Category: Shiraz

Wines come in all categories from inexpensive to ultra-expensive, with associated levels of quality.  But there are exceptions, such as when a wine delivers higher quality than the price point.  Have you ever tried wines from South Africa?  South Africa has been producing wines longer than some Old World wineries yet is viewed as New World, like Canada, the USA…

A contingent of Australian wineries visited Vancouver recently to show off their latest releases of red and white wines.  There was, of course, many bottles of Shiraz to taste, but also cooler climate wines like Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. Did you know that there are 65 wine regions in Australia?  Many are in the southeast corner of Australia covering the…

February 5, 2019 is the Chinese New Year of the Brown Earth Pig.   In Chinese culture, pigs are the symbol of wealth. 2019 is supposed to be a great year to make money, and a good year to invest. According to chinesenewyear.net, “Pigs might not stand out in a crowd. But they are very realistic. Others may be all talk…

This is Part 2 of my top rated wines for 2018.  I earlier released my list of 40 white and sparkling wines for 2018, which you can read at this link.  This red wine list came from Trade tastings with agents and BC VQA wineries, the Vancouver International Wine Festival, visits to wineries, and personal purchases.  I categorized the wines below to…

One of the perks of being a wine writer is an invitation to a portfolio tasting from a wine agent.  The agency can bring out winery principals in some cases, who you can have a chat to about their wines.  They also pour wines that are available at regular retail, specialty wine shops, and special orders.  Having access to these…

If you have ever attended the Top Drop tastings in Vancouver, you will have experienced many 4.5 to 5 star wines according to my rating scale.  I recently attended a portfolio tasting by Vintage Corks, and this tasting was in that same quality range.  Vintage Corks offers premium wines from US, Italy, Canada and more.  You can find Vintage Corks’…

I try to make a trip to the Okanagan once a year as part of my summer vacation.  This year I decided to stop in Oliver as part of my trip and visit 3 different wineries, all in close proximity to each other.  The first winery visit on my list is C.C. Jentsch Cellars.  I have been impressed with their…

What do you know about the current (2017) statistics about Australian wine?  Did you know that the total vineyard area in Australia is 135,133 ha, of which Shiraz accounts for 39,893 ha (30%) and Chardonnay (the largest white variety) cover 21,442 ha (16%)? There are estimated to be 2468 wineries and 6251 grape growers in Australia. Compare that to Canada…

BC’s father daughter team of Harry McWatters and Christa-Lee McWatters-Bond have collaborated to produce two lines of wine lately; Evolve Cellars and McWatters Collection.  For me Evolve Cellar’s wines are meant to be young and fresh and easy to drink, while McWatters Collection has more structured wines that you can put in your cellar for many years and enjoy. I…

Australia is a large country with diverse climates and unique terroirs. There is for example the Terra Rossa, red soil, in the Coonawarra Valley which makes exceptional Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Or the cooler climate of the Hunter Valley, making expressive Semillon which can age for many years. Or Margaret River in Western Australia, which has been said to have…