Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 12.  Your spouse or mother would probably love to enjoy a bottle of sparkling wine.  I have a spectacular bottle of BC’s Church & State Wines Gris de Noir Brut 2020 made in the Traditional Method from Pinot Noir grapes.  It is available at the winery.  It may also be at some of the restaurants listed below.  Let me tell you about this wine. My Wine Tasting Notes Church & State Wines Gris de Noir Brut 2020 ($33.75) Church & State Wines Gris de Noir Brut 2020 with wine in glass Appearance: It has a clear, bright, medium-intens ..read more

Sunday, May 12, and Sunday, June 16, 2024, are Mother’s and Father’s Day respectively. Did you know that Mother’s Day has its origins in the United States, where it was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and became an official U.S. holiday in 1914, while the first Father’s Day was started by a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd and was first celebrated in Spokane, Washington on June 19, 1910? Sharing a bottle of wine with your parents, spouse, or significant other is a nice gesture on these days, and goes well with a meal, and if the weather cooperates, sitting outside on your patio.  I recei ..read more

My first BBQ of 2024 was a few days ago. I grilled steak and opened a bottle of Tom Gore Vineyards Farmer’s Blend red wine from Sonoma, California. It is a blend of 30% Petite Syrah, 30% Merlot, 15% Malbec, 15% Teroldego, and 5% other reds. Tom Gore is a second-generation grape farmer from Sonoma County and from the time he learned to walk, he was stomping alongside his dad, getting dirty and taking care of the grapes. “Much like a chef needs outstanding ingredients to let a dish shine, a winemaker needs high-quality grapes to make a very good wine.” (Tom Gore) I took the time to marinade ..read more

Syrah grapes We all are wine lovers here and know that wine comes from grapes, but how much do we know about grape vines?  Hopefully, many of you have visited a winery and were able to walk a little into their vineyards, to view the vines, see the grapes hanging, or maybe even the blossoms in the Spring.  I highly recommend visiting a winery or wineries to learn a bit more about the vines and the wines made from them. It’s time to take this fun 5-question quiz to see what you know about grape vines. The post Get Down To Basics With My Grape Vine Quiz appeared first on MyWinePal ..read more

It’s not often that I have a chance to try coastal Pinot Noir from two different geographic regions and compare the differences, if any, between the wines.  I had the chance to compare Vancouver Island’s Blue Grouse Estate Winery‘s Pinot Noir with two Pinot Noirs from California, by La Crema and Cambria Estate.  Here are my tasting notes that I previously published, followed by some research into the two different regions and then the differences I noticed. My Wine Tasting Notes La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir 2022 (BC $32.99) Winemaker’s notes, “Fruit is cold soaked at 48ºF for 3-5 day ..read more

California is a leader in sustainable wine growing.  According to California Certified Sustainable, 38% of California winegrape acres that they monitor are sustainable, and 188 Certified Wineries produce 202 million cases of wine (80% of California wine).  That is remarkable and commendable.  I have two bottles of Certified Sustainable Pinot Noir wines from California to review for you:  Cambria Estate Winery Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022 and La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir 2022.  My Wine Tasting Notes La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir 2022 (BC $32.99) Winemaker’s notes, “F ..read more

Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages AOC label Beaujolais wines have garnered immense popularity for their vibrant fruitiness and easy-drinking nature. Nestled just south of Burgundy in France, Beaujolais is often overlooked for its more famous neighbour. Beaujolais’ youthful exuberance pairs excellently with a variety of dishes, including charcuterie, roast chicken, and light pasta dishes. Beaujolais also complements classic French cuisine such as coq au vin and beef bourguignon. Historically, Beaujolais winemaking dates back to the Roman era, but it wasn’t until the Middle Ages that viticulture f ..read more

May is a big month for New Zealand white wines.  I received this press release from the New Zealand Wine Growers.  Also please note that they are asking for your help to get a white wine emoji to be created.  Right now there is only a red wine emoji.  Cheers. Press Release The theme of the month, Pour Yourself a Glass of New Zealand, comes at a time when New Zealand’s top three exported white wine varieties are internationally celebrated with International Sauvignon Blanc Day (3 May), International Pinot Gris Day (17 May) and International Chardonnay Day (23 May ..read more

Don’t forget that April is BC Wine Month.  In case you have not purchased any BC wine yet, here are some compelling reasons why British Columbians should consider buying BC wines: 1. Economic Impact: The BC wine industry contributes $3.75 billion annually to British Columbia’s economy. By purchasing local wines, consumers directly support local businesses, jobs, and economic growth. 2. Tourism and Revenue: BC’s wineries welcome more than 1.19 million visitors each year, generating $609 million in associated revenue for the provincial economy. Exploring local wineries not only provides a ..read more

Christian from Treveri Cellars This was the last video interview I made during The Grand Tasting at Taste Washington 2024.  Treveri Cellars makes organic sparkling wines and has been doing it for many years. While some wines are made with “traditional” sparkling wine grapes, like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, they also venture out and make sparkling Gewurztraminer and Riesling. I tasted a glass of their top-quality Blanc de Blancs Brut Zero, made in the Traditional Method, after making this video with Christian. Enjoy the discussion.   https://www.mywinepal.com/videos/Christian%20from%2 ..read more