It's no exaggeration to state that Robert Mondavi Winery jump-started the culture of wine in Vancouver after they agreed to be the first and only participant of the first wine festival in Vancouver in 1979. Frankly, Vancouver’s wine culture has
When it comes to complex, and possibly perplexing whites, I think of chenin blanc. Chenin blanc is one of the world’s most versatile grapes. Wines from this early-budding, late ripening grape arc from searingly bone dry to sweet nobility and from
It's back to school time, whether you're in a classroom or not. Autumn marks a natural slide back into indoors, books and studies. If you're keen on formally expanding your wine knowledge, there are classes for all levels of professional and amateur wine
They don’t call it the heartbreak grape for nothing. Capricious pinot noir can be intoxicatingly beguiling, or maddeningly disappointing (more oft the latter in unskilled hands). In Wine Grapes, Jancis Robinson describes pinot noir as
Though there is already ample smoke in the air across BC, folks should make the most of the last week of August by getting outside and firing up the grill. Steaks, burgers, veg, kabobs - whatever local foods you're BBQing, there's a local red to match.
When we last left Phantom Creek Estate winery it wasn't much more than some drawings and a hole in the ground on the Black Sage Bench, just outside Oliver B.C. We returned this summer to track its progress, and a lot has happened. The 79,000 square foot
With BC Day upon us, it seems suitable to focus on one of our great BC cheese makers. Smit’s and Co.w are a family dairy with a focus on Gouda. Their Dutch heritage makes that a natural fit, and they do it extremely well. They have their own herd
Don't call it a comeback, but a coming back. And a welcome one at that. After the heights of Aussie reds, followed by the crash, the red wines of Australia have settled in a very happy place, focusing on place and drinkability rather than brands and power.
Lighter, quaffable, chillable reds pair perfectly with summer. You needn't leave red wines alone when the temperature spikes. You just need to choose your wines differently. Eschew big, wood-driven and tannin-laden reds; they'll make you feel even more
Not that you ever need a reason to drink pink, or fizz, but summer feels particularly apropo. Refreshing, brisk, dry (or close to), these seriously joyous wines are built for sunshine - and food. Though pinot and chardonnay play leading roles, the cast
Ahead of Canada Day, we decided to pick our top 10 Canadian wine moments over the past year, and highlight the wines that made the memory. They are not necessarily our top scoring wines, but rather ones that reflect the growing confidence among producers
We took to the opportunity to catch up with a diverse selection of wine folks at the recent annual Lifford Grand Tasting at the beautifully renovated Stanley Park Pavilion near the park’s famed Rose Garden. In all we selected 18 wines, one from
Merlot and pinot gris are the most planted red and white grapes in BC. This is followed quickly thereafter by chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, gewürztraminer and riesling. Sound familiar? Chances are, if you drink BC wine, these grapes
Poor zinfandel. Though California’s flagship grape certainly has experienced the highest highs, the ingrained legacy of White Zinfandel has tarnished this bold, layered, spiced red. Hailing from Croatia (where it is known as tribidrag), and also