Enjoy Wine, Food, and Travel with Karl MyWinePal
While I was Grinch-like in awarding 5 stars to only three wines I tasted in 2024, I was more Oprah-like with the 4.5-5 -star wines. Plus, there are many quality wines, so it should not be a surprise. This year there were 13 BC wines, 18 Italian wines, 4 French wines, 2 Californian wines, and 4 wines from New Zealand…
The holidays are a time when many of us get together with family or friends to enjoy a meal together; hopefully with a glass of wine. Here are a few last-minute suggestions of wines you can pair with traditional dishes for the holidays. Enjoy. Wine Pairings for Roast Turkey – Chardonnay: A lightly oaked Chardonnay complements the rich flavours of…
2022 is the last vintage in the Okanagan before the harsh winter cold snaps of 2023 and 2024. 2022 produced a large crop of grapes although the season started cool, it finished with a sunny Fall, so there is lots of wine to go around. I suggest stocking up on 2022 wines as 2023 and 2024 will be reduced in…
Mulled wine has a rich history that dates back to the Roman Empire. As the Romans expanded into colder regions of Europe, they sought ways to warm themselves during the winter months. Heating wine and spicing it with ingredients like cloves, cinnamon, and honey made it a comforting beverage and helped preserve the wine and mask imperfections (wine in the…
BC’s Hester Creek Estate Winery made two delicious wines that would go well with your holiday dinners. Both are elegant, flavourful, not heavy-bodied. I received their Source Collection Chardonnay 2023 and Syrah 2022 to review. The Source Collection represents a source of inspiration, these wines represent the treasured qualities of their rare Old Vine vineyard and that of their select…
When I started wine tasting seriously, I took a WSET 1 class using ISO wine-tasting glasses. As I progressed with my wine knowledge, I began using glasses made specifically for red or white wine, or more specifically for a grape variety. I received a set of four wine glasses from Josephinenhutte in Germany, which Kurt Josef Zalto, an amazing 6th…
If you are thinking about sipping a ripe, juicy, delicious red wine, this wine, Hester Creek Grenache Syrah Mourvedre 2022, is a wonderful option. I received this wine earlier this summer but took till now to have a chance to open it for you. It’s a blend of 45% Grenache, 38% Syrah (includes 2% of co-fermented Viognier), and 17% Mourvedre…
BC Day is celebrated to honour the history, culture, and achievements of the Canadian province of British Columbia. It falls on the first Monday in August each year and is a statutory holiday in the province. This day commemorates the creation of the colony of British Columbia, which was formed on August 2, 1858. This was a significant event in…
For Easter dinner featuring roast turkey or roast ham with mashed potatoes and vegetables, selecting wine varietals that complement the flavours of these classic dishes is key. For red wine enthusiasts, Pinot Noir would be an excellent choice. With its bright acidity and delicate red fruit flavours, it would pair well with the savouriness of turkey or ham. The soft…
Happy New Year. With that, I have my first two wines to review for 2024. I decided to pick two big red wines from BC’s Hester Creek Estate Winery. I have their Hester Creek Estate Winery The Judge 2020 and Garland 2020. Both wines are Bordeaux blends with The Judge being a right-bank blend and Garland being a left-bank blend. …
