Sam The Wine Teacher 
Yes, summer is upon us and the good weather means more time spent relaxing with family and friends. Whether you’re on the patio, deck or on a picnic, summer wines call for something a little different. Cool, refreshing fruity wines that are pleasant to sip on their own, without the need for food. Lighter, … Read more
2011 Saloon Sally Dry Cabernet Franc Rosé Rustico Oliver, BC $16.95 Bronze Medal Tasted 2014 06 A BC Rosé made from Cabernet Franc. Red cherry in colour with medium intensity. Red cherries, strawberry and a hint of rhubarb on the nose. Good balance. Bright red fruit on the palate. A medium, dry finish. … Read more
Get Thee to the Stanley Warning: If you are not a fan of Monty Python, you may not be interested in this play, for there are those who find the combination of wit, farce and silliness of the Monty Python troupe hilarious, while others just look at their sketches and say, “Huh? That’s just … Read more
New Westminster’s Vagabond Players must be doing something right, as this is their 77th season. I just attended their production of Fawlty Towers, written by the legendary team of John Cleese and Connie Booth. The play features three of the original twelve television episodes: Gourmet Night, Waldorf Salad and The Germans. Director Casey Por … Read more
At Westwood Wines this week, they are tasting wines from 50th Parallel Estate on Friday, June 13th and new releases from Cassini Cellars of Oliver from Saturday June 14th to Tuesday June 16th. Alice, a representative for 50th Parallel will be in the store on Friday, from 4 to 7 to pour wines. … Read more
What could be better than tasting some wines at a winery and then walking a few steps to have lunch with one of the wines just tasted? Located at Chaberton Winery, Bacchus Bistro is a hidden gem located at 1064 216th St. in south Langley. It was a Wednesday afternoon and after a scenic … Read more
2011 Pinot Noir Synchromesh Okanagan Falls, BC $28.99 Dark cherry red in colour with medium intensity. Faint dark cherry and sweet spice on the nose. Good balance with firm tannins and medium body. Some pleasing flavours on the palate. A medium short finish. This young wine needs time to develop. 2012 Pinot Noir … Read more
Monday, May 5th, Cinco de Mayo, and this cool overcast day is not a day for Spanish wines, but it is appropriate for French wines and I’m off to the Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside Hotel for the French Wine Connection, a trade tasting of wine, spirits and beer. My plan is to focus on the … Read more
What should you expect when you walk into the Calabash Bistro on Carrall Street, between Hastings and Pender? Expect the unexpected. Some people go for the food; others go for the music. This is a friendly, unassuming eatery decorated in bright Caribbean canary yellow and red. Owner Roger Collins, originally from St Kits, has … Read more
Well if you are looking for an app to help you pair food and wine, help you decipher wine terms, or store photos and notes of your favourite wines, there is indeed an app, or more accurately, many apps for that. Here is a sampling of some of them. Wine Terms A dictionary of wine … Read more