Sam The Wine Teacher 
It is always interesting to discover how a person came to have an interest in wine, especially when that person is a winemaker or a winery owner. Some have been farmers, some stockbrokers or investment bankers, some worked in medicine or law, some were in engineering or the tech sectors, while others have been involved … Read more
BC is fast gaining a reputation for top-quality restaurants located at wineries. One great example of this is Cedar Creek’s Home Block Restaurant in Kelowna.
With its roots in France, most people in the group knew that Petit Verdot is primarily thought of as one of the minor grapes in Bordeaux blends from the left bank and were surprised that there were so many made as stand-alone wines.
Now known as the TIME Family of Wines, they have restructured their brands as well as undertaking physical changes to their premises on Martin Street in downtown Penticton which will see a new barrel room and eventually a new rooftop patio.
In addition to the weekly wine review and the various other, usually wine-related, articles I write for MyVanCity, I am including a new one that will appear from time to time. I’m calling it, ‘From the Cellar’.
The winery sits on 17 acres on the idyllic Black Sage bench, which is home to well-known wineries such as Bartier Brothers, Black Hills, Burrowing Owl, Church & State, Dessert Hills, French Door, Le Vieux Pin, Phantom Creek, and Stoneboat among others.
The Italian heritage is shown in the names of their wines, Pinot Grigio rather than Pinot Gris and Pinot Nero instead of Pinot Noir. Their sparkling wine, Pinozannte is a nod to Prosecco though made from predominantly Pinot Gris with a touch of Pinot Noir.
I will keep the ‘Wednesday Wine Review’ to recent vintages that should still be available and ‘From the Cellar’ for those that I have to blow the dust off of.
2020 Chardonnay Nostalgia Oliver, BC $24.99 Pale straw with medium-light intensity. Ripe yellow apple, butter, lemon curd, nectarine, a hint of pineapple, and vanilla. Well balanced with a creamy texture. Butter, toast, honeydew, citrus, dominate the palate with a splash of spice. Flavours linger on the medium-long finish. 2020 Pinot Gris (Quill Label) … Read more
NV Brut Reserva Segura Viudas Torrelavit, Spain $16.99 Segura Viudas is well-known for delivering good quality sparkling Spanish wines (cava) and this modestly priced Reserva proves the point. Straw coloured with medium-light intensity. Baked apple, citrus, brioche, and dried tree fruit with undertones of yeasty lees on the nose. Good balance and mousse. The … Read more