Italy is this year's featured country at the 45th Vancouver International Wine Festival, from Piedmont to Puglia and the Tyrrhenian to the Adriatic Sea. It is time to get excited about the theme country before you arrive at the festival or even afterwards
In wine, moderation and mindfulness is key, as is education, and exploration. Instead of strident resolutions you won’t stick to this January, resolve to drink better. Pay attention one glass of honest, authentic, interesting wine with dinner rather
The Vancouver International Wine Festival is returning February 24th with Italy as its focus. We find out what to expect and what is so exciting about Italian wines today from the festival's keynote speaker, writer and educator, Filippo Bartolotta, joining
We are once again pleased to give our readers the opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the now sold out PICA Kitchen Party 12:00pm -2:00pm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, the final event at this year's Vancouver International Wine Festival. Attendees taste
At the start of the new year, lots of us are looking at our habits and trying to get a handle on our finances. January always seems like a good time to reevaluate your purchases. It is the time of year I encourage my partner Joe to drink some wine we
The Penfolds Collection in 2023 was already destined for greatness, given its base is the widely admired 2021 vintage, and now that it is in bottle, it surely is the best set of wines we have seen from Penfolds ever. I love it when the weather conspires
When Mike and Nicole Dowell finally decided to become farmers, orchards were the plan until they tasted the chardonnay from a vineyard perched between rocky slopes and the Similkameen River. The site was a section of the Mariposa Farm, British Columbia's
This year's Sparkling Report is a solid snapshot of bubbles worldwide, with 140 wines from outside Champagne tasted, from 18 countries and across a few dozen distinct wine regions. Globally, wine consumption is in decline due to the struggling economy
The bubble hasn’t exactly burst for Champagne, but it’s certainly lost some pressure this year. After two years of record growth and barren shelves, Champagne sales and exports have fallen in 2023, pinched by global inflation and grappling
The holiday season is upon us, and that's as good a reason as any to open a bottle of champagne. When I was ten, I was told by a champagne producer that every day was a good day for champagne, and that left an impression on me. I agree with him,
We met with Arianna Carafoli, Bottega's Export Manager, in the middle of the Vancouver International Wine Festival earlier this year for a quick update on the Bottega Prosecco lineup. Bottega is a fascinating story of drive and determination led by owner
Pinot noir's evolution continues in the province. The wines from a greater variety of regions and terroirs show more refinement and focus. With each vintage, the tide of quality is lapping higher and higher.A range of intermingled factors are at work
La Bouyguette is a lovely raw milk goat cheese that has returned to us after being on the missing list for several years. This small goat cheese is made in the village of Carmaux, in the department of Tarn in the Occitanie Region of France. The SagalaFrom
As the temperature drops outside, the right glass of wine can warm you up. But what does that mean exactly? It’s a matter of personal taste, but for me, it’s a wine that is reliably satisfying. This can come from textural richness, aromatic
This month, a bright orange cheese for Halloween. Mimolette Extra Vieille was thought to have been born at the request of Louis XIV, who was looking for a native French product to replace the highly popular Dutch Edam. To make it distinct from Edam, it
Okanagan-born and raised Michael Bartier has been growing wines in the region for decades. He invited Anthony Gismondi to compare new and old vintages to see how his bottles have fared over time. The highly-experienced tasters take you on an animated