MyWinePal

Say Bonjour to Vignobles Jalousie Beaulieu  from Bordeaux in France. Below is some information from the winery in their own words and the wines they will pour at VanWineFest 2026.  Enjoy! Some Background Information The Jalousie Beaulieu vineyards are in a small commune called Galgon, close to the Fronsac hillsides, 10 km from Saint Emilion. It is a family vineyard since 1910….

In the world of wine, size isn’t just a matter of aesthetics, it’s a matter of chemistry, aging potential, and even social impact. Magnum wine bottles, holding 1.5 liters (twice the volume of a standard 750ml bottle), have long been favoured by sommeliers, collectors, and party hosts alike. But are they truly superior to their standard-sized bottles? Let’s uncork the…

Stikky Books cover a variety of topics and are created with a simple method to learn about a topic, whether it is night sky constellations or how to taste wine.  I recently received the Stikky Wine book, written by Andrea Ribel, with background knowledge provided by several sommeliers. This book covers how to identify six aroma families, six different grape…

Six years ago we welcomed Gérard Bertrand and the Gérard Bertrand Group to VanWineFest 2020.  Now, we can welcome them back to VanWineFest 2026.  Read about their history and wines in their own words. Introducing Gérard Bertrand In 1975, Georges Bertrand introduced his son, Gérard, to harvesting on the Domaine de Villemajou in the unique terroir of Corbières. From his…

Gate 22 Winery in Surrey, BC, is probably new to many people.  I know it only came on my radar later this year.  It has an interesting name, which made me think of a gate at an airport, plus their logo shows an airplane propeller.  When I checked with the winery, I was told the ownership group manages the Boundary…

We do not get many wines from Ontario in BC, but here is a new entry.  Henry of Pelham, located in the Niagara peninsula has been producing wine since 1984.  I have two wines for you today: Henry of Pelham Classic Pinot Grigio 2024 and Henry of Pelham Classic Baco Noir 2023.  Baco Noir may be unfamiliar to some of…

Cocktail culture is strong in Canada and we have a yearly cocktail week in Vancouver to celebrate this fact.  I attended the Black & White Gala this year and it was quite fun with many different cocktails to try.  I’ve included pictures of my attendance this past year. Here is a press release about the Vancouver Cocktail Week that will…

In case you haven’t heard, Okanagan’s Blasted Church Vineyards is having a case sale on their Renaissance wines from now till Dec 14.  I’m tasting two of their Renaissance series wines I received.  Hatfield’s Fuse 2024 and Pinot Gris 2024.  Both wines are made in BC, but use grapes that come from Washington state, to cover our cold winter snap in…

You have probably had Balsamic Vinegar of Modena of Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) drizzled over tomatoes and mozzarella cheese in a Capreze Salad.  And you know that this deeply coloured, thick vinegar, comes from Italy.  But there is an interesting story behind Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI.  I was with a few other select media members to learn about the…

With the upcoming holiday season, you, or your guests, may not want a glass of wine, beer, or cocktail.  Maybe something lower in alcohol, but still has nice fruit flavours.  Orchard + Field is just that.  Wine made using fruit from  orchard and berries from the fields and crafted at Garnet Valley Ranch in Summerland, BC.  I received two bottles…