Wine Tasting at Marquis Wine Cellars

I just came back from the a wine tasting at Marquis Wine Cellars.

"Marquis Wine Cellars?"

You know, that wine shop on Davie Street at Burrard, next to Celebrities.


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Yup, you know the one.

Well, they threw the invite out on Twitter about a week ago (maybe longer - I only noticed it last week), advertising a blogger event.

"I'm a blogger!" I earnestly thought. So I RSVP'ed, and voila! I'm on the guest list for a social media wine tasting event amongst the city's foodies, sommeliers, bloggers, and Twitter hounds. Wine served by Marquis, cheese served by Benton Brothers Fine Cheeses, and scrumptious morsels of heavenly delight by Louis Gervais Fine Foods and Catering.

What a fine evening! Got to see a lot of familiar Twitter/Blogger faces, in addition to putting some faces to names (and real names to Twitter handles) - ha!

But the best part, of course, was the opportunity to taste an assortment of fine wines from around the world (Australia, Italy, Spain, and France, to name a few), high end artisan cheeses - both local and global, and an assortment of gourmet bite-sized treats (proscutto-wrapped prawns? Hi!) Needless to say, it was my kind of evening!

The event itself was held in Marquis' back room (as opposed to the store front where customers were shopping as we tasted the treats in the back). The room itself was rather small considering the large turnout. As a result, I found it rather hazardous to carry a wine glass and a plate of food in one hand while also snapping photos in another, and, if inclined, taking down notes. The reality was that it was either one or another. I chose, for the most part, to eat and drink.

Strangely, however, I managed to juggle my camera in such a way that I was able to snap a few shots. How they actually turned out the way they did? I don't know. Nevertheless, it'll give you a taste of my lovely Wednesday evening:

An assortment of cheese - all delicious!

Although this Stilton (from the oldest Stilton farm in England) was amazing!

The P'tit Basque was a lovely firm sheep's milk cheese, nutty like Manchego

Everyone loved this Pinos Gris

I was rather taken by this Barossa shiraz known as Spinifex - Bete Noir

And this? This was a scrumptious roast beef & Yorkshire pudding treat

This was my favourite of the night - a Sauvignon Blanc-ish wine of the Loire. Very smoky with distinct mineral flavours.  

Beautiful, huh? Believe it or not, these were beets!

But perhaps my most unexpected discovery was Marquis' curtain. It's covered with adorable Vancouver cliches... with wine!!! (I love this!)

Even the orca spouts wine!

The Benton Brothers are real people! Thank you Andrew and Jonah for the cheese!

And Kevin McKinnon, the manager of Marquis, humoured me throughout the night whenever I requested more wine (and when I took his photo). Thank you!

So cheers to Marquis Wine Cellars, Benton Brothers Fine Cheese, and Louis Gervais Fine Foods and Catering for your generosity and for hosting such a fantastic night for all of us!