Shop Local: Serendipity, YUM!

Many of you know that I have Celiac Disease. It is a real challenge at times finding food that is gluten free and tastes delicious. Meet Kathryn Santha of Serendipity Gluten Free Catering.

The first time I ever tasted the deliciousness that is Serendipity’s baking was at Tasha’s Day Spa’s grand reopening where Tasha was serving mini cupcakes from Serendipity. When I bit into the cupcake, I almost spit it back out. Not because it was not tasty, but BECAUSE it was soooo tasty. I thought for sure that this could not be a gluten free cupcake and that I was about to get very sick. Not so. It was completely gluten free AND delicious. I could not believe what I was tasting!

Kathryn began her business as a catering business four years ago and opened her bakery at 910 11th Avenue on October 15. You can read more about her serendipitous path to where she is today on her website. She has quite a story. Serendipity is truly a family owned business. Kathryn’s mother, Tara, helps with the baking and cooking and her dad does the deliveries and maintenance.

Serendipity offers a daily luncheon menu as well as baking, featuring delicious soup and other things. You can also find their products at Café Drip, Dad’s Organic Market, The Diplomat and Rochdale Roca House. I really encourage you to check them out, even if you are not on a gluten free diet, because Serendipity offers delicious food which just happens to be gluten free.

Find them online: Website  | Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

Originally published in The Wine Cellar May 2016.

Temporary Oak Pack Size Change

We have a Vineco announcement to share this month:

Please be advised that some of our kits will be changing from using one 30g Premium Oak packet to two 15g Premium Oak packets. This is a temporary packaging change only and does not have any effect on the kit or finished wine. This change will go into effect May 1 and we expect it to last approximately 6-8 months.

Our first visitors! A moving update.

Thought I’d post a bit of an update on our slower than molasses in the wintertime construction project.

We’re in the process of getting all of our permits in place and organizing the contractors. The progress is slow, but I do have a couple of pictures of some changes that are shaping up.

It all starts with the first thing you will see... the front entrance. It is just starting to look like something other than empty space but we promise you, it will be spectacular!


Next come walls which don't make for exciting pictures but walls are necessary. We hope to add as few walls as possible.

We are nowhere near ready to host visitors but a few have been arriving so we can put them to work!

Rick from Global Vintners dropped by to check out our new digs and Marty Happy of Happy Ad Sign & Design stopped in to discuss his plans for our new sign!

I'd tell you about that sign but it is still a surprise. The only thing I can say for sure is that you will find the new sign

this summer at 2300 Dewdney Avenue!

Thank you to everyone working with us to get ready for the move. We’re super excited to be able to share more pictures in the hopefully not too distant future.

Rick checks out our new digs while John and Marty Happy make plans for our new sign.

Shop Local: Tasha's Day Spa

Our shop local feature this month is Tasha’s Day Spa. They specialize in hair, laser, nails and aesthetics. I’ve known owner Tasha Freistadt for many years now. She truly encapsulates the young entrepreneur. She worked as an aesthetician at a couple of spas/clinics in town and then decided to go it on her own. She found a spot at 925 11th Avenue and I don’t think she’s ever looked back.

Because she is so good at what she does, and has a wonderful personality, her customers love her and come back over and over. When she started out she did only nails and aesthetics. But her hard work has enabled her to expand her business, in size and services! Tasha’s Day Spa now offers hair styling, as well as laser hair removal, in addition to all the other services.

The entire staff at Tasha’s has a commitment to great customer service, which I love (as you know). I encourage you to check them out at tashasdayspa.com or on Facebook.

Originally published in The Wine Cellar April 2016.

Love is in the Air! Promotion & Draw

 

Who doesn't love a wedding? And who doesn't love special memories you can walk away with?

We love weddings so much that from now until the end of May, every couple using our vint-on-premise service for their wedding wine will receive a set of 30 custom labels FREE and be entered into our draw.

Although you cannot serve your craft made wine at your wedding in Saskatchewan, there are lots of ways you can make custom labelled wine part of your wedding memories.

Craft made wine can be used as wedding favours and can also be served at home in any province for an engagement party, rehearsal dinner, gift opening or any other gathering before or after the wedding.

Here are just a few ways you can use the custom label to enhance guest memories:

Wedding Label Ideas by The Wine Cellar

and because we're big fans of LOVE...

Every couple that uses our vint-on-premise service for their custom label wedding wine between now and the end of May will be entered into our draw for a couples romantic gift basket!

Need quality wine glasses for 2? Like chocolate? You won't want to miss this draw!

Our $200 gift basket starts with a beautiful ice bucket filled with everything wine, including Spiegelau glasses and a Le Creuset pocket corkscrew, perfect for a romantic summer picnic! We've included dessert with BRIX chocolate for wine. 

A reminder for Brides and Grooms: Wine will take 4 - 8 weeks to be made. You will want to start it well before your special day.

The fine print: Draw will be made on May 31 and will be announced in our Newsletter and on our Facebook page. Wine must be started with our vint-on-premise service on or before May 31 to be eligible. Wedding can be after the draw close date. Gift basket valued at $200.

May 31, 2016 Update: The WINNER of our Love is in the Air! draw is Travis Grose. Enjoy your gift package, Travis, and congratulations to all the wedding couples that entered our draw!

February Community Support

United Way Regina celebrated Dr. Seuss' Birthday February 26, when 150 volunteers read to a children at four selected schools in Regina. In addition to that, sixteen various schools across the city celebrate Dr. Seuss, the man behind the funny rhymes.

I was one of the volunteer readers and I had such a great time! What a fantastic event. Well done United Way Regina!

We also had a chance to help the The Shirley Schneider Support Centre with a donation of a 36.6L stainless steel stock pot. My interest in nutrition has grown since being diagnosed with Celiac. The Wine Cellar was happy to help with nutrition education!

The support centre is a caring, trusting, supportive environment for pregnant and parenting teens in pursuit of education, self-esteem and life-long learning. If you want to know more about the work the centre does, check them out online.

Top 5 - 4 Week Kits in 2015!

5. KenRidge Classic White Zinfandel
A fresh and fruity rose wine with a strawberry, melon and a touch of spice on the nose. A crisp and refreshing wine to be enjoyed well chilled. This wine is a perfect compliment to summer salads with vinaigrette dressings and lightly spiced roast chicken sandwiches.

4. Cheeky Monkey Cabernet Merlot Granacha, Spain
This deep red is sure to send you running for the bulls! A bouquet full of currants, white pepper and spices, this dry, medium to full-bodied blend has soft silky tannins and moderate acidity. Flavours of blackberries and cherries fill the palate as the lingering finish exhibits a kick of zesty red fruit..

3. Cheeky Monkey Valroza
This wine will have you singing 'Amore' every time you try it! Blessed with the great colour and taste that only a true Italian Valroza has, this wonderful red will have you going ape! Aromas and flavours of plum and cherry makeup this soft and smooth tasting wine from beginning to end. Great food pairings include red sauce pastas and meat lovers pizza.

 
2. Cheeky Monkey Chardonnay, Australia
Crikey! No Wood! No worries, this great white will have all the ‘Sheilas’ wanting to get Cheeky!! This wine is a true reflection of the climate it comes from. Chardonnay’s many unique flavours are enhanced by the rich red soils and warm Aussie sun. You will enjoy hints of apple, pineapple and tropical fruit. A great wine with such seafood dishes as butter-soaked lobster and smoked salmon. It’s even great with chicken from the ‘barbie’, smothered in a creamy alfredo sauce.

#1 World Vineyard Italian Pinot Grigio
The Italians have their own way with the Pinot Gris grape variety, and in the process they create a special magic with it that's unmatched elsewhere in the wine world. Though dry in character and with a pleasant zip of acidity, this Pinot Grigio shows off a pleasant floral fragrance and tremendous fruit flavours, making it the perfect picnic accompaniment.