Enjoy Wine, Food, and Travel with Karl MyWinePal
Chinese (Lunar) New Year 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse, starting on February 17, 2026 until February 5, 2027. The Horse embodies enthusiasm, speed and fieriness, bringing a year focused on bold moves and exploration. The Year of the Horse brings themes of freedom, action, and momentum, encouraging bold moves, new projects, travel, and social connection, fuelled by…
The 2025 BC harvest was one of hope and a bounty of grapes. I travelled to Osoyoos at the beginning of October and all the winery principles I spoke to mentioned how their grape vines were supplying an overabundance of grapes this year, to make up for the devastation last year. Now that it is late November and the wines…
Growing up in the warm, vineyard-lined landscapes of southern Ukraine, just inland from the Black Sea, Gary (Gennadi) Zhygailo was immersed in the rhythms of the vine from an early age. His passion for wine led him to the Odessa National Academy of Food Technologies, where he earned both a Bachelor’s in Food Science and a Master’s in Fermentation and…
British Columbia has become one of the most exciting wine regions in the world, but for many people, especially those outside the province, its story is still waiting to be told. If you have ever wondered why BC wines are gaining international acclaim, which grape varieties thrive here, or how the unique landscapes shape what’s in your glass, Getting to…
Have you started touring BC wine country this summer? I have a two part article about touring BC wine country in 2025, written by Brent Gushowaty. In part one, he covers: The impact of the 2023/24 freeze Introduction of 2024 “replacement wines” Evolving winery business models and tasting innovations Part Two will focus on the practical aspects for the casual…
It is not too late to start checking out wine-inspired vacation destinations in British Columbia. But if you have children and/or fur babies, you may want to pick locations and wineries that have something to offer for them as well. Here is a list of BC wineries and more that have family-friendly options for parents travelling with children or pets for…
The wines of BC and the rest of the world, excluding the USA, were the last of the wines I tasted at the International Festival Tasting Room during VanWineFest 2025. Read through my wine tasting notes below and if you find some wines that spark your interest, check out your local BC Liquor store, some private wine shops,…
The BC coastal wineries and the Fraser Valley had a completely different winemaking experience compared to the interior of BC in 2024. With the cold weather winter snap in the Interior, most of the vitis vinifera vines died so many winemakers had to source grapes from outside of BC; Many chose Washington and Oregon states. The coastal and Fraser Valley…
My last stop on my two-day tour of the Fraser Valley was at Taves Estate Cidery and their associated family farm. You can easily spend a whole day here if you have children as they will be fascinated by all the farm animals. They can pet and feed rabbits, goats, and more. I enjoyed petting the animals, and taking a…
Day Two of my visit to the Fraser Valley had me at the Mt. Lehman Winery. I met with co-owner and winemaker, Vern Siemens, who tasted his wines together with me, discussed his winemaking methods, his favourite varietals, and much more. The grapes are I believe all from the estate; the white grapes for sure, but do not remember exactly…
Video Guide Uncorks the Story of British Columbia Wines. Buy Now.
