Enjoy Wine, Food, and Travel with Karl MyWinePal
Don’t forget that April is BC Wine Month. In case you have not purchased any BC wine yet, here are some compelling reasons why British Columbians should consider buying BC wines: 1. Economic Impact: The BC wine industry contributes $3.75 billion annually to British Columbia’s economy. By purchasing local wines, consumers directly support local businesses, jobs, and economic growth. 2….
In the late Fall, I interviewed a few BC winemakers about their 2022 harvest, but the wines were still fermenting in tanks, barrels or other vessels. The winemakers sounded optimistic, thanks to the warm Fall weather. But how would the wines taste? This we explored with the following winemakers at the BC Vintage 2022 media preview: Laurent Fadanni, Whispering Horse…
To start off the Vancouver International Wine Festival, I attended this masterclass which featured 11 British Columbia wines from across the province, “Defining the Root of BC Terroir“. Our panellists, the winemakers at the wineries, discussed the unique growing conditions of their vineyard and terroir of the area. There was also some discussion on what BC winegrowers are doing in…
Do you enjoy Cabernets? Do you prefer Cabernet Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon? I tried both today from Seaside Pearl Farmgate Winery. Their Cabernet Franc grapes come from the Similkameen Valley while the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes come from the Okanagan Valley. You may notice that both labels mention “Lover’s Lane”. What does that have to do with BC or the Fraser…
Seaside Pearl Farmgate Winery in Abbotsford continues to produce top-quality limited-production wines. The two wines I tasted, their Magnolias Rosé 2021 and The Connaught Syrah 2020, continue with this tradition. Let me tell you about them. My Wine Tasting Notes Seaside Pearl Farmgate Winery Magnolias Rosé 2021 (for Club Members only) The magnolias label celebrates the blooms of this tree…
The BC wine harvest was just starting as I was on vacation in the Okanagan the second last week of September. The winemakers I spoke to noted that they are about a month behind for the start of harvest. Wines of BC sent me this press release with more information about this year’s grape harvest in BC. Give it a…
I have been a fan of Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery‘s wines for many years. I still have a bottle of their 2003 Summit Reserve Semillon I purchased at the winery that I hope to open this year with friends. On my recent trip to Kelowna, I messaged their winemaker, Jeff Hundertmark, to see if I could meet with him. Not…
Have you tried the wines from Robin Ridge Winery in the Similkameen Valley? This small family-run winery only uses their organic estate-grown grapes. Each wine label also is named after a bird I was given a bottle of their Robin Ridge Frigate 2015 to taste. A frigate is a large sea bird that lives in tropical areas, like Florida. The…
In BC we relatively quickly learned that cooler climate grapes, like Riesling, did better in the north Okanagan, and warmer climate grapes, like Syrah, did better in the south Okanagan. Similarly cooler climate grape varieties in the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island. And more. But we have had a few decades now to further refine these generalized grape growing regions…
At the Vancouver International Wine Festival, in the Tasting Room, I did have a chance to go through a flight of Monte Creek Winery wines with Winemaker Galen Barnhardt. Below is a discussion of the wines with Galen. Mostly Galen speaking, which is how an interview should be. Enjoy. Galen: Here we have our sparkling Rosé. It is 2020, from the…
Video Guide Uncorks the Story of British Columbia Wines. Buy Now.
