As a perpetual student of wine, I always seek benchmark expressions that define a region’s typicity and quality – especially at walk-around tastings, where clear reference points are essential for assessing other wines. Choosing four is no
In our ongoing series on British Columbian pinot noir, Kelowna is the focus this month, and its two sub-gis, both located on the eastern side of Okanagan Lake, East Kelowna Slopes and South Kelowna Slopes. Separated from the Southwest corner of East
I know some people; let’s call them wine people. When they travel, it’s to Napa Valley, not California, and it’s to Burgundy and Alsace, not just France. They visit wineries, winemakers, and wine bars. They visit stores with row upon
The East Kelowna Slopes is the larger of the two Kelowna sub-GIs. A kidney-shaped area of about 2500 hectares, it lies directly South of the city of Kelowna (pop. 150,00) and encompasses the slopes and benches overlooking Mission Creek. It is essentially
Cabernet sauvignon may be the most planted grape variety in the world, but we’d argue it isn’t easy to find exciting examples under $50. You often get what you pay for–at least up to a point. While we’ll never wrap our heads around
Press Release - [Healdsburg, CA, USA]Tanya Martin, Director of Operations at Blasted Church Vineyards in Okanagan Falls, British Columbia, Canada, has been recognized as one of the Wine's Most Inspiring People 2025 by the Wine Industry Advisor. This prestigious
On the heels of the botrytis blighted 2023 vintage in Champagne, 2024 has been particularly challenging. First and ever foremost, the weather. Wet. When I visited the region in January / February, it had been raining every single day since October 2023.
This year’s Sparkling Report is a solid snapshot of bubbles around the world, with 80 wines outside of Champagne tasted from numerous distinct wine regions. Seems the bubble has popped on fizz, at least a bit. The sparkling wine category,
The holiday season is fast approaching. Every year, the time between October and December seems shorter and shorter. When I was younger, I always tried to finish all my Christmas shopping by August. It’s not because I was so organized. It’s
Chinese Restaurants are awarded annually to recognize the special dishes, restaurants, and chefs that make Metro Vancouver's Chinese dining scene truly one of the best in the world. Throughout the year, a small select group of judges seek out the best
Selecting wine as a gift is never easy. So, why not let us help you wrap up and gift with confidence a wine that will never be regifted. We have created scenarios to help you sleuth out the perfect bottle for a friend or co-worker. There is no
This is a cheese with many names. There is a PDO version (Protected Designation of Origin) called Murcia al Vino. There is a version without the PDO status called Queso de Cabra al Vino. Then there is the anglicized version of the name used quite a lot
In Galicia’s northwest corner of Spain, just across the Minho River from Portugal, is Rías Baixas, home to the prized Albariño grape. The proximity to the cooling Atlantic Ocean and the prominence of granitic soils provide distinctly
Rías Baixas wines from Galicia are synonymous with high-quality albariño, a dry, light to medium-bodied white celebrated for its crisp acidity, citrus blossom aromas, white peach, and pithy phenolics. This combination of naturally high acidity
This year, we get an early start on the holiday season by sharing an advent calendar of wines and accessories to buy, gift, or use at home while you entertain guests. Should you get really busy, you could use any of them as a hostess gift, depending on
Albariño reaches arguably its ultimate expression in Rías Baixas. It’s likely not a coincidence that the area spanning Galicia and northeast Portugal is also the grape’s ancestral home. It has a long, established history, with
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