Sam The Wine Teacher 
In the rugged and sun-drenched Similkameen Valley of British Columbia lies a winery as humble in size as it is bold in spirit. Little Farm Winery, nestled in the heart of Cawston, is a tiny but mighty producer of natural wine that captures the essence of its land with every bottle. With just four acres … Read more
Bordeaux. A port city in southwestern France. Bordeaux, a city on the Garonne River. Bordeaux, the name of the surrounding region. Bordeaux, the name given to wines from this world-famous area that resonates with wine lovers everywhere. Bordeaux. Wines that span red, white, rosé, and sweet dessert styles. Bordeaux. Home to legendary sub-regions such … Read more
2024 Chardonnay (Here and There Series) Fort Berens Lillooet, BC $24.99 Pale straw with medium-light intensity. Tropical fruit, peach, pineapple, banana, lemon cream, and honey on the nose. Good balance. The flavours echo the nose, followed by a medium-plus finish. This lightly oaked wine suits a wide range of foods, including a spice-rubbed roasted chicken. … Read more
In addition to the weekly wine review and the various other, usually wine-related, articles I write for My Van City, I am going to include a new one that will appear from time to time. I’m calling it, ‘From the Cellar’. It will be similar to the wine reviews, except that it will feature aged … Read more
Another week, another tasting at Franco’s Liquor Store in Kelowna. This time, the spotlight was on Nebbiolo—one of Italy’s most prestigious (and temperamental) grape varieties. Often called the “king of grapes,” Nebbiolo is primarily grown in the Piedmont region, where its expression shifts dramatically depending on the local terroir. Key areas include Barolo, Barbaresco, Langhe, … Read more
As I was about to leave the Rosé Rodeo at Haywire’s Garnet Valley Ranch Winery recently, I had the chance to catch up with winemaker Matt Dumayne, who was eager for me to try some odds and sods he found lurking around at the back of the winery. First up was the 2015 XC Method … Read more
Summertime is Rosé time, but if you’re like me, anytime is Rosé time. Rosé is one of the most versatile wines out there – bright, juicy, food-friendly and endlessly diverse. It can be made from nearly any red grape, in styles ranging from crisp and bone-dry to lush and fruit-driven. Fortunately, most people have finally … Read more
The world of wine can be overwhelming—and rightly so. There are countless grape varieties to explore: whites like Chardonnay, Pinot Gris (a.k.a. Pinot Grigio), Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Viognier, just to name a few. On the red side, many wine lovers are familiar with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot … Read more
2022 Pinot Blanc Gray Monk Okanagan Centre, BC $19.99 Lemon yellow with medium-light intensity. Pear, orange zest, green apple, cloves, and lime on the nose. Good balance and good body with just a slightly sweet entry. Pleasing flavours on the palate with stone fruit dominating. A medium-plus finish. Serve this delicate wine with herb-roasted chicken, … Read more
If you happen to be in Kelowna sometime this season, including a Saturday, consider signing up for a free wine tasting at Franco’s Liquor Store, located near the University of BC Okanagan campus (UBCO) and just south of the airport. These events are listed on their website: https://francosliquorstore.com/ Most tastings are free, though some premium … Read more