Sam The Wine Teacher 
Sometimes when you live in the area, you can be the last to know about new places. When Tasting Plates Port Moody was announced, it gave me the perfect opportunity to visit places I had heard about or driven by, always with good intention to try them some other time. Registration took place at Gabi … Read more
It all began with an email from a major Vancouver media outlet and a name I didn’t recognize. Probably spam, but maybe not, so curiosity got the better of me and I opened it. After all, the subject line said, “Looking for a mead judge”. The person in the email mentioned that the BC Honey … Read more
I have written before about a private tasting group that I have been invited to sit in with from time. The most recent event contrasted BC and Argentinian wines. There were four whites and four reds, of which there were two white varieties and two red from each region. It was a blind tasting as … Read more
One of the things I most enjoy doing is conducting wine tastings for private parties. The most recent one was close to where I live and I knew a few of the dozen or so people who had been invited. It had been decided that we would do three wine wines and three reds at … Read more
Non Vintage Cipes Brut Summerhill Winery Kelowna, BC $25.49 This wine was chosen to celebrate a special occasion and a good choice it was. This traditional method, pyramid-aged wine is a blend of Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay. Pale lemon in colour with a medium-light intensity. The nose shows aromas of wet stones, citrus and … Read more
Colour, is the name given to the BC VQA Fall Release Tasting where BC wineries get to showcase their new wines. For wine aficionados and geeks, this event is like being a kid in a candy store. So many well-made and interesting wines to try and never, never, enough time. People in the wine … Read more
BC Wine Studios’ Mark Simpson is quite a philanthropist. Each year he selects a charity or cause and makes wine to help support them. His first launch helped to build a neighbourhood playground. This year his Neighbour’s Blend was made to help support Mount Pleasant Family Centre. The Neighbour’s Blend is primarily Riesling, … Read more
Nota Bene is, arguably, one of the best known red wines produced in BC and one to get fans, of this flagship offering from Black Hills, drooling. Nota Bene appeared on the scene in 1999 and has had something of a cult following ever since. Some people may be surprised that a BC red wine … Read more
2013 Sauvignon Blanc / Viognier Bonamici Cellars Okanagan Falls $21.90 This virtual winery, the creation of Philip Soo and Mario Rodi, uses the facilities at Synchromesh Winery in Okanagan Falls. The wine is straw coloured tinged with green and medium-minus in intensity. Peach and apricot aromas dominate the nose followed by delicate notes of honey, … Read more
Liberty Wine Merchants do many things well, but the one that impresses me the most is how they take time to showcase and promote local beverage producers. Liberty holds several such events every year and always ties them in with charity fundraisers. The most recent event was the Best of Craft evening held at … Read more