Sam The Wine Teacher

Sam, The Wine Teacher, has been an educator, a home winemaker, a wine judge for too many years to count and is the former Guild Master of the BC Guild of Wine Judges. He has offered wine education and appreciation courses for Pacific Breeze Winery, Capilano College, Eden West fine foods, the Richmond School District Continuing Education department, Coquitlam Continuing Education, the VAWA, the BCAWA as well as for various private functions. He also trains staff and offers cellar evaluations.

From the Cellar with @Sam_WineTeacher

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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.

Wednesday Wine Reviews with @Sam_WineTeacher

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  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

Wednesday Wine Reviews with @Sam_WineTeacher

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  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

Wednesday Wine Reviews with @Sam_WineTeacher

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The flavours mirror the nose followed by a medium-long finish.  Very impressive.  Be sure to buy some to cellar.  If there are still people who do not think BC can produce great cab sauv, this wine will make them believers. 

Wednesday Wine Reviews with @Sam_WineTeacher

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2020 Sauvignon Blanc Mayhem Okanagan Falls, BC $20.00 Pale straw with medium-light intensity.  The nose shows aromas of peach, grass, gooseberry, minerality, lime zest, and delicate banana notes.  Good balance.  Refreshing on the palate followed by a medium-plus finish with flavours lingering.  Tasting this makes me think of seafood, salmon, white fish, and prawn and … Read more

Wednesday Wine Reviews with @Sam_WineTeacher

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  2019 Chardonnay Fort Berens Lillooet, BC $20.99 Made primarily from estate grapes, this wine is lemon yellow with medium-light intensity. The nose opens with lemon, honey, tangerine, lime zest, white flowers and gentle buttery notes.  Well balanced.  Fresh on the palate with the flavours echoing the nose followed by a medium-long finish.  This is … Read more

What’s New at Fort Berens?

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Fort Berens have expanded their estate vineyards to 38 acres with the addition of the 18-acre Red Rock Vineyard.  This brings 6 acres of Merlot, 5 acres of Cabernet Franc, 3.5 acres of Riesling, 2 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and 1 acre of Grüner Veltliner.

Blue Grouse Winery in picturesque Cowichan Valley

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For those who have discovered the region, Blue Grouse Winery is at the top of many people’s lists of where to visit.  It has a stunning building that encloses both the winery and the tasting room and was designed to reflect the shape of the bird it is named after.

Wednesday Wine Reviews by @Sam_WineTeacher

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I may get some comments on this feature as these wines might be better included in ‘From the Cellar’ and fair enough, but I have been digging a bit these days.