LCBO Food and Drink Holiday 2015

First impressions are important. They set the tone of everything that is to fol- low. I like to offer a couple of general options and then one or two more spe- cific things that show I have put some thought into the evening and wish to honour our guests with something spe- cial. “We have wine, beer, soft drinks… I also thought X might be nice.” Where X stands for a particularly interesting wine, a cocktail, a favourite aperitif or a glass of bubbly with or without some- thing in it. Let’s start with wine. Dry white wine. Something crisp and bracing that really will open up the palate. But also something aromatic, with character and verve. Three recent discoveries fit the bill. Alpine Valley ( LCBO 241810, $15.95) is a fine Sauvignon Blanc from the New Zealand Sauv’ Blanc heartland of Marlborough. There’s passion fruit and cut grass on the nose and tart lime and lemon zest when you taste. The Pavillion ( LCBO 281311, $10.95) comes from South Africa, an example of bar- gain-priced Chenin Blanc with a char- acteristic bouquet of kiwi, citrus and lanolin. It offers elegant acidity and a round body—the sort of wine that is welcome any time of the day or evening.    My third option is a classic opening act from Gascony, France: Brumont Gros Manseng Sauvignon ( LCBO 297234, $12.95), a blend of grassy, white-grape- fruit Sauvignon with a rare local grape called Gros Manseng. I would love to taste it on its own someday—it’s crisp, very tart, but carries all sorts of unex- pected tropical perfumes. If you, likeme, enjoy offering guests something they’re not used to, this is a winner. WHITE WINE

124  FOOD & DRI NK HOLIDAY 2015