Tag Archives: Canada
Vermouth, Beaufort Vineyard & Estate Winery, Courtenay, BC, Canada, 18% abv., C$33+
With its pretty, pale gold colour and layered aromas of sea salt and honeyed herbs, the flavours of this Vermouth are complex and show honeycomb, rosemary, medicinal grass, and spicy cinnamon stick. Have I got your attention? What is this … Continue reading
40 Knots Estate Winery, Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Topping out at 20 hectares and producing about 6,000 cases annually, 40 Knots is Vancouver Island’s second largest estate winery. Located just outside of Courtenay in the Comox Valley, 40 Knots was purchased in 2014 by its current owners – … Continue reading
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
Amelia (Syrah – Viognier), Daydreamer Wines, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, BC, 13.5% abv., 2017, C$35
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
Grüner Veltliner, Culmina Family Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada, 2018, 14% abv. C$27
We showed up for our tasting at Culmina Family Estate Winery about a week after the big news hit the Canadian wine world – Don and Elaine Triggs had sold their life’s work wine project to Arterra. While chatting about … 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
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
Salish Sea, Sea Star Vineyards and Winery, Pender Island, BC, 11.5% abv, C$23
Salish? So delish. Recently, I went on a long weekend escape on the Salish Sea, and enjoyed a bottle of Sea Star Vineyards and Winery’s aptly named ‘Salish Sea,’ a delicious wine made from Ortega and Siegerrebe grapes organically grown … Continue reading
Blanc de Noir, Rosé, Sea Star Vineyards and Winery, Pender Island, BC, Canada, 2017, 11.7% abv, C$24
un·ex·pect·edˌənəkˈspektəd/ adjective adjective: unexpected -not expected or regarded as likely to happen, as in”finding this world class wine on Pender Island was unexpected.” I’d wanted to visit the Sea Star winery on Pender Island, one of BC’s Gulf Islands, for … Continue reading
