Category: VQA

For the 2023 harvest, many winegrowers reported their earliest start on record due to a hot, sunny summer. What did Wines of British Columbia have to say? From Wines of British Columbia, “Going into the summer season BC wineries knew they were facing the challenge of a reduced wine grape crop. “A devastating extreme cold event in December 2022 impacted…

I have two red blends from BC’s Hester Creek Estate Winery.  Both show off ripe fruit flavours and are smooth and round, with fine-grained tannins, that I think would be easy to enjoy over the holidays with appetizers or main courses.  The two wines are the Hester Creek Estate Winery Cabernet Merlot 2022 and their Character Red 2022, a blend…

Here are two musical compositions in wine from BC’s High Note Estate Winery.  Cadenza Red Blend 2021 (of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Sauvignon) and Verismo Syrah 2021.  Wonderful wines to share with family and friends for the holiday season.  Let me tell you about these wines. My Wine Tasting Notes High Note Estate Winery Cadenza Red Blend 2021…

Last week I attended the Swirl Around BC wines event seminar, which was followed by wine tastings from a variety of BC wineries.  I decided to check on sparkling, rosé, and white wines leading up to the Holiday season.  Here are a few wines I thought were quite good and you may enjoy.  Remember with the winter cold snap affecting…

Viognier is not a grape that you typically think of when you consider white wines in BC, but you should.  Although the grape originates from the northern Rhone Valley, which can get quite hot in the summer, the grape does well in our Okanagan Valley, which can have cooler and hotter vintages.  I have two Viognier wines from two separate…

I was invited to attend the Swirl Around BC 2023 seminar recently to hear from BC winemakers about the challenges and opportunities in the BC wine industry.  Our Moderator for this seminar was DJ Kearney, and our Panelists were: Alistair Veen, JoieFarm, Bailey Williamson, Blue Grouse Estate Winery; Charlie Baessler, Corcelettes Estate Winery; David Paterson, Tantalus Vineyards; Ross Wise, Black…

With all the pressures caused by winter weather freezing vines reducing the grape harvest this year and forest fires over the past several years, our BC wineries need your support.  I have two wines, one white and one red, from BC’s Blasted Church Vineyards to review for you.  Blasted Church Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2022 is a white Bordeaux blend. …

This is the third Pinot Noir in a row that I am recently reviewing for you; working my way to fuller-bodied reds.  This Pinot Noir comes from the Okanagan Valley, from a variety of vineyards.  It is the Meyer Family Vineyards Pinot Noir 2022.  It comes under a screwcap and is ready to drink.  Let me tell you about it….

Solvero Wines is one of the newest wineries in British Columbia. It is located at Garnet Valley in Summerland.  Andrea and Bob Sartor are the proprietors of the winery with their son, Matt Sartor, who took the Viticulture program at Okanagan College. The owners’ commitment is to minimal intervention and transparency in all aspects of wine production.  Matt selected and planted 7 clones of…

Here are my last two white aromatic BC wines for a while.  The clouds and rain have convinced me that the upcoming wines that I will taste should be red.  The two white wines I have for you are the Township 7 Provenance Series 7 Blanc 2022 and Provenance Series Pinot Gris 2022.  Both wines have grapes coming from the…