Category: Meritage

This was a crazy year due to COVID, which limited my usual number of wine tastings, but when I checked through the wines, I realized that of the wines I did taste, many almost made my 5-star category.  These wines I rated as 4.5-5 stars.  They are fantastic to drink now and would be OK to cellar for a short…

Do you know the meaning of the term “Meritage” for wines? It is a term developed by the California-based Meritage Alliance, that means a Bordeaux blend of grapes, without infringing on the term Bordeaux. Just like wineries around the world cannot say that their sparkling wine is Champagne. It is a term restricted to the region where that style of…

How would you like to impress your family and friends with two little known white wines from BC?  You can with a Viognier and a white Bordeaux blend from TIME Winery.  I was impressed with the quality of these two wines.  Did you know that Bordeaux makes white wines?  They do.  They are typically a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and…

Canadian Thanksgiving is going to be very different this year for many of us who are accustomed to getting together with our parents, brothers and sister, and maybe aunts and uncles for dinner.  It will be smaller, and may be just you, but you can still enjoy your turkey, ham, or vegan Thanksgiving meal with a glass or two of…

This will be an unusual Mother’s Day for us all.  Those of you who live in the same city as your mom can visit her on Mother’s Day, safely.  For those of us that live in different cities, phoning/skyping/zooming are all we can offer to speak to our mothers.  No more flying out to visit her for the weekend.  Sending…

Whatever you are celebrating this December, it’s probably with family and/or friends for a rich 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. My Holiday BC Wine Suggestions White Wines Coolshanagh Chardonnay, Naramata Bench, 2016 ($25.99)…

Every Fall we have the Colours Fall Release of BC VQA wines.  Over the last year, what changes has there been to our vineyards, grape varieties, and the number of wineries? Comparing the tasting booklet from both years by the BC Wine Institute we know: there are 10 more wineries, and 299 more acres of vineyards. that Merlot, Pinot Noir,…

The Canada Day long weekend celebration is this weekend.  Picnics and bbq and generally getting together with friends and family will happen.  Enjoying this scene with Canadian wine would make it even better in my opinion.  Below is a list of Canadian wines I tasted over the past year that I think would be fun to have this long weekend. …

What is the Taste Washington Grand Tasting compare to?  If you thought the Vancouver International Wine Festival Tasting Room, double the size, and add in 65 restaurants serving up freshly cooked dishes. I checked the Taste Washington website and it states that there are 235 wineries participating, but it felt like many more to me. Standing on the second level…

Okanagan Falls, located between Penticton and Oliver, holds, I think, a sweet spot for growing grapes and making wine.  It has long warm days and cool nights, which allow the grapes to reach full ripeness as well as keep their acidity.  The Okanagan Falls Skaha Winery Association, consisting of 14 wineries, with 32 vineyards, held a tasting recently, which I attended.  In…