Tag: france

Happy New Year, everyone! In 2025, I wrote 142 wine tasting articles, with most of the articles reviewing two bottles of wine.  From a quick calculation, I wrote at least 284 wine reviews on mywinepal.  Wines submitted to me through the year ranged from  to  wines, but I usually only post wines that were at least .  Price is not a factor…

We have had some turmoil in Canada and in BC for wines in 2025.  Many BC interior wineries suffered from the 2024 cold snap causing them to either not produce any wine in 2024, or importing grapes from across the border, or from Ontario.  We also had the removal of USA wines from BC government liquor stores.  Overall, we had…

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….

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…

In my last article on the IVSA trade tasting of wine, beer, and spirits, I concentrated on sparkling wines, but at the end of the tasting, I did take some time to taste a few red wines, and I was pleasantly surprised by all of them, so I am listing them here for you. My Red Wine Picks Ceci Antico…

Now that school is back and summer holidays are over, we know that the holiday season will be coming up soon.  Whether it is Thanksgiving in October or Christmas in December, sparkling wine has a place.  I attended the latest IVSA trade wine, beer, and spirits event this week, and decided to spend most of my time sampling sparkling wines. …

Part three of the Viticultural Bridges panel discussion, was to taste through primarily Riesling and Pinot Noir wines from BC and Alsace, along with a few Pinot Gris wines.  Riesling and Pinot Noir are well-known to present their terroir through a wine’s aromas and flavours.  Some Background About Both Regions Alsace The region covers 15,500 hectares of vines along 120…

I enjoy working with wine agents.  They gather wines from around the world and offer the wines to us for our enjoyment.  This year is the 10th Anniversary of World Wine Synergy (WWS), and I was fortunate, along with other wine trade people to celebrate this anniversary at La Quercia restaurant.  Over those 10 years I’ve been invited to meet…

Top Drop Canada is a premier wine festival held annually in Vancouver, showcasing a curated selection of terroir-driven wines from around the globe. The event brings together over 40 international producers, including renowned estates from regions such as Piedmont, Champagne, and the Okanagan Valley. 50+ wineries in total.  None from the USA this year.  Attendees have the unique opportunity to…

I received two bottles of Pinot Noir from the Maison Joseph Drouhin family.  The first wine, Joseph Drouhin Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2021 comes from Burgundy, while the second wine, Domaine Drouhin Oregon Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2022, comes from Oregon state. Some Background The Pinot Noir grape variety has a deep history in Burgundy, with the first plantings possibly dating…