Can you name the native grapes of the Rhone Valley? There are the north and south ends of the valley and different varieties. The main varieties of the north end are Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne. The northern Rhone is…
I wrote about Chile’s 8 Rios 2019 vintage wines 2 years ago, being tasty wines at an exceptional price. I am re-tasting these wines from the 2021 vintage. In particular, the 8 Rios Sauvignon Blanc 2021 and the 8 Rios…
What do you know about certified organic wines? Do you only have to not spray the grapes with synthetic pesticides and herbicides or is there more to it? How do you know if a wine is made with organically grown…
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. This seminar at the Vancouver International Wine Festival took us…
My first and only dinner during the Vancouver Wine Festival 2022 was the “Icons of South America” held at Alouette Bistro. Classic French cuisine with a West Coast twist meets powerhouse wines from Chile. Wines from Viñedo Chadwick, Seña, and…
Have you ever heard of Top Drop Vancouver? It is a festival where 40 hand-selected wineries from around the world come to Vancouver and pour their wines for you. These wineries have to have a certain level of quality and…
The Vancouver International Wine Festival is almost here. The last time we had the Festival was two years ago and closed during our COVID crisis, but now it is back and runs from May 16-22. One of the big attractions…
Winemaking has been around for hundreds of years. We are very familiar with wines coming from Europe, in particular France, where we talk about Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne. We typically call Europe the “Old World” wine region, while wines made…
Chile is a coastal country, long a thin, with a hot desert in the north and a cooler climate similar to around San Francisco as you go further south. I received a bottle of Cono Sur Pinot Noir Rosé Brut…
The holiday season is upon us and we start to think about enjoying time with family and friends. Assuming we can do this safely over our second COVID season, what kinds of foods do you like to serve? I prefer…