Sam The Wine Teacher 
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
There were some happy people on Alberni Street the other night. They were the invited guests of The Keg, who were there to sample the Keg’s new Cocktail Hour menu. We were treated to a variety of their new offerings including: Ahi tuna tacos on warm tortillas with cabbage slaw and cilantro, served with … Read more
2016 was the 21st anniversary of the Champagne and Caviar event held at the Vancouver Rowing Club in Stanley Park to benefit amateur sport. This evening of bubbly showcased sparkling wines from many countries and regions other than France, including BC, Italy, New Zealand, Nova Scotia, Spain and California. The Canadian contingent included wines from: … Read more
Earlier this spring, I attended a wine tasting put on by the Okanagan Falls Winery Association. Okanagan Falls lies on the southern shore of Skaha Lake, with Penticton to the north and Oliver to the south. This is the heart of wine country. Okanagan Falls is a wine region often skipped over by wine … Read more
A vertical wine tasting is when you taste several vintages of a given wine from a given winery to see how the wines have changed and developed. Understandably, it is a rare opportunity that few get to experience. The members of the BC Wine Appreciation Society got that opportunity recently when Jeff and Niva … Read more
Have you ever heard of Les Dames d’Escoffier? Probably not. Let me help. From Wikipedia, “Les Dames d’Escoffier was founded in New York City in 1976, in honour of Auguste Escoffier, whom Les Dames’ mission statement credits with having “single-handedly brought the culinary art into the modern era.” Escoffier “elevated the role of cooks … Read more
Provence. Just the mention of the word brings so many images to mind; warm Mediterranean weather, sun-drenched hills, olive trees and fields of lavender. Freshly prepared savoury foods and wine, rosé wine of course. Provence also makes red and white wines, but it is their rosés that they are most famous for. In the … Read more
From July 1st to August 8th, partial proceeds from ten wines, featured as a part of Marquis Wine Cellars’ Summer Wine Series, will go to support Pride Youth Scholarships. The Vancouver Pride Association has teamed up with LOUD (a LGBTQ business association) to sponsor this venture, which offers scholarships of $2000 for post-secondary studies. … Read more
The food, the wine, oh my! It was only fitting. I wasn’t able to attend Italian Day on the Drive, but myself and 12 other wine media types were treated to something even better – a dinner at Glowbal restaurant with the Director of the Valpolicella Wine Consortium, Olga Bussinello. We were there to learn … Read more
2013 Gewürztraminer Pfaff Alsace, France $20.11 Clear and brilliant. straw coloured with medium-light intensity. A varietal nose showing aromas of stone fruit and honey with a hint of sweet spice. Good balance with good mouthfeel. Ripe stone fruit flavours dominate the palate followed by a medium-plus finish. 2014 Pinot Gris (Reserve) Hillside Estate … Read more