Tag: tempranillo

The red wines of Rioja, Spain, are renowned for their rich history and exceptional quality. Produced primarily from the Tempranillo grape, these wines often exhibit complex flavours of ripe fruit, oak, and spice, with a characteristic balance of acidity and tannins. Among the distinguished producers in the region, Marqués de Riscal stands out as a beacon of excellence. Founded in…

I was invited to attend the Swirl Around BC 2023 seminar recently to hear from BC winemakers about the challenges and opportunities in the BC wine industry.  Our Moderator for this seminar was DJ Kearney, and our Panelists were: Alistair Veen, JoieFarm, Bailey Williamson, Blue Grouse Estate Winery; Charlie Baessler, Corcelettes Estate Winery; David Paterson, Tantalus Vineyards; Ross Wise, Black…

History of Sangria Sangria traces its roots back to Spain where it has become an iconic part of Spanish culture. The word “sangria” is derived from the Spanish word “sangre,” meaning blood, which refers to the drink’s deep red colour. Its origins can be traced back to ancient times when the Romans would mix wine with water, fruits, and spices…

My only video interview of a winery not in South America at VanWineFest 2023 comes from José Luis Muguiro Jr from Marqués de Riscal in Spain.  Earlier in the VanWineFest week I had a winery dinner with him at Homer St Cafe and it was one of the best and most memorable dinners I have ever had at VanWineFest. Marqués…

June 10 is National Rosé Day, but what do you know about Rosé wines?  Here’s some background so you can further appreciate these wines and toast a glass or two on June 10. What are Rosé Wines? Rosé wines, often referred to as rosé, are a category of wines that bridge the gap between red and white wines. They are…

When you think of Spain and Rioja you probably think of a hot climate and big red wines.  Today I opened two wines from CVNE, their Cune Reserva 2017 and Cune Gran Reserva 2015, and they both have a light touch upon first opening.  There was some change with time exposed to air, but what was even a bigger factor…

One of the world’s best vineyards, Marqués de Riscal lives by wine and lives for wine. I joined Brand Ambassador José Luis Maguro Jr. at this perfectly paired dinner dedicated to the shared love of wine. The evening began with canapés, followed by a four-course dinner exquisitely prepared by the team at Homer St. Cafe and Bar. Let me get…

Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (the Northern Spanish Wine Company) CVNE was founded in 1879 in the town of Haro in Rioja, Spain by two brothers. I opened two bottles of wine I received.  The first was CUNE Monopole White 2020 made from the Viura grape in Rioja; also known as Macabeo in other parts of Spain. This was the first…

Last week there was the Taste of Italy celebration held at the Vancouver Lookout downtown.  Wine and Italian cheese, prosciutto, chocolates, and more were there to sample. Here are ten wines that I quite enjoyed at the Taste of Italy.  Some of these wines are currently available in BC.  I marked those wines with a “*”.  The wines without the…

Winemakers, besides making the wines their wineries are known for, also like to take on smaller projects. Testing out new methods or grape varieties. TERRE lab Winemakers Series wines are where Gold Hill Winery’s Val Tait gets to have some fun. These wines are made in very small lots (e.g. 70-80 cases or less). Bottled under the label TerreLab, they…