What better a way to perk up your palate this season than by incorporating new styles of wine to help enhance the flavours of spring at your table!

Spring is synonymous with lighter fare, bright bursts of colour and farm-fresh flavours that need wines as equally refreshing! We’ve rounded up a few popular produce picks and wine pairings for you to try.

	Artichokes are in their prime this time of year, but due to the slight occurrence of a natural chemical called cynarine (which helps with digestion). Enjoying artichokes with wine reveals an element of acidity – so try pairing them with a slightly sweeter Riesling or blended white to balance.
	Basil (like many herbs), is commonly used in salads, tossed into pasta, chopped as a garnish for grilled fish and chicken or added to marinades. Basil is rich in volatile oils and contains valuable flavonoids – pairing exceptionally well with the light fruity flavour you’ll find in a rosé.
	Asparagus is another vegetable available in abundance during spring and difficult to pair with wine. This is due to certain sulphurous compounds within asparagus that increase grassy aromas. Wines that work best are those with good balanced acidity, such as a Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc – or even Riesling.

With such an abundance of fresh food available in stores… and plenty more to come – we’ve found an exceptional suggested wine for this edition of matchmaker.

May’s Match:
Domaine de Sancet 2010 Cotes de Gascogne Blanc

From France, enjoy this well-priced white and its full, fruity flavours. Taste a hint of citrus that balances it out and makes it a great accompaniment for impromptu gatherings where casual crudités
are served. Go ahead and taste the difference for yourself and pick this dazzling duo of wines at any local BC Liquor Store today!

We’ve got a match made in heaven, just in time for Valentine’s Day (or any day that you find yourself craving a chocolate fix!) The latest edition of our MarketPlace IGA and IGA matchmaker guide offers tips on pairing two popular culinary treats we think you’ll enjoy: wine and chocolate!

A matchmaker guide to food and wine, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is about finding unique ways to enjoy spending time with that special someone. Our matchmaker guide will help you discover exciting ways to bring together two things you’ll both enjoy: food & wine! Not just any food…. this matchmaker will help you marry chocolate and wine, a perfect Valentine’s pairing that will put a smile on your face.
Here are a few things to remember when selecting chocolates that work best with wines:

	As with pairing food with wines, a similar process ought to be followed with types of chocolate: lighter-flavoured chocolate calls for a lighter-bodied style of wine. Darker chocolate with a higher percent cocoa pair well with a more intense, red wine.
	If a chocolate is flavoured (with mint or cherry), or perhaps filled with different chopped nuts (such as hazelnuts, pecans or walnuts) than try to find a wine that offers something complimentary to this (a fruity Cabernet or Zinfandel offering dark cherry or raspberry tones and a hint of spice would be perfect!)
	Try a fortified wine, such as a Port with a sweet Valentine’s treat – such as a Ganache
	A lighter mousse-style dessert or layered fruit custard would work nicely with a Viognier, Champagne, or Sparkling Wine
	Dip strawberries, sliced Kiwi or raspberries into milk or white chocolate and try sipping a Sparkling wine, Riesling or Merlot.

We’ve scoured our stores to find a perfectly sweet pairing for this Valentine’s Day edition of matchmaker:

Dark Chocolate works wonders with a sinfully rich and zesty Zinfandel!

Making the match:
Break off a generous square of dark chocolate (look for 75% or more cocoa) and enjoy how its flavours are enhanced by Cline 2010 Zinfandel.

Produced in California, this smooth-sipping wine is loaded with lush flavours of chocolate, dark berry fruit, raspberry, spice and a touch of vanilla to finish – a sweet surprise for your taste buds. Make the discovery for yourself and pick up a bottle at any BC Liquor Store today!

Introducing Match Maker from MarketPlace IGA and IGA stores. Match Maker will help you discover the perfect pairing between food and wine, minus any pretentious fuss. Download a wine and cheese suggestion guide here.

Here are 5 simple rules to help steer your selection when pairing up your next wine pick with cheeses featured at MarketPlace IGA and IGA:

	Match softer cheeses (Brie, Camembert, Havarti and Goat Cheese) with popular varietal white wines (Champagne, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris)
	Match cheeses with stronger flavours (Blue Cheese, Cambozola, Roquefort, Smoked Gouda) with white wines (Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier)
	Dessert wines (Late Harvest, Ice Wines) and sweet, non-dry wines (Riesling, Gewurztraminer) pair well with a variety of cheeses (Swiss, Monterey Jack, Edam, Asiago, Brie and beyond!) Experiment and have fun!
	If it’s a strong-smelling cheese (Stilton, Blue Cheese, Gorgonzola), pair it with a sweeter wine (Riesling, Viognier)
	Match regions by selecting a cheese and enjoying it alongside a wine produced in the same region or country (try a piece of Parmesan with a glass of Chianti or Brunello)

We’ve scoured the cellar to come up with a tantalizing wine to taste alongside our featured cheese available in our Deli Department:

Blue Cheese has a rendezvous with Merlot!

Making our first match:
Enjoy the sharp tanginess of one of our favourites; Blue Cheese (similar to Stilton, Italian-style Gorgonzola and Roquefort Cheese) and its combination of pungent and salty flavours with a creamy, crumbly texture.

Enjoy a slice of Blue Cheese paired with CedarCreek 2008 Merlot (produced in the Okanagan, BC) available at BC Liquor Stores. This easy drinking wine easily compliments the complex taste of Blue Cheese with flavours of raspberry, blackberry and dark chocolate – certain to perk up your palate!