Carouse Consulting

14/03/2024

📣 Calling all wine lovers!

I’m proud to share that I’m planning the Bodegas Salentein Wine Dinner at Leña Restaurante and would love to have you join me for this guided wine dinner, featuring exquisite Argentinian wines, with chef-paired dishes 🍇✨

We all know Argentina is renowned for its amazing Malbecs, and this event will showcase the debut of the 2021 Salentein Reserve Malbec. But that’s not all! Argentina has other delicious offerings - from sparkling Blanc de Blancs to Chardonnay, and of course, to more incredible Malbecs, join us and taste some truly wonderful wines.

Secure your ticket now, only a few seats left! Can’t wait to raise a glass with you!

🗓️ Thursday, March 21st, 6:30 PM
🎟️ $150 a ticket - includes dinner + wine. DM me on how to purchase
🪪 Please note this is a 19+ event

01/03/2024

Can we talk about Rioja Vega Crianza 2020 for a sec? It’s a wine that just screams ‘drink me!’ AND IS UNDER $18.

Take a whiff and BAM! Ripe cherry and caramel, hitting you right in the in the best way possible. First sip? It’s like a velvet dream, with pomegranate, red plum, and a dash of milk chocolate.

But wait, there’s more! The finish? Let’s just say it’s like a sweet surprise party with candied orange peel. And again, it’s under $18! What a steal. Snag it while you can at the LCBO ‘cause this baby is a limited edition feature - find it in the Spanish Vintages section.

24/03/2023

In honour of national puppy day, here’s a wine recommendation (Bar Dog Pinot Noir 🔥) that supports dogs (each bottle purchased = donation to animal rescue), and here are just some pictures of my favourite puppy boy ☺️❤️

20/10/2022

I have something new to share!

Check out this event I've been putting together - LOTS of wine, premium spirits, and my personal favourite, vermouths and sherry.

Food stations will be featured to complement the libations, and it goes without saying you'll find me at Eataly's table where Chef will be preparing handmade mozzarella to accompany freshly shaved prosciutto.

And for those looking to dig deeper and sip some truly rare and unique gems, check out the Masterclasses. Hope to see you there!

Event details here -> https://lnkd.in/gaNnuwU2

30/09/2022

🤵‍♀️

29/07/2022

Honoured to dine and sip at the pre-opening of the Ace Hotel and absolutely elated to see featured in their incredible cocktail menu. Every detail from the lobby to the food were exquisite, more than a hotel, but a neighborhood gem. The coconut cream pie is officially my new favourite dessert in the entire city. Opening up August 9th, if you’re looking for me, I’ll be at the Ace 👀

26/07/2022

12/07/2022

NAT’Cool.


These fresh amphora wines are by far some of the most delightful funky wines I’ve had in a while and will hopefully be enjoying much more of.

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The “Fresh from Amphora” collection is the result of a partnership between Herdade do Rocim and Niepoort - it’s their approach to the Nat’Cool concept and to its philosophy of relaxed and easy to drink wines. What makes this so unique is that vinification occurs in clay pots, with absolutely no temperature control. This is a nod to the ancient wine making techniques where fermentation took place using indigenous yeasts and with no addition or correction of must. It’s old skool, it’s nat’cool, it’s splendid.

09/07/2022

Magnificent Mushy’s 🍄
Pink, blue, pearl, and lion. We’re thinking risotto for dinner … time to choose the Pinot Noir …

19/06/2022

Celebrating my Pop with an afternoon of baseball, wagyu bbq and Stag’s Leap.

Consider myself quite lucky to have a dad who actively advocates for women rights, cheers on the underdogs, works hard at protecting our most essential workers and is an infinite source of rock’n’roll history and political insights. Cheers, to my dad and all the other great fathers and father figures out there.

⚾️ 🥩 🍷

07/06/2022

If you're anything like me and enjoy cheese, charcuterie, salty and savoury snacks, oysters or olives, then BELIEVE me - vermouth is for you! 🦪🍸

If you somehow hate all of these things, rest assured, vermouth is probably still for you. The beauty of vermouth is its infinite flexibility. From sipping it served neat, to a spritz, to the backbone of a good cocktail, vermouth can be enjoyed in so many ways, you're sure to find a personal favourite.

The best way to jump into the world of vermouth is through a guided tasting, so why not join us Friday at Bar Cocchi in Eataly? Giorgio Bava - Vermouth Expert, Negroni Afficando, and Cocchi Principal - will be leading a guided tasting with four absolutely delicious vermouths. We'll begin by serving them neat and work our way up to a cocktail, pairing canapes along the way. It's going to be delicious, and you're going to love it.

Cheers!

02/06/2022

The last 6 weeks I’ve had the absolute pleasure of helping plan a very, VERY fun activation between Eataly Toronto, Cocchi and Azureau.

If you haven’t heard of Cocchi, I’m sure you will be a fan by the end of this summer. A MUST in a Negroni, a champion in Manhattan’s, a star in a Spritz, perfect served neat and countless other ways 🥃

Come check out Bar Cocchi at Eataly and enjoy a special cocktail, swing by the Go Vino area to sip some samples, bring home a bottle (or 2? 3?) from the market, and the join us for a Cocktail Class next Friday! So much more to share, stay tuned!

07/01/2022

thinking about the last bottle from a special night of many, many amazing bottles, shared with a group of very, very good people 💛

oh, had I known it was the last outing enjoyed before this latest of chapter of really, really lousy quarantines, lockdowns and isolations, believe me, MANY more bottles would have been enjoyed that night. C’est la vie.
✨🍝😵‍💫

25/12/2021

A taste of tradition during this very untraditional holiday ✨

Happy Christmas Eve! 🥂

24/12/2021

Spirits to lift our spirit 🥃
It’s going to be a pj’s, classic movies and hot toddy holiday over here. Xoxo 😘 🎄

23/09/2021

Fall is here, the days are getting cooler and social distance restrictions are….? At least, it seems like get-togethers have moved beyond virtual only.

I was hard at work for you all this summer. Patio hopping from Toronto to Vancouver, tirelessly tasting every wine, spirit or libation I came across. Long days spent under the sun at wineries, others spent under ground in the coolness of cellars. All in the name of due-diligence and research 😉

It was the sabbatical leave both I and Carouse Consulting needed. I am SO excited to get back to connecting, cheers-ing and carousing with you all again!

LOOK OUT FOR ✨

- Return of our Cinq à Sept Tasting Series
- Corporate and Private Wine Tasting Packages
- Our Holiday Event Planning Services
- Exciting Collaborations and tons of New Content and more ways to Carouse Together! 🥂

21/09/2021

P E R P E T U A 🏆
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We spent the last weekend of summer visiting my parents up North, which *of course* I felt Perpetua would be the perfect accompaniment for. I brought my last bottle, excited to share and as it turned out, Mum had the same idea ... we arrived to find her stash of Perpetua, chilled and ready to go. Nothing quite like a stockpile of great wine to put a smile on my face ☺️⁠
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From sipping on the patio to a glass with our dinner of BBQ'd chicken, grilled halloumi and summer corn, Perpetua lived up to its name of long-lasting and kept us satisfied yet thirsty for more.⁠
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This vintage is VERY different from the 2018. The 2019 growing season was short yet beautiful - yield was low but incredibly flavorful. The grapes developed a natural acidity which is complemented beautifully from 15 months of ageing sur lie in French oak. ⁠
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The result? harmony, harmony, harmony 🎶 ✨ ⁠
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From the first sip, I was instantly reminded of popcorn. Not movie theatre popcorn, not microwave popcorn but stovetop, homemade popcorn. The lightly toasted butteriness of a kernel, paired with notes of golden apple and a spritz of citrus. The creamy texture is delectable. Expressive and harmonious, I couldn't have imagined a better wine to end the summer with. ⁠
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11/08/2021

Give me Viognier and mountains all summer, every summer 🏔✨

05/08/2021

I got my peaches out in Kelowna.⁠
I get my wine from the Okanagan.⁠
I took my boo out to the West, yeah. ⁠
I get my light right from the source 🍑 ✨

05/08/2021

I got my peaches out in Kelowna.⁠
I get my wine from the Okanagan.⁠
I took my boo out to the West, yeah. ⁠
I get my light right from the source.

🍑 ✨

09/07/2021

Not that I’m keeping track… but I think it’s rained every Friday in Toronto - 7 weeks straight? Oh! Except for that one Friday, the on that called for crazy thunderstorms, so I cancelled my plans … but then it was sunny… ⁠
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Well! Next week I’ll be in the West Coast Sun, just like this beauty, . Not sure if I’m more excited to be drinking bubbles under the Okanagan sun or that I’ll be coming home to a city in Stage 3 🙏🏻 ⁠
Rain or shine, it’s all getting better ✨⁠
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10/06/2021

well, this was a happy accident 🍃 ⁠
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No idea how I added this to my virtual cart… really had no desire to try a beer that marketed its tasting profile as ‘Green Tea Latte’, and yet here I am, enjoying this fresh and light, slightly green (in the best kinda way), handcrafted beer. Will be cautiously added to my cart going forth.
✌🏻 👑 🍵

09/06/2021

It’s 34C and raining, what do you do?
Refresh with a chilled glass of wine, and keep dry with a movie. No need to reinvent the wheel.

My suggestion:
Wine-Calling 🎥 and First Contact 🍊

Learn all about the buzz around Natural Wines while you catch one. Tonight I’m watching a documentary on the obsessive, contagious, passion of French winemakers who are tackling the world of natural wines, while trying this super crushable, VQA blend of Vidal and Sauv Blanc.

The shade of a city-sunset with aromatics of white peach and olive (the brine/saltiness is quite nice). A bit of zip, balanced and fresh. Would be nice with oysters, but has me craving sheep’s feta and the crunch of olive oil drizzled, baby cucumbers from my Mums garden. My favourite touch is the label - drawn by a 7-year old, Leslieville based artist 👩‍🎨

06/06/2021

President of the Sip and Read Wine Club.
Accepting new members.
Admission requirements include: coming with good drink and read ideas, sharing your wine with me.

04/06/2021

Get those wines C H I L L E D 🥂❄️

She’s going to be a hot one this weekend and nothing cools you down like a rainbow of perfectly chilled wines 🌈

How cold do you go? Aim between 7-10C. If the wine fogs your glass with condensation, slow your role. Let it sit a couple of minutes to ‘cool down’ before you sip - the character will be closed off, and you won’t get much of the aromas or taste. Remember when it comes to serving degrees:
7 is heaven
8 is great
9 is fine
10 is when… you gotta drink.

01/06/2021

30 Days of J O Y ✨ ☀️ ⁠
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Hello, June 1st! ⁠
While I’m SO happy summer is just around the corner, it really does feel like this year is flying by while many of us are locked in our homes, watching milestones, historical moments and the better part of a year, pass us by. I’ve never before felt time pass by THIS fast, nor have I felt so generally helpless, disconnected and voiceless at a time where all the opposite actions and energy is needed.⁠
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In the spirit of slowing down and being more present, reflective and engaged, I’m embracing a “challenge” I’ve seen floating around… for the next 30 days I will be intentionally absorbing and documenting a moment of joy. Not everything will be shared on social media, and surely not everyday will be overtly joyful, but I figure if I can’t slow time down, I might as well find a way to acknowledge my time turning around the sun, find some sort of peace with days passing by, and recharge myself before getting back out there to rally for goodness. ⁠
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DAY 1: wine soaked sunsets with my oldest friend. It’s been a while since we’ve had a barrier-less encounter, but I’m joyed at knowing tomorrow ends the stay at home order, and reunions with friends and family around the corner! 🥂 ⁠
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23/05/2021

Meet, F R A N K 🦴 ✨⁠
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This handsome boy is the official mascot of Bar Dog Wines - you’ll find their Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon in the Californian section of your local LCBO. This long weekend, I encourage giving them a shot. Not only are they pretty good (if you like Josh CS, you’ll like theirs), but with each bottle sold, a dollar will be donated to the charity Pet Finder! ⁠
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I’ve been active on the Pet Finder site for months as Tim and I look for our 4-legged roommate - they’re an animal adoption platform and do incredible work helping match pet seekers with the pets.⁠ SO, drink wine and help a pup/cat/bunny/fur baby? IT DOES NOT GET BETTER.⁠
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18/05/2021

a bit of truth on V E R M O U T H, baby⁠
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If your only encounter with Vermouth is within a Martini or Manhattan, consider this your official nudge to explore what an aromatized, fortified wine has to offer. Flavoured and coloured with botanicals and herbs, there is everything from Rosso to Blanco under the Vermouth sun - including my favorite, the darker libation used as a base for creating some of the most iconic cocktails, from Negroni to Manhattan. ⁠
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Here we have, Cocchi Storico Vermouth Di Torino - a vermouth that can serve as a cocktail base, but also delicious when served solo on ice with a zest of lemon. ⁠
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A warm shade of amber, thanks to herbs of Cinchona and rhubarb, this sipper smells as rich as it tastes - reminds me of a Terry's Chocolate Orange, in the best possible way. With a touch of woody spice on the end and a velvety smoothness on the way down, consider Cocchi or exploring other exquisite aperitifs when enjoying your afterwork cocktail.

07/05/2021

W O W ✨🥂⁠
I am so proud to have collaborated with a collective of talented, local, female founded and led businesses to celebrate Mother’s Day by creating this dreamy package. ⁠
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My mama was undeniably the inspiration behind Cinq A Sept Vol. 3 - she’s never one to ask for much, and she’s far too practical to enjoy the indulgence of fresh cut flowers. All she ever wants is to spend time together, and all we ever want is to make her feel special. This is our second round of holidays under a lockdown and I refused to let more special moments slip by due to social distancing and pandemic fatigue.⁠
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With such, I can’t tell you how excited I am to be safely hosting a virtual event, where my mum will be joining a group of other mothers, sisters, friends and new faces, for a creative happy-hour, intended to toast to the wonders of all our Mothers. We are gathering this Sunday for the simple purpose of spending time together, with the bonus of making something everlastingly beautiful thanks to the creative handiwork of .to and .crystals⁠
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Thank you to IWBC who has helped provide the ultimate cherry on top - beautiful BC wine that is so incredible, each sip will transport you to the Okanagan. ⁠
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To those joining, can’t wait to see you Sunday! Cheers 🥂 ✨⁠
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lane ⁠