Sam The Wine Teacher 
If you are fan of Pinot Noir (and if you’re not, you should be) you should try Gamay Noir wines. It is safe to say that Gamay has not gotten the recognition it deserves. Wines labeled PTG (Passe-Tout-Grains) are a blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay. Gamay Noir is the smooth, fruity, juicy grape … Read more
What will you find at 905 Hornby Street in Vancouver? Earls Test Kitchen, which just opened in June. It is the culinary inspiration centre for all of Earl’s sixty-five restaurants throughout North America. Here, they bring together a collection of world-class chefs to develop new menu items. If you look at the menus … Read more
The Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP) invited me to an Zintimate trade tasting at Hawksworth Restaurant’s York Room in the Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver. They limited the event to 75 guests per hour for two sessions, one at 1:30 and the other at 2:30; a wine version of speed dating. There were … Read more
If you are in Coquitlam this next week, stop by Westwood Wines for a tasting of wines featured in the “Swirl, Sip and Savour” flyer. You can also enter to win a trip to the Okanagan wine country. Flyer wines include: 2013 Baillie-Grohman Recolte Blanc The rich textural palate with a long finish … Read more
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