Tag: Cowichan Valley

In the late Fall, I interviewed a few BC winemakers about their 2022 harvest, but the wines were still fermenting in tanks, barrels or other vessels.  The winemakers sounded optimistic, thanks to the warm Fall weather.  But how would the wines taste?  This we explored with the following winemakers at the BC Vintage 2022 media preview: Laurent Fadanni, Whispering Horse…

Have you tried the Quill series of wines from Blue Grouse Estate Winery on Vancouver Island.  Their Quill series grapes come from vineyards on the Island.  The winery can pick and choose and blend the wines from these grapes to bring out the best of Vancouver Island.  I received two Quill wines from the winery to review, their Blue Grouse…

In BC we relatively quickly learned that cooler climate grapes, like Riesling, did better in the north Okanagan, and warmer climate grapes, like Syrah, did better in the south Okanagan.  Similarly cooler climate grape varieties in the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island.  And more.  But we have had a few decades now to further refine these generalized grape growing regions…

Help feed hungry children in the Cowichan Valley by buying a bottle of Blue Grouse or Quill wine in BC.  The press release from Blue Grouse Estate Winery is below. ~~~ [Duncan, BC] For the third year in a row, $1 from every bottle of Blue Grouse or Quill wine sold anywhere in BC goes to Nourish Cowichan to feed hungry children….

The 2021 harvest will surely be marked in our minds as COVID continues.  Plus during the summer there were major fires in BC, and now with the heavy rains and flooding, I’m sure the weather has had an impact on harvest and fermentation.  Socially distanced visitors to BC wineries ensued this year.  Overall, how did the BC grape growing season and…

The 2020 harvest and the days and months leading up to it will surely be marked in our minds. Starting in March we had the shutdown of our economy and quarantining to keep us safe from COVID.  In the summer there were major fires in California and Oregon, with the smoke travelling up to British Columbia.  Then in October the…

British Columbia wineries continue to define distinct grape-growing regions, known as a sub-geographical indication (sub-GI).  This week we received this announcement that our next sub-GI has been successfully accepted by the BC government.  It is on Vancouver Island; the Cowichan Valley.  Read about this new sub-GI and Blue Grouse Estate Winery that worked on getting this designation. Congratulations! ~~~ [DUNCAN,…

Do you know what a Geographical Indication (GI) means in the BC wine industry? According to a BC Ministry of Agriculture press release, a GI is “…a standard element of appellation systems used around the world that help people identify wines in the marketplace, provide assurance as to the origin and quality of the wine, and promote agri-tourism. British Columbia…

I keep mentioning about wineries on Vancouver Island as they give you a different profile of wine compared to what we are more familiar with coming from the Okanagan.  You are not going to find a big Cabernet Sauvignon produced on Vancouver Island, at least under the current cool climate.  Aromatic white wines and Pinot Noir are the stars on…

Cool climate wines are where the vibrant acidity and tart fruit flavours. Citrus trending to stone fruits for white wines, and red fruits like strawberries, raspberries and red cherries.  A cool climate region to consider for wines is Vancouver Island.  There are a few wineries there, and one in particular, Blue Grouse Estate Winery in Duncan, has been producing some…