I’m excited to share an incredible event happening next week that Legacy is proud to be a part of. Dish ‘N Dazzle 2012 is an annual charity wine tasting event, presented by the BC Hospitality Foundation, in support of charitable initiatives including their wonderful Tip Out to Help Out program.

This year’s Dish ‘N Dazzle is at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel on Wednesday, May 16, and will feature the best in Argentinean wines. Guests will have the opportunity to taste from over 80 wines and enjoy amazing food pairings. Some of the food offered includes tasty dishes such as Argentinian chorizo with chapa bread, charred chimi churri hanger steak, empanadas, prawn tacos and more, presented by chefs from top restaurants such as Hy’s Encore Steakhouse, MARKET by Jean-Georges, Oru, and Pier 7 – just to name a few.

I’m even more excited to watch the Cocktail “Shakedown” Competition go down! Six of Legacy’s favourite local bartenders will be shaking up some crazy good Argentinian inspired cocktails. The best part is that guests will get to taste them! That is, if I don’t drink them all first…

Some tickets are still available for $75. Personally, I can’t think of anything better than sipping wine and enjoying incredible food all in the name of charity. Life doesn’t get much better than that.

Go to bchospitalityfoundation.com to purchase your tickets now, and I’ll see you Wednesday.

- Tania Richards is the Director of Marketing at Granville Entertainment Group

 

Spring is the perfect time of year to start thinking about dusting the old bicycle off and gearing up for the Vancouver Farmers Markets around the city until late fall.  Although there is talk of having a year round farmers market, for now we have to stay on top of the schedule at various locations throughout the city at:  www.eatlocal.org/markets 

The winter market has just finished at Nat Bailey Stadium and the next to start up will be Trout Lake on Saturdays from May 12^th , and in Legacy Liquor Store’s neighbourhood at Main Street Station in Thornton Park on Wednesdays from June 6^th.  There are several special events throughout the summer to take advantage of, such as the Berry Festival on July 20^th at this location.

Why not pick up some tasty treats at the farmers market and then stop by Legacy Liquor Store for some local BC wine to enjoy with that.  If you plan on getting some soft cheeses such as Brie or Camembert, fresh seafood, game fowl, or custard desserts, try Cedar Creek’s Ehrenfelser, a Riesling/Silvaner cross from the Reingau in Germany.  This aromatic grape has a floral nose with hints of honey and orange peel.  On the palate there are fresh tropical fruit and peach flavours with a crisp finish.  Ehrenfelser is also the perfect pairing for Indian and Thai sauces often available at the markets or on its own on a sunny afternoon out on the patio.

If you prefer a lighter red, the Greata Ranch Pinot Noir with red berry fruit and spice aromas with flavours of stewed rhubarb, vanilla, and herbs would be fantastic with the Paprika Chicken with Mushrooms recipe that follows.

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday, Legacy participated in the reception at this year's Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards. We developed two unique cocktails using some of our more hard-to-find spirits, to give everyone a taste of what we offer. John and Layla were behind the table pouring for attendees. The two cocktails were so well-received that we thought we'd share the recipes! So come on down to Legacy and grab the ingredients for your own fantastic evening of cocktails.

 

Thanks to everyone for another great event, and congratulations to all the award winners!

 

Spy Hop Gin, Lavender & Wild Rose Liqueur Blossom

• 2 parts Spy Hop Gin
• 1 part Lavender and Wild Rose Liqueur
• 2/3 a part fresh lemon juice, to balance 

Stir in a glass with ice, and strain into a rocks glass over ice.

Brovo Ginger & Blueberry-Pomegranate Fizz

• 2 part Brovo Ginger Liqueur
• 1 Pom Blueberry Pomegranate Juice
• fresh lemon juice, to balance
• Sumac Ridge Stellar’s Jay Sparkling wine

Stir in a glass with ice, and strain into a rocks glass over ice. Top with a splash of Sumac Ridge Stellar’s Jay Sparkling wine. 

For all your specialty spirit needs, come see us at Legacy for ideas and suggestions. Or check out our store online!

 

Everyone’s had that experience once in their life.  You know, the moment when someone, maybe that unusual uncle, or having dinner at your Italian friend’s house, where someone puts a glass of clear strange smelling liquid in front of you after dinner.  Intrigued you pick up the glass and take a quick sip and your mouth is assaulted with a burning fiery attack of peppery heat.  That was your one and only encounter with Grappa.

Sadly, this experience is not unique or unusual. This is how most people encountered grappa and why so many people have never gone back. 

For centuries Grappa was the spirit of the peasant.  A firecracker libation made from the leftovers of wine and brandy production.  When grapes are pressed, the wine slowly diminishes in quality as more solid starts to enter the flow.  The first run wine (the best quality) would be purchased by the nobility.  The mid quality wine would be would be snapped up by the merchant class and the left overs would go to the trades.  The remaining juice would be fermented and turned into Brandy.  The left over seeds, skins, and pulp is called the Pomace and it would be thrown away.

Peasants would gather up the pomace and grind it into a sugar-rich but very bitter juice.  That juice would be fermented and then distilled into a clear spirit ranging between 35% to 65% alcohol by volume.  The seeds and the stems are also added.  The flavours they produce give grappa it’s famous, perhaps infamous, notes. There is a revolution going on in grappa however.  It started slowly in 1979 when additional distillations were allowed.  The peasant’s drink is now getting the refined treatment that Cognac and Scotch whisky receive.

On Saturday April 21st, I will be personally hosting a seminar that explores this 'New Grappa'.  We’ll be trying barrel aged grappa, single grape varietal grappa, and a few other fun Grappa like products from other countries.

Join me on a journey through Italy’s most misunderstood and most exciting “new” spirit

Darryl Lamb
General Manager

 

With the first week of NHL playoffs already upon us, it seems only natural to entertain some company on game night. Perhaps instead of the usual beer choices, you might want to change up your game plan and offer your guests some tasty local brews for a bit of Vancouver pride.

Main Street Pilsner is a perennial crowd pleaser from Russell and a great craft alternative to some larger breweries. Using noble hops and a no-nonsense approach to creating beer as we all first got to know it, pair this with some burgers from your grill and get back to the action.

If you're craving something darker to get you into the playoffs spirit, consider R&B Brewing Spirit Chaser Sumatra Coffee Porter. Sessionable at 4.8% ABV and with balanced notes of coffee cake, a bottle of this and some BBQ slathered ribs will cross check your taste buds into next week.

As we move through the playoffs and get closer to summer, maybe some seafood might strike your fancy. Lend your evening some class and sunshine with a six-pack of Vancouver Island Beachcomber Summer Ale. Modeled after the German weissbier style and with a decidedly quaffable approach to brewing, you can even take this into the kitchen and steam up some fresh mussels in it. The citrus and tropical notes compliment seafood well.

Finally, take a moment to try Phillips Analogue 78 Kolsch. As "the ale that wants to be a lager", serve with wings and tell all your friends that '78 was the year that Jake Milford took over the Canucks and built the team that gave us our 1982 playoffs run.

Go 'nucks!

- Ben

Ben is a product advisor at Legacy Liquor Store. He is a Certified Beer Server, CAMRA
member and social media sponsor of #YVRBeerTweetup.

In anticipation of the California Wine Fair (April 18 at the Vancouver Convention Centre,) let’s take a closer look at the regions within this behemoth producer. Although all 50 states in America do produce wine, about 90% of USA’s wine comes from the Golden State!

Two of the most well-known regions are Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley, situated just above Oakland and San Francisco. Napa is most famous for its intense, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignons, for which the region and its top producers have won recognition around the globe.  Sonoma sits much closer to the ocean and produces some top-end Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the north valley, along with a growing number of Cabernet producers throughout.

For lesser-known regions, try some wines from Mendocino’s Anderson Valley. Here you’ll find some fantastic Pinots along with well-balanced Zinfandels and even some sparkling wines produced by famous Champagne houses.  Another area to discover is the Central Coast. This is where a lot of large names and large production comes from, putting out reliable yet hardly thought provoking wines. However, there are pockets where some great wines can be found, such as Paso Robles with big, rich Zinfandels, and further south around Santa Barbara and Santa Maria where some outstanding Pinot pops up yet again. 

After you find a new favourite at the California Wine Fair, stop in to Legacy to pick up a bottle or two! Come by and see what we offer, or take a spin online to search ahead of time.

See you at the show!

 

Each month, Legacy Liquor Store’s award winning Sommelier’s will hand pick a selection of wines for delivery straight to your door. Each month has a particular theme designed to educate and excite. Along with your delivery comes tasting notes written by our Sommeliers, including background information on each of the wines.
Included in the price is delivery within Vancouver, and each purchase counts toward collecting points with your VIP membership!

6 month subscription is required, charged monthly.
Wines will average $25 a bottle.

Sampler’s Club - $60/month
- 2 bottles of wine each month
- One red one white

Aficionado’s Club - $160/month
- 6 bottles of different wine each month
- Always 3 to 6 red with the rest white

Collector's Club - $310/month
- 12 bottles of different wine each month
- Always 6 to 12 red with the rest white

For any questions please contact John Bayley, cellar master, at john@legacyliquorstore.com or 604.331.7900.

 

 

Did you know that there are no indigenous wine grape varieties in Israel?

Bordeaux varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon were first planted in 1887. After phylloxera, a root louse, devastated the new Israeli vineyards in the mid-1890s, cuttings of Carignan, Grenache, and Alicante were brought from India, considered more suitable for the hot humid climate. Israeli varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc were first exported in 1970. Golan Heights Winery, formed in 1983, introduced the first Merlot and Chardonnay.  Cabernet Franc, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, and Viognier followed. 

Since then, there has been a stream of world-class Israeli wines led by Yarden, Hebrew for the Jordan River, and other small wineries. It is predicted that Shiraz will become Israel’s main quality variety in the future; for now, Cabernet Sauvignon still rules.

Interested in trying a kosher wine from this region?

Full-bodied: Yarden’s Mount Hermon Red - deep red-purple blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a little Cabernet Franc. Bright raspberry, blackberry and cherry flavours with hints of herbs. Enjoy with pastas, pizzas, and meat dishes, such as hamburgers and steaks.

Medium-bodied: Galil Mountain’s Pinot Noir – aged 10 months in 1-3 year old French oak barrels. Cherry and violet blossoms on the palate. Coffee, earth, tobacco, and toasted oak aromas. Serve with goose breast, fish with herbs, or spicy Asian dishes.

A Sangiovese blend Rose, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Shiraz are also available under this label at Legacy Liquor Store.

Lesley Saito – Wine Supervisor

 

At Legacy, we always strive to connect with our customers to find ways to improve and offer top service, along with an excellent selection of spirits, beer and wine. 

As a business, it is always a pleasure to receive feedback about how we're doing. And so it is with the humblest gratitude that we learned Legacy Liquor Store was voted the Best Private Liquor Store by readers in this year’s Georgia Straight Golden Plates Awards, and second in the Best Private Wine Store category!

Continuing on into year two of business, we know it’s not time to rest on our laurels. In this incredible, ever-changing city, we will keep working in earnest to offer the best service, experience and products possible.

For those who haven’t yet visited us, we invite you to look for our ads this week on the Georgia Straight website for a great first-timer offer!

Thank you again, Vancouver. We couldn’t do it without you, and we wouldn’t do it for anyone else!

Your Legacy Staff

 

Standing in front of the wall of whiskies at Legacy, you may feel overwhelmed by the hundreds of different bottles. But with a little basic knowledge, rest assured you can learn to see that wall as a collection of smaller sections, all with their own tastes and flavour profiles!

In the Scotland section, you will see many bottles with different names and not know where to begin. Look a little closer and you will notice terms such as Highland, Lowland, Islay, Speyside - these describe the geographical area where the distillery is located. This can give you a general idea of what you can expect the whisky to taste like – not a hard and fast rule, but this helps narrow down the selection process in a big way. And the beauty is, there will always be more you can learn if you are interested!

The next time you are ready to shop for a new bottle to try, note a few whiskies you have enjoyed in the past - name, region, etc. This will help us advise on what suits your palate, so we can suggest something similar to what you've enjoyed, but different enough to discover and enjoy new whiskey!

At Legacy, we believe that one of the best ways to discover a new whisk(e)y is to try before you buy. Join us on March 24 at the Tasting Bar as we explore the regional differences between two Scottish single-malt whiskies: Benromach, a lightly-peated Speyside, and Kilchoman, a robust peated Islay. We also have a special treat - the Gordon & MacPhail SmithGlenlivet 21 year old. Join us as we sample through a few selections that we hope will show how interesting and diverse the world of whisk(e)y is!