Valerie van der Gracht 
How long is too long to keep a wine? Based on my search a B.C. Sauvignon Blanc is best enjoyed within one to two years. Under ideal storage, darkness and a consistent low temperature maybe up to three years. So what happens if you accidently forget it’s on the shelf? Well of course you should … Read more
France: Terroir & Trends Our contributor, Kim Mead @agalandaglass gifted me with a ticket to the seminar France: Terroir & Trands held during the Vancouver International Wine Festival. The panelists: Mariélène Auclair, Key Account Manager Montreal, Quebec, Canada Charles Bouthillier, Consultant – Senior Executive – Board Member Pincourt, Quebec, Canada Romain Chevrolat, Œnologue – Responsable … Read more
Beaujolais: Dig into Diversity Beaujolais Brings Depth, Diversity, and Storytelling Power to the Vancouver International Wine Festival At the 2026 Vancouver International Wine Festival I had the opportunity to attend the seminar Beaujolais: Dig into Diversity moderated by Iain Philip. Truth be told I targeted this seminar strictly because of the moderator. Iain Phllip is … Read more
In Conversation with Manpreet Dhaliwal – Head Winemaker Kismet Estate Winery and named to the BCBusiness 30 Under 30 Class of 2026 Canada’s first and only South Asian female head winemaker recognized for leadership shaping Kismet’s next chapter in the South Okanagan Dhaliwal leads winemaking at Kismet, the family-run, BC VQA-certified winery in Oliver, B.C., … Read more
Usually I like to dine twice at any restaurant before I write a review, but often this is not possible. This time it was my second time reviewing Ugly Duckling. The first time I had the honour of reviewing the exclusive L’Abattoir x | Ugly Duckling | Gastown Meets Chinatown last November. Two champions of … Read more
Earlier this week I conducted a wine tasting of four lovely wines from Blue Grouse. This was a private wine tasting with friends. All totalled there were about twenty wine loving friends gathered in our condo building’s lounge. It was the ideal spot to sit, enjoy the wines and socialize. Our lounge was just big … Read more
Earlier this week I was fortunate to attend the first-ever Canadian seminar and trade tasting of wines from Victoria, Australia. All of these wines were new to me and I was really looking forward to the experience. Wine Victoria brought its leading wineries to Canada, offering an exclusive look at one of the world’s most … Read more
Savour the Wild Dining Experiences in the Heart of Nature In conversation with Chef / Founder Colton Armstrong-Ashley and Creative Director / Founder Saman Rezapour of Savour the Wild prior to their appearance at Culinaire in Victoria. The BC duo redefining live-fire dining. When did you first develop an interest in cooking? As soon as … Read more
I love Japanese food and when SYU reached out to me to do a review I was definitely excited to try out this new spot located in Kitsilano at 1508 Yew Street. Just up the street from the iconic Kits Beach. My first impression was a feeling of tranquility in a calm and pleasant atmosphere, … Read more
This past week I had the pleasure and opportunity to taste the wines from both Blue Grouse Estate Winery and Unsworth Vineyards. The event was billed as Pinot & Pizza and held at Pinhalla (a pinball pizzeria) located in downtown Victoria’s Chinatown. It was indeed a rather intriguing approach and an interesting invitation for sure. I think … Read more