Tag Archives: wine

Discover New Grapes: A Global Wine Adventure

Posted on November 7, 2025 by winellama

Recently I had the opportunity to introduce 20 lovely people to 9 different grapes from 5 different countries, in 3 different sparkling wines, and 2 still ones. I am not a fan of boring wines, nor of showing people what … Continue reading →

Posted in Austria, British Columbia, Cava, Chardonnay, Cinsault, Lambrusco, Lebanon, Macabeu, Macabeu/Viura, OTHER, Parellada, RED, Shiraz / Syrah, Spain, Sparkling Wine, WHITE, Xarel-lo | Tagged Cabernet Sauvignon, Cava, Lambrusco, Lebanese wines, new wines, pairings, red wine, sparkling wine, travel, white wine, wine, wine tastings, wine-tasting | Leave a comment

Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Château La Tour du Pin Figeac, Saint Émilion, Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France, 12.5% abv., 1998, US$37 (opened October 30, 2025)

Posted on November 7, 2025 by winellama

I panicked a little while searching for something to take to a friend’s for dinner. I found this 1998 sitting at the bottom of the wine cabinet. I had honestly forgotten it was there. Initially, I was concerned I’d missed … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, France, Merlot, OTHER, RED | Tagged Bordeaux, cab franc, cab sav, cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chateau La Tour du Pin Figeac, Chateau la Tour Figeac, Cheval Blanc, French wine, Grand Cru, merlot, red wine, st. emilion, travel, wine, wine-tasting | Leave a comment

Pinot Gris + Riesling, Alluvium, Fort Berens Estate Winery, Lillooet, BC VQA, 12.5% abv., 2023, C$20

Posted on September 21, 2025 by winellama

I’m always on the lookout for a wine I can enjoy by myself or with company that I don’t have to think too hard about. But, it has to have been made ethically and sustainably, and it’s a bonus if … Continue reading →

Posted in BC, British Columbia, OTHER, Pinot Gris, Riesling, WHITE, Winery Review | Tagged alluvium, BC wine, Canadian wine, fort berens, lillooet, microclimate wine, pinot gris, riesling, Seth Jex, travel, travel and wine, white wine, wine, wine-tasting, winery | 1 Comment

Watching the 2025 Harvest at Le Romanée-Conti – Chardonnay, Gerard Boyer, ‘Aux Gravains’, Savigny-les-Beaune, Premier Cru, Bourgogne, France, 2023, 13% abv., 35 Euros (C$58)

Posted on September 18, 2025 by winellama

Doubters of global warming will continue to rail against obvious signs, but while I was in Burgundy for Harvest 2025, it was hard to ignore the facts about the effects. This year was extremely hot, and there were vineyards being … Continue reading →

Posted in Burgundy, Chardonnay, France, OTHER, Pinot Noir, RED, WHITE | Tagged Aux Gravains, Bourgogne, Burgundy, CDN, chardonnay, Cotes de Nuit, DRC, europe, france, French wine, Gerard Boyer, Nuit saint George, red wine, Romanee Conti, travel, travel in burgundy, travel in france, white wine, wine, wine-tasting | 2 Comments

Watching the 2025 Harvest at Montrachet – Chardonnay, Domaine Joseph Pascal, Puligny-Montrachet, Premier Cru, Les Chalumaux, Bourgogne, France, 2022, 13% abv., 31 Euros/glass (C$50/glass), 90 Euros/bottle (C$147)

Posted on September 17, 2025 by winellama

If I had tried, even just a little, to make it happen and to arrive at Montrachet on the day they were harvesting, there is no hope I could have done it. But there I was, on my mauve rental … Continue reading →

Posted in Burgundy, Chardonnay, France, OTHER, WHITE | Tagged Bourgogne, Burgundy, caveau de puligny-montrachet, europe, france, French wine, joseph pascal, puligny-montrachet, travel, white wine, wine | 2 Comments

Meeting a 5th Generation Vigneron in Meursault, France – Domaine Millot-Bernard

Posted on September 16, 2025 by winellama

In August 2025, I took a ten day solo trip to Burgundy during the harvest. A year prior, I’d made a friend who connected me with his family. I returned during harvest to experience as much as was possible in … Continue reading →

Posted in Aligote, Burgundy, Chardonnay, France, Gamay, OTHER, Pinot Noir, RED, Shiraz / Syrah, WHITE | Tagged Aligote, Bourgogne, Burgundy, chardonnay, domaine mallot-bernard, emilien mallot, france, passetoutgrains, Pinot Noir, PTG, red wine, syrah, travel, white wine, wine, wine-tasting | 2 Comments

Spreading the Love; Wine and Whiskey Tastings

Posted on April 22, 2025 by winellama

So far, 2025 has been the year of monthly wine and whiskey tastings, plus the second installment of a something we call ‘Gin’Mas’ around these parts. I’ve been a frequently invited volunteer at one of the local long term care … Continue reading →

Posted in Chardonnay, Grenache / Garnacha, Red, red wine, Savagnin, Spain, SPIRITS, Vernaccia, Whiskey/Whisky | Tagged Astrolabe, bubbles, Cremant de Jura, domaine rolet, Els Pics, irish whiskey, Italian white wine, Jura, Lock and Worth Winery, mas alta, New Zealand wine, Priorat, priorat doq, red wine, Rias Baixas DO, sauvignon blanc, semillon, spanish wine, travel, Vernaccia di Gimignano, whiskey, white wine, wine, wine-tasting | Leave a comment

9 Late Llama Wine Posts

Posted on November 12, 2024 by winellama

Back in 2013 when I started this blog (has it been that long?), I did so because I needed to get faster and better at recording WSET tasting notes in anticipation of Diploma exams. My theory at the time was … Continue reading →

Posted in BC, Burgundy, France, Italy, OTHER, RED, Red, SPIRITS, WHITE | Tagged apricot liqueur, avagnin, barolo, BC, Canada, chenin blanc, Cotes du Jura, Domain Jean Marc Roulot, Domaine fabien trosset, domaine huet, Elio Grasso, france, Gaiole in Chianti, Gewurztraminer, Italy, l'abricot du Roulot, Laura Aschero Wines, Le Mont, Les Pieds sur Terre, Liguria, loire valley, mondeuse arbin, nebbiolo, Okanagan Valley, Pigato, red wine, Ricasolii, Riseling, Sangiovese, Tantalus Winery, travel, Tuscany, Ursa Major Winery, Valentin Morel, Vin de Savoie, Vin du Jura, vouvray, white wine, wine, wine-tasting | Leave a comment

Pinot Noir, Les Épenotes, Premier Cru, Maison Evenstad, Beaune, Burgundy, France, 13.5% abv., US$110

Posted on July 2, 2024 by winellama

One of the tasting experiences during my day in Burgundy was at Domaine du Château de la Crée in very tiny Santenay. The Château dates back to 1431, and its main building was burned down during the French Revolution. Santenay … Continue reading →

Posted in Burgundy, France, Pinot Noir, RED | Tagged beaune, Bourgogne, Burgundy, chardonnay, Cote d'or, france, Grace Evenstad, Ken Evenstead, Les Épenotes, Maison Evenstad, pinot noir, Pinot Noir, Premier Cru, Santenay, wine | Leave a comment

Sangiovese, Occhio di Pernice, Avignonesi Winery, Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC, Montepulciano, Toscana, Italia, 2005, 12.5% abv, 50 € (100 ml)

Posted on September 23, 2022 by winellama

Before we travelled to Italy, I had planned a casual visit to the Avignonesi Winery, imagining I’d simply enjoy some Vino Nobile di Montepulciano on the patio enroute from Perugia to Greve. I had enjoyed their wine before in Canada, … Continue reading →

Posted in OTHER | Tagged Avignonesi Winery, biodynamic, italia, Italy, montepulciano, Occhio di Pernice, red wine, Sangiovese, toscana, Tuscany, Vin santo, Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC, wine | 4 Comments