The view from Watermark Resort: An ever changing panorama I’ll admit it: when I’m in full-on writing mode, I’m a bit of a home-body, which can be challenging on the road. All the more reason why I’m very happy to be ensconced in the Watermark Beach Resort, in Osoyoos, in southern BC. [...]
Everyone says it looks like we're getting married here but Richard Carras (left), who helped put it all together, is just showing us where to sign on the contract! Champagne Charlie was my name! ... In the Footsteps of Champagne Charlie: the challenge was to race around the world using only ground [...]
What’s in a blend? Why worry? One of the many interesting people I met at Beautiful South in London last week was winemaker Kevin Grant. He and his wife Hanli own Ataraxia in Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, on a ridge overlooking the stunningly beautiful, cooler coastal region—whose name (which means "Heaven on Earth") kept popping up during [...]
Culmina Hypothesis 2011 Culmina's inaugural release: Hypothesis Here’s a wine we figured would be worth waiting for, and we weren’t disappointed, as it more than lived up to our expectations. This is the inaugural release from just opened Culmina Family Estate, the project undertaken by Don Triggs, his wife Elaine and [...]
The Beautiful South Salta, Aconcagua and Robertson are just a small part of the big, Beautiful South Next month in London, they’ll pull the wraps off “The Beautiful South”, a two day tasting extravaganza (September 11, 12) that brings together South Africa, Chile and Argentina in a major collaboration. Even though the countries [...]
Some years ago, I visited an upstart little winery in Australia by the name of Yellow Tail, along with an enthusiastic group of Aussie and Kiwi wholesalers. We shared a casual lunch at makeshift tables in the warehouse (they’d expanded so fast there was no reception room), along with several local growers, who had been [...]
Centennial BC Coat of Arms at Government House This elaborately carved coat of arms from 1958 details the history of European settlement and early industries—grape growing not among them. (More below ...) There's no time like the B.C. Day long weekend to celebrate the diversity of B.C. wines, no matter where in the [...]
Peller Okanagan (Similkameen?) Dry Riesling A few insiders will know that Peller Okanagan Dry Riesling heralded in this year's garlic crop! If you move really quickly you can buy Andrew Peller Private Reserve (VQA) Dry Riesling for just over $11 at BC Liquor Stores. Believe me, as they say “while stocks last”, it’s [...]
In sippers, Picpoul Rules This unique wine is always on our Go-To summer 'fridge' list There’s no rhyme nor reason to this list. Just a few decent and, above all, pretty wallet friendly whites, perfect for value-driven summer sipping. You can pin this one to the fridge! We’re also working on a [...]
La Source des Fées: in the heart of the Burgundian countryside La Souce des Fées is tucked away in picturesque Fuissé When I was in my early teens my parents arranged a summer exchange with my French pen-pal. I’d already crossed the Channel once (to sing at Chartres Cathedral), a trip that marked [...]
