By Ashley Bartlett | Photograhy by Michael Smith

Enter Camera: Queen West’s ingenious cinema/lounge duo, it’s 8:00 pm sharp and the joint is packed to the rim. Greeted with a flute of sparkling white wine, this is a red carpet event. The vibe is sexy and the night is young; it’s all very cosmopolitan. Dressed-to-kill guests sip on whites and reds while mingling against the backdrop of vintage Hollywood film. A yummy live performance by electro/synth-pop band Golden Girls provides the perfect soundtrack. It’s SHOWTIME: A Blockbuster California Wine Event.

The hosts and stars of the night are Ange Aiello and Paxton Allewell, and as the founders of iYellow Wine Club, the two know a thing or two about wine. iYellow Wine Club is a social club for wine lovers, created with the idea to host and educate members at various events and tours around the city.

Featured wines included Ménage à Trois 2007 Red (sultry, silky, and to no surprise – forward), Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel 2006 (dark, rich, intense), Gallo Pinot Grigio (light, crisp, refreshing), and many more.

There are many types of wine on the market, and to some this is intimidating. Ange & Pax created iYellow Wine Club to make wine tasting a comfortable, enjoyable experience. The best way we can develop a palette is to sample different kinds to figure out which appeal to us the most. Ange offers some great advice for selecting the right wine:

What are your tips for beginners in selecting a wine?
Figure out what type of wine you enjoy drinking – that is really the only thing that matters in the end. What flavours really float your boat! To do that try to start focusing on the 5 Easy Steps to tasting wine each and every time you order, buy and share wine. They are: Sight, Swirl, Smell, Sip & Savour.

What are the basics we should all know about the wine we drink?
Well the super basic information you really need to know is that wine is made all around the world. Every wine from every geographical location tastes different and has it’s own unique style. So try not to judge a region based on one wine, one bottle, or one sip. Also wine can come in sparkling or flat, red,white and rose, as well have different flavours and not to mention be light bodied, medium bodied, full bodied, or sweet and/or dry.

When hosting a dinner party, what should we know selecting the right wine to pair with the dish?
As I am a huge cool climate wine lover (i.e. wines that come from places with a cool climate) I love Rieslings, Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. The three wines are very versatile and match well with just about any type of food. The Pinot Noirs are great with salmon, and if you’re interested in a red, and the Rieslings and Chardonnays are great with chicken, pasta and salads. Never the less, a big bold California Cabernet Sauvignon matches well with beef and when you happen to be craving a big bold red.

Now, get out there and figure out what you like! Visit www.iyellowwineclub.com to get on the mailing list and recieve exclusive invites to events like SHOWTIME.