, one of Cabernet Blend, and lastly one of Shiraz), four small courses of tantalizing delights to match the wines, plus coffee & tea.

The Menu

Pinot flight:
Smoked Chicken and Roasted Pepper en Croute Thai Herb Salad, Chevre Creme
The "challenger" wine is from the USA.

Cabernet Sauvignon Blends:
Beef Medallion (Roasted Portobello offered as Vegetarian option) Celeriac Puree, Roasted Mushroom Trio, Chive Oil, Glace de Veau
The "challenger" wine is from Canada

Shiraz flight:
a plate of Canadian Cheeses!
-Sir Laurier d'Athabasca
-Ciel de Charlevoix
-Springbank Applewood - Smoked Cheddar
The "challenger" wine is from South Africa

When: Friday March 26, 2010 at 6:30 pm

Where: L'Ange, 109 Sparks Street (between Metcalfe & O'Connors), Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5B5 Tel: (613) 232-8883.

Cost to members - $49

Cost to Non members - $59

Register NOW! Register now by emailing: events@awsottawa.com.

DISCLAIMER:
Payment for AWS Events: Payment for events will be due upon registration.

AWS Cancellation Policy: 7 day cancellation policy. In the event of Registrant cancelling, it is the full responsibility of the Registrant to advise the AWS up to 7 days prior to the AWS Event; otherwise full ticket price will be incurred to the Registrant.

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Mark your calendar...

March 26, 2010: Comparative Trio Tasting Challenge
April, 2010: ANZAC Day Celebration
May, 2010: Premium Wine Tasting
June, 2010: Annual General Meeting
August, 2010: Summer BBQ

Past Events

Review of AWS Winter Celebration
Feb. 22nd, 2010

About 20 members and guests enjoyed a special Monday evening to celebrate our own Winterlude - with a feast of fine food, frivolity and some fabulous Australian wines at the freshly and exquisitely renovated La Roma's upper dining room, in the heart of Little Italy.

We plunged into a marvellously prepared 6 course dinner offered by La Roma's culinary team. The evening was hosted by AWS VP, Brian Giles who lead us through the dinner with some specially selected new and rare Australian wines chosen especially for this Winter celebration.

Menu & Wines:

Reception: La Roma's famous Deep fried Smelts
WOLF BLASS GOLD LABEL SPARKLING PINOT NOIR/CHARDONNAY 2005
VINTAGES 606285 currently $ 19.95

Appetizer
Smoked Salmon bites
TAMAR RIDGE, DEVILS CORNER RIESLING 2008
VINTAGES 138289 currently $ 15.70

Soup
Cream of Potato & Leek
YALUMBA Y SERIES PINOT GRIS (Pinot Grigio) 2008, Eden Valley, SA, VINTAGES 138586 currently $ 15.95

Pasta
Penne in tomato & basil sauce
FOOLS BAY DUSTY'S DESIRE SHIRAZ 2008, Hentley Farm Wines, Barossa Valley, SA
VINTAGES 14188 currently $ 18.95

Main Course
Veal Scalloppine Anna Maria with potato and vegetables
ODDFELLOWS SVENGALI SHIRAZ/CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005, Langhorne Creek, SA, VINTAGES 72611 currently $ 21.95

Cheese Plate
Assorted Italian cheese: Pecorino, Parmigiano & Provolone
ANAPERENNA BY BEN GLAETZER 2007, Barossa Valley, SA
VINTAGES 72926 currently $ 59.95

Dessert
Chocolate Mousse
FRAZZITTA ZIBIBBO (Muscat) VINO LIQUOROSO
VINTAGES 990895 currently $ 13.25
Coffee & Tea

Australia Day Event

On Sunday, January 17th, 46 of our members and guests gathered at the elegant Royal Ottawa Golf Club on the Aylmer Road in Gatineau for a celebratory lunch. While Australia Day actually falls on January 26th, we got a bit of an early start.

While attendees registered, the reception wine, Paringa Shiraz Mousseux (10968162), was served. It was a rich, black fruit bubbly, just the thing to get us all in a festive frame of mind. Please note as this was our first Quebec located event, all wines were sourced through the SAQ and the CSPC codes are theirs.

Upon the arrival of special guests, HE Justin Brown, High Commissioner, his wife, Caroline Linke and their special little guy, Leo, all just back from Australia, we entered the dining room to begin the meal. Master of Ceremonies and CellarMaster, John McCormick brought us to order for the playing of the National Anthem and made brief introductory remarks before asking Justin to welcome everyone. Thanks also to Justin's generosity, six lucky participants each claimed a bottle of wine as their names were drawn.

As the various courses were served, John explained the accompanying wines, especially selected for this event and menu. We began with Roasted Butternut Squash Soup and Garlic Croutons topped with Pimento Aioli which was accompanied by Tahbilk Marsanne (00865436). Next was a service of Grilled Quail Breast on Mixed Tender Lettuces and Baby Herbs tossed in Hazelnut and Maple Vinaigrette. The accompanying wine was Swan Bay Scotchmans Hill Pinot Noir (10748422).

The main course was Grilled Lamb Chops (Australian, of course) placed on Mushroom and Cambozola Risotto served with a Quince and Lingonberry Reduction. This hearty fare demanded a wine with similar expression and the Yalumba Old Bush Vine Grenache (00902353) was equal to the task.

John then introduced our hosts, Ed and Karen Davies, ROGC members, and asked Ed to provide an overview of the history and special place the Club has in the National Capital area. At the conclusion, everyone settled back to enjoy dessert, a Decadent Raspberry and Chocolate Torte served with one of Justin's favourite stickies, Buller Fine Old Muscat (10811122) along with coffee or tea.

Special thanks to Linda Dewar of the ROGC for her help in planning as well as Stephane and his excellent service staff and Chef James and his team for the excellent gastronomic medley.

For more information on past events,
please consult the archived Newsletters.

February 2010 - AWS Winter Celebration - La Roma

January 2010 - Australia Day Gala - Royal Ottawa Golf Club

December 2009 - Seasonal Light Evening - Marriott Hotel

October 2009 - Experience Victoria's Wineries, exclusive wine tasting and seminar - Restaurant International, Algonquin College

July 2009 - Summer BBQ - High Commissioner's residence

June 2009 - Annual General Meeting - Vendange Institute

May 2009 - Cuisine, Passions, & Australian Wines - Cuisine & Passions

April 2009 - Australia & New Zealand Wine Tasting - Jacobsons

March 2009 - Premium Tasting - Vendange Institute

February 2009 - Fall in Love with an Australian Red - The Buzz

January 2009 - Australia Day Gala - Parliament Hill

December 2008 - Festive Dinner - Crown Plaza

October 2008 - Australia vs. Italy - L'Ange

September 2008 - Taste of Barossa with Grant Burge - Signature Le Cordon Bleu

August 2008 - BBQ at the High Commissioner's Residence

July 2008 - Happy Hour on the Rideau Canal - Paul's Boat Cruise

June 2008 - Annual General Meeting Wine Tasting - Vendange Institute

May 2008 - Fabulous Fizz and Film!!! - SAW Gallery

April 2008 - Anzac Day Wine & Cheese - Jacobsons

March 2008 - A Taste of Western Australia! - One Fish Two Fish

February 2008 - Voluptuous Valentine Celebration for the Epicurean in Us All! - Anthony's on Elgin

January 2008 - Australia Day Black-Tie Gala - Rideau Club

December 2007 - AWS Christmas Gala Lunch - West End Station Bistro

November 2007 - BIG RED Wine Blind Tasting - Art Mode

September 2007 - Wine and a movie - Vendange Institute

August 2007 - Annual AWS Summer BBQ - Residence of the Australian High Commissioner

June 2007 - Annual General Meeting - Vendange Institute

May 2007 - AWS Spring Dinner - Britannia Yacht Club

April 2007 - ANZAC Day event - Jacobsons

March 2007 - Anything but the usual

February 2007 - Big Reds for your Valentine

January 2007 - Australia Day Black Tie Gala Event

December 2006 - Christmas Treasures at Truffle Treasures

November 2006 - Peter (Lehmann) at La Pergola

October 2006 - Australia vs. Argentina at Bistro 110

September 2006 - 'Uncover Australia' at Vittoria Cafe Italia

August 2006 - Annual Aussie BBQ

June 2006 - Annual General Meeting at the Vandange Institute

May 2006 - Wines of Western Australia at Il Negozio Nicastro

April 2006 - Angove's Wine Tasting at Allegro

March 2006 - 'Spring Into Spring' Wine & Cheese at Vitoria Cafe Italia

February 2006 - Australia vs. Chile Wine Challenge

January 2006 - 'Australia Beyond Shiraz' at The Courtyard

December 2005 - Aussie Beach Party at the Urban Element

November 2005 - Structured wine tasting at the Vendange Institute

October 2005 - Australia vs. California Wine Shoot Out at Biagios

September 2005 - Australian Wine Fair

August 2005 - Annual Aussie BBQ

August 2005 - Annual General Meeting

June 2005 - Shiraz & Jazz at the Ottawa Jazz Festival

May 2005 - Wines of Western Australia at The Mill

May 2005 - Peter Lehmann Wines at Trattoria Cafe Italia

March 2005 - A Tour of Australia

February 2005 - Big Aussie Reds, Blind Tasting at the Roxy

January 2005 - Australia Day Lunch & Wine Tasting

November 2004 - Celebration Wines at Truffle Treasures

October 2004 - Aussie Wine & Quebec Cheese at Vittoria Cafe Italia

September 2004 - Winemaker Walkabout at Empire Grill

September 2004 - Winemakers Dinner at Juniper

August 2004 - AWS Summer BBQ & AGM

June 2004 - Aussie Wines for an Ottawa Summer
May 2004 - Launch of the Australian Wine Society of Ottawa at the residence of the Australian High Commissioner, HE Tony Hely