Category: chenin blanc

The Fall release of BC VQA wines was in late September.  Due to skytrain issues getting to the venue, I did not have as much time to taste the new wine releases, so I concentrated on white wines.  There were also red wines, but not enough time to taste.  There are a few sparkling wines on this list, which you…

Crémant is a category of sparkling wines in France made using the same traditional method as Champagne but produced outside the Champagne region. This delightful bubbly offers a high-quality, often more affordable alternative to its famous counterpart while showcasing the unique characteristics of various French wine regions. Like Champagne, Crémant can also be white or rosé in colour. What is…

The Da Silva family hail from Portugal where their family grew grapes from the 1700’s.  The family immigrated to BC’s Naramata Bench in 1955 and purchased their first farm four years later.  Close to 70 years later, their family pays homage to craft wines that reflect the terroir of their nine vineyards.  I received two red wines and two white…

The history of Loire Valley wines is a rich and storied one, dating back to the 1st century when the Romans first cultivated vineyards in this picturesque region of France. Over the centuries, the Loire Valley has become renowned for its diverse and elegant wines. The region’s unique terroir, marked by a temperate climate, a variety of soil types, and…

I knew nothing about Ontario’s Big Head Wines until it was suggested to me to visit by Talia Mendelsohn from the Bacchus Group Inc. in Toronto, but this winery in particular truly impressed me with their wines and their winemaking methods.  If you ever get a chance to visit the Niagara region, do not miss visiting Big Head Wines. The…

This past week Business France, the national agency to develop the French economy through export growth, brought in several French wineries to Vancouver.  These wineries do not yet have representation in British Columbia.  You currently cannot purchase these wines.  This article is meant for wine agents in BC that are interested in adding more French wines to their portfolio.  Below…

Today, June 17, 2022, is Drink Chenin Day. South Africa is a major producer of quality Chenin Blanc wine. I have posted 4 Chenin Blanc wines earlier on mywinepal to help you celebrate this day, and now I have my final two South African Chenin Blanc wines can you can try. I have the Boschendal Sommelier Selection Chenin Blanc 2021…

I have two more South African Chenin Blanc for you to celebrate Drink Chenin Day on June 17. Both wines are from the Spier Wine Farm in the Stellenbosch region. The Spier Signature Chenin Blanc 2021 is unoaked and probably the one you may be most familiar with. The other wine is the Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2019 which…

Drink Chenin Day is on Friday, June 17. Chenin Blanc has been grown in South Africa since the 1600s, and it continues to be the most widely planted varietal, accounting for nearly 20% of the acreage currently under vine. If you have not tried Chenin Blanc from South Africa, you are missing out on a very versatile food-friendly wine. I…

Have you ever heard of Top Drop Vancouver?  It is a festival where 40 hand-selected wineries from around the world come to Vancouver and pour their wines for you.  These wineries have to have a certain level of quality and status in order for them to be invited so that you know you are going to enjoy premium wines. Yes,…