Category: wine tasting

Now that you have some background about the BC winery situation for 2025 from part one of Brent Gushowaty’s article, here is the second part of the article I have for you by Brent when you are at a BC winery’s tasting room. Your Tasting Room Manners – Before You Arrive Group Think For most wineries, large groups arriving unannounced…

Have you started touring BC wine country this summer?  I have a two part article about touring BC wine country in 2025, written by Brent Gushowaty.  In part one, he covers: The impact of the 2023/24 freeze Introduction of 2024 “replacement wines” Evolving winery business models and tasting innovations Part Two will focus on the practical aspects for the casual…

When I started wine tasting seriously, I took a WSET 1 class using ISO wine-tasting glasses.  As I progressed with my wine knowledge, I began using glasses made specifically for red or white wine, or more specifically for a grape variety.  I received a set of four wine glasses from Josephinenhutte in Germany, which Kurt Josef Zalto, an amazing 6th…

Yesterday, Feb 26, 2024, was the official kickoff for the 45th annual Vancouver International Wine Festival (VanWineFest).  It was a small event with various media and a sampling of the wines that we can expect from the theme country, Italy.  I had a chance to catch up with some of my wine media friends to discuss the events we were…

I recommend opening two bottles of wine at the same time, not so that you have to finish both bottles in one sitting. Rather so that you can compare the two wines. What do you like about one wine more than another? What are the differences in their aromas and flavours?  Don’t open the first bottle, finish it, then open the…

Today my ebook, Sip and Savour: A Guide to Hosting Memorable Wine Tastings, is available for sale on various sites on the web.  If you are new to setting up wine tastings or need ideas of wines to select for a wine tasting, this ebook is for you.  It retails for USD $7.50 and is filled with knowledge gained from…

Did you know that the wine you taste when you pour it from the bottle, may not taste exactly like the wine that the winemaker had sampled at the winery?  A barrel sample in wine tasting refers to a small portion of wine that is drawn directly from the barrel during the ageing process. Winemakers use barrel samples to assess…

Did you know that Bottleneck Drive around Summerland has three driving routes along with which wineries, cideries, breweries, and distilleries are on each route?  You can drive each route on a separate day and have a fun long weekend.  Here is the press release from the Bottleneck Drive Association about the three routes plus a map showing the routes and…

I was fortunate to be invited to taste two vintages of Seña wines from Chile paired with dishes at Black + Blue restaurant in downtown Vancouver.  The wine luncheon and tasting was led by Mr. Michel Couttolenc, Fine Wines Director for Viñedo Chadwick and Seña. Seña is a joint venture winery started in 1995 between Napa Valley’s Robert Mondavi and Chile’s…

This week we had our first Trade tasting of new wines or new vintages of wines, plus spirits with the IVSA.  I decided to concentrate on white and sparkling wines for this event, as I had a shorter time to taste that day.  Below are some of the wines that I enjoyed and hope you will find them soon, if…