LCBO Food & Drink Autumn 2021

INSIDE SCOOP

Shape of you WINE SCHOOL A short guide to five common wine bottle shapes.

Bordeaux The most popular shape on the planet, this bottle is commonly used for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and signature blends. Some believe the broad shoulders are for trapping sediment from aged wines, but the bottle was most likely designed to differentiate it from Burgundy. Burgundy The reason for this shape? It was easy to make back when bottles were hand-blown. It’s almost always used for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (Burgundy’s signature grapes), plus light-bodied reds such as Gamay and barrel-aged whites. Alsace Also known as Mosel, this svelte number is synonymous with Ries- ling, though you can find it holding other Alsatian varietals, including Gewürztraminer and Sylvaner. The sleek bottle was designed to fill the hulls of riverboats, which shipped them along the Rhine. Sparkling The gently sloping shoulders, deep punt (the recess on the bottom) and heavy glass all contribute to the bottle’s strength, which is needed to resist the pressure of the gas trapped in the wine.

TRENDSPOTTING

Joy and grain A Toronto-based bakery is upcycling a by-product of the brewing industry with delicious results.

To make beer, brewers first cook up a huge vat of watery porridge and then filter the liquid from the solids. The liquid is fer- mented into beer, and the solids are called “spent grains.” The dilemma is what to do with this by-product. Some of Ontario’s craft brewers ship their spent grains to farmers for animal feed and compost. Toronto’s Henderson Brewing, however, sends a portion to the bakery next door. Dihan Chandra (above), founder of The Spent Goods Company (spentgoods.ca), says they use Henderson’s leftover grains

as an ingredient in their popular beer ba- gels, pretzels and breads. “We help divert tonnes of product that would otherwise go to landfills. The grains retain high protein and fibre, so we upcycle them into our products for added flavour and texture.” Home cooks and brew pubs have also gotten creative, incorporating spent grains into granola, pizza dough and even dog biscuits. If you’re curious, ask your local brewery if they can spare a bag. Call ahead, and make sure to buy some beer too! – Tonia Wilson-Vuksanovic

Dessert This slim bottle (200 or 375 mL) is for icewine and other dessert wines, since they are consumed in small pours after a meal.

IMAGES BY SARAH WIGGINS

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AUTUMN 2021 FOOD & DRINK