Would you like to belong to an exclusive club able to enjoy top-quality wines with grapes sourced from Napa Valley wines and fermented and aged in Vancouver?  Meet California Cult Classics. According to their website, “California Cult Classics is Canada’s first and only private member’s winery, operating in North Vancouver for the last 16 years. International wine critics have declared CCC wines comparable or better than many of the best wines produced in Napa Valley and consistent with the finest wines produced in the world. CCC has a production ability of 7500 cases per year of ultra-pr ..read more

Some wines are crafted to be aged years or decades before you can enjoy them, while others are made to be enjoyed now.  Especially when it is summertime and you can get outside and enjoy the fresh air.  I have two wines from BC’s Haywire Winery that fit the bill to enjoy now.  I have their Haywire Winery Gamay 2022 and their Gamay Rosé 2022.  Not surprisingly, both wines come in at 12.5% alcohol and are under screwcap for easy opening and sipping.  Both wines are organic and vegan-friendly.  Let me tell you about these two wines. My Wine Tasting Notes Haywire Wine ..read more

Wine and chocolates (Image courtesy hospitalityinsights.ehl.edu) The history of pairing wine with chocolates traces back to the early 20th century when connoisseurs began exploring the complementary flavours of these two treats.  Over time, as both the appreciation for fine wines and the art of chocolate-making evolved, so did the understanding of how different wine characteristics interact with various types of chocolates. By the mid-20th century, chefs and sommeliers started formalizing pairing guidelines, experimenting with different varietals and chocolate compositions to create harmo ..read more

It is definitely beach and/or patio weather right now.  We want something refreshing to drink, preferably with bubbles.  Canned wines are still popular, being the right size to enjoy a 250ml can and not drink too much.  I received two different canned wines from BC’s Ruby Blues Winery from the Naramata Bench. I tasted their Ruby Blues Winery Sparkling Piquette Rose 2023 and their Peace, Love & Bubbles sparkling pink wine NV. Let me tell you about them. My Wine Tasting Notes Ruby Blues Winery Sparkling Piquette Rose 2023 (BC $28.60 4x 250ml) One of the nice things about this ..read more

At one time when we thought of quality sparkling wine, our thoughts would go to Europe; Champagne, Cava, Cremant, Franciacorta.  But that is no longer the case.  Quality sparkling wine can be found in BC as well as many southern hemisphere countries like Australia and the state of Tasmania, in particular.  I have a Tasmanian and a BC sparkling wine to tell you about.  Perfect to enjoy on the patio in this hot weather with a summer salad and fresh seafood.  The two wines are BC’s Township 7 seven stars Sparkling Wine 2020 and Tasmania’s Jansz Premier Cuvée NV.  Let ..read more

Bodegas Alvear sherries Sherry is a very misunderstood wine style. It comes in a wide range of styles, from dry and citrusy to medium-bodied with some sweetness and nuttiness to deeply coloured, luscious, very sweet with a thick feeling on the palate.  These wines each have a place in a meal or sipping on their own. But, what you may not know, is that you can make cocktails using sherry.  I received three sherries to review for you.  I will tell you about each one sipped on their own then give you some cocktail recipes using the sherries and finally my cocktail tasting notes. Th ..read more

These are the first wines that I’ve tasted from BC’s Garnet Valley Ranch, made by Okanagan Crush Pad, and I am greatly impressed with the quality. Garnet Valley Ranch is a certified organic site, home to vineyards, field crops, a lavender farm, a bustling beehive and a small winery and The Outlook visitor center.  The area is planted primarily with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes; I am tasting their 2022 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines.  In addition to using organic grapes, the wines are also vegan-friendly. Let me tell you about them. My Wine Tasting Notes Garnet Valley Ranch Chard ..read more

It’s hot! Darn out outside.  No time to spend cooking inside.  Time for the BBQ.  I was thinking of grilling some prime rib beef burgers I recently purchased and enjoyed them with BC’s Mayhem Wines Cabernet Merlot 2022.  Let me tell you about the wine and then the pairing. My Wine Tasting Notes Mayhem Wines Cabernet Merlot 2022 (BC $24.44) This wine is a blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc from the Ryegrass Road Vineyard in Oliver and the Anarchist Mountain Vineyard in Osoyoos. The fruit was whole berry destemmed into stainless steel fermenters and co-fermented. It re ..read more

Gérard Bertrand‘s Le Chouchou 2023 is the winery’s answer to new consumer trends, producing a light, fresh red wine.  It has low alcohol content and can be enjoyed at a cooler temperature.  It sits somewhere between a rosé and a fuller-bodied red wine, IMHO.  This wine is a blend of organic Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault grapes coming from Cevennes, Limoux, in south-central France. I received this wine to sample and tell you about.  Maybe it will be your glou-glou wine of the summer? BTW, “Le Chou Chou” is a French phrase that translates to “The Cabbage” in English. However ..read more

Rosé and white wine paired with seafood in coconut cream on wild rice Pairing wine with seafood is an art that enhances the dining experience by harmonizing flavours and textures. When done well, the right wine can accentuate the delicate sweetness of seafood or balance its richness, creating a symphony of tastes on the palate. The acidity of the wine can refresh the palate between bites, while its fruitiness can complement the natural flavours of the seafood. Additionally, a well-paired wine can bring out nuances in the dish that might otherwise go unnoticed, making both the wine and the seaf ..read more