Category: Syrah

You may not have heard of Jean-Claude Mas but his family began growing grapes in the south of France in 1892.  Jean-Claude gained experience in the wine business and education around the world, coming back to the family business when he inherited his father’s vineyards in Pézénas of 35 hectares.  In 2000 he created Les Domaines Paul Mas from these…

The first official Naramata Bench winery I visited on my weekend trip to the Okanagan was Bench 1775 Winery. This winery has gone through a few transformations.  I will let the winery tell you their story, in their own words, “Bench 1775 (formerly known as Paradise Ranch Wines Corp.) is one of the only two Okanagan Wineries producing icewine and…

My last winery visit in Okanagan Falls, before getting back to my visit to the Naramata Bench, is Blasted Church Vineyards. They have very colourful and expressive labels, with a religious bent or Renaissance theme to them, as the winery is located on Parson’s Road.   All their wines are unfined and unfiltered, so some wines may have a dull appearance…

When we talk about BC wine, many people think about the Okanagan, which does have a majority of our vineyards and wineries.  But, there are other regions across BC with wineries.  The Fraser Valley around Abbotsford is one of those areas.  Tourism Abbotsford helped organize a trip for me to visit a few wineries and a cidery so that I…

If you are thinking about sipping a ripe, juicy, delicious red wine, this wine, Hester Creek Grenache Syrah Mourvedre 2022, is a wonderful option.  I received this wine earlier this summer but took till now to have a chance to open it for you.  It’s a blend of 45% Grenache, 38% Syrah (includes 2% of co-fermented Viognier), and 17% Mourvedre…

Gérard Bertrand‘s Le Chouchou 2023 is the winery’s answer to new consumer trends, producing a light, fresh red wine.  It has low alcohol content and can be enjoyed at a cooler temperature.  It sits somewhere between a rosé and a fuller-bodied red wine, IMHO.  This wine is a blend of organic Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault grapes coming from Cevennes, Limoux,…

Washington state has over 900 wineries.  That is amazing.  While our BC wineries are bound primarily to mountain valleys, Washington state has a large land area to the east of the Cascades mountain ranges, which is where many of Washington’s wineries are located.  But how can you try wines from so many wineries more easily?  One way is to attend…

Gérard Bertrand Winery is the ambassador of the fine wines of Languedoc-Roussillon around the world. Gérard Bertrand owns 16 estates with their unique terroirs in the region. The Languedoc has been growing grapes for wines for 24 centuries (Greeks planted grapes around 550 BC) and produces 5% of the world’s wine.  Gérard has loved his vineyard land passionately and enthusiastically…

The history of Rhône Valley wines dates back to ancient times, with evidence of winemaking in the region dating back to at least 600 BC. The Romans further developed viticulture in the area; over the centuries, the region’s wines gained renown for their quality.  Rhône Valley wines remain popular due to their diverse range of styles, from bold and spicy…

These are probably my last two BC red wines for me to taste in 2023.  The wines come from the Church & State Wines.  I have their Church & State Wines Cabernet Franc 2019 and Syrah 2019. While the winery started on Vancouver Island, they do make wines from Okanagan-sourced grapes as well.  The Cabernet Franc comes from the terraces…