I’m
lucky. My passion is also my profession. But wine and food are not my
only passions. Great music also elicits the same strong emotional
responses. Unfortunately, I am void of any musical talent. Growing
up, I took the requisite piano, guitar and drum lessons, and while I
could hear the music in my head and feel the music in my soul, it
never quite sounded as good when delivered by my fingers. Oh yeah, I
can’t sing either.
One
of the greatest experiences of my life was owning a small blues bar
... being a part of the live-music scene, getting to know the artists
and drawing inspiration from them as they pursued their passion. I
have always “celebrated the small” when it comes to wine
producers, but that philosophy holds true for music as well. I have
great admiration for those talented independent artists that are
following their dreams and inspiring their listeners. They do it
because they love it and they have something special to share that
enhances our lives.
What
better way to celebrate both than to pair some of Canada’s great
indie artists with unique, distinct wines from “indie” producers?
Life is too short to drink bad wine, and as the motto of independent
artist label Six Shooter Records very succinctly puts it, “Life is
too short to listen to shitty music.” So, this holiday season, give
the gift of music and wine. Many thanks to Aimée and Shauna
for helping me bring both together.
Hawksley
Workman
Lover/Fighter
Bussola
L’Errante IGT 2003, Veneto, Italy ($65)
Rich,
bold, and deep with an edge. Hawksley’s a rocker, but he doesn’t
need to yell. He does it with forceful grace and sophistication.
Similarly, the L’Errante, made with dried Cabernet and Merlot
grapes, is robust, intense, uplifting and penetrating. The tannins
are deceivingly soft, but possess an underlying structure that gives
the wine substance and meaning. Astounding how simplicity can evoke
so much emotion!
Ruggeri
Vecchie Viti Prosecco DOC 2006, Veneto, Italy ($38)
Ann
and Ruggeri owner Paolo Bisol should get together and chat over a
glass of Prosecco some time. They are both old souls in young bodies
striving to create works of significance despite being surrounded by
an abundance of generic, uninspired fluff in their respective
industries. The Vecchie Viti is one of the most beautiful and pure
sparkling wines that I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying. A
perfect match for Ann’s music and lyrics — compelling,
intoxicating, unadulterated and amazing.
Santa
Maria la Palma Le Bombarde Cannonau DOC 2006, Sardinia, Italy ($17)
When
life is hectic and you want to slow things down and don’t want to
be disappointed — with both music and wine — you search for
something soothing and comforting. Gentle and elegantly constructed
with loads of character, richness, depth and a touch of spice. Down
to earth and sincere, Justin channels wisdom far beyond his years,
while the Cannonau possesses a gracefulness far beyond its modest
price. Step out of the rat race for a few hours and let both put your
mind and soul at ease.
La
Crema Pinot Noir 2005, Sonoma Coast, California, USA ($38)
Listening
to the gospel-like, theatrical sounds of Royal Wood, I can’t help
but be taken back to the voice of a young Billy Joel and the song
style of Paul McCartney. Calming (in a lonely sort of way) and
introspective … yet you can feel the angst and heartache. Love and
heartache — sounds like the relationship most winemakers have with
Pinot Noir. You nurture it, love it, give your heart and soul to it
and it either blossoms into something wonderful and sensuous ... or
it doesn’t ripen and stays green and bitter. Fortunately, the La
Crema’s relationship with its winemaker is a clear example of the
former.
Vina
la Reserva de Caliboro Erasmo 2003, Maule Valley, Chile ($30)
Listening
to Luke conjures images of a smoke-filled, back-alley club or
middle-of-nowhere roadhouse where outsiders enter at their own peril,
but where this balladeer is very much at home. His unique
country-jazzy-rock-rootsy sound with engaging lyrics and captivating
melodies definitely calls for something unfiltered from a winemaker
that doesn’t play by the rules. Caliboro owner Francesco Marone
Cinzano is rewriting the rules in Chile: dry farming, importing vines
in quantities so large that the Chilean government has limited
subsequent imports, macerating not for days but months and creating a
wine so good that others are inspired to strive for greater heights.
These two outlaws should go riding together on the plains of Chile
(or Manitoba).
Col
d’Orcia Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2004, Tuscany, Italy ($30)
Contemporary
with traditional roots, never forgetting where you come from —
holds true for both Rachelle’s music and the wines of Col d’Orcia
winemaker Pablo Harri. Simply expressing in the bottle what the land
and Mother Nature have given him, Harri’s Rosso is elegant with
lovely cherry and dark-plum flavours with just a touch of earthiness.
Medium-bodied with a silky mouthfeel and a longlasting finish.
Honest, sincere and from the heart ... both Rachelle and the wine.
Rabl
Kaferberg Gruner Veltliner 2004, Kamptal, Austria ($32)
Delicate,
intense, exotic and undeniably attractive; multidimensional,
incredible depth and complexity with a compelling edginess. The
wine’s pretty damn good too.
(Prepare
to be swept away to a place you may not want to come back from at
www.emmgryner.com.)
Magazine 
Hawksley
Workman
Ann
Vriend
Justin
Rutledge
Royal
Wood
Luke
Doucet
Rachelle
van Zanten
Emm
Gryner
