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 MontrĂ©al (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
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 CĂLINE 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 QuĂ©bĂ©cois restaurant Chez CĂšline is inviting guests to raise a glass and say … Read more
Kim Uncorked: Welcome to my weekly wine recommendation. Hi, Iâm 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 Iâve recently purchased from one of our local independent wine merchants. If youâd like to know more … Read more
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 chĂąteau overlooking the Sancerre to a creative hideaway in Provence, a quintessential Parisian bistrot and an unexpected ice cream pop-up in … Read more
Wine Production in FuissĂ©: A History The village of FuissĂ© sits near the southern end of Burgundyâs limestone belt, where the vineyard land of the CĂŽte dâOr and CĂŽte Chalonnaise gives way, a few kilometers to the south, to the granitic terrain of Beaujolais. It is a small commune in the department of SaĂŽne-et-Loire, and … Read more
Chill Reds, Cool Whites & RosĂ©s : Why All Three Colours of CĂŽtes du RhĂŽne 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
Motherâs 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, ChĂąteau Roquefort and Dr John Volpe, Ecogastronomy/University of Victoria. The Arbutus Room is beautiful with it’s fireplace anchoring one end and … Read more
Beaujolais: Dig into Diversity Beaujolais Brings Depth, Diversity, and Storytelling Power to the Vancouver International Wine Festival At the 2026 Vancouver International Wine Festival I had the opportunity to attend the seminar Beaujolais: Dig into Diversity moderated by Iain Philip. Truth be told I targeted this seminar strictly because of the moderator. Iain Phllip is … Read more
DENMARK WINS THE BOCUSE DâOR EUROPE 2026 IN MARSEILLE. NORWAY AND ITALY COMPLETE THE PODIUM. On Monday 15th and 16th March in Marseille, the European selection for the Bocuse dâOr was held for the very first time in France, during Sirha MĂ©diterranĂ©e. After two days of thrilling competition, showcasing the culinary heritage of Marseille and … Read more