Sam The Wine Teacher 
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
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 T-bone steak, … Read more
Taking advantage of the fact that Vancouver was teeming with winery owners and winemakers, the BC Wine Appreciation Society held it’s own mini wine festival. It was scheduled to coincide with the weekly Wednesday night #BCWineChat that takes place on Twitter. BC Wine Chat is the brainchild of Tinhorn Creek owner Sandra Oldfield. Each week, … Read more
For well over a decade, the Montréal based APVSA, the Association for the promotion of Wines (Vins) and Spirits in North America, has served as a bridge between European wine and spirit producers and a wide range of North American markets. The most recent APVSA trip to Vancouver, titled The Soul of Wine, featured … Read more
The wines that Val Tait, viticulturalist and winemaker at Bench 1775, makes all have their own character and are enjoyable in their own right, yet there is a common thread running through them that speaks to her style and commitment to quality. Look for these wines at the Vancouver International Wine Festival – February … Read more
2015 Chardonnay (Crofters) Houghton Margaret River, Australia $16.99 This Aussie chardonnay is delicate and elegant. Lemon yellow with medium-light intensity. The nose shows aromas of citrus, ripe apple, vanilla and butter. Well balanced. The oak is well integrated with the fruit followed by a medium-plus finish. This is a good value wine. 2013 Cabernet … Read more
2012 Serious Syrah Pacific Breeze New Westminster, BC $22.99 This is Pacific Breeze’s first foray into Syrah. The grapes were sourced from Washington and California. Garnet red with medium-deep intensity. Black pepper, blackberries, earthy, sweet spice and vanilla notes on the nose. Very well balanced. The flavours follow the nose. The finish is medium-long … Read more