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There is no doubt that the winters of 2023 and 2024 were particularly challenging for wineries in British Columbia, with the winter of 2024 being the most devastating. Fort Berens, located in Lillooet, BC, unfortunately did not escape these winters unscathed. In January 2024, following what began as a relatively warm winter, a cold snap…
Continue reading Fort Berens’ 2024 Here & There Collection: A Wine Making Journey
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Have you tried low alcohol or non-alcoholic wines yet? If so, what did you think of them? Have you found any gems? Last weekend I made pesto for pizza using garlic scapes from the garden and tried pairing it with Yalumba’s 2024 Y Series Lighter Chardonnay. This was my first time trying a low alcohol…
Continue reading Exploring Low Alcohol Wines: Yalumba’s 2024 Lighter Chardonnay
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Red Barn Winery belongs to the Iconic Wineries of British Columbia (IWBC) portfolio, which includes wineries like CheckMate, Martin’s Lane and Mission Hill. Red Barn Winery produces small lots of unique wines, making only about 1000 cases each year. What really distinguishes Red Barn from the rest of the IWBC portfolio though is their free…
Continue reading Red Barn Winery: Innovative Wines from the Black Sage Bench
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Did you know that last Sunday was Stir-up Sunday? Stir-up Sunday is the last Sunday before Advent. Traditionally it is the day when the Christmas pudding would be made in advance of Christmas. Even if you’re not making Christmas pudding though, it’s still a good day to start your holiday baking. I made my very…
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Do you enjoy pumpkin spice in your coffee? Although I do love pumpkin spice, I prefer my espresso unadulterated, so this weekend I made some delicious Brown Butter Chewy Pumpkin Snickerdoodles from Cambria Bakes. In addition to baking, I also tasted through some noble wines for a noble cause. Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery has…
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I am always intrigued by the changing landscape of wine country in the Okanagan Valley. Some wineries have been around for decades, standing the test of time, while other wineries change hands and are transformed. New plots of land are planted to vine for the very first time, while other vineyards are replanted with more…
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I recently had a chance to taste through some of the current releases from Culmina Family Estate Winery on the Golden Mile Bench in Oliver, BC. Culmina Family Estate Winery was started in 2006 by Donald Triggs and his wife, Elaine. In 2012 they were joined by their daughter, Sara, who took over as manager…
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April is BC Wine Month, and it’s a great time to celebrate as wineries are announcing their spring releases. I recently had the pleasure of tasting through the spring wine club shipment from JoieFarm, which has recently come under new ownership. JoieFarm Winery is located along the Naramata Bench in the Okanagan Valley. It was…
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In February I was fortunate enough to join Marina Castillo, Catena Zapata’s Canadian Export Manager, for a virtual tasting of wines from their Adrianna Vineyard. The Adrianna Vineyard was planted in 1992 by Nicolás Catena Zapata and named after his youngest daughter. The vineyard itself is located in the Gualtallary sub-district of the Tupungato Region,…
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What foods do you like to enjoy alongside an oaked Chardonnay? When in doubt, you can always pair it with a bowl of buttery popcorn. Pasta with a creamy sauce, such as Carbonara or Alfredo, also works well, or try pairing it with mushroom risotto. We enjoyed the 2020 Liquidity Reserve Chardonnay with bacon, caramelized…