Gérard Bertrand, coming from the south of France, in the Languedoc, took over his father’s winery in 1987, although he started off as a professional rugby player in France.  Gérard Bertrand c…

British Columbia has become one of the most exciting wine regions in the world, but for many people, especially those outside the province, its story is still waiting to be told. If you have ever w…

Gérard Bertrand, coming from the south of France, in the Languedoc, took over his father’s winery in 1987, although he started off as a professional rugby player in France.  Gérard Bertrand c…

Standing before the sprawling shelves of a BC Liquor store, LCBO, SAQ, or local specialty grocer, deciding between dozens of Tuscan red wines and artisanal extra virgin olive oils can feel overwhel…

Recently, I attended a Burgundy seminar led by Laurent Drouhin, a fourth-generation family member and Export Director of Maison Joseph Drouhin, in Vancouver. Laurent brings over 140 years of family…

Standing before the sprawling shelves of a BC Liquor store, LCBO, SAQ, or local specialty grocer, deciding between dozens of Tuscan red wines and artisanal extra virgin olive oils can feel overwhelming. Labels boast enticing imagery, but how do you spot true regional authenticity amidst slick marketing? Enter Savor Quality from Europe, an EU-cofunded initiative spotlighting the rich provenance behind Italian staples.

Recently, I attended a Burgundy seminar led by Laurent Drouhin, a fourth-generation family member and Export Director of Maison Joseph Drouhin, in Vancouver. Laurent brings over 140 years of family heritage to the seminar.  He started off by introducing us to the supply pyramid of Burgundy wines, followed by the effects of climate change on the vineyards, the philosophy and practices of their family in the vineyards and in the production of wines, and finally some insights into the recent best vintages of red and white Burgundy. 

British Columbia’s wine industry continues to show just how much can be achieved in a relatively young wine region. The 2026 National Wine Awards of Canada provided a good reminder of that, with BC wineries earning an impressive 640 medals, representing 51% of all medals awarded at the competition. Beyond the medals, the results also point to the diversity of grapes being grown successfully across the province.

Trips do not need to be hours away, requiring you to get up early to be at the airport three hours before the flight, then to sit in economy, squished into a seat that doesn’t recline very we…

Trips do not need to be hours away, requiring you to get up early to be at the airport three hours before the flight, then to sit in economy, squished into a seat that doesn't recline very well, for hours, while there are people around you sneezing and coughing.  Sometimes a trip can be done in one day, with a short 1-2 hour drive in your car, getting into the country. 

The Nightmare Bar - Vancouver – Alibi Room, Multiple dates and times - Welcome to Nightmare Bar 🎃🍸 This Halloween, your local bar is getting a seriously spooky makeover. Nightmare Bar is a 90-minute H...

If someone asked if you would like to try an Espumante wine, would you know what they asked? Espumante is the Portuguese term for sparkling wine.  Typically made in the Charmat method, it is usuall…

If someone asked if you would like to try an Espumante wine, would you know what they asked? Espumante is the Portuguese term for sparkling wine.  Typically made in the Charmat method, it is usually a fun, friendly, easy-to-sip, wine.  I received a bottle of the Okanagan's Adega on 45th Espumante 2025 to review for you.  This wine is a unique, non-traditional mix of 100% hand-picked Okanagan fruit, blending…

Kathleen Mildred Burk is Professor Emerita of Modern and Contemporary History at University College London, who uses her skills at sourcing in-depth historical information for her book, ” Win…

Kathleen Mildred Burk is Professor Emerita of Modern and Contemporary History at University College London, who uses her skills at sourcing in-depth historical information for her book, " Wine A Global History". There are 18 chapters for this book, starting you off with wine production in ancient Greece and Rome, how wine spread through religion and wars, the spread of vine growing and wine making across Europe, and how finished wines travelled between European countries.

Join us and tantalize your taste buds at a selection of restaurants in Vancouver to taste different kinds of dumplings and more!

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BC’s Sandhill Wines is introducing Secco, a fresh, fruit-forward BC VQA sparkling wine made using the Charmat method, made from 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir.  I received a bottle to try.…

BC's Sandhill Wines is introducing Secco, a fresh, fruit-forward BC VQA sparkling wine made using the Charmat method, made from 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir.  I received a bottle to try.  It is a test release, so not widely available; it is just at a few private liquor stores. I thought I would let you read the winemaker's notes for this wine, followed by my wine-tasting notes. 

For those of you looking for organic-certified BC wines, here are two from the Similkameen Valley’s Robin Ridge Winery.  It is a small, family-operated winery located in Keremeos.  They keep …

For those of you looking for organic-certified BC wines, here are two from the Similkameen Valley's Robin Ridge Winery.  It is a small, family-operated winery located in Keremeos.  They keep to minimal intervention in winemaking, using indigenous yeasts for fermentation.  The two wines I recently received to review are the Robin Ridge Winery Riesling 2022 and Robin Ridge Winery Gamay 2022…

Recently I attended a dinner at Sopra Sotto on Commercial Drive that hosted the wines from Tenuta Cali in Italy.  Angelo Dalbello, the export manager, attended and talked to us about the wines we were about to enjoy with our Italian dinner.  There are actually two wineries, Tenuta di Capraia in Tuscany and Graffetta in Sicily, that together form…

Downtown Victoria is packed with many different restaurants.  Depending on the time of day and how hungry you are, you can have a snack, a full meal, or just drinks.  I recently spent a few days vi…

Downtown Victoria is packed with many different restaurants.  Depending on the time of day and how hungry you are, you can have a snack, a full meal, or just drinks.  I recently spent a few days visiting Victoria and had a great time enjoying many different restaurants, from formal sit-down meals to snacks with a glass of wine on a patio. 

If you are visiting Victoria and drive up to the Cowichan Valley to visit a few wineries, on your way back you may want to stop by the Malahat SkyWalk.  This is what I did on my recent trip and rea…

If you are visiting Victoria and drive up to the Cowichan Valley to visit a few wineries, on your way back you may want to stop by the Malahat SkyWalk.  This is what I did on my recent trip and really enjoyed the views from the SkyWalk.  For those of you unfamiliar with the Malahat SkyWalk, I will tell you about my experience and observations as well as provide you with some spectacular pictures from my visit.

We are in the last few weeks of summer.  Children are in school and parents are enjoying some quiet time.  To celebrate the last days of summer and quiet time, I think some red wine is in order.  I…

We are in the last few weeks of summer.  Children are in school and parents are enjoying some quiet time.  To celebrate the last days of summer and quiet time, I think some red wine is in order.  I tasted two bottles of red wine from Osoyoos' Adega on 45th Estate Winery.  One is their Adega on 45th Estate Winery Cabernet Franc 2023…

I love tasting and reviewing wines, but sometimes after a long stretch of wine tasting, it is refreshing to taste another alcoholic beverage.  On my visit to southern Vancouver Island, I stopped by…

Besides the books that I’ve reviewed on the BOOK REVIEWS tab, I have listed below wine books and books with wine-related themes, such as wine & food and wine travel destinations, wine gla…

Three consecutive years of record-low alcohol consumption show a permanent shift in U.S. consumer habits. Jeff Siegel highlights how skepticism around moderate drinking is spreading across all demogra...

I love tasting and reviewing wines, but sometimes after a long stretch of wine tasting, it is refreshing to taste another alcoholic beverage.  On my visit to southern Vancouver Island, I stopped by Junction Orchard & Cidery to try their ciders.  The cidery is located about 15-20 minutes north of downtown Victoria, so it is easy for a visit if you are vacationing in Victoria. 

As you may know, the Vancouver International Wine Festival theme region is California, and the most well-known region within California is Napa Valley.  After you attend the Festival and taste some…

Did you know that Blue Grouse Estate Winery and Unsworth Vineyards in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island are owned by the Sonoma-based Jackson Family from California?  The acquisitions, in 202…

Inspired by her recent study trip to Rías Baixas, Julia Lambeth DipWSET, an educator at WSET School London, explores what makes Albariño distinctive, what conditions it needs to thrive and how growers...

Discover the story behind whisky ABV, how it has evolved and what it means for the whisky in your glass with drinks writer Mike Gibson.

Botanicals is a word often seen in relation to gin, but what actually are they? Drinks journalist Jacopo Mazzeo explores what botanicals are and how they add a new level to this juniper-based spirit.

Did you know that Blue Grouse Estate Winery and Unsworth Vineyards in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island are owned by the Sonoma-based Jackson Family from California?  The acquisitions, in 2022 and 2020, respectively, allow the family to grow their global portfolio, which includes vineyards in California, Oregon, Washington, Italy, France, Chile, South Africa, and Australia.  They see tremendous potential in the Cowichan Valley, a cool-climate wine-growing region, to produce premium Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines.

I finally had a chance on a recent trip to Victoria to make a side trip to the Cowichan Valley to visit Unsworth Vineyards and Blue Grouse Estate Winery.  Unsworth is a bit closer to Victoria, so i…

I finally had a chance on a recent trip to Victoria to make a side trip to the Cowichan Valley to visit Unsworth Vineyards and Blue Grouse Estate Winery.  Unsworth is a bit closer to Victoria, so it was the first stop on my wine tasting day.  The winery grounds look beautiful with a modern-designed tasting room with lots of glass so you can see outside, and their wine barrels in view. 

Most of us, when we think of BC wine, think of the Okanagan, but a short ferry ride to Victoria, and a drive up the Malahat, will bring you to some south Island wineries. In one visit, I first went…

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with winemaker Patrick Murphy at 1909 Estate Winery in Langley.  Patrick has been making wines for many years.  You may recognize his name as one of the owne…

Most of us, when we think of BC wine, think of the Okanagan, but a short ferry ride to Victoria, and a drive up the Malahat, will bring you to some south Island wineries. In one visit, I first went to Unsworth Vineyards to sample their wines, then drove a little further north, near Duncan, to the Blue Grouse Estate Winery…

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with winemaker Patrick Murphy at 1909 Estate Winery in Langley.  Patrick has been making wines for many years.  You may recognize his name as one of the owners of Vista D'oro Farms & Winery in the Fraser Valley.  He and his wife sold the winery in 2024, and he has been hired by 1908 Estate Winery in May this year to be their new winemaker.