Sam The Wine Teacher 
The inspiration for the name Privato comes from the Italian word meaning ‘private’, which aptly describes the winery’s idyllic park-like setting. Owned by John and Debbie Woodward, the property began in 1987, as a Christmas tree farm planted with Scotch pine and Blue Spruce. They sell their trees primarily to the local market. The Woodwards … Read more
2014 Sauvignon Blanc Fern Walk Kelowna, BC $16.99 A new label Mark Anthony introduced in 2014, exclusive to BC LDB stores. Pale lemon yellow with medium minus intensity. The delicate nose shows hints of tropical and citrus fruit. Good balance and mouthfeel. The aromas follow through on the palate and finish. Paired nicely with … Read more
Innovative people do innovative things. They are often the first to see potential where others don’t. Rolf de Bruin and Heleen Pannekoek decided they wanted to leave the Dutch corporate world and seek a better lifestyle. They decided on wine making and considered living in France, Eastern Europe, Ontario and the Okanagan. After several trips … Read more
Opened in 1993, Blue Grouse is one of Vancouver Island’s oldest estate vineyards. This family owned winery is located in the Cowichan Valley, just off the Trans Canada Highway in Duncan. Actually, the property has a long and interesting history that dates back to 1977 when John Harper, the father of island viticulture, … Read more
OK, I am well acquainted with Fort Berens wines and have been a big fan pretty much since they opened, however I have never visited the winery before and have heard great things about the building and their restaurant so it was time for a visit. After a scenic drive through Whistler and … Read more
My son and I recently got back from a three-day road trip. We headed up to Whistler and then Pemberton, stopping at Nairn Falls Provincial Park for a short hike. After that it was on to Lillooet and Fort Berens Winery. Being a wine writer, what else am I going to do on a … Read more
If you happened to see Queen Elizabeth Plaza hidden behind blackout fences recently, I can tell you what was going on behind them. It was the CANCITY Craft Beer Fest. Once upon a time, in the olden days, beer was beer, whether it came from Labatt, Molson or Carling. However, beginning in the early … Read more
2011 Mosaic (Bordeaux Blend) Hillside Estate Naramata, BC $39.99 2011 was a challenging year for making BC red wines, however the better growers cropped heavily, leaving just a few bunches on the vines to ripen and thus were able to make good wines. This wine is garnet red in colour with medium-deep intensity. The … Read more
The Valpolicella appellation of north-eastern Italy is located just north of the city of Verona in the Veneto region and just east of Lake Garda. This is a land of rolling hills covered in vines, olive and cherry trees. This region is steeped in history with impressive villas. The wines here are made from … Read more
Bench 1775, formerly known as Paradise Ranch and later Soaring Eagle, has been rebranded to reflect both a new beginning and its place. Val Tait, with a background in both viticulture and viniculture, joined the team in 2013 and made great improvements in the vineyard knowing full well that this is where good wines … Read more