Sommelier Louis Karkabasis, owner of Pane Vino Trattoria and Wine Bar in Lindsay, Ontario shares his three favourite wines to enjoy with friends and family, all day long
I’ve been featuring wines by Tawse since the first day I opened my trattoria and wine bar,” says Louis Karkabasis.
A sommelier with more than 15 years experience and the owner of Pane Vino, Louis is always searching for wines to complement the restaurant’s gourmet-Italian menu.
“Tawse is an award-winning winery right here in Ontario. It produces wines that stand up to anything that comes from France.”
Ushering in Spring in the Kawarthas coincides with the opportunity to experience a local harvest of fresh produce, herbs and more. “You want to enjoy a wine that’s going to enhance the natural flavours of food, ” says Louis. “Sketches is a 2009 Chardonnay from Tawse and it’s an ideal pairing, whether you’re serving turkey or lamb. French oak, citrus, green apple and it has a nice minerality to it too. It’s a great wine that’s priced well at $20 and it’s currently available in the Vintages section at the LCBO.”
When you think of wine from Spain if you immediately gravitate towards a rioja, Louis suggests a great red he’s recently discovered. “Beso de Vino is a Spanish wine that’s a blend of syrah and Grenache. It’s lush and fruity and really well-made. The packaging is great too,”he says pointing to the black and turquoise bottle featuring a tiny bull with a bright red heart emblazoned on the label. “It caught my eye, which is important. But the best feature of this wine is French Oak. Not chipped. It’s a spectacular wine and it’s under $10. Finally, the LCBO is featuring some great wines in this price range.”
Known for their Malbec’s, Luigi Bosca’s De Sangre is deep in colour, long lived, with lots of tannins. “This is a big red.” A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, De Sangre, which translates to “of blood”, features dark to sour cherry, caramel and dark chocolate. “Think of pairing it with steak and peppers, or burgers and of course, lamb.” Luigi Bosca’s De Sangre is available at the LCBO for around $22. “These are all great wines you can enjoy with family and friends, all day long.”
Louis Karkabasis has more than 15 years experience as a sommelier. He is the owner of Pane Vino Trattoria and Wine Bar in Lindsay, Ontario. Photos of Pane Vino generously provided by Mark Ridout www.ridoutphotography.com.
