I'm a self identifying wine geek. I have two cupboards full of glassware (though only use Zaltos), a drawer full of corkscrews (though use a trusty white Pulltap) and five bursting shelves of wine books (latest editions are Dr. Jamie Goode's Flawless;
‘Tis the season for entertaining, often unexpectedly. If you’re on your way to an impromptu gathering with friends, or your home is the site for the festivities, it always pays to have some well-priced, well-liked wines on hand. For some crowds,
This week’s top ten recognizes the regionality of BC wine. It’s a concept that, frankly, is taking shape faster in the bottle than on the label, at least from what we see and taste. Until July of this year, there were just five Geographical
There's a reason why Rhône red wines are amongst the most popular blends worldwide. Whether or not from the Rhône Valley, the trifecta of syrah, grenache, mourvedre (GSM) and mates like carignan, cinsault and counoise make for satisfying,
Yes, I know. We've done Top 10s on chardonnay a few times: BC Chard, Cool Climate Chard, NZ Chard just within the last 24 months. But I'm not going to stop. Chardonnay is, quite simply, the best grape ever. It's not just me waxing poetic for this historic
There's something about fall that makes me think of Italian reds. Earthy, autumnal fruits, bitter spun spices, bright acidity, structure - all are characters I'm craving alongwise wild mushrooms, roasted squash, chestnuts and warming braises. With Anthony
Though Austria’s star white grape is appreciated and adored by wine professionals, grüner veltliner's charm is generally lost on the masses. Part of that may have to do with fear of mispronouncing the word itself. Own this: Grew-ner Velt-LEEN-er,
Fall, friends, family, feasts. Autumn's abundance is celebrated this Thanksgiving weekend through many cultural traditions and menus. Here at GOW, we give thanks for the access to a wide variety of wines, and the privilege to communicate wines of worth
It’s a common misconception to mistake cabernet franc for cabernet sauvignon lite. On paper, all signs point that way. Cabernet franc buds and ripens early than cabernet sauvignon, it’s lighter in tannins, colour and body than the king of
Grenache is one of the most widely planted red wine grapes on the planet, explaining its many synonyms: garnacha, garnaxta, alicante, nieddu, cannonau, lladoner and uva di spagna among them. This early budder / late ripener is a heat seeking missile,
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.
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
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