MyWinePal

What do you know about Sicily’s Tenute Nicosia winery? Tenute Nicosia‘s goal is to promote the best wine-growing areas in Sicily (around Mt. Etna) while fully respecting the environment, focusing on the finest native varieties and the international cultivars that can best adapt to Sicily’s terroir.  The winery is headed by Carmelo Nicosia, assisted by his sons Francesco and Graziano…

This year’s harvest in the BC interior was extremely different from past harvests as the winter cold snap killed most of the grape vines.  Coastal and Fraser Valley wineries did not suffer the same fate.  The amount of grapevine loss varied a bit in the interior, depending on how close the vineyards were to interior lakes and the slopes where…

Here is a toast to Ironstone Vineyards from California. Below is some information from the winery in their own words and the wines they will pour at the VanWineFest 2025.  Enjoy! About Ironstone Vineyards Ironstone is nestled in the charming gold rush town of Murphys in California’s Sierra Foothills. For decades, the Kautz Family has been devoted to sustainably growing…

Cava, often referred to as the “Champagne of Spain,” is a sparkling wine that hails primarily from the Penedès region in Catalonia, Spain. Known for its vibrant bubbles and complex flavours, Cava is produced using the traditional method, similar to that of Champagne, which involves a second fermentation in the bottle. Origins of Cava The roots of Cava can be…

I have two BC wines for you today.  One is from Mayhem Wines in the Okanagan Valley and the other from the Robin Ridge Winery in the Similkameen Valley.  I thought these two wines may show off some fresh BC fruit flavours and go well with holiday get-togethers.  Let me tell you about them. My Wine Tasting Notes Mayhem Wines…

Do you like apples or pears?  There are many cider makers in BC that will convert those fruits into tasty drinks for you to enjoy year-round.  They tend to be lighter-bodied than many wines, lower in alcohol and come in 500ml bottles, which makes it possible to enjoy by yourself in one session.  You can drive to several cideries in…

I am a Pinot Noir lover, so when I received two bottles of Pinot Noir from the 2022 harvest by Blue Mountain Vineyards and Cellars to review, I eagerly anticipated opening them.  The two bottles I received were the Blue Mountain Vineyards and Cellars Estate Cuvée Pinot Noir 2022 and the Reserve Cuvée Pinot Noir 2022. Pinot Noir is a…

Hervé Martin, the celebrated chef and owner of The French Table bistro on Main Street, is welcoming lovers of French cuisine back to his beloved restaurant after an unexpected twist in his retirement journey.  He trained in Michelin-starred restaurants in France and then went on to work in the elite kitchens of three Michelin-starred establishments in Switzerland and France. Hervé…

VANCOUVER, BC (November 13, 2024) — Advance tickets are now on sale for the Vancouver International Wine Festival. Buy early and save up to $30 off your tasting experience. International Festival Tasting (IFT) tickets are $10 off for a limited time. Enhance your experience in the Delta Air Lines Tasting Lounge and save $15. If you can’t decide which IFT to pick, go to all four and can save $25 on the new IFT…

With the holiday season upon us, I was invited to the Iconic Wineries of British Columbia to check out their holiday cheer at The Kent downtown.  In addition to wines to sample and recommend for the holiday season, we were also treated to savour holiday-inspired canapés prepared by the talented Estate Chefs from CedarCreek, Liquidity and Mission Hill.  The wineries participating…