Category: port

It is time to start drinking your port with the colder weather upon us.  There are many styles of port.  I received 3 port samples from The Fladgate Partnership that cover 3 different styles; Pink, Tawny, and Vintage.   Port is made from indigenous grapes, typically Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, and Tinta Cao. Port is a…

I was fortunate to be invited to the Fladgate Partnership Virtual Press Trip with David Guimaraens to learn about the 2020 port wine harvest.  David is the head winemaker for the Flagdate Partnership that includes Fonseca, Taylor’s, and Croft Port.  We held a Zoom meeting, which is what helps keep us all safe and connected at the same time.   What…

Are you a port lover, or want to learn about port?  Why not purchase a ticket to this Taylor Fladgate tasting at the Cambie and 39th BC Liquor Store on May 10, 2019.  Details are below. ~~~ Event: THE FLADGATE PARTNERSHIP PORT TASTING: 1969 TAWNY PORT RELEASE & 2016 CLASS VINTAGE PORT Date: May 10, 2019 Location: 39th & Cambie Signature BC…

During the holidays many of us like to make, give and/or receive pastries and chocolates.  But what do we pair them with?  Tea or coffee?  Yes those are what most people do, but how about wine?  I took up that idea and visited Chef Hodge at Temper Chocolate & Pastry to get a sample of pastries and chocolates for me…

The 39th Vancouver International Wine Festival starts on Feb 24, 2018.  What an amazing success, for the Festival to be bringing us wines from around the world to our doorstep, along with a winery principal!  There will be 1400+ wines to taste through all events, and more than 700 wines in the Festival Tasting Room.  Our theme countries for this…

This past year I tasted a tremendous number of wines from around the world, but some wines really resonated with me.  It may have been the great balance of fruit, sugar, acidity for a white wine, or the fruit, tannins and minerality in a red wine, or something else. Something that made the wine stand above the other wines.  Could…

The History of the House of Ramos Pinto The House Ramos Pinto, in Portugal, was founded in 1880 and for several decades, its history has been marked by a balance between innovation and respect for tradition. In the production and selection of the best grapes, in the systematic knowledge of the terroir and being the pioneer in the launching of…

What would you do if you owned a port house and it was celebrating its 325th birthday? Make a special 325 Special Edition Tawny Port of course!  And that is what Taylor Fladgate has done.  This special port has arrived in the Vancouver area and is available in 39 BC Liquor stores.  It comes in a special bottle as well,…

During the Wines of Portugal tasting that I was able to attend recently I had the opportunity to also have a short interview with Filipa Anunciação, the senior area manager from Wines of Portugal.  It was interesting to hear her answers to my questions.  I had a chance to speak with Nuno Vales from Wines of Portugal in 2014 and…

When someone asks you about your favourite wines from Europe, probably most people would say France or Italy, but there are other countries you should consider like Portugal.  There are more than 250 grape varieties in Portugal, giving the wine maker quite a selection when they make their red or white wines.  Some of these grapes, like Touriga Nacional can…