Tasting Together

Season 4 of Tasting Together launches with a wine episode! Rioja was one of Miroki's first glimpses into what terroir meant in winemaking. After speaking with Clément Gallois, the Canadian Rioja DOCa representative, both her and André learn that the meaning of terroir has taken on a whole new meaning in recent years as the DOCa gave permission to list specific villages. This has provided wine enthusiasts the opportunity to really explore Rioja's granularities. André was hoping to get a Rioja 101 and head out of the episode with newfound knowledge to grab some choice bottles - but it turns out the surface was barely scratched.This episode drills down everything that makes up the world of Rioja wines. Get extra nerdy as they explore Rioja's versatility as red wine (A Tempranillo blend vs 100% Graciano? So different!), understand how to read the labels when buying a Crianza or Reserva, and taste the full range of wines the region produces, including the beautiful and elusive whites that they wish were more readily available on the international market. The lineup of wines tasted were definitelly in the upper tier of quality from anywhere - but it has left both André and Miroki thirsty for more.Learn more about rioja wine - https://riojawine.com/en-us/You can follow Miroki on Instagram @9ouncespleaseYou can follow André on Instagram @andrewinereview Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most of us have had some sort of adversial relationship with tequila, but both Miroki and André have discovered its magic over the years. Far from the bad stuff pounded back in university, tequila, like all fine spirits, can be the complex result of terroir, distillation, and small batch practices.They may be aficionados of the drink, but Katy O'Donnell, VP, Brand Development at Tequila Tromba, along with Grayce Yuen, VP, Finance, blow Miroki and André's minds through a tasting of Tromba's tequilas, from the terroir driven blancos and elegantly barrel aged reposados and añejos, to the all-Mexican Cafeto coffee liqueur. And just what is that green drink being paired with the blanco?Founded by a Canadian, with Master Distiller Lilia Quintero at the helm, they dig into Tromba's story to make pure, additive free tequila, paying respect to the people, heritage, land and quality distilling.You can follow Miroki on Instagram @9ouncespleaseYou can follow André on Instagram @andrewinereview Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Miroki is away, so André is joined by guest host Guillaume Frénéhard — his business partner at 80x Wine Company, local foodie and snobby Frenchman. Guillaume recently made an annual pilgrimage to the CNE, and armed with blogTO’s rundown of the wildest new foods, made it his mission to eat his way through the Ex. From a foot-long butter chicken taquito to lobster on a stick has CNE food finally moved past “gross for the sake of gross” and back toward being genuinely creative — and delicious?Then, from carnival food to decidedly finer dining. André and Guillaume recently celebrated their birthdays at Barberian’s, the Toronto steakhouse institution that has been serving the city since 1959. With 80x’s Ruff Pinot Noir currently being poured by the glass, they headed in expecting great steak and ended up blown away by the service, the cavernous wine cellar and one of Toronto’s most formidable wine lists. A request for Côte de Nuits Burgundy also led André back to an old favourite: Domaine Pavelot’s Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Guettes — a wine that somehow keeps finding its way back into his glass.Has Guillaume managed to convince André that the CNE is worth another visit?You can follow Miroki on Instagram @9ouncespleaseYou can follow André on Instagram @andrewinereview Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She didn't necessarily traverse many galaxies to smuggle in goods, but when Miroki spotted a bottle of one of André's beloved bourbons during a trip in the states, she agreed to cart it back for him. But perhaps her efforts mean little, as rumours are circulating that US alcohol may find their way back on Canadian shelves soon. Is this the move we want though? A recent Nanos survey says otherwise. Miroki and André discuss the rise of local wine over the last year, and whether it has made enough of an impact to stay.Speaking of the local wine world, Tawse Winery has just won WineAlign's Winery of the Year Award. What do recognitions such as this mean for a wine business? Are awards simply marketing collateral, or titles worth pursuing as a reflection of their excellence? You can follow Miroki on Instagram @9ouncespleaseYou can follow André on Instagram @andrewinereview Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

André and Miroki are joined by André’s younger brother Gilbert - and his two young sons Tristan and Kylin - to talk about the challenges and surprises of travelling through Europe with a self-described picky eater. Gilbert explains how his family balances adventurous eating with food aversions, texture sensitivities and the reality that sometimes not everyone wants to eat at the same restaurant.They also dig into how childhood food experiences shape our tastes, why “picky eater” can mean very different things to different people, and how a little flexibility can help families create great travel memories without turning every meal into a battle.One family member loved escargot so much he ordered it for dessert - and a unanimous family verdict on which country had the best food.You can follow Miroki on Instagram @9ouncespleaseYou can follow André on Instagram @andrewinereview Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.