Enjoy Wine, Food, and Travel with Karl MyWinePal
Many people imagine Champagne as a pale lemon-coloured wine with fine bubbles and some combination of aromas and flavours of citrus, apple, nuts, oak, and brioche. But, Champagne is also available as a Rosé wine, giving it a different flavour profile, typically of red fruits, a little more body, and larger bubbles, from the use of Pinot Noir as the…
On a lighter tone, at VanWineFest 2026, I had a chance to attend a walk-about lunch at LaSalle College Vancouver; French bistro fare prepared and served by LaSalle students, while sampling a selection of French wines representing seven French wine regions. Below is a list of the French wines followed by the menu. No wine reviews here, just some general…
A Tour de France in Your Glass Food and wine go together, especially in France. I attended the VanWineFest 2026 seminar, A Tour de France in Your Glass. With Moderator, Arnica Rowan, we took an oenological journey through seven classic French wine regions, each with their own unique characteristics and history. We crossed the country from Champagne to South West…
Champagne on ice at TWB The Wine Bar Champagne, the world’s most celebrated sparkling wine, comes exclusively from the Champagne region in northeastern France. While the bubbles may steal the spotlight, the label tells a deeper story; about origin, grapes, and craftsmanship. To decode Champagne is to appreciate its layered complexity, from vineyard to vintage. The Champagne Appellation System Champagne…
Happy New Year, everyone! In 2025, I wrote 142 wine tasting articles, with most of the articles reviewing two bottles of wine. From a quick calculation, I wrote at least 284 wine reviews on mywinepal. Wines submitted to me through the year ranged from to wines, but I usually only post wines that were at least . Price is not a factor…
Here in British Columbia, we love our local wines. But a question always lingers in the minds of serious wine lovers: how do our favourites truly stack up against the world’s established benchmarks? To try to answer that question, I attended the seven stars Masterclass hosted by Township 7 Vineyards & Winery who are celebrating 25 years of producing sparkling…
Now that school is back and summer holidays are over, we know that the holiday season will be coming up soon. Whether it is Thanksgiving in October or Christmas in December, sparkling wine has a place. I attended the latest IVSA trade wine, beer, and spirits event this week, and decided to spend most of my time sampling sparkling wines. …
Top Drop Canada is a premier wine festival held annually in Vancouver, showcasing a curated selection of terroir-driven wines from around the globe. The event brings together over 40 international producers, including renowned estates from regions such as Piedmont, Champagne, and the Okanagan Valley. 50+ wineries in total. None from the USA this year. Attendees have the unique opportunity to…
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…
While the term “Cru” is most often used for the French classification system, the “Cru” concept can apply to any vineyard or group of vineyards recognized for their superior quality. It was first mentioned in Champagne in 1911 and then spread across France, and now the rest of the world. This seminar, The Global Cru, took participants on a global…
Video Guide Uncorks the Story of British Columbia Wines. Buy Now.
