Today’s Portuguese wines are amongst the most interesting and exciting on the planet. Partner the country’s 250+ autochthonous grape varieties with keen and educated winemakers, viticulturists who care about place and sustainability, and a
Pinot noir has the reputation of being a finicky grape, which can be just as alluring as it is elusive. But cabernet sauvignon can be equally frustrating, if not more so. There’s no doubt that it’s responsible, in whole or in part, for some
You’ve no doubt heard about orange wine, and most likely tried some of these characterful wines yourself. But do you know what you're drinking, or why they’re called orange? First off, not the hue, which really is more amber, and ranges from
It hasn’t been an easy summer for Okanagan wine producers. After more than a year or more of coronavirus challenges, they have had a summer of wildfire outbreaks in and around wine country and a fair number of less than gracious visitors who want
Vinho Verde is not Green Wine. Now that I’ve dispelled that myth let’s reset your compass. Earlier this year, Vinho Verde Wines asked me to hold some educational sessions for the trade across Canada, since not too many folks are travelling
People often ask what is Canada’s most successful wine type. I reply, without hesitation, chardonnay. You might think with a country the size of ours, and distances spanning thousands of kilometres from BC’s Pacific lashed Wine Islands to
First-time pinot noir drinkers usually succumb to its silky, juicy fruit, while veteran swillers admire its concentration and depth of flavour. But, even then, the mysterious, light red wine can be as fickle as the wind. Few would argue Burgundy is the
2020 is a year that will conjure a lot of strong memories and emotions. At one point, I recall chatter on social media about whether producers should nix the vintage from their label because of the visceral reaction it could evoke. Fortunately, that
This month we look at the much-maligned pinot gris grape that frankly deserves some of the hate tossed at it. But when it is right, it can be delicious, and in BC, we have the terroir and wherewithal to do something special if we put our minds to it. Most
When it comes to complexing whites, the first to mind is chenin blanc. Chenin is one of the world’s most versatile, transformative grapes. Wines from this early-budding, late ripening grape arc from searingly bone dry to sweet nobility and from
There is distinct energy, even amongst established producers, that authentic Australia’s time has come. It seems redundant, albeit necessary, to state that Australia today is not Australia of the past. Respecting wine tradition and embracing modern
Cat's pee on a gooseberry bush. That was my first level introduction to sauvignon blanc. For a keen enthusiast, this was terrifying (you want me to drink what?) and relieving (finally, wine descriptors that make sense). Of course, sauvignon blanc is
It’s common knowledge. Red wines are best with some age, and white wines are best young and fresh. Well, no, and yes. And sometimes. The only thing black and white in the wine world are grape varieties (let’s not get started
Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing wrapped up its first decade of work at the end of 2020 with some impressive momentum and growth in sustainably certified vineyards and wineries. 171 wineries and 2,247 vineyards are certified, representing
Malbec has risen at a comet-like rate the past thirty years, propelled into superstardom by Argentina’s thriving exports. Tucked against or astride the sunbaked Andes, the grape typically showcases full-bodied, intense, fruit-forward flavours of
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