LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2020

BOARDING UP

Holiday spice

Inspired by the classic Stilton and port combo, we’ve paired Niagara icewine with festively spiced walnuts and an award-winning blue cheese from Glengarry County, Ont.

Reif Estate Vidal Icewine VQA A pioneer of Canada’s icewine industry, this Niagara-on-the-Lake vineyard released its first vintage in 1984. Made with frozen-on- the-vine Vidal grapes, it has a lus- cious, soft mouth feel with notes of melon, caramel and peach jam. Full-bodied and golden-hued, it is the perfect intensity match for both the spiced nuts and full-­ flavoured cheese. Plus, it comes in a smaller 200‑mL size, perfect for date night. ( LCBO 544791, 200 mL, $24.95)

Gingerbread-Spiced Candied Nuts Swap out pecans for Ontario walnuts in our simple holiday nut recipe from 2011 (at lcbo.com/fdholiday20). Grimo Nut Nursery in idyllic Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of the prov- ince’s oldest nut growers. Stock up on shelled black and Persian walnuts at the farm store and online, grimonut.com The Celtic Blue, Glengarry Fine Cheese, Lancaster, Ont. A creamy blue cheese crafted in eastern Ontar- io, it’s piquant and rich with lovely buttery bursts of flavour, contrasting the spicy sweetness of the candied walnuts. glengarryfinecheese.com

Henry of Pelham Riesling Icewine VQA

Try this icewine ( LCBO 430561, 375 mL, $49.95) made with frozen Riesling grapes plucked from the Short Hills Bench, the eastern end of the Niagara Escarpment. Riesling grapes make stellar icewine thanks to their high acidity, plus the fruit’s citrus and minerality is prized among vintners. The candied lemon and dried peach notes of the wine coax out the sweetness of the walnuts, while a hint of spice complements both the nuts and the cheese.

184 

HOLIDAY 2020 FOOD & DRINK