Category Archives: BC

Wine Bloggers of North America Conference, Penticton, BC 2013

Yesterday I was a speed tasting virgin. Now that I actually understand this speed tasting thing, I’m slightly better prepared. For starters, I intend to spit! Somehow this isn’t coming out the exact way I’d meant it to. Perhaps I … Continue reading

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Cabernet Sauvignon, La Gauche, Rollingdale Winery, Okanagan Valley, 2008, 13.5% abv, C$39.90

In 2010, Rollingdale Winery was recognized by the website Organic Wine Review as one of only two wineries in BC as being fully organic. Usually renowned for their ice wines, Rollingdale even beat out Willamette Valley’s Sokol Blosser Winery for … Continue reading

Posted in BC, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, RED | Leave a comment

Riesling Lab, Hard Pressings, Tantalus, Okanagan Valley VQA, Kelowna, BC 2011, 12% abv

When Jancis Robinson declared earlier this year that the 2008 Old Vines Tantalus Riesling was the best white wine in Canada, hundreds of wine geeks including ‘yours truly’ called them in Kelowna, BC that same morning to plead and grovel … Continue reading

Posted in BC, OTHER, Riesling, WHITE | Leave a comment

White Wedding, Hidden Chapel Winery, Sauvignon Blanc – Viognier – Riesling, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, BC, 2011, 12.6% abv.

Purchased in summer 2011 during a foray to the Okanagan Valley, we hit a few wineries and picked this one up along the way. It’s a pale lemon and has light legs with  stronger than average aromas of lychee, pink grapefruit, … Continue reading

Posted in BC, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, WHITE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Gehringer Brothers, Private Reserve, Pinot Blanc, Okanagan Valley, BC, 2010, 13.3% abv, $14.99

We visited this winery located in the Golden Mile Bench in August during a week long trip to Osoyoos, deep in BC’s wine country. They’ve been growing vinifera varietals at Gehringer Brothers for 25 years and that’s one of the … Continue reading

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La Stellina, Rosato, La Stella Winery, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, BC, 2011, 12% abv.

A pink Merlot wine from the Okanagan to start the festivities off for Andrew’s 15th birthday. Yes, I called it pink.  We call white wines, white and reds, red.  Pinks should also be pink – and not Rosé. We aren’t … Continue reading

Posted in BC, Merlot, ROSE | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Carménère, Black Hills Estate Winery, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, BC, 2010, 12.5% abv.

Canada’s first Carménère wine comes from the Okanagan Valley’s Black Hills Estate Winery in Oliver, located just north of Osoyoos and south of the Naramata Bench.  The vines were planted in 1999 and the wine produced there has acquired a bit … Continue reading

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Church & State, Hollenbach Family Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, BC, 2009, 13.9% abv, C$26

There’s BC salmon on the dinner menu, so we need a Pinot Noir. Fully 100% Pinot, this wine won silver medals for 2011 at both the Canadian Wine Championships and the London, UK International Wine and Spirit Competition.  The year … Continue reading

Posted in BC, Pinot Noir, RED | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Pinot Noir, Optimum, Gehringer Brothers, Okanagan Valley, BC, 12.5% abv, 2011

2011 wasn’t exactly a banner vintage in the Okanagan Valley and to be honest, this wine is indicative of that. Clear with a medium minus ruby core moving to a thin pink rim this Pinot Noir has light legs. On … Continue reading

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Merlot, Hester Creek, Reserve Block 2, Okanagan Valley, BC, 14.4% abv, 2009

During a trip to Oliver, BC, deep in the southern Okanagan Valley, we visited Hester Creek Winery where we purchased this Merlot. It has a clear, deep ruby-purple core moving to a thick light ruby rim with noticeably viscous legs.  On … Continue reading

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