Food & Wine

Welcome to the Food and Wine Page

Tasting Forms

• White_Wine Form.pdf 
• Red Wine Form.pdf 

Eating the West 403 Podcasts

#1 Introduction to Wine Tasting

• Introduction to Wine Tasting - What is wine tasting?
• The Basics of Tasting - Print the tasting forms above, grab a bottle of wine and follow along as we work through first a white wine then a red.

#2 Sauvignon Blanc

• An Introduction to Sauvignon Blanc
• The Sauvignon Blanc Grape.pdf
• Sauvignon Blanc tasting with special guest Brenda Hodgins
• Grading
  • Cats Pee on a Gooseberry Bush, 2004 by Coopers Creek
    • Brenda: B, Jim: B, Ron: B, Overall: B
  • Isabel Sauvignon Blanc , 2004 by Isabel Vineyards
    • Brenda: A-, Jim: A-, Ron: A-, Overall: A-

#3 Rieslings

• An Introduction to Rieslings
• The Riesling Grape.pdf
• Riesling tasting with special guest Holger Nierfeld
• Grading
  • Quails' Gate Limited Release Dry Riesling, 2005 by Quails' Gate Estate Winery
    • Holger: B/B+, Jim: B/B+, Ron: B+/A-, Overall: B+
  • Dr. Zenzen Riesling Spatlese, 1993 by Dr. Zenzen (rare find and no longer available)
    • Holger: A, Jim: B+/A-, Ron: A-, Overall: A-

• An Introduction to Merlot
• The Merlot Grape.pdf
• Merlot tasting with special guest Alex Choriatis
• Grading
  • McWilliam's Hanwood Setate Merlot, 2004 by McWilliam's Hanwood Estate Winery
    • Alex: B-, Jim: B/B+, Ron: C+/B-, Overall: B-
  • Montes Alpha Merlot, 2003 by Montes Premium Wines
    • Alex: B, Jim: B+, Ron: B+/A-, Overall: B+

#5 Chardonnay

• An Introduction to Chardonnay
• The Chardonnay Grape.pdf
• Chardonnay tasting with special guest Alice McNair
• Grading
  • Santa Rita 120 UnWooded Chardonnay, 2005 by Santa Rita
    • Alice: B-, Jim: B+, Ron: B+, Overall: B
  • Tinhorn Creek Chardonnay, 2005 by Tinhorn Creek Estate Winery
    • Alice: B, Jim: B-, Ron: C+, Overall: B-
  • Toasted Head Chardonnay, 2002 by R.H. Phillips
    • Alice: A, Jim: B+/A-, Ron: B+/A-, Overall: A-

#6 Spanish Reds

• An Introduction to Spain
• Spanish Red Tasting with special guest Shannon MacDonald
• Grading
  • Castillo de Almansa Reserva, 2002 by Bodegas Piqueras
    • Shannon:B-, Jim: B+/B, Ron: B, Overall: B
  • Equis, 2004 by Bodegas Equis
    • Shannon:B, Jim: B/B-, Ron: B+, Overall: B

#7 Zinfandel

• An Introduction to Red Zinfandel
• The Zinfandel Grape.pdf
• Zinfandel Tasting with special guest Dave Smith
• Grading
  • Cardinal Zin, 2004 by Bonny Doon Vineyards
    • Dave: B+, Jim: B+, Ron: B-, Overall: B
  • Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel, 2004 by Seghesio Family Vineyards
    • Dave: A, Jim: A, Ron: A, Overall: A

#8 The Atlas Cafe, Courtney B.C.

• An Interview at the Atlas Cafe with Manger Connie Earl & Chef Jonathan Frazier
• The Atlas Cafe

#9 Sparkling Wines

• An Introduction to Sparkling Wines with special guest Wanda Getson
• Sparkling Wine Tasting with a tasting panel
• Grading
  • Korbel Brut by Korbel & Bros. Inc.
    • Wanda: A, Jim: B+, Ron: B, Overall: B+
  • Domaine Ste. Michelle Cuvee Brut by Domaine Ste. Michelle
    • Wanda: A-, Jim: A-, Ron: B, Overall: A-
  • Roederer Estates Anderson Valley Brut by Roederer Estates
    • Wanda: A, Jim: A, Ron: A-, Overall: A

#10 Pinot Gris

• An Introduction to Pinot Gris
• The Pinot Gris Grape.pdf
• Pinot Gris Tasting with Special Guest Karen Benoit
• Grading
  • Voga Italia Pinot Grigio 2005 imported by Platinium Brands
    • Karen: B, Jim: B, Ron: B, Overall: B
  • Zenato Pinot Grigio Delle Vanezie 2003 by Zenato
    • Karen: B+, Jim: B+, Ron: B+, Overall: B+

#11 Chocolate

• An Introduction to Chocolate
• The Chocolate Tasting Sheet.pdf

#12 The Redstone Grill

• An afternoon at the Redstone Grill
• The Redstone Grill web page

#13 Cheese

• An Introduction to Cheese
• The Cheese Boutique, Toronto

#14 Pinot Noir

• An Introduction to Pinot Noir
• The Pinot Noir Grape.pdf
• Pinot Noir Tasting with Special Guest Dr. Jim Madder
• Grading
  • Victoria Pinot Nior 2006 by Wolf Blass
    • Dr. Jim Madder: B, Jim: B+, Ron: B, Overall: B
  • Brangayne of Orange 2004 by Brangayne
    • Dr. Jim Madder: A-, Jim: A-, Ron: A, Overall: A-

#15 Cabernet Sauvignon

• An Introduction to Cabernet Sauvignon
• The Cabernet Sauvignon Grape.pdf
• Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting with Special Guest Katie Mullins
• Grading
  • Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 by Peter Lehmann
    • Katie: B+/A-, Jim: A-, Ron: B+, Overall: A-
  • North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 by Bonterra Vineyards
    • Katie: B, Jim: A-, Ron: B+, Overall: B+

#16 Shiraz

 

• An Introduction to Shiraz
• The Shiraz Grape.pdf
• Shiraz Tasting
• Grading
  • Virgin california Shiraz 2005 by Virgin Wines
    • Jim: B+, Ron: B, Overall: B+
  • The Reserve Yellow Tail Shiraz 2005 by Casella Wines
    • Jim: A, Ron: A, Overall: A

Jim's Interesting Links

Coming Soon

• Going Barefoot