Sam The Wine Teacher 
2015 Cliffhanger Red Moraine Penticton, BC $17.50 This is a blend of Merlot and Malbec. Garnet red with medium-deep intensity. Bright red berries, red currants, strawberry jam, brambles along with hints of earth and spice. Good balance. The bright fruit carries through onto the palate followed by a medium finish. Serve with a … Read more
2015 Red Chaberton Langley, BC $15.00 Garnet red in colour tinged with purple and medium-deep intensity. Earthy, smoky notes on the nose along with dark fruit and black pepper undertones. Good balance with firm ripe tannins. The palate shows flavours of bright red fruit and smoky meat followed by a medium-plus finish. This is … Read more
They came from a land down under and their wines, they did thunder (with apologies to Colin Hay of Men at Work). Yes, the wines of New Zealand rock. They are known around the world for their unique style of gooseberry driven Sauvignon Blanc. Those in the know also look to the Kiwis for … Read more
2014 Splash River Stone Oliver, BC $18.90 This wine is a blend of Viognier, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer which all bring something to the glass. The wine is pale straw in colour with medium-light intensity. The nose is fruit forward with aromas of tree fruit, stone fruit wet stones and a hint of spice. Good … Read more
Okanagan Falls, nestled between Penticton and Oliver, was known in the late 1800’s as a centre for shipping freight along Skaha Lake and the Kettle Valley Railway. Ranching and fruit growing soon followed. During the mid 1980’s, the region was recognized for its grape growing potential and is now home to 32 vineyards and 15 … Read more
I’ve said it before, and this will not be the last time, but the BC wine industry is home to some of the nicest people in the province. This is especially true with a very special group of people known as, “The Garagistes”. Who are these people you may ask. They are the ‘small … Read more
2014 Pinot Noir Arrowleaf Lake Country, BC $17.90 This refreshing pinot noir is garnet red in colour with medium-light intensity. Bright cherry and raspberry on the nose with some earthy undertones. Medium-bodied with good balance and smooth ripe tannins. The flavours echo the nose and are followed by a medium-plus finish. Serve with salmon, chicken … Read more
After visiting some local restaurants with samples of Play Estate wines, Donita Dyer, Territory Sales Manager at Empson Wines Canada, arranged an intimate impromptu gathering at Provence Marinaside with Play Estate General Manager and winemaker, Mohamed Awad. Play Estates, one of Penticton’s newest wineries, opened its doors just last summer. It is situated along the … Read more
A month or so after having the opportunity to sample CheckMate’s Chardonnay wines, I was invited to a Gastown restaurant for the launch of their 2013 Merlot. A group of invited guests gathered in a private room at L’ Abattoir. After a bit of socializing and a brief audiovisual presentation, where (former) principal Ingo Grady … Read more
When you order, ‘a glass of white wine’, chances are you’ll be served a chardonnay, as these days, it tends to be synonymous with white wine. However, there was a time, before the late 1970’s when Riesling was THE white wine. And for good reason: Riesling tends to pair with a wide variety of … Read more