Enjoy Wine, Food, and Travel with Karl MyWinePal
Have you ever heard of a sparkling wine called Charme de l’ile, Island Charm in English? It is not a wine from France. It is from Vancouver Island and can only be made on Vancouver Island using Island grapes. Just like Champagne can only be made in the Champagne region of France. Charme is also a nod to the method…
Blue Grouse Estate Winery from Vancouver Island has changed hands a few times. The latest owners are the second and third-generation Jackson family (California) members Katie Jackson, Julia Jackson, Chris Jackson, Hailey Jackson-Hartford Murray, and MacLean Hartford. The family sees tremendous potential in Cowichan’s cool-climate maritime winegrowing region and plans to embolden the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. I have…
I’ve been tasting and writing about Chardonnay recently, so I thought I would change things up and write about some other wines. I received several wines from Vancouver Island’s Blue Grouse Estate Winery and decided to start with their Rosé 2024 and their Pinot Gris 2024. These are from estate grown grapes and select partner vineyards. Vancouver Island is really…
With Canadians not wanting to travel to the USA at the moment, we have more opportunities to explore our beautiful country. I do enjoy eating tasty food and visiting wineries where I can sample their wines and maybe speak with the wine maker. Victoria is a wonderful place to visit. It has a culinary scene and it is close to…
The 2025 BC harvest was one of hope and a bounty of grapes. I travelled to Osoyoos at the beginning of October and all the winery principles I spoke to mentioned how their grape vines were supplying an overabundance of grapes this year, to make up for the devastation last year. Now that it is late November and the wines…
This week we had a trade event featuring the latest BC white wines, many from 2024, as well as some red wines. In 2024 we had a terrible winter freeze that killed most of the grape vines in the interior of BC, so BC wineries were given permission from the BC government to source grapes from outside BC. Many winemakers…
Part three of the Viticultural Bridges panel discussion, was to taste through primarily Riesling and Pinot Noir wines from BC and Alsace, along with a few Pinot Gris wines. Riesling and Pinot Noir are well-known to present their terroir through a wine’s aromas and flavours. Some Background About Both Regions Alsace The region covers 15,500 hectares of vines along 120…
Today I had the pleasure to attend “Viticultural Bridges“, a panel discussion (seminar) on the challenges and adaptations in winemaking due to climate change. Representatives from Alsace, France, and British Columbia, shared their experiences and strategies. Their discussions covered vineyard management, rootstock selection, harvest timing, and wine styles for Riesling and Pinot Noir, highlighting how terroir and climate influence the…
British Columbia has become one of the most exciting wine regions in the world, but for many people, especially those outside the province, its story is still waiting to be told. If you have ever wondered why BC wines are gaining international acclaim, which grape varieties thrive here, or how the unique landscapes shape what’s in your glass, Getting to…
Now that you have some background about the BC winery situation for 2025 from part one of Brent Gushowaty’s article, here is the second part of the article I have for you by Brent when you are at a BC winery’s tasting room. Your Tasting Room Manners – Before You Arrive Group Think For most wineries, large groups arriving unannounced…
Video Guide Uncorks the Story of British Columbia Wines. Buy Now.
