Wineries located on the Golden Mile Bench wine growing area near Oliver in British Columbia have submitted a proposal to become the first official sub-DVA “Designated Viticultural Area” of the Okanagan Valley DVA. An in-depth scientific analysis by scientists from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre – Summerland (AAFC-PARC Summerland) has shown the … Read more
I love California and I love their wines! This event was packed with great examples of what makes their wines so enjoyable. Whether you are looking for crisp, light Sauvignon Blanc, creamy Chardonnay, silky Pinot Noir, or bold Cabs, you will not be disappointed with some of the new offerings about to hit our shelves. … Read more
If you want a new kind of California wine adventure, then head to Pasa Robles wine country; With gently rolling hills dotted with oak trees, vineyards, olive groves and almond farms, this is a fantastic area to spend a few days exploring. The historic town of Pasa Robles is filled with great restaurants … Read more
This year at the Osoyoos Oyster Festival the question of what pairs best with oysters will be addressed in the second annual Oyster Wine Competition and the first Canadian Craft Beer & Oyster Pairing Competition. Winemakers and brewmasters have until April 17 to submit entries into the respective competitions that will be held at … Read more
On Sunday March 30 I was Seattle bound for TASTE WASHINGTON! My first trip down to a wine tasting event that has been running for 17 years. Taste Washington! is the largest single region wine and food event in the United States. Featuring more than 225 Washington State wineries and over 65 Pacific Northwest Restaurants. … Read more
I attended “10 Years on: A Rollingdale Tasting 2004 – 2013” at The Hamilton Street Grill last week. Rollingdale is an unassuming farm gate organic winery in West Kelowna owned by Steve and Kirsty Dale. It lies on the western shore of Lake Okanagan just a short drive from downtown Kelowna. They use organic practices … Read more
Its always wonderful and refreshing to get away from it all – the rain, job, stress, and head off to someplace warm; for me it was a trip to sunny California. I started off in LA driving up the coastal highway through Malibu, Ventura, eventually stopping in the gorgeous town of Santa Barbara. In … Read more
My afternoon this past week was an introduction to new beverages that are either speculative or recently listed in the government liquor stores presented at a New Product Salon. Here is what I sampled, in random order, which is only a fraction of what was being poured. The majority are speculative beverages and I … Read more
Sommelier Smack Down: The Rematch offered on March 30th due to popular demand. Sommeliers David Stansfield and Lisa Cook invite wine fans to step into the ring as they pit their favourite bottles against each other on Sunday, March 30th. Guests to the March 30th Sunday School class can expect flights of wine, served blind … Read more
There is no doubt that the number of events, including dinners, receptions, lunches, grazings and seminars are many during the Vancouver International Wine Festival. For me there is always one that stands above the crowd, not necessarily the fanciest or most expensive but the one that, in my opinion, best captures the essence of what … Read more