Author Archives: winellama

About winellama

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

Gewurztraminer-Pinot Gris, Granite, Bartier Brothers, Oliver, BC, 2017, 11.3% abv., C$26

Posted on November 3, 2019 by winellama

I’d been planning a trip to Bartier Brothers in Oliver, BC for a while. I drink so much of their Sémillon, I should own shares in the winery. A visit was definitely in order. No sooner did we step on … Continue reading →

Posted in BC, British Columbia, Gewurztraminer, Orange, Pinot Gris, WHITE, Winery Review | Tagged Bartier Brothers, BC, Canadian wine, Gewurztraminer / Pinot Gris, Granite, Michael Bartier, okanagan, Oliver, orange wine, white wine | Leave a comment

A food and wine pairing evening to remember

Posted on October 5, 2019 by winellama

One of my favourite wine and food activities is to pair the two and introduce friends and family to gastronomic and wine nerd combinations they wouldn’t have normally sought out for themselves. I did this recently with a group at … Continue reading →

Posted in OTHER | Tagged Argyle, Avignonesi, bubbles, Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo, Chef Dan, Christiana Tiberio, Dundee Hills AVA, Fitzpatrick Family Vineyard, food and wine, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, oregon, pinot noir, red wine, Rose wine, Sangiovese, sparkling wine, The London Chef, Tiberio, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, white wine, Willamette Valley AVA, wine pairing | Leave a comment

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Avignonesi, Montepulciano DOCG, Italia, 13.5% abv, C$42

Posted on September 28, 2019 by winellama

Avignonesi is Italy’s largest biodynamic winery, located in tiny Valiano, Tuscany between Cortona and Montepulciano. Its owner, Virginie Saverys, a former lawyer from Belgium, purchased it in 2009 from the original owners, the Avignonesi family, and has spent the last … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, RED, Sangiovese | Tagged Avignonesi, italia, Italian wine, Italy, red wine, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Virginie Saverys, wine | 3 Comments

Grüner Veltliner, Culmina Family Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada, 2018, 14% abv. C$27

Posted on August 20, 2019 by winellama

We showed up for our tasting at Culmina Family Estate Winery about a week after the big news hit the Canadian wine world – Don and Elaine Triggs had sold their life’s work wine project to Arterra. While chatting about … Continue reading →

Posted in British Columbia, Gruner Veltliner (Gru-Ve), WHITE | Tagged BC, Canada, Canadian wine, Culmina Family Estate Winery, Don Triggs, Gruner Veltliner, gruvy, margaret's bench, Okanagan Valley, Oliver, white wine | 1 Comment

Pinot Gris, Reserve, Hillside Winery, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley VQA, BC, Canada, 2017, 13.7% abv.

Posted on August 9, 2019 by winellama

I had wanted to visit Hillside Winery for a while – not only is their Reserve Pinot Gris one of my absolute favourite wines of all time, but their celebrated restaurant is award winning. We popped in for a visit … Continue reading →

Posted in BC, British Columbia, OTHER, Pinot Gris, WHITE | Tagged BC, Canada, Hillside Winery, Hillside Winery Bistro, Kathy Malone, Naramata Bench, naramata bench sub GI, okanagan valley vqa, pinot gris, Reserve, Shelann Sleegers, white wine | 3 Comments

South Sister, Gin, Cascade Street Distillery, Sisters, Oregon, USA, 43.25% abv, US$34.95

Posted on June 23, 2019 by winellama

What sorcery is this? Two posts in a row about gin? Well, when the quality is there, I feel I need to tell you about it so you can plan a trip and a tasting, or find some of this … Continue reading →

Posted in OTHER | Tagged artisan, bourbon, Gin Cascade Street Distillery, handcrafted, huckleberry vodka, oregon, pear vodka, siblings, siblingsuccess, Sierra Street Kitchen + Grill, Sisters, South Sister, vodka, whiskey, Wild Roots Spirits | Leave a comment

Seaside Gin, Sheringham Distillery, Sooke, BC, Canada, 43% abv, C$46

Posted on May 25, 2019 by winellama

It’s not often that I write about spirits on Winellama. In fact, when I took the WSET Diploma, I balked at having to take a course on spirits. In the end, it was the course I learned the most from … Continue reading →

Posted in BC, gin, OTHER, SPIRITS | Tagged BC, Canada, contemporary gin, gin, Seaside Gin, Sheringham Distillery, Sooke, spirits, world gin awards, world winner | Leave a comment

Gringet, Brut, Domaine Belluard et Fils, Ayse, Savoie AOC, France, NV, 12% abv.

Posted on May 13, 2019 by winellama

Nestled in a valley between Geneva and Mont Blanc at an altitude of 400m, Domaine Belluard et Fils is a biodynamic (since 2001) and organic vineyard growing several grapes – but one that is most unusual and unique – Gringet. … Continue reading →

Posted in France, Gringet, Sparkling Wine, WHITE | Tagged Ayse, Ayse AoC, Ayze, bio, biodynamic, brut, bubble, bubbles, Domaine Belluard, Domaine Belluard et Fils, france, Gringet, methode traditional, nv, organic, Savoie, sparkling wine, traditional method, Vin de Savoie, white wine, wine | Leave a comment

Turbiana and the White Wines of Lugana DOC, Italy

Posted on March 18, 2019 by winellama

I met Ambra Berardi of the Consorzio Tutela Lugana at the 2018 Wine Writer’s Conference in Walla Walla, Washington when I was looking for light and delicate white wines at the opening tasting reception. I was hooked instantly by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, Turbiana, WHITE | Tagged Consorzio Lugana, italia, Italy, Lake Garda, Late Harvest, Lugana, Lugana DOC, Marangona Cantina, Ottella, Tenuta Roveglia, Terra Cotta Amphorae, Turbiana, Visit Lugana, white wine, wine | 4 Comments

Expression, Champagne Geoffroy, Brut, Premier Cru, Cumières, Champagne AC, France, 2011 + 2012, 12.5% abv, C$80

Posted on March 14, 2019 by winellama

Something extremely exciting happened to us about a month ago when our family welcomed a brand new baby granddaughter to the clan. To welcome this adorable nymph to the world, we opened a bottle of Geoffroy ‘Expression’ champagne. We selected … Continue reading →

Posted in Chardonnay, France, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir | Tagged brut, bubbles, Champagne AC, Champagne Geoffroy, chardonnay, Cumières, Expression, france, pinot meunier, pinot noir, Premier Cru, sparkling wine | 2 Comments