Tag Archives: Canadian wine
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
Pinot Gris, Unsworth Vineyards, Vancouver Island VQA, BC, 2016, 13.5% abv. C$21
“Oh, I didn’t know they grow grapes on Vancouver Island. In Canada! Really?” And so it goes with the skepticism. Yes, believe it (or not), vinifera grapes are being grown on Vancouver Island. Really though, it shouldn’t be so much … Continue reading
Viognier, CC Jentsch, Golden Mile Bench, Naramata VQA, BC, 2015, 13.5% abv. C$23
CC Jentsch is a small, family-owned BC winery located on the Golden Mile Bench in Oliver. Amber Pratt is Chris and Betty Jentsch’s winemaker. The family has farmed in the region since 1929. I first learned of their wines when … Continue reading
Zweigelt, Upper Bench Winery, Okanagan Valley VQA, BC, 13.9% abv. C$26
Zwei what? Zweigelt – a cross between St. Laurent and Blaufrankisch (aka Lemberger) created in 1922 in Austria. In this case it’s being grown in the Okanagan at several estates. This version is an estate grown, 100% Zweigelt, fermented in … Continue reading
Meritage, Clos du Soleil, Estate Reserve, Similkameen Valley VQA, BC, Canada, 2010, 14% abv.
A classic Meritage blend of Cabernet Franc 40%, Malbec 35%, Cabernet Sauvignon 20%, and Petit Verdot 5%, this wine hails from one of BC’s coolest biodynamic vineyards. Clos du Soleil is located in a unique microclimate of a region – … Continue reading
Brio, Glenterra Vineyards, Cobble Hill, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, 2014, 13% abv. C$25
Kudos. Serious kudos. You’ve got to give Glenterra credit. Dry farming grapes in Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island in a sustainable manner is no easy feat and can’t be for the faint of heart. They’re located in a tiny micro-climate, … Continue reading
Hypothesis, Culmina Family Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley VQA, BC, 13.5% abv, 2011
Culmina Winery owner, Don Triggs is no stranger to the really big wine industry business. No, really. I’m serious; as one half of the former Jackson-Triggs group (yes, that Jackson-Triggs), with his business partner, Don Triggs built and sold Vincor. … Continue reading
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