Enjoy Wine, Food, and Travel with Karl MyWinePal
VanWineFest 2025 starts next week and one of the attractions of the event is attending the International Festival Tasting Room where there will be 121 wineries from 15 countries, with winery principals pouring and discussing their wines. Each year there is a different theme country or region. This year it is the United States; specifically California, Oregon, and Washington states. …
Wine is a complex beverage, as its flavours and aromas develop over time. Some wines can be enjoyed when they are young and fresh from fermentation while other wines take years or decades for the wines to soften, for flavours, tannins, and acidity to evolve to a high point for your enjoyment. These flavours and aromas can be categorized into…
One of the most exciting up-and-coming wine regions in the USA is the Columbia Valley AVA in Washington State. While it has been recognized for some time, the region’s wines are gaining increasing acclaim and attention, particularly in recent years. Columbia Valley encompasses a diverse range of terroirs and is home to more than 99,000 acres of vineyards, producing a…
This is the second of my Canadian Wine Trends 2024 articles. I will cover our interest in red and white still varietal wines using Google Trends information. Was there an overall upward slope (interest) or downward slope (disinterest) in a style over the year? Was there a peak at a certain time of the year? Let’s find out. Red and White…
What is fool’s gold? It is the nickname for a mineral called pyrite that looks like gold, but is harder and does not have much value. I wondered about the naming of the Fool’s Gold Vineyard in the north Oliver area of the Okanagan as there is no fool’s gold. The soil is sandy clay loam soil containing many rocks…
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…
With the holiday season upon us, I was invited to the Iconic Wineries of British Columbia to check out their holiday cheer at The Kent downtown. In addition to wines to sample and recommend for the holiday season, we were also treated to savour holiday-inspired canapés prepared by the talented Estate Chefs from CedarCreek, Liquidity and Mission Hill. The wineries participating…
Kevin Judd from the Greywacke winery in Marlborough, New Zealand, may not sound familiar to many readers, but Kevin is one of the pioneer winemakers in Marlborough. He was born in England and raised in Australia where he studied winemaking. In 1983 he moved to New Zealand and was the founding winemaker at Cloudy Bay, which all New Zealand wine…
When you visit Da Silva Vineyards & Winery on the Naramata Bench, it feels like you are transported to Portugal. The tasting room is beautiful, with bone-white walls and chandeliers, giving off a European feel. The wines are equally special. Richard and Twylla da Silva own the winery, with Richard coming from a Portuguese background. The names of some of…
Today’s visit on my Naramata Bench trip gave me a bonus. Besides tasting wine, I also enjoyed some cheese pairings. Upper Bench Estate Winery & Creamery is the place to go as they make their own cheeses, which you can also buy. Yes, I bought cheese to take home. I spoke with Josh Edwards, their winemaker, before tasting the wines. …
Video Guide Uncorks the Story of British Columbia Wines. Buy Now.
