Category: VQA

Two Sisters Vineyards by Niagara-on-the-Lake has an imposing, impressive wine-tasting room that also includes a restaurant and wine-making facilities.  Driving up to the winery, I felt like I was watching the primetime TV soap operas, Dynasty or Falcon Crest. Yes, I know I am dating myself.  The main Estate, which opened its doors in November 2014, was inspired by Italian…

While researching wineries I should visit in the Niagara region, I came across Kew Vineyards Estate Winery, which is a little east of Thirty Bench Wine Makers, and specializes in sparkling wine, I had to visit. Their original 1975 plantings are among the oldest in the region.  They have a classy, Old World feel wine tasting room, and make their…

In the summer of 2017 I attended the International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration (i4c) in the Niagara region.  A celebration of Chardonnay and Ontario wines in particular (other Canadian wineries were in attendance).  After attending i4c, I visited a few wineries in the Niagara region.  One of the wineries I visited, and wines I tasted at i4c, was Thirty Bench…

You may be wondering what happened to me as i typically post 3-4 wine articles a week.  I am in the Niagara region in southern Ontario to celebrate my birthday and to visit some wineries and taste their wines.  I have copious notes on the wines and probably tasted over 60 wines covering eight different wineries.  It will take me…

Yes, it is still summer, even though the calendar says September.  We can keep a summer mindset by drinking fresh crisp wines, like these two BC wines from Township 7 Vineyards & Winery.  I received their Township 7 Provenance Series Sauvignon Blanc 2022 and their Provenance Series Rosé 2022 to taste and review for you. Both wines are under screwcap…

It’s September, so let’s start looking for red wines to enjoy as the nights get longer and the weather gets cooler.  I have two red blends from the Carter Wine Company in Okanagan Falls.  Carter Wine Company The Hawk 2016, a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, and Carter Wine Company Lemberger Merlot 2017.  The grapes for both…

August 10, 2023, was the Grand Opening of the High Note Estate Winery, a new Mediterranean-inspired property located on the Naramata Bench. The winery is surrounded by a small three-acre picturesque vineyard, planted predominantly to Pinot Grigio. The winery will present a taste of the Mediterranean through wines influenced by the vibrant seaside villages of Italy. The wines are made…

Do you collect wines?  Sometimes a few bottles get pushed to the bottom and you forget about them till one day, several years later, you are searching for a wine and you rediscover these aged bottles of wine.  That did not happen to me, but I do age my wines and sometimes try to save some for a special occasion. …

Solvero Wines in Summerland is one of our new BC wineries.  They grow their grapes in their Garent Valley and Happy Valley vineyards to the north and south of town.  Their commitment is to minimal intervention and transparency in all aspects of wine production. Andrea and Bob Sartor are the proprietors of the winery with their son, Matt Sartor, who…

Sparkling wines are fun to enjoy on their own, but why not add sparkle to a cocktail?  I received these three recipes using sparkling wines, two are BC wines, and one is Italian Prosecco, which you may enjoy.   Sparkling frosé 750 mL See Ya Later Ranch Sparkling Rosé 2 cups strawberries sliced 1/2 cup Granulated sugar 1/4 cup lime juice…