Enjoy Wine, Food, and Travel with Karl MyWinePal
It is Aug-uary in Vancouver. I cannot see the north shore mountains and the clouds are covering the tops of the concrete towers that are spread across the lower mainland. Red wines are on my horizon. So I dipped into my wine cellar and decided to open two red wines from Europe. The first wine is CVNE Viña Real Crianza…
The history of Rioja wine is as rich as its flavour. Nestled in the northern region of Spain, Rioja’s winemaking tradition dates back centuries, with evidence of grape cultivation and wine production tracing back to the Roman Empire. However, it wasn’t until the 19th century that Rioja began to gain international recognition, thanks to advancements in winemaking techniques and the…
The red wines of Rioja, Spain, are renowned for their rich history and exceptional quality. Produced primarily from the Tempranillo grape, these wines often exhibit complex flavours of ripe fruit, oak, and spice, with a characteristic balance of acidity and tannins. Among the distinguished producers in the region, Marqués de Riscal stands out as a beacon of excellence. Founded in…
History of Sangria Sangria traces its roots back to Spain where it has become an iconic part of Spanish culture. The word “sangria” is derived from the Spanish word “sangre,” meaning blood, which refers to the drink’s deep red colour. Its origins can be traced back to ancient times when the Romans would mix wine with water, fruits, and spices…
My only video interview of a winery not in South America at VanWineFest 2023 comes from José Luis Muguiro Jr from Marqués de Riscal in Spain. Earlier in the VanWineFest week I had a winery dinner with him at Homer St Cafe and it was one of the best and most memorable dinners I have ever had at VanWineFest. Marqués…
When you think of Spain and Rioja you probably think of a hot climate and big red wines. Today I opened two wines from CVNE, their Cune Reserva 2017 and Cune Gran Reserva 2015, and they both have a light touch upon first opening. There was some change with time exposed to air, but what was even a bigger factor…
One of the world’s best vineyards, Marqués de Riscal lives by wine and lives for wine. I joined Brand Ambassador José Luis Maguro Jr. at this perfectly paired dinner dedicated to the shared love of wine. The evening began with canapés, followed by a four-course dinner exquisitely prepared by the team at Homer St. Cafe and Bar. Let me get…
Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (the Northern Spanish Wine Company) CVNE was founded in 1879 in the town of Haro in Rioja, Spain by two brothers. I opened two bottles of wine I received. The first was CUNE Monopole White 2020 made from the Viura grape in Rioja; also known as Macabeo in other parts of Spain. This was the first…
Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (the Northern Spanish Wine Company) CVNE was founded in 1879 in the town of Haro in Rioja, Spain by 2 brothers. Did you know that CVNE also has the name Cune, made by accident? It was a print shop error back in the days when the typesetter thought the V looked odd and replaced it with…
I’ve been writing a lot about BC wine lately, so I will take a short break and bring you 2 wines from Spain that you can get in BC. Finca Venta de Don Quijote, is a winery located in La Mancha, Spain. Both wines are blends. The first is their Sauvignon Blanc Macabeo 2019 and the other is their Tempranillo…
