More from the “In the Footsteps of Champagne Charlie” chronicles The other day I was trying to explain to someone much younger than me our race around the world with Charles Heidsieck Champagne. Not only were we talking about the race itself but, more specifically, just what was entailed in [...]
No time like the present to plan a trip up Silver Star Mountain (near Vernon) for a four day day food and wine extravaganza. The Silver Star Wine Festival runs August 10th – 13th, 2023. Way back when (at a time when some people were still wondering if BC wines [...]
BC sparkling wines continue to be one of the fastest growing categories in the domestic market. No wonder. There’s an array of well made BC bubbles from which to choose. Here’s a short list (mainly) of what I’ve tasting recently, any of which would do justice to your table or [...]
Garnet Valley Ranch is not one of those places you stumble across. You really need to want to go there. And now you can—see below. It’s actually not that complicated, just a wee bit tucked away, a couple of kilometres above and beyond Summerland. That ‘above and beyond’ element is [...]
TWB (The Wine Bar) at Vancouver's waterside Provence restaurant has reopened with impressive wine by the glass and on tap offerings.
Updated, May 17, 2023 BC Distilled 2023 Audience Favourites Awards: Absinthe: Tofino Distillery – Psychedelic Jellyfish Absinthe Amaro or Vermouth: The Woods Spirit Co. – Barrel aged Amaro Barrel-Aged Gin: Stillhead Distillery – Islay Cask Gin Brandy or Eau-de-Vie: Maple Leaf Spirits – Lady of the Cask Flavoured Gin: [...]
Osoyoos Larose has unveiled La Maison Osoyoos Larose, a truly unique wine club—likely the only one of its kind in Canada. Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin has evolved into one of BC’s iconic wines in a pretty short time. Especially when you consider it’s only just over a couple of [...]
O’Rourke Family Estate has been recognized by Chardonnay du Monde for its O’Rourke Family Estate 2020 BC VQA Estate Chardonnay—the wine’s inaugural release. You could say it was a pretty good St. Patrick’s day present for owner Dennis O’Rourke—whose bottles sport “Sláinte” (Irish for ‘good health’) on the label. The [...]
Recently I was delighted to meet Giovanni Meschini, charming proprietor of Fattoria Colmone della Marca, for a tasting of some unique wines. They come from one of Italy’s smallest DOC’s—I Terrini di San Severino Moro, in the heart of the Marche. Fattoria Colmone is the sole producer. They make only [...]
Bagheera, you may recall, is the sleek, black panther in Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. In this decidedly post-Colonial era I was intrigued to see the name resurface—as the moniker of Vancouver’s newest hidden cocktail lounge. As it turns out, however, Bagheera comes by its handle honestly. Owners and cocktail [...]
