Category: VQA

Pinot Noir is one of my favourite red grapes.  It in general has a lighter touch and is very elegant, typically with red fruits and floral components.  I am grateful to receive two wines from Moraine Estate Winery, their Pinot Noir 2020 and Rosé 2021. Both wines are fresh and bright, and I think will be a great way to get…

Windrush Estate Vintner’s Reserve Pinot Noir 2018 (ON$ 34.95 from the winery direct) I have a local Pinot to share with you today – and I think most of you already know how enamored I am by Ontario Pinot, and this one is no exception.  Enter Windrush Estate‘s Vintner’s Reserve Pinot Noir 2018. Made with grapes grown in Niagara, this…

If you like chocolate and BC, and need a gift for Valentine’s Day, check out this one from Culmina Family Estate Winery and Karat Chocolates. ~~~ With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Culmina Family Estate Winery would like to help you create the ultimate romantic evening with a delectable wine and chocolate pairing for you to share with your…

It might be -20 outside (Celcius!!), but that definitely doesn’t stop me from opening up a rosé when the mood strikes! And that mood struck the other night for what ended up being a very delectable pairing. The wine: Thirty Bench Rosé 2019 (ON $29.95 from the winery)The meal: Hoisin fried green beans, broccolini and mushroom stir fry, tofu, and…

Do you like diamonds?  Have you heard of wine diamonds?  They are actually tartrate crystals that have precipitated out of a wine when the wine was exposed to cold temperatures.  You typically find these wine diamonds on the bottom of the wine cork, which is what I saw when I opened a bottle of Poplar Grove Winery Merlot 2016.  This…

Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Pinot Noir 2018 (ON $45) A few Wednesdays ago I shared the 2nd wine from my blind Pinot Tasting and today I’m back with the final installment of the individual wines! The third wine we tried was from Canada. It was Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Pinot Noir 2018. And weirdly enough, this…

This is my first wine to review in 2022, Bordertown Vineyards & Estate Winery Gruner Veltliner 2018.  A BC wine coming from Osoyoos in the south Okanagan.  Gruner Veltliner is not yet a commonly known white grape here in BC, but it should become more well-known.  The grape is widely grown in Austria, as well as in Hungary, Slovakia, and…

How would you like a fresh white sipping wine that reminds you of ripe fruits from the Okanagan and elsewhere? I have that for you with Valley Commons 2020 Harvest Table Wine. A blend of 56% Muscat, 22% Viognier, and 22% Chardonnay grapes. I can see this wine being enjoyed with some soft cheeses and bread with friends. I also…

As I mentioned for my five-star wine ratings this year, COVID limited the number of events and thus wines that I could taste that came from around the world to BC.  That being said, I am grateful for the BC wineries that sent me wines to taste, plus wines from wine agencies.  There are many wines that fit into my…

Would you like a bold BC red wine to go with your roast beef dinner this December? Then Upper Bench’s Yard Wine 2018 will fit the bill. A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Let me tell you about it. My Wine Tasting Notes Upper Bench Estate Winery Yard Wine 2018 (BC $33) The wine was fermented using…