Month: April 2012

The New West Quay, overlooking the Fraser River, was the venue for the latest Naramata Bench wine release in the Vancouver area.  The number of wineries has increased each year that I have attended this event.  I did not count, but there was probably somewhere around 24 wineries in attendance. Where and what is the Naramata Bench?  This is a…

What do you know about the Lombardy region of Italy?  Not much probably.  Neither did I until I attended an Italian Chamber of Commerce lunch today in downtown Vancouver. This region of Northern Italy is well known for cheese, charcuterie, wines, fresh produce and olive oil. Lombardy is also very well known for their cultivation of rice, which leads to…

The California Wine Fair 2012 Canadian Tour came to Vancouver this past week.  It is highly anticipated and always delivers.  There were so many wines to try, from what you expect, like Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, but also the unexpected, like a Chenin or a Cabernet Franc.  California has wines of all different styles and at all different price…

Last year, 2011, was a banner year for newly licensed wineries in BC.  21 wineries were licensed.  Who are they and where are they?  Most of the ones listed below I have not heard of, except for Okanagan Crush Pad Winery, Serendipity Estate Winery and 40 Knots Estate Winery.  Here is a review I did of Okanagan Crush Pad in…

It was so nice to be able to chat with so many Chilean wine makers at the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival 2012.  Some of the wine makers I had met before, while others were new to me. Either way the wine makers were gracious to spend some of their precious time to speak with me.  One wonderful wine maker…

As you may know, I take regular trips down to WA state to visit wineries and tasting rooms (in Woodinville) to learn more about Washington State wines and to pass along that information to you.  I had not had the opportunity until this year to make it down to Seattle to Taste Washington.  What a wonderful event I must say. …

Did you know that Vina Carmen is Chile’s oldest winery, founded in 1850 by Christian Lanz, who named the winery after his wife, Carmen? The Carmenere grape variety was rediscovered at Carmen in 1994. In 1997 Carmen launched the first Chilean organic wine under the Nativa brand.  I remember buying the wine in WA state as it was not yet…