Category: VQA

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…

OMFG, Blasted Church Vineyards has made an excellent sparkling wine. It really is called OMFG and it is vintage MMXV (which is 2015) from a mix of 59% Pinot Noir and 41% Chardonnay grapes from the Skaha Bench made in the Traditional Method. The wine was disgorged on January 26, 2022.   According to the winery, to make this sparkling wine,…

I did get a chance to do a video interview with one BC winery during the Vancouver International Wine Festival.  Bordertown Vineyards & Estate Winery is located in Osoyoos.  In the Fall I walked to the winery from my hotel.  The vineyard stretches downslope to Osoyoos Lake and looks quite pretty.  For this video interview, I had owner Mohan Gill…

The fire that ripped through Lytton burning it to the ground was terrible.  But Lytton is strong and will rebuild.  To help with rebuilding, Fort Berens Estate Winery is offering a special edition Pinot Gris between June 3-12, 2022 to raise funds for Lytton.  Here is the announcement from the winery.  June 3 is here so start buying this wine…

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…

Do you know what are the top two varietal wines that Quails’ Gate Estate Winery from West Kelowna, BC produces?  I’ve written many times about my favourite red and white grape varieties here on mywinepal.com.  I have Caroline Tucker from Quails’ Gate to talk about their wines, and especially about my two favourite varietal wines.  A great discussion with Caroline…

These are the first wines that I’ve opened since the Vancouver International Wine Festival 2022. Sometimes you need a short break from tasting wine after you taste a lot of wine. The two wines I tasted are from Singletree Winery.  They started off in the Fraser Valley but have expanded out into the Naramata Bench.  The two wines I tasted…

2021 was a year of extreme weather conditions in BC, which had an impact on BC grapes and wine production.  Temperature records were shattered in many regions.  I’ve been told that Kelowna, Kamloops, Osoyoos, and Lillooet were among 60 cities that broke temperature records.  The heat dome in the summer causes grapevines to shut down until the weather cools off. …

Are you a sparkling wine fan?  Do you like BC wine?  I have Frind Estate Winery’s Non-Vintage Brut sparkling wine made in the Methode Classique using Chardonnay and Riesling grapes. Methode Classique is the method used in Champagne where the second fermentation happens in the bottle.  The metal cap covering the cork shows a rose.  I am not sure why,…

Mother’s Day is this weekend. Have you bought your mom a bottle of BC sparkling wine yet? Here are two bottles that she should enjoy from Okanagan Crush Pad. The Free Form Blanc de Noir 2018 is made from organic Pinot Noir grapes and zero dosage (no added sugar before the bottle is sealed for sale), and the Narrative XC…