Category: Australia

When you pick up a bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine, you may notice that some have a vintage year on the label, while others do not. The presence or absence of a vintage date can have a significant impact on the wine inside. But what exactly does it mean, and how does it affect the taste, aging potential, and…

Opposites attract, at times.  Other times, it is great to enjoy their diversity.  I’m taking the latter track in this tasting of a low-alcohol Australian Chardonnay and a fuller-bodied Malbec from Argentina.  Some people are looking for low-alcohol, and lower calorie, wines, while others want to enjoy the full-body and richness of other wines.  I have Yalumba’s Y Series Lighter…

This is my third article reviewing Canadian Wine Trends that happened over 2024.  In this article, I will review our interest in Old World (e.g. Europe) vs New World (e.g. North and South America) wines.  Did we get more interested in European wines? I used Google Trends to produce graphs for our interest in Old World and New World wine areas, showing…

January 29th, 2025 is the Chinese (Lunar) New Year of the Earth Snake. In the Chinese zodiac, the snake is associated with wisdom, charm, elegance, and transformation. Snakes represent the symbol of wisdom. They are intelligent and wise. They are good at communication but say little. Snakes are usually regarded as great thinkers. Some famous people born in the Year…

The holidays are a time when many of us get together with family or friends to enjoy a meal together; hopefully with a glass of wine.  Here are a few last-minute suggestions of wines you can pair with traditional dishes for the holidays.  Enjoy. Wine Pairings for Roast Turkey – Chardonnay: A lightly oaked Chardonnay complements the rich flavours of…

Have you heard of Rewild Wine?  A new brand to BC and to Canada from Australia. I recently received the Rewild Wine Cabernet Sauvignon 2022.  According to Rewild this wine is “Sustainably made with minimal intervention, Rewild varietals are a tribute to their home in the Southern Murray Darling and the grapes that grow there. Fresh, vibrant, and easy-drinking, each…

Australia, Argentina, and Chile each boast rich histories of winemaking that reflect their unique terroirs and cultural influences, as well as the origins of their signature grape varietals. Australia’s wine journey began with early European settlers in the 18th century, who quickly recognized the potential of its diverse landscapes, leading to the establishment of iconic regions like Barossa Valley and…

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…

At one time when we thought of quality sparkling wine, our thoughts would go to Europe; Champagne, Cava, Cremant, Franciacorta.  But that is no longer the case.  Quality sparkling wine can be found in BC as well as many southern hemisphere countries like Australia and the state of Tasmania, in particular.  I have a Tasmanian and a BC sparkling wine…

When I was in University many years ago, I purchased a bottle of Maison Louis Latour Chardonnay, that was on their entry-level scale.  That wine sparked my interest in French wine.  In some “New World” regions, Chardonnay has been more recently planted, while other locations have had Chardonnay vines for over 100 years.  Over time, through the wine trade’s many…