Valerie van der Gracht 
In Conversation With Jesse Dame | Birdman Jesse Dame is a Vancouver Island-born entrepreneur, restaurateur, and founder of Cottage Hospitality Group. With nearly 30 years in hospitality, he has worked with globally recognized brands including Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Walt Disney World before returning to Victoria to open Wind Cries Mary, Rudi, and Birdman. … Read more
I was thrilled to receive a delivery of Synchomesh wines to taste and review. I really must admit that my first love is Riesling. I love all types of Rieslings; dry, off dry, and late harvest. Tasting these wines was like heaven. Every one of the three Rieslings I have had the opportunity to taste … Read more
Literally Everybody is flocking to Birdman and for good reason. THE FOOD IS SO GOOD. Last week hubby and I joined a throng of thirsty, hungry media types of all stripes to indulge in the hospitality that’s Birdman. It’s hard to know where to begin because everything, and I mean everything, was so good. You may … Read more
RAISE A GLASS TO WINE THAT GIVES BACK TO THE EARTH: CELEBRATING NATIONAL WINE DAY WITH REWILD WINE Sustainably crafted and 100% vegan, Rewild Wine offers Canadians National Wine Day on May 25th. May 25th, 2026, marks National Wine Day, honouring the craft of one of the world’s oldest and most cherished beverages. With Canadians … Read more
EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF REWILD Where Great Wine Doesn’t have to Cost the Earth National Wine Day is coming up on May 25th, and it’s the perfect time to raise a glass to wines that not only taste great, but do great things for the planet. Rewild Wines are sustainably crafted and 100% vegan, offering … Read more
#ThisWineThatDish Winemaker’s Cut Sauvignon Blanc | Broccoli Caesar“In this series, I will be sharing my take on which Wines pair well with some inspirational recipes” The wines from Winemaker’s Cut were so delicious I enjoyed them over a few days and of course had to pair them with a dish that made the perfect pairing. … Read more
Mother’s Day weekend was an opportunity to celebrate with an elegant evening of wine, food, and conversation at The Arbutus Room at Brentwood Bay Resort. Esteemed guests included Bernard Duseigneur, Domaine Duseigneur; Camille Giai, Château Roquefort and Dr John Volpe, Ecogastronomy/University of Victoria. The Arbutus Room is beautiful with it’s fireplace anchoring one end and … Read more
“In this series, I will be sharing my take on which Wines pair well with some inspirational recipes” The wines from Winemaker’s Cut were so delicious I enjoyed them over a few days and of course had to pair them with a dish that made the perfect pairing. The recipe is inspired by one from … Read more
This past week the team from World Wine Synergy arrived in Victoria with some exceptional wines; winery ambassadors Bernard Duseigneur, Domaine Duseigneur; Camille Giai, Château Roquefort and a professor, Dr John Volpe. Thursday was a walk around tasting of the wines later tasted on Friday at a sit-down seminar event. Both features the same wines … Read more
In Conversation With Andrew Windsor Andrew’s path to wine started with an Environmental Science degree at the University of Guelph and a university wine course that quietly changed everything. He spent three years making VQA wines in Niagara, then followed his curiosity to Adelaide for a Master’s in Oenology — where he met a fellow … Read more