WILLOW PARK WINES AND SPIRITS CHAMPAGNE FESTIVAL

A bottle of Ayala wrapped for the holidays

Jason Denis of Renaissance Wines and Spirits pours champagne for guests

A beautiful rose poured for a guest at the festival

Tapiz sparkling torrontes

A wonderful selection of food including this - caviar balsamic vinegar atop watermelon

Sparkling wine of every kind and from every corner of the globe was on offer at the 2012 Champagne Festival at Willow Park Wines and Spirits.  Some of the more unusual sparkling wines included Tapiz sparkling torrontes, Fox Creek Vixen (a sparkling shiraz from Australia) and Gloria Ferrer Va de Vi (a California blend made with some muscat). 

Guests were titillated by the sparkling wine which ranged in colour from the palest yellow to the slightest pink to gorgeous deep reds.  There were also a variety of nibbles on offer including freshly shucked oysters, smoked salmon, cauliflower soup, and cheese.  Guests went from station to station pairing their favourite wines with the delicious fare on offer.

Part of Willow Park Wines and Spirits Bubble week, the event garnered a large crowd and each guest walked away with a Riedel glass. No bottle was more than $87 dollars (and this for Henriot champagne) proving that bubbles can be enjoyed at an affordable price, anytime. 

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY COPYRIGHT K&S MEDIA 2012 

You may visit the NEW Winter 2012 digital edition of City Style and Living magazine (also available in print) at the following address (follow the three simple steps to access the full magazine, online) :

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WILLOW PARK WINES AND SPIRITS SPRING SPARKLER

Offering something new Champagne Barons de Rothschild - one of CSL's favourites of the evening

A beautiful bottle of Santa Margherita Valdobbiadene Prosecco

Serving up Canard-Duchene

Offerings of Adami Prosecco Bosco di Gica for only $24.50

Pouring Laetitia Estate Vineyard & Winery's Laetitia Brut Rosé - one of Michael Bigattini, Senior Product Consulting at Willow Park, favourite picks for the evening

Serving Navarro Correas of Argentina

There were delightful treats to pair with the bubbly including a popular oyster shucking table, gougeres, and palmiers

Jason Denis of Renaissance Wine Merchants proudly holds a bottle of Carpene Malvolti Prosecco

Spanish cava Segura Viudas

Call it cava, prosecco, sparkling wine or bubbles - but make no mistake this is one seriously delicious wine. Willow Park Wines and Spirits hosted a Spring Sparkler that was quite simply effervescent. The always festive sounding 'pop' of corks greeted visitors. With an oyster shucking station, palmiers, sushi and cheese platters, guests circulated and tasted several sparkling wines from around the world. Producers from California, Argentina, Italy, Spain, France among others offered up rose, brut, extra brut and even fruit infused sparkling wines.

The message of the night? Bubbles don't have to cost a fortune. There are some affordable sparklers at every price point. And anyway isn't everyday a reason to celebrate?

www.willowparkwines.com

You may visit the NEW Spring 2012 digital edition of City Style and Living magazine (also available in print) at the following address (follow the three simple steps to access the full magazine, online) :

1) go to http://www.citystyleandliving.com
2) click on the 'front cover' image, on the left hand side of your screen
3) to flip through the e-magazine, click on the bottom right hand corner
of the magazine, just as you would our print magazine!

Follow us on twitter @CityStyleMag

WILLOWPARK WINES AND SPIRITS BUBBLES AT NOON...NOTHING BETTER

The selection of sparkling wine and Champagne for the event (post consumption). Guests began the afternoon with a take on a Kir Royal (champagne and creme de cassis), with a Kir Regina: Saskatoon berry juice and extra dry fagetto (Michael Biggatini's own concoction). Biggatini decided on a tour around the globe, through bubbles.

Buttery, crisp and flaky croissants from Willowpark Gold and Country Club chefs

Willowpark Wines and Spirits coinnaiseur Michael Biggatini sabers a bottle of sparkling. Impressive and entertaining. "I used to have this rusty machete I used to sabre with, but it got lost. This is a beautiful fine sabre."

The main: Seared filet of salmon (topped with creme fraiche and beluga caviar) with a potato rosti, poached egg with blood orange hollandaise, and asparagus wrapped with prosciutto all topped with shaved white truffle.

Italy: Adami Prosecco. Made in the methode Charmat (fermentation in a stainless steel tank) from the Griollo grape, this is a soft sparkling with less acidity.

Spain: Pares Balta Cava. Cellaring the bubbles in caves, three grapes are found in this bold and more acidic sparkling.

France: Chateau de Targe. A sparkling from the Loire valley made with chenin blanc grapes. Crisp and sharp.

"I love this plaque, it reminds me of a Monet," Biggatini offers.

California: Laetitia, Rose. Made with Pinot Noir. "This is my favourite American Sparkling right now," Biggatini tells us. A rounder, fuller sparkling with yeasty complexity. A 'masculine' style.

France: Billecart Salmon Brut reserve NV Champagne.
(Not pictured) Australia: Emeri muscat.

The delectable desserts including a cream puff and custard tart.

The Chefs and Michael Biggatini.

Photo's K&S Media

On a windy lazy Sunday in Calgary, a group of guests joined Willowpark wines and spirits expert Michal Biggatini for a tour around the globe via bubbles. "This is such a nice way to start the day, don't you think?" he asked. Plenty of stories and laughter filled the store (Biggatini is a riot and his humour is easy), with a beautiful brunch provided by Chef David Leudage and Ben Massine of Willowpark Golf and Country club.

What better start (and end) to Grey cup weekend?

For more great wine and spirits events, visit:
www.willowpark.net

You may visit the Fall 2011 digital edition of City Style and Living magazine (also available in print) at the following address (follow the three simple steps to access the full magazine, online) :

1) go to http://www.citystyleandliving.com
2) click on the 'front cover' image, on the left hand side of your screen
3) to flip through the e-magazine, click on the bottom right hand corner

of the magazine, just as you would our print magazine!

Follow us on twitter @CityStyleMag