Category: bc

A year ago I reviewed three Pinot Noir from Spierhead Winery from the 2015 vintage.  2015 was a hot year, but Spearhead Winery is located in the Kelowna area, which is a cooler region within the Okanagan.  Through that tasting, I determined that the summer heat did not adversely affect the wines and they still showed their red fruit and…

Giant Head Winery, located in Summerland along the Bottleneck Drive, purchased their land in 2004 and have been producing wine since 2008.  Owners John Glavina and Jinny Lee run the operation, making small batches of wine.  They produce Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir, Merlot, a Rosé made from Merlot, and a Blanc de Noir sparkling made from Pinot Noir.  Their grapes are all…

The 39th Vancouver International Wine Festival starts on Feb 24, 2018.  What an amazing success, for the Festival to be bringing us wines from around the world to our doorstep, along with a winery principal!  There will be 1400+ wines to taste through all events, and more than 700 wines in the Festival Tasting Room.  Our theme countries for this…

Have You Heard of Whispering Horse Winery? One of our newest wineries to BC, Whispering Horse Winery is located a little southwest of Chilliwack on Vedder Mountain Rd.  Cultus Lake is around the corner from the winery as well.  The story behind the name of the winery is, of course, related to horses.  In the words of the winery, “Our…

As I mentioned in my previous article on my top rated white, sparkling, and fortified wines for 2017, there were so many excellent wines that I tasted this year.  As I review the red wines that I’ve listed below, there are many wines from Italy, in part due to the many visits by Italian wineries to Vancouver this year.  From…

Although this press release from 40 Knots Vineyard & Estate Winery (with a few edits by me) came out in November, a deadline is coming up in January about their court case with Loblaws Companies Ltd.  Below is information about their dispute about their wine named Ziggy. Since February 2016, 40 Knots Vineyard & Estate Winery on Vancouver Island began their…

This past year I tasted a tremendous number of wines from around the world, but some wines really resonated with me.  It may have been the great balance of fruit, sugar, acidity for a white wine, or the fruit, tannins and minerality in a red wine, or something else. Something that made the wine stand above the other wines.  Could…

Whatever you are celebrating this December, it’s probably with family and/or friends for a meal at some point.  Food loves wine, so here are a few of my recommended wines that should go with many dishes, or to enjoy on their own before or after your meal.  Enjoy these BC wines! My Holiday BC Wine Suggestions Backyard Vineyards Blanc de…

If you are familiar with BC wines at all, you should know of Sandra Oldfield and the winery she helped start with her husband Kenn Oldfield and friends Barb and Bob Shaunessy, called Tinhorn Creek in Oliver in 1993 and first vintage in 1994. This year, 24 years later, life changed for Sandra and Kenn when Tinhorn Creek was sold…

2017 was a terrible harvest in France due to poor weather conditions through the growing season, producing the smallest grape harvest since 1945. In the United States, Napa and Sonoma Valleys were hit by forest fires which although was late in the harvest, still affected later ripening grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon. The Valleys were also suffering from a heat wave, causing…