Category Archives: OTHER
Ring in the New Decade with Canadian Bubbles from Unsworth Vineyards
Hindsight being 2020, you’re going to want to try these bubbles for ringing in the new decade. To save you the trouble, and the hindsight, here’s the low down. Unsworth Vineyards is located on Canada’s West Coast just north of … Continue reading
Krupnik, Spiced Honey Liqueur, Wayward Distillation House, Courtenay, BC, 40% abv, C$35, 375 ml
It’s that time of year again when everyone pleads, “Help! What kind of wine do I buy to go with my turkey/ham/duck/hot dog?” There are a million or so of these articles circulating on line, but if you’re truly stuck, … Continue reading
Chardonnay, Sea Smoke Estate Vineyard, Sta Rita Hills, California, 14.5% abv, 2013, C$100
Ever since the first time I watched the movie Sideways, I have wanted to try a bottle of Sea Smoke. Their Botella Pinot Noir (vintage unknown) was featured at the seriously over served double date dinner for Myles, Jack, Stephanie … Continue reading
A food and wine pairing evening to remember
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
Pinot Gris, Reserve, Hillside Winery, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley VQA, BC, Canada, 2017, 13.7% abv.
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
South Sister, Gin, Cascade Street Distillery, Sisters, Oregon, USA, 43.25% abv, US$34.95
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
Seaside Gin, Sheringham Distillery, Sooke, BC, Canada, 43% abv, C$46
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
Loïc Mahé, Gourmandise du Gue d’Orger, Savennières, Loire Valley AoC, France, 12.5% abv, 2015, US$20
Straight from Savennières in the Loire Valley comes this precise, biodynamic red wine made of Cabernet Franc by Loïc Mahé. On the eyes, it’s translucent ruby with a nose of light raspberry and strawberry, with green leaf, schist and earth. … Continue reading
Red wine speed tasting at the 2018 Wine Media Conference in Walla Walla, Washington
By the time the long weekend spent at the 2018 Wine Media Conference (WMC) was over, I estimate I had tasted well north of 100 wines. This is why we spit. While most of these wines were from Washington State … Continue reading
Merlot, L’Ecole No. 41, Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley AVA, Washington, 2009, 14.5% abv, US$30
Next month I’m going to attend my fifth Wine Writer’s Conference in Walla Walla, Washington. I’ve been to this AVA before, and visited many of their fabulous wineries. One of the flagships I’m looking forward to seeing again – indeed … Continue reading
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