MyWinePal

While the term “Cru” is most often used for the French classification system, the “Cru” concept can apply to any vineyard or group of vineyards recognized for their superior quality.  It was first mentioned in Champagne in 1911 and then spread across France, and now the rest of the world. This seminar, The Global Cru, took participants on a global…

Justin Vineyards & Winery, a benchmark producer in Paso Robles, California is renowned for crafting bold, Bordeaux-style wines that showcase the region’s rich soils and warm climate. Led by winemaker Scott Shirley, Justin focuses on producing structured, expressive wines with depth and elegance. Their flagship Isosceles blend—crafted from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc—delivers layers of dark fruit, spice, and…

Today we were able to taste California wines crafted on the edge – coastal cliffs, mountain tops, and rugged valleys – where adversity breeds greatness.  This seminar at the VanWineFest 2025 showed us bold wines born from unforgiving terrains and regenerative farming.  Our Moderator was Elaine Chukan Brown.  Winery Principals to tell us about their wines: Kori Butler, Andrew Gouveia,…

This week I will start tasting a few Argentinean Malbec wines and giving you my impressions of them, leading up to Malbec World Day.  Watch for my initial post on Instagram, followed by a longer article on mywinepal.com. There will also be other Malbec-related activities that you can participate in, in the Vancouver area.  Here is a press release about…

LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards, located in the heart of Lodi, California, is a family-owned winery dedicated to crafting sustainably grown, estate-driven wines that capture the essence of the region. With a deep commitment to land stewardship, the Lange family has been farming in Lodi for five generations, producing exceptional wines that reflect their rich heritage. Zinfandel, Lodi’s flagship grape,…

The second seminar I attended at VanWineFest 2025 was the “Three Rings of Sustainability“. Dr. Monique Bell (Professor of Marketing, Fresno State University) and Dr. Damien Wilson (Hamel Family Faculty Chair of Wine Business, Sonoma State University) lead a panel of principals as they explored the three rings of sustainability – environmental, social, and economic. We learned how sustainable wine…

Vancouver Cocktail Week by the The Alchemist Magazine has been very successful.  I was posting about various events happening via my social media channels.  I hope you were able to attend one.  On Saturday evening, I had some delicious cocktails at the Black & White Gala as part of Vancouver Cocktail Week.   We had cocktails made with tequila, gin, Canadian…

Citation Winery, based in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, is dedicated to crafting age-worthy, small-production wines that reflect the region’s cool-climate elegance. With a focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The winery’s approach emphasizes patience, often releasing wines with extended aging to showcase their full potential. Earthy, red-fruited Pinot Noirs and balanced, mineral-driven Chardonnays define its style, making Citation a hidden gem…

Did you know that Giusti Wine, comes from the Valpolicella region of Italy, but is owned by a BC businessman, Mr. Joe Giusti?  Mr. Ermenegildo “Joe” Giusti, was born and raised in Italy and moved to Vancouver, where he became a very successful businessman in the construction industry.  With this wealth, he wanted to show his passion of Italian wine;…

We all love to get good value from our purchases, especially in wine when the quality of the wine exceeds bottle price. In this VanWineFest 2025 seminar, “Value & Variety, West Coast Style“, we were introduced to 10 different wineries along the USA west coast. This trio of states offer every climate, terroir, grape, and wine style to tempt wine…