Guest Post - Laila North, Owner of Go North Tours

If you’ve just discovered Nova Scotia’s growing wine industry, you’ll notice strange names of grapes like Baco Noir, Lucie Kuhlmann and L’Acadie Blanc. You may also wonder what foods go with these very odd sounding wines. Chances are you know what you like with a big Cabernet Sauvignon or a buttery Chardonnay, but what do you do with a Muscat or a Leon Millot??  As the owner of Go North Tours, I was inspired by my guests this past summer to create a tour that educates people about our unique varieties of wine and how to pair food with them. And so I created the Perfect Pairings Progressive Dinner – a three course meal over visits to three wineries with all courses perfectly paired with the wines from each winery. During the course of the evening, guests enjoy wine tastings and delicious food all the while learning to pair our distinct Nova Scotia varietals with food.

It’s back for this year’s Icewine Festival and this time it’s all about chocolate – white, milk and dark! The first course will be hosted by Blomidon Estate Winery (Feb. 6^th) or Muir Murray Estate Winery (Feb. 13^th and 14^th). In honour of St. Valentine, the wine to start the night will be a Rose paired with an Arugula and Fruit Salad with a Confetti of White Chocolate. Rose wines are a perfect accompaniment to white chocolate and will enhance the fruit in the salad. The main course will be served at Gaspereau Vineyards and will be a Beef Tenderloin in a Chocolate Sauce paired with the guests’ choice of Muscat or Pinot Noir (a special vegetarian dish is available by special request only). Lastly, a sinfully good dessert of Dark Chocolate Mousse with Fruit  and, being the Icewine Festival, will be paired with a glass of Icewine at Muir Murray Estate Winery (Feb. 6^th) or Blomidon Estate Winery (Feb. 13^th and 14^th).   Throughout the evening guests can ask their pairing queries and between myself and the chef, they’ll be wondering no more. Plus, with a cozy atmosphere of candlelit courses and only 10 seats for each dinner, it’ll be an intimate experience to share with your Valentine.

For more information about the Perfect Pairings Progressive Dinners or Go North Tours, please check out www.gonorthtours.com.