Category Archives: Winery Review

Riesling, Poet’s Leap, Long Shadows Vintners Collection, Columbia Valley AVA, Washington, USA, 12.5% abv., 2021, US$16

Posted on April 4, 2023 by winellama

What’s the saying, ‘When in Rome…?’ Well, when in Washington State, find yourself some Long Shadows Poet’s Leap Riesling from the Columbia Valley, because it’s one of the grapes they do best there. Pale yellow with aromas of green apple, … Continue reading →

Posted in OTHER, Riesling, Washington State, WHITE | Tagged Armin Diel, Columbia Valley AVA, gilles nicault, Long Shadows Collection, Poet's Leap, riesling, US wine, washington state, white wine | Leave a comment

Pinot Noir, Dehart Vineyard, Martin’s Lane Winery, Okanagan Valley VQA, British Columbia, 2015, 14% abv., C$100

Posted on April 6, 2022 by winellama

From the heavily lauded Martin’s Lane Winery located in Kelowna, BC, this Pinot Noir is absolutely world class. Its translucent garnet tone offers a deep nose of mulberry, cherry, deeply ripened strawberry, freshly turned soil, and mushroom. The palate has … Continue reading →

Posted in BC, Pinot Noir, RED | Tagged BC, Canada, Canadian wine, Dehart Vineyard, Martin's Lane, Okanagan Valley, pinot noir, red wine | Leave a comment

Cabernet Sauvignon, Jordan, Alexander Valley, Sonoma, California, 2003, 13.5% abv.

Posted on January 11, 2022 by winellama

Offspring of the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most renowned red grapes of the world, rivalled only by Merlot for worldwide plantings and popularity. Its power base is in Bordeaux and especially on … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, California, RED | Tagged Alexander Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, california, Jordan, Jordan Winery, Magnum, red wine, Sonoma | Leave a comment

Oregon Wine Symposium, 2021

Posted on February 20, 2021 by winellama

The other day I was watching a travel show about regional foods and wines in Italy and felt more than a little surprised when I suddenly burst into tears. I guess I miss traveling and learning about the world a … Continue reading →

Posted in Oregon, Oregon, Winery Review | Tagged oregon, Oregon wine, Oregon Wine Board, Oregon Wine Symposium 2021, Oregon Wines, ORWineBoard, ORWineSymposium, vineyards, Wines | 3 Comments

Bunker Red, Rathjen Cellars, Saanich, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, 12.1% abv., C$22++

Posted on December 22, 2020 by winellama

We’re nine months into this pandemic and I’ve been writing a little less than usual, but drinking a lot more. What about you? Yeh, that’s what I thought. However, I have made a concerted effort to support local wineries and … Continue reading →

Posted in BC, British Columbia, Gamay, Marechal Foch, OTHER, Pinot Noir, RED | Tagged BC, BC wine, Bunker Red, Canadian wine, drink local, Gamay Noir, go local, indigenous yeast, low intervention, Marechal Foch, Mike Rathjen, pinot noir, Rathjen Cellars, red wine, Saanich, Vancouver Island | 4 Comments

Ring in the New Decade with Canadian Bubbles from Unsworth Vineyards

Posted on December 28, 2019 by winellama

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 →

Posted in amiel, auxerrois, BC, British Columbia, OTHER, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, sauvignette | Tagged amiel, auxerrois, bubbles, Canada, Canadian wine, Chris Turyk, Dan Wright, local, Maartyn Hoogeveen, Mark Niven, Mark Wachtin, New Year's toasts, pinot gris, pinot noir, rosé, Rose wine, sauvignette, Storied Wines & Spirits, Unsworth, Vancouver Island, zero dosage | 2 Comments

Amelia (Syrah – Viognier), Daydreamer Wines, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, BC, 13.5% abv., 2017, C$35

Posted on November 17, 2019 by winellama

This plush 90% Syrah, 10% Viognier is a treat! Master of Wine Marcus Ansems has produced a delicious Naramata Bench version of this northern Rhône classic. In the traditional homeland of Syrah, many winemakers co-ferment the grape with 5-10% Viognier … Continue reading →

Posted in BC, British Columbia, RED, Shiraz / Syrah, Viognier | Tagged 13.5% abv, 2017, Amelia, BC, Canada, Canadian wine, Daydreamer Wines, Marcus Ansems, MW, Naramata, Naramata Bench, naramata bench sub GI, red wine | Leave a comment

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

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

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