Category Archives: OTHER

Discover New Grapes: A Global Wine Adventure

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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)

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Volunteer Wine Tastings: Enriching Lives Through Shared Experiences

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 , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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)

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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)

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 , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Meeting a 5th Generation Vigneron in Meursault, France – Domaine Millot-Bernard

In August 2025, I took a ten day solo trip to Burgundy during the harvest.  A year prior, I’d made a friend who connected me with his family.  I returned during harvest to experience as much as was possible in … Continue reading

Posted in Aligote, Burgundy, Chardonnay, France, Gamay, OTHER, Pinot Noir, RED, Shiraz / Syrah, WHITE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Bevy of Tasty Bubbles

Last week, in anticipation of Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and other summer brunchy mornings and charcuterie evenings, I presented another wine tasting at long term care in Victoria where my parents are living their best octogenarian lives. This time the … Continue reading

Posted in OTHER | 2 Comments

9 Late Llama Wine Posts

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments