Enjoy Wine, Food, and Travel with Karl MyWinePal
Zweigelt is a red grape that while not as obscure as the Blaufränkisch grape I wrote about earlier, is still relatively unknown in BC. Only 0.7% of red grapes grown in BC are from Zweigelt. This is a versatile and vibrant red grape variety, that is a cornerstone of Austrian viticulture. Named after its creator, Dr. Fritz Zweigelt, this grape…
It’s time for our BC wines to be recognized by our peers. The results from the 2023 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards have been announced. Here is the press release. Pick up the bottles that won as soon as possible as they will sell out soon! ~~~ (KELOWNA, BC) – April 18, 2023: On April 3 through 5, 2023,…
How much faith do you have in the product you create, whether it is a book you write or a wine you produce? Roche Wines has great faith in their wines and it shows. They asked sixteen Canadian artists to taste their wines “blind”, not knowing anything about the wine, other than it is red or white. And then asking…
This year, a full year of COVID around us has kept wine tasting to a minimum. In previous years, I am grateful to be able to attend the Vancouver International Wine Festival where I find many top, five-star wines. I only attended two Trade tastings, two wine tasting events at Cornucopia, and a few winery tastings on my trip to…
Canadian Thanksgiving 2021 is going to be very different this year for many of us who are accustomed to getting together with our parents, brothers and sister, and maybe aunts and uncles for dinner. Just like Thanksgiving 2020, but now that many of us have been vaccinated we can open our bubble a little. I’ve checked through my BC wine…
With a nod to Shakespeare, I offer up two wines from the Okanagan’s Roche Wines. The first is their 2019 Texture Pinot Noir while the other is their 2020 Texture Rosé wine. Some people love red wines and others rosé wines so I offer both to you, As You Like It. My Wine Tasting Notes Roche Wines Texture Pinot Noir…
Back to Bordeaux-style wines from the Okanagan. Two bottles I have been looking forward to opening are the Roche Wines Chateau 2017 and their Nuances 2018. The Chateau is under cork and the Nuances uses a screw cap. Both wines use Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, but in different proportions. I tasted their Nuances 2017 vintage and now have…
What do Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Okanagan have in common? Dylan and Pénélope Roche of Roche Wines. This married couple met while pursuing their winemaking careers and during their world travels worked in Bordeaux and Burgundy. They then moved to the Naramata Bench where they started Roche Wines. One item of interest is that Dylan spent 5 years in Burgundy…
I have two organically farmed Pinot Gris from Roche Wines, both coming from their Kozier Organic Vineyard located north of their winery on the Naramata Bench. Their 2018 Tradition Pinot Gris comes under cork with a heavier glass bottle, while their 2020 Texture Pinot Gris has a lighter bottle and is under screwcap. I spoke with Dylan Roche about the…
While we may want to go big on Valentine’s Day this year for our significant other, COVID still lurks and most of us are not yet vaccinated. Maybe you would consider ordering dishes from your favourite restaurant and enjoying it at home with some tasty BC wines? Various foods, for their texture, scent, colour, shape and/or taste has an effect…
Download the MyWinePal Wine Tasting Kit (CAD $11.95)
