WGBC Unveils 10 Topographic Wine Maps
WGBC (Wine Growers of British Columbia) has updated all the topographical information for the province's growing regions and Sub-GIs. This marks the first major update in several years.
Make TIME to see how this Penticton Winery is Evolve-ing
Time marches on. Indeed, it does. Although, who imagined in 2019 that 2020 would turn out quite like this? It’s well over a year since we lost the ‘grandfather’ of BC wine, Harry McWatters. But his legacy and vision endure. And the McWatters family is still very much a part [...]
2020 BCLG Platinum Awards Highlight Syrah and Riesling
For reasons related to the pandemic, while invited, I wasn’t able to judge at this year’s British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards. But having just seen the results, there are a few things that strike me as being worth noting in particular. In 2018 the BC Wine Awards (formerly the long-running Okanagan Wine Festival judging) [...]
Okanagan Wine Guide is a Tour de Force
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve written about John Schreiner’s ‘latest’ book. But over the years there have been more than a few. I have to chuckle as I still recall John’s ‘retirement’ party, when he wrapped up his career with the Financial Post. Since then we’ve become friends and colleagues, often [...]
Somm Smackdown: ‘Kids’ in the Hall Edition
This week’s Vancouver Somm Smackdown turned out to be a fitting way to celebrate 30 years of BC VQA, on many levels. The BC Wine Institute and CAPS BC-sponsored ‘Smackdown’ featured dishes from three chefs, their plates matched with a wine pairing from each of three sommeliers. Our task was to pick what we considered [...]
Sea Star and Saturna Move On to the Next Chapter
I’ve written at length about the success of Sea Star Vineyards, in part, because I enjoy a personal connection with the Gulf Islands (Northern and Southern) that spans several decades. But also because, since Sea Star emerged in the place of its struggling Pender Island predecessor, I’ve been consistently impressed by the wines every vintage. [...]
Lightning Rock: Tasting the Stars in Summerland
The late Harry McWatters used to say “There’s no place like the Okanagan to make sparkling wine!” McWatters was convinced that grapes coming from a triangle within the central Okanagan (between Summerland, Naramata and Okanagan Falls) consistently had the right amount of acidity to make good bubble. Harry once told me “One thing we’ve never [...]
Celebrated Nota Bene Release Party Heads Online
Traditionally, it’s one of the hottest tickets of the year. The Black Hills Nota Bene Release Party is like nothing else in the Okanagan, with no shortage of Canadian star power and an abundance of live music, amazing food and, of course, plenty of wine. It’s also a vital part of the winery’s program to [...]
8 Ways to Go GaGa for Gamay
Last time I checked there were well over 75 different varieties of vinifera grown in BC. That’s not surprising. Compared to the rest of the wine world, this corner of the Pacific Northwest is still a youngster. In other words, we’ve only recently begun to ‘drill down’ on what does best in a specific area. [...]
Blasted Church Raiseth the Cup & Lowereth the Price
Few people outside of friends and family know about the Hired Belly’s somewhat devout—nay, near angelic—upbringing. It will come as a surprise to some that today’s brash, hard-nosed swirler and spitter was raised as a pure and innocent, dulcet-toned boy-chorister at England’s Chichester Cathedral. […]