Hired Belly’s Best Wines

50th Parallel Estate Winery welcomes winemaker Grant Stanley (Video)

June 2, 2013
Grant Stanley (l) has joined 50th Parallel Estate Winery owners Sheri-Lee Turner-Krouzel and Curtis Krouzel in what promises to be a significant venture for the North Okanagan

50th Parallel Estate Winery owners welcome Grant Stanley Grant Stanley has taken Quails Gate to new levels in his decade long sojourn. He’s turned it into one of the Okanagan’s most consistent producers; and honed a solid reputation for well made wines that frequently over-deliver. The last time I’d seen Grant he’d hinted something big […]

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In Burgundy’s Pouilly-Fuissé, it’s All About the Rocks

May 5, 2013
La Roche de Vergisson, in southern Burgundy, presides over vineyards with names such as Les Crays (Chalks), Tim Pawsey photo

Pouilly-Fuissé, Burgundy. One day into a whirlwind tour of Burgundy, my very obliging guide, Youri Lebault (Bourgogne Gold Tour), is anxious to make sure I understand the importance of “The Rocks”. (More about Youri’s superb service shortly…) Named Solutré and Vergisson, these twins (though by no means identical) are just two km. apart. They tower […]

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Fat Bastard Revisited and Gabrielle Meffre at Le Crocodile (Video)

April 20, 2013
Best selling Fat Bastard Chardonnay

I’m not sure why but I always figured that cheekily named “Fat Bastard” had to have something to do either with the guy who might drink it (me) or the guys who made it—Thierry Boudinaud and Guy Anderson. But here’s the real story, as told by Fat Bastard co-owner (and Gabrielle Meffre globe-trotting sommelier) Anthony Taylor.   […]

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Howard Soon: “2012 is one of the Best Vintages We’ve Ever Had” (Video)

April 15, 2013

Last week after the BC Wine Institute Vintage Preview, we asked Peller master winemaker Howard Soon for a few comments about his Sandhill Sauvignon Blanc, and the 2012 vintage…   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S0OWF2bMiQ   Here’s our story from the North Shore News: … What was interesting this time was that the viticulturalists were invited along to offer […]

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Road 13 Vineyards & Joy Road Catering Team Up for a Not-to-be-Missed Epicurean Dinner

March 20, 2013
Locally sourced and impeccably paired ... TP photo

If you’re a regular visitor here, you’ll know that one of the best meals we enjoyed last year was a lunch that blended the talents of Joie Farm and Joy Road Catering. Joy Road returns to Vancouver on April 3rd, this time for a dinner with Road 13 Vineyards at Vancouver Urban Winery. Guaranteed, it […]

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Rosé Smackdown: Two of the Okanagan’s More Serious Wine Guys Go Toe to Toe

March 13, 2013
No fun at all ...

Rosé has a long and sometimes less than illustrious history in BC, which is one reason why, no doubt, messrs. Bartier and Scholefield (aka BS Wines) have elected to put on the proverbial boxing gloves and duke out their stylistic differences. In the Pink Corner we have “Donkin’ Dave” Scholefield, best known for introducing an […]

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Vintners Brunch: Wrapping Up 2013 Wine Fest (for Some) in Style

March 12, 2013
Vancouver Trade & Convention Centre—a spectacular setting, TP photo

For many people, the Vintners Brunch—for all intents and purposes the closing event —remains the highlight of their Vancouver International Wine Festival week. And that’s now even more the case, given the spectacular setting in the new convention centre overlooking Vancouver’s harbour and North Shore Mountains. Why, then, do I find it so appealing to […]

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Colby Red: A Good News Wine Story with Real Heart

March 7, 2013
Daryl Groom: serious passion for a cause that

When I interviewed Daryl Groom a couple of weeks ago, it was first and foremost to talk about Colby Red. However, how could I hang with Daryl Groom and not talk about his remarkable career, which saw him emerge as one of the original “flying winemakers”, going back to the time when he was senior […]

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Nicolas Jaboulet Talks About Maison Nicolas Perrin Syrah-Viognier

February 27, 2013
Good value Syrah-Viognier. And unicorns to boot ...

Here’s a quick clip (just over a minute) of Nicolas Jaboulet talking about his good value, (non-appellation) Vin de France - Maison Nicolas Perrin Syrah-Viognier 2011, made in partnership with the Perrin family: He explains what’s behind the blend and what each part contributes.  (Actually, I love the way he says “syrahviognier”, as if it’s all one word, as […]

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Selbach at Sun Sui Wah: A Great Way to Welcome Chinese New Year

February 16, 2013
Johannes Selbach: loess is more, Tim Pawsey photo

Warning: This post is NSFNRL (Not Safe For Non-Riesling Lovers) …  I’m not sure what it is but the last couple of times I’ve been lucky enough to break bread with Johannes Selbach, it’s been in a Chinese Restaurant—which makes absolute sense. That’s because Selbach Oster is (mainly) all about Riesling—good Riesling at that. And […]

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