Sam The Wine Teacher 
The IVSA, or the International Vintners and Spirits Association, hold events throughout the year to showcase new products to those in the industry. This last week, I attended their most recent New Product Salon at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver. The theme for the event was ‘Springtime Flavours and Innovations’. For three hours, I … Read more
2011 Chardonnay (Reserve) Pacific Breeze New Westminster, BC $29.99 Gold Medal Rich lemon yellow in colour with medium plus intensity. The nose is complex with aromas of caramel, tropical fruit, honey, toast and butter with a hint of citrus. Very well balanced with unctuous mouthfeel. The flavours echo the nose. A long, lingering finish with … Read more
I dropped by the Tap and Barrel the other day after attending a function at Science World. I was hungry and wanted to grab a bite before hopping on the Skytrain and heading home. I’d been there once before, in the summer and enjoyed sitting out on the upper deck. Tap and Barrel is a … Read more
Trends vs Terrior, an event sponsored by Wines of BC, was held recently at Science World to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Vintners Quality Alliance. David Scholefield was the emcee for this educational and entertaining evening. The esteemed panel for the debate included Christine Coletta, owner of Okanagan Crush Pad, Sid Cross, Honorary … Read more
2013 Garnacha (5G) Torres Campo de Borja, Spain $17.99 Bronze Medal Garnet red tinged with purple and a medium-deep intensity. The nose shows aromas of cherry, plum, forest floor, earth and cocoa. Good balance. Pleasing fruit on the palate with a medium-long finish. 2011 Riesling Zeller Peter & Peter (Feinherb) Mosel, Germany $12.59 … Read more
Look out! Pacific Breeze, New Westminster’s urban winery, has just released their latest AssasZin vintage. The grapes for this Zinfandel wine come from Lake County in northern California and it is delicious. People who dropped by for this latest tasting were treated to four tastings, their ‘I Can’t Remember’ white blend, the Reserve Chardonnay, an … Read more
2010 Garnacha Breca Calatayud, Spain $24.99 Silver Medal This wine, now four years old is ruby red in colour with medium-deep intensity. Blackberry, earth and spice aromas on the nose with a hint of bright cherry. Well balanced with firm ripe tannins. The flavours echo the nose with a medium finish. Serve with roasted meats … Read more
Well, I’m not a student of history, but I am willing to bet that there has never been a “Battle of Pinotage”. However, such an event took place just recently at my home. Let me explain. It all started out when I was in my local VQA store and noticed that The View Winery had … Read more
2011 Chardonnay (McLean Creek Vineyard) Meyer Family Okanagan Falls, BC $26.09 Silver Medal Lemon yellow in colour with medium intensity. Toast, butter, apple and citrus on the nose. Well balanced with good mouthfeel. Varietal character on the palate and a medium-long finish. 2010 Chianti Rufina (Sangiovese) Frescobaldi Nipozzano Riserva Italy $24.99 Bronze Medal … Read more
Commercial Drive Brunch Crawl When’s the last time you spent a day strolling along Commercial Drive? From Venables, south to 12th Avenue, there are a plethora of funky shops and eateries. You could spend a month eating your way around the world with restaurants featuring cuisine from Mexico, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Jamaica and Italy to … Read more