The history of wine-making is intriguing, from the earliest record of humans fermenting the first grape to the wine kits we sell within our store. From the earliest regions of Georgia to the Roman Empire, there is a lot to be said about the history of wine.

There has been a lot of dispute throughout history about who fermented the first grape to create the first glass of wine. The earliest history of wine dates back 8,000 years ago in the Georgia region through Doctor McGovern's research on the earliest grape cultivars. Scientists have traced the earliest chemical evidence of wine, 7000 years ago, to the Zagros Mountains of Iran. Noted philosopher and poet Homer was the first to write about wine in the 9th Century B.C.

It was the Romans that created the earliest vineyards of France in the Bordeaux and Trier regions. That history would span throughout the Middle Ages when Monks fermented grapes in casks within caves. These regions would develop the great historic French wineries and would produce great wines.

Whether we like a great glass of red or white wine, we owe a lot to the history wine-making and the earliest wine makers fermenting that first grape. Come into our store and we'll be happy to answer any questions you have on wine-making and can make great wine for you today.

The Wine Cottage would like to wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year. What better way to kick off 2012 then by trying a new wine you haven't tasted before. For the start of the New Year we have a great sale on in January which is perfect to get wine loves to try new wines. In our 6 week selection series we have both the Chilean Malbec and Chilean Sauvignon Blanc are 10% off. On our 4 week wines, all in stock 4 week Vintner's Reserve kits are 10% off.

The Chilean Sauvignon Blanc is a great tasting, dry, fruity white wine. With the ripe flavours of honeydew melons, peach and gooseberries this wine is a perfect accompaniment to appetizers and desserts.

The Chilean Malbec is a dry, medium red wine. This fruity red holds the taste of blackberries and spice making it the perfect accompaniment to rich red meats and stews.

Come into the Wine Cottage and we'll be happy to answer any of your questions on our great wines as well as make your wine today.

We have an exiting new wine kit that has just been re-released by Wine Expert. The fabulous Domaine des Brumes is back, and we have it at the Wine Cottage.

The Domaine des Brumes is a medium bodied great tasting red wine. It carries rich aromas of ripe berries and floral notes while showcasing the flavours of Strawberries and Cherries, to give the wine a smooth finish. This wine is ideal for the holidays and cold dark winter nights, especially when paired with fish and fowl, and adds to the flavours of sides that accompany the feast.

To find out more about the Domaine des Brumes or any of our other great wines come into our store and we'll be happy to help you out.

Our Australian Petit Verdot is best described as a Super Cabernet. This dark, medium to heavy oaked wine combines the flavours of blackberry and black currants to make an intense rich wine. This wine is great all by itself or when paired with steaks or roast lamb.

The Chilean Malbec Shiraz is a dry medium oaked red. The ruby purple colour of the Shiraz grapes combines with Malbec's plum and black currant aromas to create a rich full bodied wine. This is an excellent wine that can be paired with roasts, stews, and even dark chocolate.

Our Sicilian Nero D'avola is a dry full bodied red with with a deep garnet colour. The subtle hints of anise, fresh blackberries and dark chocolate make this wine a perfect accompaniment to cheese, rich red meats, and stews.

The Spanish Tempranillo is a lush red wine which has soft ripe tannins with heavy oak. With a flavour of vanilla and spice as well as subtle hints of coffee. This wine is great when paired with tapas, rich tomato dishes, and grilled chorizo.

Come into The Wine Cottage to find out more about these great wines. We'll be happy to put them on for you and answer any questions you may have about these and any other of our award winning wines.

In January we have two great wines. From Washington State's Red Mountain region we haveour Washington Meritage, a great tasting dry red created from the trio of Cabernet Sauv, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot grapes. From South Africa our Sauvignon Blanc/Semillion is a great tasting dry white that will go nicely with a pairing of seafood.

From Amador County the California Petite Sirah/Zinfadel is our February Limited Edition Selection. This great tasting dry, dark red wine has a rich peppery spice flavour that will work great with grilled meats especially pork.

The world famous Mosel Valley is our next stop,  the German Traminer Spatlese is March's Limited Edition Selection. If you loved the 2010 Limited Edition Pacifica you'll love this wine too. This off dry white has a great hint of fruits which makes it perfect for relaxing on a hot summer's night.

From the Mancha region of Span comes our last Limited Edition selection for 2011. April's Spanish Matador Trio is a dry red which combines Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauv and Monastrell grapes giving this wine a deep flavour of black fruits with a hint of Tobacco. This wine works great paired with salads, especially a Mediterranean Bean salad.

With only 4 days to go, December 5, don't miss out on this great selection of 2011 Limited Edition wines. Remember you don't have to pay until the wine's month of release. So come on into our stoe and we'll be happy to help you out.

April is our last month for our 2011 Limited Edition series of wines. We start in January with the Washington Meritage and South African Sauvignon-Blanc/Semillion. February we have the California Petit/Sirah Zinfadel and in March the German Traminer Spatlese. The Spanish Matador Trio completes this great set.

Our Spanish Matador Trio's a deep, rich red wine is a blend of three grapes, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Monastrell giving the wine an intense flavour of black cherries, raspberries and black currants while being softly overlaid with the flavour of vanilla. This is a great summer wine that can be paired up with salads, especially a Mediterranean bean salad.

With a week left, December 5, to order the Limited Editions you can place your order now and not have to pay until their month's release. Come on into the Wine Cottage and we'll be happy to get you started making these great wines.

February continues this year's tradition of great red wines. From the Amador County our California Petite Sirah/Zinfadel is a great dry red with hints of peppery spice alongside blueberries, dark cherries and chocolate. This wine will go great with pork and hearty pastas.

In March we have a German Traminer Spatlese (Late Harvest). This great tasting dry white is from the world famous Mosel Valley of Germany. With hints of fruit this is a perfect summer wine that goes great with desserts, especially cobblers and crisps.

The deadline to reserve the Limited Edtions, December 5, is quickly approaching. You can reserve them now and pay for them during their month's release. Come into the store and we'll be happy to help out.

The Washington Meritage is this January’s Limited Edition red wine. This full body dry red was produced in the Red Mountain area of Washington State and is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot. This wine is goes well with steak, dark red or game meats.

The South African Sauvignon Blanc-Semillion is January’s Limited Edition white wine. This dry white comes from the Robertson Valley in South Africa and is a blend of Semillion and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. This great tasting white is good when paired with Seafood, especially shellfish.

We would be happy to take your preorder of these wines right now along with the rest of the 2011 Limited Edition line up. As always you can book them now and pay for each selection when they are released in their respective month during 2012.

Wines are a perfect accompaniment to any Christmas, whether it be a red to compliment the Christmas feast or a white to give to someone under the Christmas tree as a gift. Wines brighten up any occasion during the holidays.

Let us be your elves this Christmas with great four and six week wine kits. We can make them in store to suit any occasion and to relieve some of the holiday stress. With a smile we're always happy to help.

Great wine goes with great food, and a perfect wine tasting includes both. It's essential topair good food with good wine, and have friends aruond to share in the experience. In the middle of October we had a chance to sample similiar commercial styles to the 2011 limited editions. January's Washington Meritage and South African Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon. February's California Petit Sirah/Zinfadel. The German Traminer Spatlese in March and Spanish Matador Red Trio in April. All are great tasting and go with a variety of foods.

You can try all the similar Commerical Styles to the 2011 limited edition at our wine tasting on November 7 at the Bridge in Courtenay, A limited engagement to give our customers the chance to try the commercial equivalents along with food pairings unique to each wine. There will be live music and the opportunity to ask us questions about the 2011 Limited editions.

The collection of grapes, berries and fruits is fun to do, especially with your entire family, going out on a warm fall day and collecting what mother nature has given us. Concord and other varieties of grapes, blackberries, apples, pears and plums to name a few can be harvested and then turned into specialty wines.

Bring in your fall harvest and the Wine Cottage can make great tasting specialty wines to fit any occasion. We crush the grapes instore, 5o pounds will do, and use the skins and juice to make red or whites. From your berries and fruit, 30 pounds frozen will do, we can make specialty wine and ports, not to mention the Cider that we can make from apple juice. See us in store for more and we'll be happy to help out with any questions and get your started on the great selection of specialty wines we can make from you Fall harvest.