Burgundy: Pinot and Place

Burgundy is the home of Pinot Noir and perhaps the world’s most place-obsessed wine region. One grape, a landscape of limestone, clay and marl – yet the wine can change from plot to plot. Pinot Noir is thin-skinned and relatively delicate. It does not have the weight of Cabernet Sauvignon or the tannic muscle to … Read more

LEARNING ABOUT WINE: Château La Gaffelière: History and Portfolio

Château La Gaffelière: History and Portfolio Château La Gaffelière stands immediately south of the medieval village of Saint-Émilion, on the road rising from the Dordogne plain toward the limestone heights of the town. Ausone lies to the west and Pavie to the east, placing La Gaffelière within a small concentration of celebrated vineyards along the … Read more

From the Cellar with @Sam_WineTeacher

In addition to the weekly wine review and the various other, usually wine-related, articles I write for My Van City, I am going to include a new one that will appear from time to time.  I’m calling it, ‘From the Cellar’. It will be similar to the wine reviews, except that it will feature wines … Read more

VISA Infinite Wine Country Tour South Okanagan

VISA Infinite Wine Country Tour South Okanagan While clouds closed in and the rain began to fall as we neared Liquidity Wines, VISA Infinite participants remained jubilant. No one whined about the liquid asset of moisture in the Okanagan region after the hot, dry, wildfire-punctuated summer.    Through the gates past the tranquil sculpture garden … Read more

Wednesday Wine Reviews with @Sam_WineTeacher

2022 Narrative XC Sparkling Haywire (Okanagan Crush Pad) Summerland, BC $24.99 Narrative is one of the labels made at Summerland’s Okanagan Crush Pad.  I first tasted this wine in late 2023 and it has held up beautifully.  Oeil-de-perdrix (eye of partridge or a pale pink or copper-tinted rosé wine colour) with medium-minus intensity.  This intriguing … Read more

Joining Karl of MyWinePal for a Rosé Tasting of Wines from Ontario

I came to the tasting expecting to discover some new summer patio wines.

Celebrate Thanksgiving with Synchromesh

This dry riesling has all the characteristics I look for.

Pass The Turkey, Pour The Kapua

Everyone knows Friendsgiving is all about bringing people together over great food and even better conversation. While every celebration looks a little different, one thing remains the same, a bottle of wine that pairs effortlessly with the meal. This year, Kapua Wines is making holiday hosting simple with a delicious, fruit-forward white wine, featuring notes … Read more