Sam The Wine Teacher 
What is the IVSA? Most likely, you’ve never heard of them before, but you should be very glad they exist. When was the last time you were introduced to an interesting new beer, wine or liquor? Was it at a pub, a lounge, a restaurant or in a liquor store? Then you can thank the … Read more
Every fall, winemakers from BC travel to the Vancouver Convention Centre at Canada Place to pour their latest wines. From 2:00 until 5:00 people who work in the industry, in wine stores, liquor stores, restaurants, hotels and pubs come to sample wine and find out about the new offerings. This year marked the … Read more
2012 Minervois Chateau Millegrand Languedoc, France $17.99 Silver Medal Tasted 2014 10 This wine is a blend of syrah, carignan, grenache and mourvedre. Garnet-black in colour with medium-deep intensity. Aromas of black fruit, black pepper and a hint of dark chocolate on the nose. Well balanced with firm ripe tannins. The flavours echo the … Read more
I dropped into Pacific Breeze Winery in New Westminster recently to pick up more of their outstanding Reserve Chardonnay, one of my absolute favourites, as well as some excellent Big Red, their Rhone styled blend. I left with a mixed case. When I stopped by last summer to do a barrel sampling of … Read more
2012 Pinot Gris (Switchback Vineyard) Haywire Summerland, BC $22.90 Silver Medal Tasted 2014 08 This wine was fermented with wild ambient yeasts and was aged in concrete eggs. Pale straw in colour and a hint of green with medium-light intensity. Stone fruit, ripe mango and citrus on the nose. Well balanced with good mouth feel. … Read more
Last week I had the good fortune to attend the “Grape Juice vs. Wine” tasting experience. Master of Wine Rhys Pender, who also owns Little Farm Winery in Cawston, led this event sponsored by the BC Wine Institute. It was held at the Cambie Street Liquor Store and was open to … Read more
2012 Chardonnay Sandhill Kelowna, BC $17.99 Bronze Medal Tasted 2014 10 Very pale straw in colour with medium-light intensity. Green apple, lemon and a hint of honey on the nose. Good balance with medium body. Lemon and fruit flavours on the palate with a medium finish. Good value everyday chardonnay, but it has been … Read more
2008 I Greppi (Bordeaux Blend) Bolgheri Greppicante Italy $29.99 Silver Medal Tasted 2014 09 Garnet red in colour with hints of brick and medium plus intensity. Dark fruit and secondary aromas of leather, tar, earth and toast. Well balanced. Layered flavours echo the nose with a medium long finish. 2009 Bordeaux Chateau de la … Read more
It is with some sadness that I read of the passing of Philippine de Rothschild a while back. Not a name you recognize? Baroness Rothschild was one of the grande dames of Bordeaux wines. Since 1988, she was chairwoman of Chateau Mouton Rothschild. Want to sample one of her wines? Better be prepared to … Read more
A friend of mine, who I hadn’t seen in quite a while, was going to be out in my neck of the woods and suggested getting together for lunch. I was open to anything and he suggested Milestones. I’ve been to Milestones several times over the years, usually for meetings, get-togethers or family … Read more