The First IVSA Trade Tasting for 2023 – My Wine Picks

This week we had our first Trade tasting of new wines or new vintages of wines, plus spirits with the IVSA.  I decided to concentrate on white and sparkling wines for this event, as I had a shorter time to taste that day.  Below are some of the wines that I enjoyed and hope you will find them soon, if not already, in BC Liquor stores or other private wine shops across BC.  Enjoy.

My Wine Picks

Rama & Selas Vinho Espumante de Qualidade, Metodo Classico, Portugal – a medium ginger colour.  Off-dry, medium-sized bubble.  Crisp apple flavour and red fruits.  Medium-plus length.  A touch of pepperiness.

Marcio Lopes Pequenos Rebentos Loureiro 2021, Portugal – A deep lemon colour.  Light honey and stone fruit aromas.  Medium-plus body, thick and round mouthfeel.  Nutty, rich citrus and ripe stone fruit flavours.  A touch of orange on the palate.

Champagne A. Bartel Brut, France – made from 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay grapes.  Pale lemon colour.  A nice light sweet stone fruit, apple, and lemon nose.  Dry, medium body and length.  Higher acidity and medium-sized biting bubbles.  Crisp apple and ripe stone fruit flavours.

Emotivo Prosecco Rose, Italy – A light peach colour.  Light aromas of peach and floral.  Off-dry, smaller bubbles. Strawberries and stone fruit flavours.  A pretty wine and a nice choice for Valentine’s Day. –

Heidi Schrock & Sohne Weissburgunder 2021, Austria – Pale colour.  Light peach aroma.  Light body and medium acidity.  Soft and round mouthfeel.  Peach and mineral on the palate. –

Ferzo Abruzzo Pecorino Superiore, Italy – Medium lemon colour.  Light stone fruit nose.  Smooth and soft, with a thicker mouthfeel.  Lower acidity.  Light stonefruit flavour.  More an expression of mouthfeel. –

Cornarea Rorero Arneis 2021, Italy – A medium lemon colour.  Honey and light stone fruit aromas.  Off-dry, soft and round, with low acidity.  Peach and honey on the palate.

Although I kept to tasting white and sparkling wines at this tasting, I noticed that there was at least one row worth of tables across all the rows that were offering whiskies to the BC market.  Also during this week, there is the Whisky Global Vancouver going on at the Rocky Mountaineer.  Interest in whisky seems to be growing in our market.