Montes Apalta Valley Mouvedre vines

Have you thought about travelling to Chile and Argentina, to try their wonderful wines, see the beautiful Andes Mountains, sample their cuisine, but not know how to arrange it all? Why not sign up to attend the FREE MyWinePal seminar on Feb 23 to taste some South American wines and learn about an upcoming Wine Experience tour to Chile and Argentina?

Where: Firefly Fine Wines and Ales
2857 Cambie Street @ 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC
When: Feb. 23/12 at 7pm

There is limited seating for this free presentation, so register ASAP!
We will confirm registration by email.

Register Here!

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Chile has the perfect climate for grape growing and has led many famous wine makers from around the world to produce wines in Chile, such as J.F. Lurton (France), Baron Philippe de Rothschild (France), Miguel Torres (Spain), and Robert Mondavi (California). Chile also has many fantastic home-grown wine makers, such as Aurelio Montes, Alvaro Espinoza, and Pablo Morandé.

Argentina has been having a great red wine run with their signature red grape, Malbec. Originating from the Bordeaux region of France, this grape needs sufficiently warm temperatures and an extended growing season to truly ripen and develop into more than just a blending grape.  Find out about Argentina’s high-altitude Mendoza region and how it produces expressive Malbec.

One of the great things about the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival is that you can meet winery principals either at a wine maker dinner, a seminar, or at their winery’s table at the International Festival Tasting room.  In case you don’t know who will be attending the Festival this year, here is some background on a few of the vino-pioneers provided by the Festival. As Chile is the theme country, we have many Chilean wine makers for you to meet.

EDUARDO CHADWICK, PRESIDENT, VIÑA ERRÁZURIZ

Eduardo Chadwick

Chilean wine pioneer and president and owner of Viña Errázuriz in Chile’s Aconcagua region, Eduardo Chadwick was inspired by some of the world’s top wine regions on his quest to produce greater expressions of Chile’s terroir. In July 2005, Decanter magazine recognized Eduardo among the 50 most influential personalities of the wine industry and Viña Errázuriz was described as the quality benchmark from Chile. Eduardo is now the sixth generation to own and run Viña Errázuriz. One of Chadwick’s most historic moments took place in Berlin, January 2004. As part of a blind tasting of first growth wines from French and Italian classic appellations with the best of Errázuriz wines, Eduardo presented his 2000 and 2001 icon wines Viñedo Chadwick, Seña and Don Maximiano Founder’s Reserve. The three wines eclipsed famous houses such as Château Lafite, Château Margaux, Château Latour and Italian cult wines Tignanello, Sassicaia, Solaia and Guado al Tasso. Viñedo Chadwick 2000 and Seña 2001 were placed first and second respectively in what Jancis Robinson recognized as a milestone for the Chilean wine industry, now known as the “Berlin Tasting”.

Meet Eduardo at “Chadwick’s Iconic Quest”, Thursday, March 1st, 2012 http://bit.ly/z15lyU
and at “The Next Star Grape: Syrah”, Friday, March 2nd, 2012 http://bit.ly/wIqVQx

ALVARO ESPINOZA, WINEMAKER, EMILIANA VINEYARDS

Alvaro Espinoza

Alvaro is a true pioneer and one of Chile’s most widely recognized winemakers. He apprenticed with the Fetzer winemaking family (Fetzer and Bonterra labels) in Mendocino County, the largest organic grape grower in California. Alvaro believes that growing grapes in a natural way produces higher quality fruit and thus better wine. With no unnatural intervention, he says, the Emiliana organic wines labeled “Natura,” respect the conditions of the soils and reflect the terroir where they are grown.

Meet Alvaro at “Excellence of Nature”, Monday, February 27th, 2012 http://bit.ly/wYtRZS
and at “The Next Star Grape: Syrah”, Friday, March 2nd, 2012 http://bit.ly/wIqVQx

CHUCK WAGNER, OWNER AND WINEMAKER, CAYMUS VINEYARDS

Chuck Wagner

At the 2007 Wine Experience hosted by Wine Spectator magazine, Chuck received the Distinguished Service Award given to individuals who have made significant and long-lasting contributions to the wine industry. Luminaries such as Robert Mondavi, Angelo Gaja, Julia Child, Emeril Lagasse, Bob Trinchero, Piero Antinori, and Philippine de Rothschild have also received this honor. In 2006, Wine Spectator magazine rated Caymus Vineyards Special Selection as the Napa Valley’s best Cabernet Sauvignon – having the highest average score of 94.6 since the 1990 vintage. Chuck and his late father, Charlie, shaped the reputation of Caymus by always keeping the focus on quality – in both the vineyard and winery. Caymus continues to be a hands-on, family-owned and operated winery situated in the heart of the Napa Valley.

Meet Chuck at “Caymus Vertical Tasting”, Wednesday, February 29th, 2012 http://bit.ly/xBVeVy

NATHALIE BONHOMME, PROPRIETOR/WINEMAKER, LES VINS BONHOMME

Nathalie Bonhomme brings to the festival a vast knowledge of Spanish wines from the perspective of an ex-pat Canadian. Under the kind tutoring of winemakers Rafael Cambra in Valencia and Miguel Gil in Jumilla she has begun making her own wine.  Her “El Bonhomme” is on the Quebec and British Columbia markets and “El Petit Bonhomme” in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec and, soon to be, Ontario. Nathalie lives in Alfaz de Pi, situated on Spain’s Mediterranean coast, with her husband and youngest daughter.

Meet Nathalie at the International Festival Tasting on Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, March 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 2012 http://bit.ly/vy4y16
and at “Diva(s) at the Met”, Wednesday, February 29th, 2012. http://bit.ly/wMjVUB

ANDRÉS ILABACA, WINEMAKER, SANTA RITA

Andres Ilabaca

Since 1996 Andrés has held the position of one of two chief winemakers at Santa Rita. Andrés prefers wines that are succulent and complex with ripe fruit flavours and a mineral complexity. During his tenure, Santa Rita has developed their own proprietary canopy management program to reflect the region’s unique weather and soils. His Santa Rita Pehuén 2007 was recently awarded 91 points in the 2011 Wine Spectator awards.

Meet Andrés at “Celebrate Casa Real”, Friday, March 2nd, 2012. http://bit.ly/zA954f  

ANNETTE BERGEVIN, OWNER/PROPRIETOR, BERGEVIN LANE

Anette Bergevin

A fifth-generation Walla Walla native, co-founding Bergevin Lane Vineyards in 2002 was the fulfillment of a long-time dream for Annette, one that started with her father. The Bergevin Lane vision is to create wines with elegance and style that reflect the unique terroir attributes of Washington State and maintain the integrity of each varietal characteristic. It’s an ambitious goal that has been consistently rewarded with high scores, critical praise, and a passionate growing group of wine club members.

Meet Annette at “Diva(s) at the Met”, Wednesday, February 29th, 2012. Learn more: http://bit.ly/wMjVUB

Lapostolle wine barrel

In case you didn’t know, Chile is the Theme Country this year at the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival.  But you may not know which wineries will be there?  The Remedy… I have the list here for you.  With my many years past association with the South World Wine Society I can let you know that there are many very good Chilean wineries, and wines to be enjoyed.

• Anakena Wines (They have a very nice single vineyard Viognier that is recommended for a few years now.)
• Baron Philippe de Rothschild (French Bordeaux expertise in this Chilean venture)
• Viña Caliterra
• Canepa
• Carmen
• Viña Chocalan
• Chono
• Concha y Toro (one of the original Chilean wineries. Try their Don Melchor.)
  
• Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery (Most famous I think for their Pinot Noir. They do have an organic line of wines too.)
  
• Cousiño-Macul
• Cremaschi Furlotti (another winery well known for their Pinot Noir, but also try their Carmenere.)
  
• De Martino (At the Wines of Chile 2011 awards, De Martino picked up 8 medals, including 3 GOLD, and also walked away with 2 “Best in Category” trophies.)
  
• Emiliana Vineyards
• Viña Errázuriz (Located in the Aconcagua Valley, north of Santiago, this winery produces excellent wines, including a Wild Ferment Chardonnay. Also try their Max Reserva line of wines; they are top quality.)
  
• Haras de Pirque (another quality winery. This winery is shaped like a horseshoe.  Owners like thoroughbred horses.)
  
• Junta Winery
• Lapostolle (A premium wine maker from the Apalta Valley. Owned by the Grand Marnier family in France. Using organic and biodynamic vineyard practices.)
  
• Viña Leyda / Viña Tabalí
• Viña Luis Felipe Edwards
• Viña Maipo
• Miguel Torres (This is the Miguel Torres from Spain.  Try their Cordillera series of wines.)
  
• Misiones De Rengo
• Viña Montes (Another premium producer from the Apalta Valley. They were the first to plant Syrah which people said would never survive.  The grapes are used for their iconic Montes Folly.  Also try their Alpha range of wines.)
  
• MontGras (Not too far from the Montes winery, Montgras has a unique terroir called Ninquen producing excellent wines.)
  
• Viña Morandé
  
• Viña Quintay
• Viña San Pedro
• Viña Santa Carolina
• Viña Santa Rita (their winery in the Maipo Valley is a Historic Site.  In the early 1800s Doña Paula Jaraquemada, then proprietor of the Santa Rita gave refuge in the cellars of her property to 120 Chilean patriots in the battle to achieve independence from Spain.)
  
• Seña / Viña Arboleda (A joint venture originally between the Chilean Chadwick family of Vina Errazuriz and California’s Mondavi family. Sena wine is made from a blend of six of the classic red grape varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.)
  
• Tamaya
• Viña Tarapacá (Located in the Maipo Valley, this winery’s head wine maker is Edward Flaherty, originally from California. Lots of tasty wines here.)
  
• Undurraga (Try their smaller production Terroir Hunter wines that show very specific terroirs in Chile. Maybe they will also bring some of their sparkling wines too.)
  
• Viña Ventisquero
• Veramonte

Viu Manent barrel sample

I am really looking forward to tasting the latest wines from these wineries, and meeting some of the winery principles when they were last here, or when I visited them in 2009.  If you are interested in reading about my trip to Chile, here are my blog postings:

• Chile Day 2
• Chile Day 3 – Cerro San Cristobol
• Chile Day 4 – Casas del Bosque
• Chile Day 6 – Errazruiz
• Chile Day 7 – Maipo Valley – Santa Rita, Undurraga, Tarapaca
• Chile Day 9 – Montes and Montgras
• Chile Day 10 – Casa Lapostolle and Viu Manent

If all this talk of Chilean wine has peaked your curiosity, why not fly to Chile (and Argentina) with me in May 2012 and visit some of these wineries on my Wine Experience Tour.  Here is the Tour link. Enjoy the VPIWF!

Their beer menu is quite long; an entire sheet double column with beers listed by the bottle and a few on tap. No Molson Canadian or Labatts Blue on the menu. All the beers on tap that I could see were from BC. The bottled beers were mainly from Canada and the USA, but there was a selection from Europe. Here is a link to their full beer list.

I started my evening with a L’ABBAYE DU VAL-DIEU BRUNE Dubbel from Belgium.  Very full bodied, dark, low hops with some sweetness to it.  I quite enjoyed it as it reminded me of my trip to Belgium last summer. At 8% alcohol I needed to get to the meal soon.  This was my favourite beer of the evening.

Pot of sausages with condiments

The Dine Out Menu selection I ordered:

• Curried Root Vegetable Soup with Sour Cream, ‘Picker Shack’ Apple Compote
• Pot Of Sausages 4 Handmade Smoked, Mildly Spiced Sausages Served with Sauerkraut, Pickled Vegetables and Mustard Ragout
• Chocolate Terrine Dark Chocolate Pate with Chantilly Cream

It was very busy when we arrived, so the flight of beers we had also ordered was a bit tardy.  There were only so many glasses in Bitter, and they were all in use, so the flights of beers slowly arrived.  My flight of 3 beers were all dark beers brewed here in BC:

Bitter flight of 2 Stouts and 1 Dunkel

• R & B Brewing Company Milk Stout
• Phillips Brewery Dr. Funk Dunkel
• Crannog Ales Back Hand of God Stout

I sampled through these 3 beers together with my 3 course meal.  These dark beers went nicely with the chocolate terrine, especially the Dr. Funk Dunkel which had a coffee flavour to it. A Dunkel is traditionally a dark German beer with a smooth malty flavour.  The Back Hand of God Stout had some coriander flavour, which is  a nice spice to enjoy with the pot of sausages.  The pot of sausages consist of 4 hand made European style mild flavoured sausages.  I liked the Mustard Ragout the most, followed by the Sauerkraut.  The Milk Stout did not do much for me.  It had an odd chalky flavour.  My British friend told me that Milk Stout was a big hit during WWI or II (I’m not sure which one).  The ladies that worked in the factories would go to the pubs after work, and Milk Stout would be the favourite drink.  The appetizer was the curried soup, which was lightly flavoured; an OK dish.

Chocolate Terrine

My British friend really enjoyed the Lighthouse Cream Ale, and had a few pints.  Bitter is a place to drop by and try some beers with your mates that you would have a hard time finding elsewhere.  The food on the main menu may have been more interesting to sample than what we had with the Dine Out menu.  The Dine Out menu was OK, but nothing really stood out for me.

If you have an interest and travel and wine, check out my Chile & Argentina Wine Trip link.  The tour starts mid May.  Limited number of seats.

Chinese dragon

January 23, 2012, arrived full of promise, dragon-sized.  With that in mind, I checked out the New Product Salon for the Import Vintners & Spirits Association (IVSA) in downtown Vancouver.  There was a wide range of wines; sparkling, still, red, white, and fortified.  A few stars from the tasting that I would like to share with you.

 Italian Prosecco

• Emotivo Prosecco, Italy, $14.49. Pale lemon with small bubbles in the glass. Light citrusy nose.  High acid with citrus and flower flavours.  Very tasty.

Rose

• Familia Cassone Obra Prima Cabernet Sauvignon Rosado, Argentina, $15.99. Smoky strawberry nose.  Medium plus acidity with red cherries, red berries and some smokiness.  Dry on the palate.

White Wines

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  Santa Carolina Sauvignon Blanc Rserva 2011

  Tasca d’Almerita Regaleali Bianco 2010, Italy, $19.99.  This is a blend of Grecanico, Inzolia, and Catarratto from Sicily. Medium lemon colour with light stone fruit, oaky nose.  Bright acidity with oak and ripe apple flavours.  Medium length.  I think this wine would pair nicely with many dishes.

• Santa Carolina Reserva Sauvignon Blanc “Leyda Valley”, Chile, 2011, $12.99. Pale lemon in colour.  Gobs of gooseberry on the nose. High acid, with light body.  Gooseberry and green flavours.  Some jalapeno flavour on the mid-palate. Lingering acid and spice on your tongue. Very nice.
• Araldica Piemontese Cortese 2010, Italy, $14.99. This wine is made from the Cortese grape from the Piedmont area of Italy.  This wine was light lemon colour.  Nice nose with gewerztraminer-like aromas.  Sweet spice, lemon and flowery flavours.  High in acid but still round on the palate.  Very nice.  Enjoy with some seafood.
• Mer Soleil Silver Unoaked Chardonnay 2009, California, $28.99.  Medium lemon in colour.  Apples, raisins, and flower blossoms on the nose. High acid, yet creamy.  Apples, citrus and pineapple flavours.  Long length.  An interesting wine, that comes in a ceramic bottle, reminding me of a Portuguese Lancer’s bottle.

Red Wines

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  Hullabaloo Old Vines Zinfandel 2009

  Miles from Nowhere Cabernet Merlot, Australia, 2010, $17.99. Medium garnet in the glass with capsicum and black currant aromas.  Smooth with mineral, spice, cherries and mint on the palate.

• Hullaballo Zinfandel, California, 2009, $19.99.  This was a very intriguing wine.  Normally you think of jammy raspberry flavours from a Zin, and this wine is completely different. Along with a jammy nose there are also herbaceous and spice aromas.  Medium body, dry, with cassis, herbal and spice on the palate.
• Plume Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, 2009, $29.99. Deep ruby in colour.  Nice ripe plum and cherry aromas.  Medium body with very drying tannins.  Vanilla, cherries, oak and some minty notes.  Very nice.
• DFJ Portada, Portugal, 2009, $12.99.  This is a red blend that OVER DELIVERS. It is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Castelao, Shiraz, Alicante Boushet, Caladoc, and Pinot Noir. Some traditional Portuguese grapes and some grapes more common from Burgundy or the Rhone Valley. Light ruby in colour.  Interesting nose of ripe purple fruit.  Medium body, dry with cassis, apples, and ripe fruits. Low acid and tannins.  Medium length.  Not a huge wine, but a nice wine.

The red wines below really impressed me.  I highly recommend any one of them!

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  Rocca di Castagnoli Chianti Classico 2009

  La Font du Vent Signargues Cotes du Rhone Villages, Notre Passion, France, $19.99. I am not sure of the vintage. This Rhone wine is a blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. Light garnet colour in the glass. Green olives and red fruit aromas.  Medium body with green olives, spice and cherry flavours.

• Rocca di Castagnoli Chianti Classico, Italy, 2009, $24.99. Light ruby in colour.  Nice light cherry and vanilla nose.  Light body, dry, with red cherries and raspberry flaours.  High acidity and low tannins.
• Castagnoli Poggio A Frati Chianti Classico Reserva 2006, Italy, $37.99. Meidum ruby in colour.  Beautiful nose of rich red fruit with vanilla and menthol. Dry, medium body with red cherries, low acid and tannins.  Very classy.

Looking over my 13 recommendations, 5 are from Italy.  Hopefully many more nice Italian wines will travel across the Old World to our shores.  Enjoy!

Painted Rock pictographs

I was very excited when I received two bottles of the latest releases from Painted Rock recently to review.  The two bottles being Painted Rock’s Syrah 2009 and their Merlot 2009.  Every year, I hear great things about Painted Rock’s wines and read about awards they have won.  Did you know that Painted Rock Estate Winery was ranked as the #1 Winery in BC and #3 Winery in Canada at the 2011 Wine Access Canadian Wine Awards?  Their 2007 Red Icon and 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon also won 2010 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in BC Wines.

What does the 2009 vintage have in store I wondered, as I held the two bottles in my hands?

Who Is Painted Rock?

John at Painted Rock

Painted Rock is named for the pictographs that border their 60 acre property, located beside Skaha Lake in Penticton.  The winery is a family run business, started with the purchase of their land in 2004. The owners, John and Trish Skinner planted their vines in 2005 and 2006 and now have roughly 25 acres under vine; all of it Bordeaux reds or Syrah, except for a block of Chardonnay. In the owners’ words:
“Painted Rock sits on a spectacular bench overlooking the eastern shore of Skaha Lake in Penticton, B.C. This 60-acre property has a unique microclimate that is particularly suited to the production of premium wines.

Envisioned as a family-run estate winery, Painted Rock draws its inspiration from proprietors John and Trish Skinner. The Skinner’s philosophy is rooted in the simple idea that wine should be made for friends and family to enjoy. With a dedication to quality and a respect for the terroir, Painted Rock ensures that each grape is of superior quality, proving that the best wines are made in the vineyard.”

My Wine Review

To do this review I opened each bottle and tasted the wines on two separate days to see if there was any change in aromas or flavours.  Sometimes wines require some time in contact with air in order for them to “open” up and show more of their character.  I as well did a fair amount of swirling the wines in my glass to help bring out the aromas and flavours.  Both wines are produced from Estate grapes and the wines are VQA certified.

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  Painted Rock Merlot 2009

  Painted Rock Merlot 2009. Deep garnet with a hint of ruby colour in the glass.  Very aromatic.  Just pouring this wine into my glass, brought out lots of aromas from this wine. Youthful nose and very pronounced, with jammy, sweet ripe fruit, including plums, blackberries, black cherry and dried fruits. There was also some sweet spice aromas of cinnamon, cloves, licorice and nutmeg. As you swirled the wine, a bit of perfume filled the glass and there was also a hint of blackberry leaf.  The wine is dry with medium weight in your mouth, good acidity too, and medium plus tannins.  On the palate I tasted black fruit, plums, blackberry and black cherry flavours.  There was also some vanilla, oak and blackcurrant leaf.  On Day 2 of my tasting I detected a bit of the perfume that I previously smelled on Day 1.   The wine has a long finish with tartness on your tongue.  A very good good that you could drink now, but I think give it 2 years to age softening the tannins and settling the acidity down a bit.  A quality wine.

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  Painted Rock Syrah 2009

  Painted Rock Syrah 2009.  This wine is opaque ruby colour from core to rim. It has a very delicious aroma.  Blueberries popped out for me.  A very youthful nose with red and black fruit aromas, lots of vanilla and a bit of cloves.  On Day 2 some additional cinnamon spice was detected.  The first thing you notice upon sipping this wine is it’s soft mouth feel, like silk in your mouth, with very juicy ripe fruit flavours and a hint of smokiness.  Medium body with medium plus acidity.  Also flavours of red cherry, plum, and hints of cedar, pepper and oak.  A long dry finish that leaves a lot of fruit lingering in your mouth.  The acidity also gives you a bit of mouth watering on the finish.  I really liked this wine and highly recommend it.  Outstanding now but you can still age it and get more years of enjoyment.

Where Can I Get Painted Rock’s Wines?

Painted Rock’s wines are available in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario currently. If you are lucky enough to live in Vancouver, many restaurants carry Painted Rock.  A few that you may recognize are:

• Bishop’s
• Blue Water Café
• Chambar
• Cru
• Hawksworth Restaurant
• Le Gavroche
• Rain City Grill
• Seasons In The Park In Queen Elizabeth Park
• Wild Rice

If you are attending Dine Out Vancouver, one of these wines might be a good pairing!

To check the closest wine shop to you carrying Painted Rock’s wines, follow this link. Enjoy!

A Dragon is a legendary creature. All legendary stories about Chinese dragons are from the sky, which means heaven in China.  The Dragon is the fifth sign of the Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 Animal signs.  The Dragon is a creature of myth and legend.  In ancient China, the celestial Dragon represents an emperor and  power. Today, it  is the ultimate auspicious symbol signifying success and happiness. Invariably accompanied by thunder and rain, dragons move like lightning and whirlwinds. (from http://www.stanssewingsupplies.com/catalogs/store.asp?pid=254835)

Snap Dragon Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Dragon Wine?

Are there any wines that have a dragon theme in Canada, or elsewhere? This is what I found.  In my search, the first wine is from Napa Valley, California.   The wine is from the Snap Dragon Winery.  They produce a Riesling, Chardonnay, red blend, and Cabernet Sauvignon.  I think with the Dragon being a big powerful animal, that maybe enjoying their Cabernet Sauvignon would be most appropriate. Wine Spectator describes the 2007 vintage as “Dried berry, black cherry and wild berry fruit is modestly complex, ripe and vivid, full-bodied and easy to drink. Drink now.”  SnapDragon’s website for you.

Digging deeper in Google I found Turley Wine Cellars from Templeton California and their Turley Zinfandel Dragon Vineyard 2007. Wine Expert Stephen Tanzer has this description about their 2007 vintage: “Good medium ruby. Urgent aromas of crushed berries and licorice. Dense, pliant and sweet, with surprising lift to the lush berry flavors. This rich, concentrated, chocolatey wine really spreads out to saturate the palate. The long finish features floral and spicy nuances.”  This sounds like a wine I would love to try!

Berberana Dragon Tempranillo 2002

My last wine for you with the dragon theme is the Bodegas Berberana Tempranillo Dragon Label Rioja, Spain. Rioja has a hot climate, perfect for dragons. The Rioja DOC is inland in the northern part of Spain and has a very warm continental climate.  The area is sometimes known as the Bordeaux of Spain. Rioja wines are normally a blend of various grape varieties, and can be either red (tinto), white (blanco) or rosé (rosado).  The most common red grape variety for Rioja is Tempranillo. The Bodegas Berberana Tempranillo Dragon Label according to the winery is aged for 6-8 months in American oak barrels, and it has ripe red fruit aromas and flavours, with notes of spice and cedar.

What Food and Wine to Pair For Black Water Dragon New Year?

Moroccan spiced lamb chops (image courtesy http://www.foodandwine.com)

When I think of dragons I think of fire, so my thoughts are going toward spicy dishes, and grilled dishes.  One nice pairing is a grilled Moroccan spiced lamb chop with a Cabernet Sauvignon. A few Cabernet Sauvignon that I could recommend are: Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington State, Santa Julia Magna, 2009, Argentina (this is a Cab / Malbec blend), or Salvestrin Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, 2007. The

If you are a seafood lover, a different pairing you may like would be grilled fish with a citrusy Riesling or Semillon from Australia or a New World Sauvignon Blanc.  Maybe try a Grilled Salmon with Morel Vinaigrette with a bottle of Brokenwood Semillon 2008 Australia, Skillogalee Single Vineyard Riesling 2009 Australia, or Waipara Hills Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand?

Gung xi fat choy.

Chase & Warren sold their first bottle of wine in 2003 but the vineyard was started in 1995 and the first vine planted in 1996.  The wines are of a very limited production, so the best place to get the wines is to go and visit them.  If you are living in Vancouver like me, the following stores carry their wines:

• Denman Place Wines
• Everything Wine (North Vancouver)
• Firefly Fine Wines & Ales
• Jimmy’s Beer & Wine
• Liberty Wines, Point Grey Place
• Yaletown Liquor Store

As you may guess, this is a marginal climate for grapes, so you would not get the same wines as you would from a hotter climate, such as Oliver, BC.  Think more white wines.  They do offer some reds, but the grapes are purchased from vineyards in other parts of the Province.  You may notice that the labels for the wines have pictures of birds.  This is because the winery owner is a bird lover.

Chase & Warren’s Wines

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  Chase & Warren Alsatia Cypress White and Tokay Pinot Gris

  Muscat d’Orval 2010.  These grapes are produced from their own vines.  This wine was watery lemon in colour with orange and pineapple aromas.  Light body with citrus and pine needle flavours.  Dry with a medium length.  You need to let this wine breathe a bit if sulfur dioxide (SO2) bothers you.  It is not a fault in the wine. It is added by many wineries to help prevent oxidation and preserve fruity flavour and freshness in wine.

• Bacchus 2010. I quite liked this wine.  The grapes for this wine are also grown on their estate.  It had a light nutmeg and citrus nose.  Quite aromatic. Light body with medium acidity and a slight prickle in your mouth.  Lots of pine needle flavour along with some nutmeg.  Medium plus length. Dry finish.
• Alsatia 2010. This is a blend of Auxxerois and Pinot Gris grapes from their estate. The grapes are crushed and fermented together.  Slightly sweet nose with citrusy aromas.  Very light body with banana, tropical fruit and peach flavours.  Very round and soft mouth feel.  Low acidity.
• Cyrpress White, NV. Another wine I quite liked. A blend of Viognier and Chardonnay. The Viognier was fermented in 2009 and the Chardonnay in 2010, then both were blended together. The Viognier grapes do not grow in this cooler area, so they were sourced from elsewhere in BC. This wine was light lemon in colour.  Light stone fruit aromas and some lees. Medium body and medium acidity. The level of acidity gave the wine a nice bite.  I enjoyed the peach, stone fruit, and slight herbal flavours.  It ended with a mouth watering finish.  Very refreshing.
• Tokay Pinot Gris 2008.  Light pear skin colour with a light peach nose. Off dry with medium body.  Round mouth feel with medium acidity.  Quite mouth filling with peaches, sweet spices and some herbal flavours. Medium length.
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  Chase & Warren Cabernet Sauvignon and Bacchus

  Wrangel Red, NV. Wrangel pays homage to the Insular Geological Belt extending along the west coast of Alaska and British Columbia, of which Vancouver Island is a part. One of the 2 terranes composing this belt is called Wrangellia. This is a red blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay, with a dash of Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris added.  Light cherry colour.  Quite aromatic with sweet cherries, candied fruit and flowers.  Light body, dry with low tannins.  Cherries and some leafiness on the palate.  Quite interesting and enjoyable.

• Wranglette, NV. This wine is made from 100% Pinot Noir, with the grapes coming from a vineyard in Nanaimo. Medium garnet in colour.  Light cinnamon aroma that builds in the glass along with red cherries. Light body with low tannins.  Ripe red cherries, some tropical flavours and vanilla on the palate.  Dry with medium length.
• Merlot 2009. These grapes come from the South Okanagan and are fermented in stainless steel open top fermenters. Medium garnet in colour with light cherry and milk chocolate aromas. Medium body, round mouth feel with medium tannins.  Cherries and some leafiness on the palate.  Medium plus length.
• Cabernet Sauvignon 2009. Cabernet Sauvignon is another grape that needs warm weather, so these grapes are brought in from another area in BC.  This wine was deep ruby in colour and had dark fruit aromas.  Medium plus body, very fruity with some vanilla and a bit of spice.  It also had an interesting dill flavour component.

Take A Steam Train to Chase & Warren

Trees in Cathedral Grove

Do you have any nostalgia for the days of steam trains?  If so, there is a daily WINE STEAM TRAIN RIDE leaving the Port Alberni Harbour Station at 1:00 pm and returns from the Chase and Warren Winery at 3:30pm. Reservations are required. The price is $40 per person and includes steam train ride, wine tasting and appetizers at the winery. Very cool.

That’s all for this post, my last one for 2011.  I hope you enjoyed my writing for this past year.  If you have a chance in the Spring – Summer – Fall to go to Vancouver Island, consider taking the ferry and then driving over to Port Alberni to visit Chase & Warren. Here is their website link.  You will also pass through Cathedral Grove, which has a stand of some of the oldest and largest trees in BC.  Cheers!

Michael Bartier (left) and David Scholefield (right)

David Scholefield and Michael Bartier are not new to wine in BC.  Michael Bartier was born and raised in the Okanagan and worked in the past for Hawthorne Mountain (See Ya Later Ranch), Township 7, Stag’s Hollow and most recently Road 13 Vineyards. He joins the team at Okanagan Crush Pad Winery as winemaker, where he and David produce their wines.  David Scholefield had a long career as a senior wine buyer for the British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch. His knowledge earned him a global reputation for the ability to acquire allocations of the world’s finest wines for the BC liquor stores. He has deep knowledge of the wine trade here and abroad.  In addition, Alberto Antonini is their internationally renowned traveling winemaker working with Michael Bartier.  Alberto has earned an international reputation for creating some of the top wines in the world. He was a senior winemaker at Antinori and Frescobaldi in Tuscany, and at Robert Mondavi, Au Bon Climat and Qupé in California.

Bartier Scholefield Wines Tasted

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  Bartier Scholefield White Table wine 2010

  Bartier • Scholefield White Table Wine 2010 ($22) is a blend of Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, and Chardonnay, all grown in the Oliver area.  No barrels were used, just stainless steel tanks. There was a short lees contact for added wine complexity (my note). I am not sure of the percentages of each of the grapes.  This wine was light lemon in colour with a youthful bouquet of peaches, pineapple and lemon.  The lees also shows up on the nose. On the palate the wine is dry with medium plus acidity.  Some roundness but supported by an acidic backbone.  Medium plus body and intensity.  Pineapple, peach, lemon, cherries, and almond flavours greet your tongue, with a bit of steeliness too.  Medium plus length.  This wine is a nice sipper.  Try with a lightly cooked fish with lemon sauce or some shellfish.

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  Bartier Scholefield Rose Table wine 2010

  Bartier • Scholefield Rose ($20) is 100% Gamay Noir from the Wise Brothers’ vineyard in Oliver. This wine was medium salmon colour in the glass.  Light, youthful aromas of strawberries, red cherries and other red fruits.  It is dry on the palate with medium plus acidity.  Medium body.  I get fresh summer fruits like raspberries, red currants, strawberries and red cherries, and a lingering watering mouthfeel on the finish.  Another good sipper.  With the higher acidity in this rose, you might try with a pork or chicken dish that has a cream sauce.

You can find more about Bartier Scholefield on their website, or about the Okanagan Crush Pad winery here. Enjoy!

Buenos Aires City Collage (courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

Have you ever wanted to go to Argentina, watch a live tango show, visit the Iguazu Falls (remember the movie “The Mission”?), walk the vineyards in Mendoza, eat an Argentinean style barbeque (asado), and enjoy a big Malbec with your asado?  I’ve been to Argentina, and had a chance to do many of these things.  Argentina is a big, beautiful country.  Buenos Aires has been coined the most European city of South America.  With it’s French architecture, and fashion, I understand why. Here is some additional information on Buenos Aires from Wikitravel.

I am planning a ~7 day tour of Argentina, and want to make it something that excites you and makes you daydream about it during your workday.

What I need is your feedback of the items you would like to see, plus ideas of places to see, or things you would like to do that are not on my list.

Mendoza Vineyards (Courtesy Wikimedia Commons by by Sherlock4000)

Ideas for an Argentina Trip

• Take a tango class
• Watch real tango in a nightclub in Buenos Aires
• Visit the Recoleta (cemetary) to see Evita Peron‘s grave
• Visit the Opera House in Buenos Aires
• Visit top quality wineries in Mendoza, including tasting wines at each winery (e.g. Bodega Catena Zapata, Bodegas Salentein, Bodega Familia Zuccardi, Bodega Tapiz)
• Enjoy an asado in Mendoza with wine of course
• Visit the art galleries of Mendoza
• Take a cooking lesson in Mendoza
• Drive into the Andes Mountains
• Visit the Iguazu Falls and walk along the falls or take a boat ride (see Wikipedia’s page)
• Take a boat ride on the Tigre River in Buenos Aires
• Take a boat ride from Buenos Aires across the Plata to Montevideo, Uruguay and try some of their signature Tannat wines.
• Watch a futbol (soccer) match.

Can you please comment on the above sites or experiences?  Which are the most attractive to you?  I hope to have a good list compiled before Christmas.  Will you help me?

Also add in sites and experiences that you know, which may not be in my list.  Many thanks!  Let’s have some fun in Argentina.