Category: organic

Today I have another lesser-known AOC in the southern Rhone Valley – AOC Ventoux.  You may be very familiar with one of the wineries from AOC Ventoux, Château Pesquié.  Their wine labels in solid blocks of colour should be very familiar to you when you check on the shelves in the BC Liquor Stores and elsewhere across Canada.  I have…

Many of us are familiar with the wine regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, and the Rhone Valley, but there are many sub-regions, which have their own Appellation d’origine Contrôlée (AOC) that produce quality wines at reasonable prices.  Many of the wineries are family-run as well, with the vineyards and wineries being passed down through families.  I would like to present…

Today I have a bottle of Lou Coucardié Red 2012 from the well-known winemaker, Monsieur Michel Gassier from AOC Costieres de Nimes in the south of France, part of the Rhone Valley. This red wine is a blend of 49% Mourvedre, 35% Grenache, and 16% Syrah, coming from his organic vines. If you wonder what is Lou Coucardié, the winery…

If you have not yet enjoyed lunch or dinner at Provence Marinaside in Yaletown, maybe this wine and food pairing menu will entice you.  Tomatoes are now ripening on the coast, and are already ripe in the interior.  Provence Marinaside is pairing Heirloom tomatoes with Clos du Soleil wines (partially owned by Dr. Henry).  Here is the press release with…

With a nod to Shakespeare, I offer up two wines from the Okanagan’s Roche Wines. The first is their 2019 Texture Pinot Noir while the other is their 2020 Texture Rosé wine. Some people love red wines and others rosé wines so I offer both to you, As You Like It. My Wine Tasting Notes Roche Wines Texture Pinot Noir…

BC makes a fresh orchard fruit flavoured Pinot Gris, with good acidity, which works well with appetizers as well as main courses.  I received a bottle of Haywire Switchback Pinot Gris 2019 to review for you.  The grapes for this wine come from their Switchback organic and biodynamic vineyard in Summerland. My Wine Tasting Notes Haywire Switchback Pinot Gris 2019…

Have you ever wanted to compare a Red and a Rosé wine made by the same winery and the same vintage? What are the differences and similarities between the two wines? I had that chance with Okanagan Crush Pad free form Cabernet Franc 2019 and Cabernet Franc Rosé 2019. Both come from an organically farmed vineyard in Osoyoos. One thing…

Back to Bordeaux-style wines from the Okanagan. Two bottles I have been looking forward to opening are the Roche Wines Chateau 2017 and their Nuances 2018. The Chateau is under cork and the Nuances uses a screw cap. Both wines use Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, but in different proportions. I tasted their Nuances 2017 vintage and now have…

Do you enjoy Alsatian wines?  They are very food-friendly, with Riesling being the best-known grape from the region.  There are also other aromatic white varieties, like Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer, and now Pinot Noir is becoming more widely known.  I attended a virtual Alsatian Digitasting Fair this week and interviewed four winemakers at their wineries.  The wineries I…

This is a very timely article about the Summerhill Pyramid Winery Organic Syrah 2019 that I am tasting because it is being released to the public this week. If you are a vegan, this wine is vegan-friendly. This wine is also Canada Organic certified. My Wine Tasting Notes Summerhill Pyramid Winery Organic Syrah 2019 (BC $TBD) Appearance: a deep, yet…