Author Archives: winellama

About winellama

I love wine...and finally decided to do something about it.

A Toast to Memories – Pinot Blanc (Weisser Burgunder), “Kalkgestein”, Weingut Friedrich Becker, Deutscher Qualitatswein trocken, Pfalz, Germany, 13% abv., 2023 and Merlot, Château Fombrauge, Bernard Magrez, Saint Emilion AC, Bordeaux, Grand Cru, France, 15% abv., 2009, C$55

Posted on June 1, 2026 by winellama

My mom would have turned 84 this May, so to remember her, we joined with one of my sisters, her husband and a niece to enjoy dinner at one of Mom’s favourite restaurants, toast her and laugh over some great … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Franc, cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, France, Germany, Merlot, OTHER, Pinot Blanc, RED, Red, red wine, WHITE | Tagged Bernard Magrez, Bordeaux, Chateau Fombrauge, france, French wine, german wine, Grand Cru, kalkgestein, limestone, merlot, Pfalz, Pinot Blanc, red wine, Saint Emilion, Weingut Friedrich Becker, weiss burgunder, weisser burgunder, white wine | 1 Comment

Tempranillo, López de Heredia – Viña Tondonia Rioja Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain, 13% abv., 2008, C$100

Posted on May 21, 2026 by winellama

My heart dropped. I had opened the López de Heredia – Viña Tondonia Rioja Reserva 2008 for a dinner with some German guests and was hoping it may still be in a drinking window. It wasn’t even close. The 2008 … Continue reading →

Posted in Graciano, Grenache / Garnacha, Mazuelo, OTHER, RED, red wine, Spain, Tempranillo | Tagged dead wine, drinking windows, Lopez de Heredia, redwine, rioja, Rioja DOCa, spain, spanish wine, tracking software for wine, wine apps | 2 Comments

Discover Farm-to-Table Dining in Bratislava’s Old Town at Pod Kamennym Stromom

Posted on April 1, 2026 by winellama

In Bratislava’s old town, a farm-to-table restaurant offers authentic Slovakian cuisine in a 13th-century cellar. Marek, the welcoming host, serves daily-changing dishes like zander and exceptional pirogis, complemented by excellent local wines. Guests enjoy genuine hospitality and culinary tales amidst an ambiance free of tourist traps, promising an unforgettable experience. Continue reading →

Posted in Devin, Dunaj, RED, Slovakia, WHITE | Tagged Bratislava, cherry brandy, devin grape, europe, farm to table, hruskovica, pear brandy, perogies, pirogi, Pod Kamennym Strom, red wine, Simonovic winery, Slovakia, slovakian spirits, slovakian wine, travel, visnovica, white wine, wine, wine-tasting | Leave a comment

Some Spanish Wines to Start the Year

Posted on January 16, 2026 by winellama

Everyone has one of those moments – either they enjoy a special bottle, travel to a specific wine region, or they have a wine experience that helps them decide that this wine thing is their new passion. Mine was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Carignan, FORTIFIED WINE, Grenache / Garnacha, OTHER, Palomino, Pedro Ximenez / Pedro Gimenez, RED, red wine, Sherry, Spain, Viura / White Rioja, WHITE | Tagged albariza soil, bespoke tasting, blue slate, Els Pics, Gonzalez Byass, Jerez, Jerez DO, llicorella, oloroso, priorat doq, red wine, Rioja DO, sherry, sherry triangle, spain, spanish wine, travel, white rioja, white wine, wine, wine-tasting | 2 Comments

Discover New Grapes: A Global Wine Adventure

Posted on November 7, 2025 by winellama

Recently I had the opportunity to introduce 20 lovely people to 9 different grapes from 5 different countries, in 3 different sparkling wines, and 2 still ones. I am not a fan of boring wines, nor of showing people what … Continue reading →

Posted in Austria, British Columbia, Cava, Chardonnay, Cinsault, Lambrusco, Lebanon, Macabeu, Macabeu/Viura, OTHER, Parellada, RED, Shiraz / Syrah, Spain, Sparkling Wine, WHITE, Xarel-lo | Tagged Cabernet Sauvignon, Cava, Lambrusco, Lebanese wines, new wines, pairings, red wine, sparkling wine, travel, white wine, wine, wine tastings, wine-tasting | Leave a comment

Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Château La Tour du Pin Figeac, Saint Émilion, Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France, 12.5% abv., 1998, US$37 (opened October 30, 2025)

Posted on November 7, 2025 by winellama

I panicked a little while searching for something to take to a friend’s for dinner. I found this 1998 sitting at the bottom of the wine cabinet. I had honestly forgotten it was there. Initially, I was concerned I’d missed … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, France, Merlot, OTHER, RED | Tagged Bordeaux, cab franc, cab sav, cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chateau La Tour du Pin Figeac, Chateau la Tour Figeac, Cheval Blanc, French wine, Grand Cru, merlot, red wine, st. emilion, travel, wine, wine-tasting | Leave a comment

Volunteer Wine Tastings: Enriching Lives Through Shared Experiences

Posted on November 6, 2025 by winellama

This past summer, I led a couple of tastings for residents at my mom’s long term care community. It may be long term care, but everyone who attends is interested and active and wants to learn more. It’s terribly gratifying … Continue reading →

Posted in Burgundy, Chardonnay, Croatia, France, Italy, OTHER, Pinot Noir, Posip, Verdicchio, WHITE | Tagged Burgundy, Harvest 2025, long term care, Maison Perron de Mypont, Michel Briday, volunteer, wine tasting | Leave a comment

Pinot Gris + Riesling, Alluvium, Fort Berens Estate Winery, Lillooet, BC VQA, 12.5% abv., 2023, C$20

Posted on September 21, 2025 by winellama

I’m always on the lookout for a wine I can enjoy by myself or with company that I don’t have to think too hard about. But, it has to have been made ethically and sustainably, and it’s a bonus if … Continue reading →

Posted in BC, British Columbia, OTHER, Pinot Gris, Riesling, WHITE, Winery Review | Tagged alluvium, BC wine, Canadian wine, fort berens, lillooet, microclimate wine, pinot gris, riesling, Seth Jex, travel, travel and wine, white wine, wine, wine-tasting, winery | 1 Comment

Watching the 2025 Harvest at Le Romanée-Conti – Chardonnay, Gerard Boyer, ‘Aux Gravains’, Savigny-les-Beaune, Premier Cru, Bourgogne, France, 2023, 13% abv., 35 Euros (C$58)

Posted on September 18, 2025 by winellama

Doubters of global warming will continue to rail against obvious signs, but while I was in Burgundy for Harvest 2025, it was hard to ignore the facts about the effects. This year was extremely hot, and there were vineyards being … Continue reading →

Posted in Burgundy, Chardonnay, France, OTHER, Pinot Noir, RED, WHITE | Tagged Aux Gravains, Bourgogne, Burgundy, CDN, chardonnay, Cotes de Nuit, DRC, europe, france, French wine, Gerard Boyer, Nuit saint George, red wine, Romanee Conti, travel, travel in burgundy, travel in france, white wine, wine, wine-tasting | 2 Comments

Watching the 2025 Harvest at Montrachet – Chardonnay, Domaine Joseph Pascal, Puligny-Montrachet, Premier Cru, Les Chalumaux, Bourgogne, France, 2022, 13% abv., 31 Euros/glass (C$50/glass), 90 Euros/bottle (C$147)

Posted on September 17, 2025 by winellama

If I had tried, even just a little, to make it happen and to arrive at Montrachet on the day they were harvesting, there is no hope I could have done it. But there I was, on my mauve rental … Continue reading →

Posted in Burgundy, Chardonnay, France, OTHER, WHITE | Tagged Bourgogne, Burgundy, caveau de puligny-montrachet, europe, france, French wine, joseph pascal, puligny-montrachet, travel, white wine, wine | 2 Comments