Kiwi Connections: The Great Tiki Tour in Vancouver
The Great New Zealand Wine Tiki Tour comes to town on May 5th—which is the perfect time of year —with a wealth of styles and tastes from around NZ
Malbec: King for a Day…and More
Malbec World Day (April 17th.) is again fast approaching—yet one more reminder of the value to be found from the South American producer. While it’s true Argentina has built its reputation on Malbec, what might surprise you is that the grape’s popularity is relatively recent. In fact, we can probably, in part, thank Michel Rolland [...]
Stag’s Hollow: The Power of Perseverance
Stag’s Hollow Winery, just outside of ‘OK Falls’ over 20 years ago, in 1995 has always intrigued me. Often as not, I find myself in awe of the perseverance displayed by winemakers and viticulturists. And in Stag's Hollow's case, that evolution has been truly fascinating.
10 Tasting Room Tips for Wine Fest Survival
The Vancouver International Wine Festival is hailed as one of the best of its kind anywhere. But walking into the Acura International Tasting can be daunting. It doesn't have to be. Here’s how to make the most of it.
Stone’d: Stoneboat Rocks New Label
The Stone’d wines are well-made blends which will doubtless get plenty of attention.
5 Wines for Valentine’s
Pink seems to be a constant theme, which I guess makes sense. Hearts are good, too. And sex should be in there somewhere, hopefully.
Alistair Veen is BC Sommelier of the Year
There was some seriously hot competition at Vancouver's Rogers Arena this week. And it wasn’t on the ice. CAPS BC (more lengthily known as the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, BC Chapter) held its annual competition to determine the best sommelier in the province. Vying for top honours were Sean Nelson of Vij’s Restaurant (Vancouver), Shane [...]
Valpolicella: a Truly Distinct Wine Region
In Valpolicella, a truly distinctive wine region, it's really all about drying, or Appassimanto
Three Old World White Wines to Broaden your Palate
This year's event—the 38th —puts Italy firmly in the spotlight. That adds up to a perfect opportunity to reacquaint yourself with the remarkable variety of Italian wines from across its 20 contrasting regions, and with no shortage of Italian food, of course.
Good Glass Makes Budget Wines Better
A few weeks ago I was having lunch at a fancy new modern bistro on top of an equally fancy new downtown department store, over which everyone’s gone ga-ga. The food was good, the service too, and the company delightful. But the stemware was downright clunky. Given the perceived cachet of the store, I was [...]