Women in Wine? Sustainability?  The three pillars of "sustainablity" are:  People (social), Planet (environmental) and Profits (economics).Without respect, understanding of application and attention to outcomes for all three, simultaneously, we have nothing. A few years ago, Cassandra Anderton and I started talking about the lack of women principals attending the Vancouver International Wine Festival. We would review the list of 150 attendees with difficulty  because there were so few women on the roster. Sadly even in 2024, the list hasn't grown longer. It's hard to find the d ..read more

Meet Jesce Baessler from Corcelettes Estate Winery Corcelettes Winery was honored in 2023 as a Top 10 Small Winery in Canada What does it take to transition into the wine business? Meet this charming personality that is the face of Corcelettes Estate Winery in the Similkameen Valley of beautiful British Columbia. Jesce Baessler fell in love 15 years ago and now finds herself deeply involved in the wine industry with husband/partner Charlie.  Originally from the great white north, Jesce thought she was going to be a veterinarian, but those plans were forever altered after spending a summ ..read more

Meet Lyndsay O'Rouke from Tightrope Winery Meet Lyndsay O'Rourke winemaker and co-owner of Tightrope Winery on the Naramata Bench, BC. Meet Naramata Bench winemaker, Lyndsay O'Rourke and hear about her journey to wine. After a hospitality career in Whistler she headed with her husband Graham to New Zealand to study at Lincoln University where she found her science and agricultural undergrad degree came in very handy. Lyndsay is an award winning winemaker and working with her viticulturist husband, the team at Tightrope is making world class wine.  Taste Tightrope Wines Here is Fleet Ro ..read more

Meet Alison Moyes & Taste Solvero Wines You can hear the conversation with Alison Moyes on the Good Wine Gal YouTube Channel Although she refers to herself as a bit of a science geek, Alison Moyes is all charm and grace. She has spent more than a decade in the Okanagan Valley making a name for herself, so much so, that her reputation precedes her. Her 2016 Liquidity Chardonnay won "Chardonnay Du Monde". Originally from Ontario, Alison studied at both Dalhousie and then Brock University where she completed her thesis on the tasting sensitivities between the sexes. Who do you think came ou ..read more

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