I love champagne. Sadly my budget doesn’t allow me more than a few bottles a year. Winemakers around the world get that and the result is an ever growing list of sparkling wines that fill our need for bubbles. The Pares Balta Cava Brut is one of Canada’s most popular sparking wines and one taste will tell … Read more
Leave it to the creative minds of Okanagan Crush Pad to come up with a B.C. wine to celebrate an important milestone for many in the lower mainland. Vancouver is home to an ever growing Asian community and 2015 will usher in the Year of the Sheep. The Haywire red and white were specifically crafted to … Read more
There was a time that A.B.C. (otherwise known as Anything But Chardonnay) was a full fledged movement. Wine drinkers were turned off the most popular white wine in the world and with good reason. But that was then and this is now. B.C. is making some great examples of what Chardonnay should be and here’s … Read more
In fifteen years of enjoying wines from B.C. the improvement in quality and consistency has been remarkable. Quails’ Gate is a case in point. Their wines are reliable and great value for the price. If you’re looking for a white wine to keep on hand that you can sip on its own or serve with … Read more
WinOne of my favorite wines to pour with appetizers or salads or even a main course like roast chicken is Sauvignon Blanc. This gorgeous Santa Carolina Reserva is one of the best white wine buys I’ve had this year. If I had tasted this blind I would’ve thought it was from New Zealand. It has … Read more
This is the best wine buy I’ve found since launching CheapandCheerful.ca this year. Full credit to Anne B. who tipped me off on the amazing bargain wines of Grey Fox winery. I shared this California Cabernet Sauvignon with some friends to get a variety of opinions and the response was unanimous. Smooth and soft with a … Read more
Canada’s grand national drunk….otherwise known as the Grey Cup is on Sunday. If you’re not inside B.C. Place for the game itself, chances are you’re hosting or attending a party. Either way this Clos du Soleil Rose is the perfect partner for everything from ribs to chili to pizza. Clos du Soleil winery is considered by many … Read more
From the award winning Burrowing Owl winery comes their second label Calliope. This B.C. viognier would be a great match for the rich and delicious flavours of this chowder. Fishhook Chowder Recipe Price: $14.00 Available: Swirl wines in Yaletown and White Rock Price: $16.00 Available: Village VQA wine stores in Dunbar and Kitsilano … Read more
With almost three hundred wineries in B.C. it can be hard to keep up. Thanks to the kindness of friends, new and old, that job is a little easier. Even more exciting is getting a wine to try and finding a new addition for CheapandCheerful.ca. Eau Vivre Riesling happens to be a gold medal winner from … Read more
Wine stores are full of wines with colorful labels and kitchy names. Often its a cover-up for a less than satisfying experience when you drink the contents. Here’s a wine that won’t win any awards for its label but is getting plenty of love for the quality of their red blend. Yecla Castano Solanera is the … Read more