TAP & BARREL RECOGNIZED FOR BEST RESTAURANT BC WINE LIST Tap & Barrel has been voted for having the Best Restaurant BC Wine List in the Georgia Straight’s Golden Plates Awards. The award validates Tap & Barrel’s commitment to a wine list dedicated exclusively to the wines of BC on tap – the only wine … Read more
I caught up with BC wine guru John Schreiner at the Clearbrook library recently where he was speaking on wine as a part of their Fine Food Series. Other lectures in this series focus on Olive Oil and Vinegar, Honey and Coffee. John discussed his latest book, “John Schreiner’s Okanagan Wine Tour Guide” and a … Read more
Parksville will play host to a unique celebration of B.C. wine, beer and food during the annual Parksville Uncorked Wine & Food Festival set to take place February 19 through 22, 2015. Going into its seventh successful year, Parksville Uncorked hosted by The Beach Club Resort and Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort, has grown to … Read more
In 1990, a small group of pioneering winemakers and grapegrowers came together to create the British Columbia Vintners Quality Alliance (BC VQA) and the BC Wine Institute (BCWI). “Twenty-five years ago, we needed to implement standards for the industry,” said founding member George Heiss, of Gray Monk Estate Winery. “Establishing BC VQA was the starting … Read more
Time to check out my cellar to see what bubbly I’ll open to ring in the New Year. I always try to keep a few on hand and at least some of them in my cellar’s mini fridge. I have a magnum of Sumac Ridge’s Stellar Jay Brut, always a favourite and two from … Read more
When you stand in front of the shelves at a wine shop does your eye automatically search out your favourite varietals? Merlot? Cab Sauv? Chardonnay? Or one of the Pinots—Noir or Gris? Or perhaps you prefer, as so many do, Bordeaux blends. It’s easy to fall into purchasing patterns, searching out the safe and certain … Read more
2011 Naughty Chardonnay Dirty Laundry Summerland, BC $24.99 Silver Medal Tasted 2014 11 This is Dirty Laundry’s oaked chardonnay. They also make an un-oaked one (Not So Knotty Chardonnay). Straw coloured with medium-light intensity. Aromas of apple, pear, citrus and mineral on the nose. Good balance with medium body. Citrus and mineral on the … Read more
It’s Friday and I have the original no-brainer wine pick for the weekend. Blasted Church Hatfield’s Fuse has been a favorite of mine for years. I just tasted the 2012 vintage and it delivers the goods once again. This is a complex blend of almost every white varietal grown in B.C. From pinot gris … Read more
The first season of selling local wine, beer and spirits at farmers’ markets in British Columbia was good for consumers, vendors and the markets. Starting in June, BC Farmers’ Markets offered sales of locally-made wine, beer and spirits, following the provincial government’s move to modernize liquor laws. These changes came as the result of Parliamentary … Read more
Every fall, winemakers from BC travel to the Vancouver Convention Centre at Canada Place to pour their latest wines. From 2:00 until 5:00 people who work in the industry, in wine stores, liquor stores, restaurants, hotels and pubs come to sample wine and find out about the new offerings. This year marked the … Read more