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by Nicole MacKay, Wine Writer & Consultant

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  • wine to pair with quesava
    Dine,  Sponsored Post,  Wine

    It’s Quesava Time! Wines To Pair With Naturally Gluten-Free Poppers

    I’m no stranger to food restrictions. I’ve been gluten-free for a decade and mostly planted-based for nearly two years. Those food paths have inadvertently made me a more curious and adventurous foodie. While I love a good session in the…

    By Nicole MacKay
  • hospitality charities
    Wine

    Canadian Restaurant And Hospitality Charities To Support This Year

    This year has shaken many industries to their core. Some have managed to pivot while few have seen gains (I’m looking at you, Zoom and plexiglass manufacturers). Unfortunately, the restaurant and hospitality industries have seen some of the largest losses.…

    By Nicole MacKay
  • chill wine quickly
    Wine

    The Best Ways To Chill Wine Quickly

    We’ve all found ourselves in a pinch, needing a chilled bottle of wine for an impromptu gathering or after forgetting to put a bottle in the fridge to have with dinner. Thankfully, there are a lot of hacks on the…

    By Nicole MacKay
  • pinotage
    Wine

    Things You Need To Know About The Pinotage Grape

    I’ve been posting wine tips, tasting tricks and flagship varieties to my Instagram feed recently and not too long ago I posted about Pinotage. The post resulted in a few direct messages because as it turns out, people don’t know…

    By Nicole MacKay
  • certified wine lover
    Wine

    How To Become A Certified Wine Lover

    Being a certified wine lover sounds like one of those dream jobs. Like being professional movie watcher or donut recipe tester! Can you imagine? Even if those jobs do exist, I’m sure they’re taken. Fortunately, the wine industry has a…

    By Nicole MacKay
  • grenache vs garnacha
    Wine

    Grenache vs Garnacha: Two Country’s Perspective of the Same Grape

    I was watching a video the other day of a wine shop worker describing a lineup on Spanish wines. She reached for one of the reds and described the dominant grape variety as Grenache. I’m sorry, hold my glass of…

    By Nicole MacKay
  • clean wine
    Wine

    Reasons Why ‘Clean Wine’ Isn’t An Ethical Wine Term

    Fads, trends or bandwagons. We jump on them, relish in their popularity and post pictures on Instagram to prove that we’re cutting edge. Trends happen in the wine industry all the time. Remember blue wine? Or canned wine? (I think…

    By Nicole MacKay
  • sherry wine
    Vine,  Wine

    Styles Of Sherry And How Each One Is Made

    As you may know, I embarked on my Spanish Wine Scholar accreditation earlier this Spring through the Wine Scholar Guild (you might remember I tackled Albariño in an article not too long ago). SWS students get an entire year to…

    By Nicole MacKay
  • aromatic white wine
    Wine

    How To Determine An Aromatic White Wine

    Vernacular in the wine community can be puzzling. Terms like robust, tannic, luscious or flighty are flung around with ease. Yes, flighty. A word I’ve legit heard to describe a wine. Colourful adjectives describe both aromas and flavours. And sometimes,…

    By Nicole MacKay
  • not your typical wine blog
    Wine

    4 Reasons Why This Isn’t Your Typical Wine Blog

    When I started this website in 2015, it didn’t originate as a blog. It was a hub for my in-home wine tasting services. I wrote articles and shared personal experiences as a bonus for visitors. I soon realized I had…

    By Nicole MacKay
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ABOUT Nicole Mackay

Nicole is a Wine Writer, Consultant and Marketing Specialists who holds her Level 3 Certification from the Wine & Spirit Educational Trust.

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Jan 6/2021 – 2021 Drinks Calendar
Dec 30/2020 – NYE Sparkling Wine Guide
Dec 23/2020 – Wines for Your Xmas Meal
Dec 16/2020 – The Best Wines to Gift
Dec 9/2020 – 4 Special Wines Under $25
Dec 2/2020 – Set Yourself Up For Success

Recent Posts

  • Get Organized With the Social Sips 2021 Drinks Calendar
  • Holiday Wine Guide 2020: Pop These Sparkling Wines For New Year’s Eve
  • Holiday Wine Guide 2020: Tempting Wines For Your Holiday Meal
  • Holiday Wine Guide 2020: The Best Wines to Gift
  • How To Become a Champagne Expert

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socialsips

Nicole MacKay 🍷 wine writer
🥂 Pol Roger Brut Réserve Champagne 🥂 It's 🥂 Pol Roger Brut Réserve Champagne 🥂 

It's been a crazy year, let's celebrate the possibilities of 2021 with the Social Sips Sparkling Wine Guide! @pol_roger Non-Vintage Brut is equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. This house style stays in the cellars, resting on its lees, for four years before its distinct character is ready to be shared with the public.Visit SocialSips.ca (link in profile) for this week’s guide: ✨ Sparkling Wines for New Year’s Eve ✨

Reasons To Pop A Bottle: Let’s cheers to 2020 being over and celebrate the possibilities ahead of us. This Champagne is an elegant and authentic way to bring in the new year and should definitely be on the menu of sparkling wines for New Year’s Eve.
🥂 Freixenet Prosecco DOC 🥂 It's been a cra 🥂 Freixenet Prosecco DOC 🥂 

It's been a crazy year, let's celebrate the possibilities of 2021 with the Social Sips Sparkling Wine Guide! @freixenetca Prosecco is vibrant and fresh. The aromas dance with flowers and citrus with crisp apple and mouth-filling juicy peach flavours on the palate. Visit SocialSips.ca (link in profile) for this week’s guide: ✨ Sparkling Wines for New Year’s Eve ✨

Reasons To Pop A Bottle: Freixenet has been perfecting its sparkling wine for more than 150 years. This DOC Prosecco is an easy-drinking, sparkling sensation perfect with or without food.
This picture is going to mess with my feed estheti This picture is going to mess with my feed esthetic so badly 🤦‍♀️

BUT - I think it’s important during these last few days of 2020 to acknowledge how far we’ve come. Not only in facing the challenges of this year, but in our own journeys through life. 

This is a picture of me during winery orientation at my first job in the industry: tasting bar host at @quailsgate circa summer 2004. 

With optimism, we’re about to enter 2021. Our journeys will continue in spite of COVID - and it’ll be amazing 🤩 Think big, you never know where it’ll take you.
I wouldn’t recommend this with your favourite 💰expensive💰 bottle, but anything less than $30 is worth experimenting with and mixing at least one glass as a cocktail. 🍸 

I’m turning to VinePair.com’s extensive recipe library for The Wintry Night cocktail:

- 4 ounces extra brut sparkling rosé
- ½ ounce sweet vermouth
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon simple syrup (simmer 4 cinnamon sticks with 2 cups water. Stir in 1.5 cups of sugar until dissolved then let cool)
- Splash of blood orange bitters
- Orange peel for garnish

Cheers!
🥂 Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava 🥂 It's 🥂 Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava 🥂 

It's been a crazy year, let's celebrate the possibilities of 2021 with the Social Sips Sparkling Wine Guide! @freixenet Cava is made from native varieties (35% Macabeo, 40% Parellada and 25% Xarel·lo) and in the traditional method - which means it’s got some of the same autolytic characters that you’d find in Champagne. Visit SocialSips.ca (link in profile) for this week’s guide: ✨ Sparkling Wines for New Year’s Eve ✨

Reasons To Pop A Bottle: Cheers to (hopeful) travel in 2021 as you sip and envision where this wine is from, the rolling hills of Penedès, just southwest of Barcelona. Pair with Manchego cheese and olives for an authentic Spanish experience
🥂 Fresita Sparkling Wine With Strawberries 🥂 🥂 Fresita Sparkling Wine With Strawberries 🥂 

It's been a crazy year, let's celebrate the possibilities of 2021 with the Social Sips Sparkling Wine Guide! Fresita is a balanced combination of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscatel with only 8 percent alcohol. Bold and bright aromas with light and refreshing flavors. Mouth-filling and lengthy finish. Visit SocialSips.ca (link in profile) for this week’s guide: ✨ Sparkling Wines for New Year’s Eve ✨

Reasons To Pop A Bottle: Perfect for starting your New Year’s Eve early and sipping on while cooking dinner. Also great for sangria by adding a handful of frozen cranberries or blackberries to your glass.
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