Sam The Wine Teacher 
2011 Chardonnay (Reserve) Pacific Breeze New Westminster, BC $29.99 Gold Medal Tasted 2014 12 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, … Read more
Natalie MacLean’s book, Red, White and Drunk All Over is one of the best wine books I’ve ever read. Her book is humorous, informative and covers a range of topics from the importance of real estate (terroir) – “location is everything”, to the diverse approaches to making wine, the mystique of champagne, the competitive aspects … Read more
I think it is safe to say that most people enjoy wine, so it can make a great gift, especially if you know someone’s tastes. But what if you don’t? One person’s plonk is another person’s favourite, and that is totally OK. By the same token, it can be a great waste if you splurge … Read more
2011 Tippy Toe Oaked (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier) Montakarn Oliver, BC $20.00 Bronze Medal Tasted 2014 11 Golden yellow in colour with medium intensity. Butter and ripe tropical fruit on the nose. Good balance with a slightly sweet entry and good mouthfeel. Big tropical fruit and buttery flavours on the palate with a medium finish. … Read more
Do you use the BC Liquor Store’s web site (http://www.bcliquorstores.com) to check for products? Do you use their mobile app? Probably many of you do and if you don’t, they are well worth checking out. But how many have scrolled to the bottom of the page and under “Customer Service” clicked on “Special Events”? Not … Read more
I love it when people are away on holiday and I am asked to fill an empty spot with the Tasting Ten. This is a wine tasting group that was formed over forty years ago. They meet each month from September to June, taking turns presenting a flight. This month was a particularly interesting session. … Read more
Mussels and White Asparagus – Chef Paul Moran Yum! This dish sounds absolutely delicious, doesn’t it? Thanks to Chef Paul Moran, for coming up with this recipe that highlights fresh, local BC ingredients. I’m thinking this needs something relatively light, crisp and refreshing. Sauvignon Blanc is always a good choice for seafood or with vegetables … Read more
There are several types of wine tastings including blind tastings, horizontal tastings and vertical tastings. A vertical tasting is when you taste the same wine from the same winery, but from different, usually sequential, years. In contrast, a horizontal tasting is the same varietal and the same year but from different wineries and a blind … Read more
Matt Dumayne, winemaker at the Okanagan Crush Pad, was in town recently for a winemaker’s dinner at Swirl Wine Store in White Rock. Matt has spent sixteen years as a winemaker and has twenty-eight vintages under his belt including several in his former home in the Central Otago region of New Zealand. Swirl owner Jeff … Read more
2013 Bacchus (Dry Reserve) Chaberton Langley, BC $17.25 Tasted 2014 11 Straw coloured with medium-light intensity. An inviting Muscat like nose showing aromas of peach, mineral, apple and citrus. Good balance, clean and crisp. Stone fruit (peach and nectarine), lemon and elderberry flavours on the palate. A medium finish. This lip smacking social wine will … Read more