Author Archives: winellama

About winellama

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

Spreading the Love; Wine and Whiskey Tastings

Posted on April 22, 2025 by winellama

So far, 2025 has been the year of monthly wine and whiskey tastings, plus the second installment of a something we call ‘Gin’Mas’ around these parts. I’ve been a frequently invited volunteer at one of the local long term care … Continue reading →

Posted in Chardonnay, Grenache / Garnacha, Red, red wine, Savagnin, Spain, SPIRITS, Vernaccia, Whiskey/Whisky | Tagged Astrolabe, bubbles, Cremant de Jura, domaine rolet, Els Pics, irish whiskey, Italian white wine, Jura, Lock and Worth Winery, mas alta, New Zealand wine, Priorat, priorat doq, red wine, Rias Baixas DO, sauvignon blanc, semillon, spanish wine, travel, Vernaccia di Gimignano, whiskey, white wine, wine, wine-tasting | Leave a comment

9 Late Llama Wine Posts

Posted on November 12, 2024 by winellama

Back in 2013 when I started this blog (has it been that long?), I did so because I needed to get faster and better at recording WSET tasting notes in anticipation of Diploma exams. My theory at the time was … Continue reading →

Posted in BC, Burgundy, France, Italy, OTHER, RED, Red, SPIRITS, WHITE | Tagged apricot liqueur, avagnin, barolo, BC, Canada, chenin blanc, Cotes du Jura, Domain Jean Marc Roulot, Domaine fabien trosset, domaine huet, Elio Grasso, france, Gaiole in Chianti, Gewurztraminer, Italy, l'abricot du Roulot, Laura Aschero Wines, Le Mont, Les Pieds sur Terre, Liguria, loire valley, mondeuse arbin, nebbiolo, Okanagan Valley, Pigato, red wine, Ricasolii, Riseling, Sangiovese, Tantalus Winery, travel, Tuscany, Ursa Major Winery, Valentin Morel, Vin de Savoie, Vin du Jura, vouvray, white wine, wine, wine-tasting | Leave a comment

Vermentinu, Natiu, Domaine Mlle. Devichi, AOP Patrimonio, Barbaggio, Corsica, France, 13% abv.,

Posted on November 8, 2024 by winellama

When we were deciding where to go on our European adventure, I pushed hard for Corsica. I’d wanted to go there ever since taking the WSET Diploma ‘Light Wines of the World’ course. I set to it, started researching well-known … Continue reading →

Posted in Corsica, France, OTHER, Vermentino, WHITE | Tagged Barbaggio, Corsica, corsica france, Corsican wine, europe, france, French wine, history, LGBTQ2+, Mademoiselle Devichi, Mlle. Devichi, Patrimonio, travel, Vermentino, Vermentinu, Vin Blanc, white wine | 2 Comments

Bacca Nera/Red Blend, Scappatello, Cantina Diubaldo, Cerasuolo D’Abruzzo DOC, Abruzzo, Italy, 13% abv., 2022, US$17

Posted on September 17, 2024 by winellama

Azienda Agricola Diubaldo is located near Teramo, Abruzzo, Italy – just north of where we travelled in August 2022, and to the east of the Grand Sasso d’Italia, aka the Apennines (right). They produce some pretty awesome certified organic wines … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, OTHER, RED, red wine, ROSE | Tagged Abruzzo, Cantina Diubaldo, Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo, DOC, Italy, red wine, rose, Rose wine, Scappatello | Leave a comment

Chorus Cuvée Rouge, Brendel, Napa Valley AVA, California, 2021, 13% abv., US$35

Posted on September 17, 2024 by winellama

What a refreshingly gorgeous red wine this is – the Chorus Cuvée is a Napa Valley field blend co-ferment of 32% Tempranillo, 26% Touriga Nacional, 22% Tinta Cão, 12% Tinta Madeira, and 8% Trousseau. It’s a translucent beauty offering aromas … Continue reading →

Posted in California, OTHER, RED, Tempranillo, Touriga Nacional | Tagged biodynamic, Brendel, california, coferment, napa valley, red wine | Leave a comment

Riesling, Tantalus, Okanagan Valley VQA, British Columbia, 13% abv, 2014

Posted on July 7, 2024 by winellama

A few weeks ago my sister was over and we were commiserating. I needed to pull out a good wine to bring our spirits back. This 2014 Riesling from Tantalus more than fit the bill. I bought it a decade … Continue reading →

Posted in British Columbia, OTHER, Riesling, WHITE | Tagged Canadian white wine, Dave Paterson, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan VQA, riesling, tantalus, white wine | 1 Comment

Pinot Noir, Les Épenotes, Premier Cru, Maison Evenstad, Beaune, Burgundy, France, 13.5% abv., US$110

Posted on July 2, 2024 by winellama

One of the tasting experiences during my day in Burgundy was at Domaine du Château de la Crée in very tiny Santenay. The Château dates back to 1431, and its main building was burned down during the French Revolution. Santenay … Continue reading →

Posted in Burgundy, France, Pinot Noir, RED | Tagged beaune, Bourgogne, Burgundy, chardonnay, Cote d'or, france, Grace Evenstad, Ken Evenstead, Les Épenotes, Maison Evenstad, pinot noir, Pinot Noir, Premier Cru, Santenay, wine | Leave a comment

Peated Single Malt Whisky, Distillery Smoked – Sugar Kelp Infused Peat, Portuguese Red Wine Barrique, Macaloney’s Island Distillery, The Peat Project, Single Cask Series, Saanich, BC, Canada, 46% abv., C$109.99

Posted on June 26, 2024 by winellama

It’s rare to taste and cover a world-first in whisky innovation – but recently, I attended the launch of a Peated Single Malt Whisky smoked with sugar kelp-infused local peat which was just that. Macaloney’s Island Distillery has created a … Continue reading →

Posted in OTHER, SPIRITS, Whiskey/Whisky | Tagged BC, Canada, Canadian Peated Single Malt Whisky, Canadian Whisky, Cascadia Seaweed, distillery, Graeme Macaloney, Macaloney's Island Distillery, Saanich, Single Cask Whisky, smoked, Sugar Kelp, The Peat Project, Victoria | Leave a comment

A ‘No Spit’ Bucket List Day in Burgundy’s Côte D’Or with Hautes Côtes

Posted on June 18, 2024 by winellama

When we started planning a trip anchored to the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, I knew I also needed to plan a stop just up the road in Burgundy. Now, Burgundy is a hallowed wine region, and one which demands much … Continue reading →

Posted in Burgundy, France, OTHER | Tagged Burgundy, chardonnay, Clos Vougeot, Domaine de la Romanee Conti, DRC, france, French wine, Hautes Cotes, Musigny, Pierre Denis, pinot noir, White Burgundy | 4 Comments

Aleatico + Nielluciu, Le Rappu, Clos Paoli, AOP Coteaux du Cap Corse, Morsiglia, Cap Corse, Corsica, France, NV, 15% abv., 16 €

Posted on June 17, 2024 by winellama

Ever since I studied the wines of Corsica during the WSET Diploma Wines of the World course, I have wanted to visit the island, birthplace of Napoleon, and see it for myself. We made a trip in June 2024 and … Continue reading →

Posted in aleatico, Corsica, FORTIFIED WINE, France, Le Rappu, OTHER, RED | Tagged aleatico, AOP Cap Corse, AOP coteaux du Cap Corse, Clos Paoli, Corsica, Dominique Lappi, fortified wine, france, French wine, Morsiglia, Napoleon, Niellucio | Leave a comment