Value wines

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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Will Roaring Twenties Wines Leave Cellared in Canada in the Doldrums?

January 23, 2013

As you may have noticed by now, Dine Out Vancouver is in full swing. The feeding frenzy that first took flight over a decade ago has grown somewhat, from a cluster of well-priced prix fixe menus to a region-wide food and beverage celebration that boasts foodie events and fancy hotel prices, as well as a […]

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In Vancouver’s Yaletown, this Pig is Still Flying High

November 30, 2012

One spot that’s an easy lure for lunch—particularly when it’s raining cats and dogs—is Yaletown’s The Flying Pig (1168 Hamilton St, 604-568-1344). There’s just something about this place, from its easy going ways and cosy room with a great buzz to the quality that comes out of the kitchen at very fair prices. They refer to […]

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A Visit to Emiliana Vineyards: the Heart of Chile’s Organic Wine Movement

November 14, 2012

Last week’s column for the North Shore News was a quick recap of our visit to Emiliana Los Robles Organic Biodynamic Vineyards. It was one of the more impressive but—more to the point— profound experiences of my week in Chile. I still find it quite remarkable that a company of this size took the giant […]

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White Spot Celebrates Grown in BC—Both on the Plate and in the Glass

July 15, 2012

Been a bit churlish, we have, of late towards BC’s beloved burger-monger and family resto chain White Spot—due mainly to the presence of its large chicken mascot on BC Ferries the other weekend. (White Spot supplies a portion of BC Ferries food requirements…) Somebody in the Twitterverse took offence when we suggested (in jest) the […]

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A Tasting with Quails’ Gate Winemaker Grant Stanley

June 10, 2012

One of our favourite tastings of the year is an action packed hour or so spent with Quails Gate winemaker Grant Stanley. We’ll get to the wines shortly but much of my enthusiasm stems from the fact that Grant—aside from being a superb winemaker and one of the most personable guys in the industry—is refreshingly […]

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Rosé on the Rise: Tastes of Provence Rekindle Memories, with a Modern Feel

June 4, 2012

If wine is about place, chances are what’s in your glass (aside from—hopefully—tasting good) may also rekindle memories. My tasting last week with the folks from Vins de Provence did just that, as it transported me back several years to an unexpected four-day stopover in and around Aix-en-Provence, during which I was able to leisurely […]

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Why is this man smiling?

May 16, 2012

Because he always is! I like this pic of Peller / Sandhill / Calona winemaker guru Howard Soon. It was just a quick snap, taken at a recent BC Wine tasting. But it shows you exactly the way Howard is: always there with something interesting to say and usually with a positive spin. It was […]

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In Vancouver’s Yaletown, this Newbie Pig is Really Flying

October 30, 2011

It just goes to show; you can never know what to expect on a Vancouver Monday night. One recent, still dry October soirée, you could have fired a proverbial cannon down most of Yaletown’s narrow streets, so who knew that we’d only just manage to score the last two seats at The Flying Pig?—Not to […]

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Okanagan Winery Helps Hatch a Bird of a Different Feather: Napa’s Plume is More Than Just Plucky

October 12, 2011

Two long established wine families have reached across the border to produce a new Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The Stewart family, which owns Quails Gate Winery in Westbank, BC, and the Zepponi family of Sonoma, California, have a history of similar if distant beginnings, in that their forebears settled and started farming at around the […]

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