Enjoy Wine, Food, and Travel with Karl MyWinePal
I recently decided to review two French red wines that are blends. Blends have the benefit that two or more grape varieties together fill in the weakness of the other grape. For example, one grape may be fruity but lack tannins, while another grape has plenty of tannins but lacks much fruit character. Putting the two grape varieties together makes…
French wines from the Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages AOCs are here to show a new generation of drinkers just how delicious and versatile these appellations can be. I have a rosé and 2 red wines from these AOCs to review: Louis Bernard, Cotes du Rhone, Rosé, 2024 Mas de Sainte Croix Tendresse d’un Climat, Cotes du…
A Tour de France in Your Glass Food and wine go together, especially in France. I attended the VanWineFest 2026 seminar, A Tour de France in Your Glass. With Moderator, Arnica Rowan, we took an oenological journey through seven classic French wine regions, each with their own unique characteristics and history. We crossed the country from Champagne to South West…
I attended one dinner during the Vancouver International Wine Festival this year, courtesy of the Festival. It was with Maison Chapoutier at L’Abattoir. It was a truly spectacular evening with Mr. James Leonardo De Sá from M. Chapoutier telling us about the winery and the wines we enjoyed that evening. Did you know that Canada represents Chapoutier’s largest market outside…
Here we have the Famille J-M Caze winery, which originated in Bordeaux and spread across France and into Portugal, telling us about their history and the wines they will be pouring at the Vancouver International Wine Festival 2026. Enjoy. Some Background About Famille J-M Caze The Cazes family originally came from the mountainous Ariege region and settled in the Medoc…
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…
This article follows my previous article where I covered the topics of the South Australian wine masterclass where we learned about a land where some of the oldest vines and soils on earth provide the foundation for modern innovation, collaborative energy, and a profound respect for the environment. As part of the masterclass we tasted seven wines from this region;…
When you think of Australian wine, what comes to mind? For many, it’s a vision of big, bold, Shiraz from a hot, dry country. But sitting down with a delegation of South Australian winemakers recently, I heard a story that is more complex, ancient, and innovative. It’s a story written in 760-million-year-old soils and told through some of the oldest…
Today I paired my second dish from Sous Chef by Cardinal™ with a red and a white wine. The dish was Szechuan Braised Beef with seasoned long grained rice. The white wine was the Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Interlude Pinot Gris 2024, which I tasted with the Chicken Tikka Masala. I thought that this wine with its fruit flavour…
I am always excited to try the wines from Famille Perrin who also own the famous Château de Beaucastel in southern France. The vineyards for this wine are located on the slopes of Mont Ventoux. It is a blend of Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah. This wine comes sealed with screw cap for easy enjoyment. My Wine Tasting Notes Famille…
Video Guide Uncorks the Story of British Columbia Wines. Buy Now.
