Ancora arrives Recently opened (on January 8th), Ancora is already a going concern. That should come as no surprise. ‘Mainland’ Vancouverites have already embraced chef Ricardo Valverde’s Nikkei cuisine. A marriage of Peruvian and Japanese styles, the origins of Nikkei date from the late 19th century. Around this time several thousand Japanese people came to [...]
A sure sign this year’s Vancouver International Wine Festival is right around the corner is the media preview. Last week's tasting of wines to be featured at various events was the perfect warm-up for the Feb 23 to March 3 festival. The 37 globe trotting offerings, poured in Blue Water Cafe’s beautifully appointed cellar room, [...]
Prosecco DOC wines come from the broader regions of the Veneto and Friuli at large. But Prosecco Superiore DOCG wines can come only from a smaller region that includes vineyards in and around Valdobbiadene and Conegliano.
So, the other day a bottle of Mateus Rosé showed up. Now before the wine geek in you gets all dismissive, consider this: everyone took their first sip of wine somewhere. And chances are it was a big name like Mateus. In fact more people report Mateus as their first wine encounter than with any other brand. [...]
This year’s Judgment of BC left more than a few BC wineries smiling. In fact, it delivered one of the more even results for the home team in the four years since the tasting started. Most impressive, though, was BC’s showing in the red flight. It’s important to note that the Judgment was never intended [...]
Washington and Oregon are coming to town... A downside of BC’s robust wine industry: opportunities to taste the neighbours’ wines are few and far between. No worries! Here’s a chance to remedy that. Wines from Washington and Oregon are featured at EAT Vancouver's Harvest (Pinnacle Hotel, 7-9.30 pm., November 9). This wide-ranging tasting, with canapés from [...]
Malbec—and more To be honest, over the years I’ve developed a bit of a love-hate relationship with Malbec. Don’t get me wrong. Just like the rest of the world, I appreciate the value that Argentine Malbec offers. I have even more time for Malbec in Bordeaux based blends. Agreed, there’s no shortage of good Malbec [...]
Over decades of following BC wineries, I'm convinced few have been as well planned as Quails' Gate. I've watched the Stewart family's operation blossom from tanks in a garage to a full-service hospitality complex. It's now among the most sophisticated and well-run I've encountered. During a recent visit, I was again struck by the sheer [...]
Updated: Sea Star 2018 reviews 94 Sea Star Salish Sea 2018 (Gulf Islands) A blend of 60 percent Ortega with 40 percent Siegerrebe lures with seductive rose petal hints and orange blossom on the nose, before a complex blend of grapefruit and citrus notes almost reminiscent of Riesling, which is a parent of Siegerrebe. Superbly [...]
Tap & Barrel is no longer the new kid on the block. That was apparent when this casual eatery landed downtown at the Convention Centre. And became even more clear when Tap & Barrel Shipyards launched, about three years ago. This week they pulled the wraps off (yet another) patio at Shipyards. It couldn’t be completed [...]
