MyWinePal

What do you know about BC Pinot Noir?  Do you have a favourite winery or wine region in BC for Pinot Noir?  In today’s seminar, the Possibilities of Pinot, we were brought up to date on the state of Pinot Noir in BC.  Our Moderator for this seminar was Barb Philip MW.  Our panellists were either owners or winemakers from…

New Australian wine has arrived on our shores after a hiatus, in part due to COVID.  I attended a tasting of these new arrivals.  Some are new to BC while other wines are new vintages of wines that we already enjoy.  I missed out on a seminar, so have no additional pearls of wisdom for you, but here are my…

My last stop on my two-day tour of the Fraser Valley was at Taves Estate Cidery and their associated family farm.  You can easily spend a whole day here if you have children as they will be fascinated by all the farm animals.  They can pet and feed rabbits, goats, and more.  I enjoyed petting the animals, and taking a…

When I started wine tasting seriously, I took a WSET 1 class using ISO wine-tasting glasses.  As I progressed with my wine knowledge, I began using glasses made specifically for red or white wine, or more specifically for a grape variety.  I received a set of four wine glasses from Josephinenhutte in Germany, which Kurt Josef Zalto, an amazing 6th…

Day Two of my visit to the Fraser Valley had me at the Mt. Lehman Winery.  I met with co-owner and winemaker, Vern Siemens, who tasted his wines together with me, discussed his winemaking methods, his favourite varietals, and much more.   The grapes are I believe all from the estate; the white grapes for sure, but do not remember exactly…

After visiting Cannon Estate Winery, my next Fraser Valley winery stop was at Singletree Winery, which is only a few minutes away.  Thank you to Tourism Abbotsford for setting this meeting up for me.  I met with Debbie Etsell from Singletree who poured me a selection of their wines, while I sat in one of their cabanas overlooking the vineyard….

When we talk about BC wine, many people think about the Okanagan, which does have a majority of our vineyards and wineries.  But, there are other regions across BC with wineries.  The Fraser Valley around Abbotsford is one of those areas.  Tourism Abbotsford helped organize a trip for me to visit a few wineries and a cidery so that I…

Have you ever wished you had a proper wine glass when you were away from home?  Copain de Vin is an innovative product, a portable wine glass, designed to revolutionize how wine enthusiasts enjoy their favourite drink outdoors. Developed with the renowned three-time Vinologist of the Year, Alessandro Matrone, Copain de Vin asserts you will enjoy an authentic and enhanced…

If you are thinking about sipping a ripe, juicy, delicious red wine, this wine, Hester Creek Grenache Syrah Mourvedre 2022, is a wonderful option.  I received this wine earlier this summer but took till now to have a chance to open it for you.  It’s a blend of 45% Grenache, 38% Syrah (includes 2% of co-fermented Viognier), and 17% Mourvedre…

As the wine industry grapples with evolving consumer preferences and environmental concerns, alternative packaging options are becoming increasingly prominent. However, overcoming the skepticism surrounding these options requires a multifaceted approach. Here are seven suggestions and strategies for how winemakers can address consumer perceptions about alternative packaging: 1. Education and Transparency Educating consumers about the environmental benefits and quality of alternative…