Introducing Good Wine Gal's YouTube Channel ​Sometimes you just have stretch yourself. Can I do it? I'm stepping into the world of video (long & short) on YouTube. Inspirational wine people who have gone before me like Gary Vee, Konstantin Baum and Dr Matthew Horkey. They make it look easy. Now, I'm grabbing my confidence, like a saber and looping the cap on creativity off! Good Wine Gal videos and podcast are on YouTube. Cheers to raising the profile of BC's good wine guys and gals. Here is my first interview with Benoit Gauthier, Director of Viticulture and Winemakin ..read more

Tofino Oyster Fest 2023 & BC Sparkling Wine ​"With a delicate balance of brininess, sweetness, and a subtle cucumber-like finish, Effingham Pacific Oysters showcase the terroir of their cool, coastal region. These oysters are renowned for their exceptional taste imparted by the nutrient-rich Barkley sound, and the waters in which they are grown. As a wine gal and East Coast oyster lover, I was pleasantly surprised by these West Coat gems. To learn more about Effingham oysters and a couple of wine pairings, read on.  Tofino in November When you think of Tofino in November, what comes ..read more

The sun came out from behind the clouds. The sky went from dark to light, the temperature from chilly to warm, and suddenly it all came together. As the breakers crashed on the beach in front of the Best Western Tin Wis the mood lifting effect was immediate. There I was, with a skewer of grilled Humboldt squid and a sip of Anthony Buchanan’s Pinot Blanc in my glass and this "good wine" gal was in gourmet heaven at the Tofino Wine & Dine in Tofino, B.C.  Nichol Pinot Gris with cured salmon and greens at Tofino Wine & Dine Trip to Tofino, B.C.  When was the las ..read more

The boutique Grof Degenfeld offers terrific styles of dry and sweet Tokaji. Famous Hungarian Furmint Furmint, (pronounced "For-Mint") is a white wine grape variety indigenous to the Tokaj region of Hungary where it is grown predominantly and used in the making of sparking, sweet and dry white wine. February 1st marks #furmintday, the social media online celebration and the first of the World Wine Days in 2024. Join the conversation by grabbing a bottle, inviting a friend and sampling the best that Hungary has to offer. Take a few pictures, and upload to Instagram and Facebook using the hasht ..read more

6 Incredible "Champagne Lover" Destinations for 2024 ​Passport up to date. Check. Carry on packed. Check. Backpack organized. Check. Boarding pass saved. Check. Seat Selection made. Check. Spotify Playlists downloaded. Check. Now boarding for "Champagne Lover" destinations in 2024. View facing Monserrat standing in the Raventos I Blanc vineyards. If you are a bubble lover like me, you may be heading to Italy, France, Spain, South Africa or Australia this year. If 24 hours in transit is not your idea of fun, then something closer to home might appeal like the Okanagan Valley, Cowichan Valley ..read more

43 Reasons to Celebrate Wine You don't have to give me a reason to sip my favorite beverage for I'm a passionate wine gal. But I have studied and am fully invested in the wine business. What if you are just beginning to advance your wine life? Could I offer 43 reasons to join me? Check out the 2024 World Wine Days Calendar. It makes learning about wine fun and easy. It's also a free and instantly downloadable file that anyone can use. The only other steps: get a bottle; invite a friend; and post a picture with the appropriate hashtag to meet up where wine lovers will be celebrating on Faceboo ..read more

Good Wine Gal's 5 Wine Predictions for 2024 This is Nebbiolo of the Alps in the vineyards of Valtellina, overlooking Sondrio, Italy. Happy New Year Wine Lover! How was your holiday? I was surrounded by family and friends, playing games, hiking in the woods, sipping good wine and noshing all kinds of deliciousness. I'm optimistic about 2024 as a result. This year I am celebrating my decade in the wine industry. To kick things off, I'm going to share my bold predictions which are: continued growth in sparkling wine; winery efforts to reduce environmental impacts; the continued interest in Ital ..read more

Wow with Sparkling Wines Under $25 Summerhill Estate Winery 2023 Let's wrap 2023 up in a neat bow and toss into the past. It's time to take stock of all that has transpired. The wine cellar is a bit more depleted, the friends are more scattered around the globe than I would prefer and travel is confounded by wars and tensions. Whatever the case, its time sip something to raise our spirits. Why not bubbles!?! Some might argue I'm addicted to champagne, but I could think of worse things. Truth is, I'm addicted to the occasions that can be celebrated with a white wine glass full of a elixir ..read more

December 4th is Cab Franc Day On International Cabernet Franc Day, wine enthusiasts around the world come together to celebrate this grape's unique qualities and the wines it produces, from the vibrant Okanagan Valley to the historic vineyards of France's Loire Valley and so much more. Thanks to Lori Budd of Dracaena Wines for establishing this day. Let’s raise a glass to Cabernet Franc, its history and style. Sip, sip, hooray! If you need recommendations read on.  From Napa, to Hungary and right here in British Columbia, expressions of Cabernet Franc are increasing to the delight o ..read more

It's Beaujolais Nouveau time! Beaujolais Nouveau, known for its youthful fresh and fruity character, became a global phenomenon in the 60s and 70s. For wine enthusiasts across the globe, the third Thursday in November (this year November 16th) was and is a day to celebrate the end of harvest with a drink of young wine - so young that it went from vine to bottle in eight weeks. Despite it's lack of complexity, it symbolizes joy and the culmination of a year's hard work in the vineyards. While the excitement of Beaujolais Nouveau Day is no longer as raucous as it once was, the raison ..read more