France

Pure Chablis Masterclass in Victoria

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Just a small amount of background information tends to enhance the overall experience.

LEARNING ABOUT WINE: Château La Gaffelière: History and Portfolio

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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

Become a Champagne Specialist in Canada! 🍾

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Champagne Specialist Certification launching in 5 cities in Canada Cru Consultancy and Les Cavistes launching trade-focused Certified Champagne Specialist program this Fall 2026 in Victoria, Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa (in English) and Montréal (in French). We are proud to announce the Canadian launch of the Champagne Specialist course, debuting in Fall 2026. This will be the … Read more

LEARNING ABOUT WINE: Syrah and Shiraz: How One Grape Acquired Two Names

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Syrah and Shiraz: How One Grape Acquired Two Names Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape. The difference is linguistic and often stylistic. When a producer chooses one term over the other, the choice can signal the tradition the producer has in mind and the kind of wine they intend to make. Syrah began in … Read more

GRAPE EXPECTATIONS: CHEZ CÉLINE SOMMELIER TEAM DIVES DEEP INTO WIDE WORLD OF WINE

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GRAPE EXPECTATIONS: CHEZ CÉLINE SOMMELIER TEAM DIVES DEEP INTO WIDE WORLD OF WINE WITH NEW REGIONAL MONTHLY SHOWCASES Sommelier David Lawson Pairs Unique Finds from Celebrated & Lesser-Known Regions with Dishes from Head Chef Margaux Herder at Fraserhood Hotspot The team at award-winning Québécois restaurant Chez Cèline is inviting guests to raise a glass and say … Read more

Kim Uncorked: Welcome to my weekly wine recommendation.

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Kim Uncorked: Welcome to my weekly wine recommendation. Hi, I’m Kim, a passionate lover of wine, food, and any experience that brings the two together! In this weekly blog post, I share my thoughts on a wine that I’ve recently purchased from one of our local independent wine merchants. If you’d like to know more … Read more

From Provence to Paris, via the Loire Valley: What’s New in France

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WHAT’S NEW IN FRANCE | SUMMER 2026 As summer reaches its peak, the French art de vivre continues to reinvent itself through bold culinary concepts, heritage transformations, and expanded boutique getaways. From a historic château overlooking the Sancerre to a creative hideaway in Provence, a quintessential Parisian bistrot and an unexpected ice cream pop-up in … Read more

LEARNING ABOUT WINE: Wine Production in Fuissé: A History

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Wine Production in Fuissé: A History The village of Fuissé sits near the southern end of Burgundy’s limestone belt, where the vineyard land of the Côte d’Or and Côte Chalonnaise gives way, a few kilometers to the south, to the granitic terrain of Beaujolais. It is a small commune in the department of Saône-et-Loire, and … Read more

Chill Reds, Cool Whites & Rosés

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Chill Reds, Cool Whites & Rosés : Why All Three Colours of Côtes du Rhône Belong in Your Summer Rotation As summer entertaining becomes more relaxed, spontaneous, and increasingly centred outdoors, the way we think about wine is evolving. The shift is clear: away from rigid rules and toward flexibility, occasion, and ease. It’s within … Read more