Tag: VQA

British Columbia Lieutenant Governor coat of arms

The 2023 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards

 mywinepal  April 19, 2023

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,…

Gold Hill Winery Charisma Cabernet Merlot 2021 and Charisma Malbec 2020

A Little Charisma from Two Red Wines by Gold Hill Winery

 mywinepal  September 13, 2022

Here are two more Charisma wines from Gold Hill Winery.  The Charisma line of wines are meant to be charming approachable everyday drinking wines.  So something on the patio or at a casual lunch or dinner.  I tasted their Charisma Cabernet Merlot 2021 and their Charisma Malbec 2020. Gold Hill Winery is located in Oliver, BC.  Last year, 2021, as…

Stephanie Van Dyk, winemaker at Sandhill Wines

Sandhill Wines Announces The Appointment of a New Winemaker

 mywinepal  August 24, 2022

Sandhill Wines announces that they hired a new winemaker.  Please welcome Stephanie Van Dyk.  She is not new to BC, having been making wines at Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Kalala Organic Estate Winery, and more in the Okanagan.  I am looking forward to trying her wines from the upcoming 2022 vintage, next year.  Here is the press release from Sandhill Wines….

Blue Grouse Estate Winery Ortega and Quill Rosé 2021

Two Summer Wines from Blue Grouse Estate Winery

 mywinepal  August 4, 2022

Here are two BC wines for your summer enjoyment. Carpe diem as we are already into August! The two wines are from Blue Grouse Estate Winery in Duncan, BC on Vancouver Island. I tasted their Blue Grouse Estate Winery Ortega 2021 and their Blue Grouse Estate Winery Quill Rosé 2021. The Rosé is made from 100% Gamay Noir grapes. Both…

Moon Curser Vineyards Roussanne Marsanne 2021 and Syrah 2020

Rhone Grapes Done Right by Moon Curser Vineyards in Ososyoos

 mywinepal  July 24, 2022

Today we are going on a journey tasting Rhone grape varieties; Syrah for red grapes, and Roussanne and Marsanne for white grape varieties. You may have heard of Syrah. BC Syrah is quite well-known for its quality, but Roussanne and Marsanne may be new to you. These two white grapes are grown in the northern Rhone region and are typically…

Wine Growers of BC- BC Wine Regions Topo Map

The BC Wine Industry Welcomes Six New Sub-GIs

 mywinepal  June 30, 2022

In BC we relatively quickly learned that cooler climate grapes, like Riesling, did better in the north Okanagan, and warmer climate grapes, like Syrah, did better in the south Okanagan.  Similarly cooler climate grape varieties in the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island.  And more.  But we have had a few decades now to further refine these generalized grape growing regions…

Jollibee and Gneiss Wines Rose 2020

Gneiss Rosé 2020 Then and Now Plus Filipino Food Pairing

 mywinepal  April 9, 2022

This article is a 2-for-1.  It’s Filipino Restaurant Month in Vancouver. So, I started out to review Filipino food from the new Jollibee fast food restaurant that opened in downtown Vancouver, but then I added on wine, as I like to have wine with my lunch and dinner, when possible.  I lined up in the organized chaos to buy Jollibee’s…

Singletree Winery Siggy 2020 and Gruner Veltliner 2020

Two Aromatic White Wines from Singletree Winery

 mywinepal  April 6, 2022

It’s getting to be time to enjoy aromatic white wines. The cherry blossoms are out and the weather coming up looks to be sunny for several days. I have two white wines from Singletree Winery in the Abbotsford area. Their Singletree Winery Siggy 2020 and Singletree Winery Gruner Veltliner 2020. Let me tell you about them. My Wine Tasting Notes…

Okanagan Crush Pad Narrative Syrah Viognier 2018 and Haywire Pinot Noir 2020

Clay Amphora and Concrete Vessels Making Wine At Okanagan Crush Pad

 mywinepal  April 2, 2022

Clay and concrete vessels are two more historical materials that have been used to ferment grape must into wine. But both have been having a comeback in the last few years. I have two wines from Okanagan Crush Pad. The Haywire Pinot Noir 2020 is fermented in concrete and stainless steel vessels, and Narrative Syrah Viognier 2018 is fermented in…

Frind Estate Winery The Baronesse 2021 and Big Red 2020

Two Blends from Frind Estate Winery You Can Try at VanWineFest 2022

 mywinepal  March 31, 2022

Have you heard of Frind Estate Winery before?  They are one of the newer wineries, located in West Kelowna.  Eric Von Krosigk, their winemaker, comes with lots of great knowledge.  He is originally from Vernon. In 1983, Eric moved to Germany to apprentice and work at wineries in the Mosel and fell in love with sparkling wines. In 1991, Eric…