The August 6 Vintages Release features some terrific wines from Chile: chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, carmenere, syrah and pinot noir as well as incredibly rich BC wines made from cabernet and merlot blends. There are also some robust red wines from California and the Rhone Valley, France. You can get all 62 wines that I’ve selected from varying prices, scores, food pairings, regions and styles. Make sure you pick some back-up choices from the full list in case some of these below are sold out. You can also put my Top Wine Picks into your custom shopping list by clicking on the little […]
Wine Picks
How to Host Your Own Wine Tasting
I find myself slightly envious of those who live downtown, surrounded by an endless supply of restaurants, patios, and other potential dining opportunities. Need a glass of wine? Just text a friend and hook-up in, say 20 minutes at the bistro around the corner. On occasion though, even these folks ask themselves: What would it take to host a wine tasting in my own home? I’ll let you in on a little secret; it’s not that difficult. Let me give you a few pointers, but first, some background: I don’t live downtown. In fact, I’m so far removed from the […]
Top 5 Red and White Wines: July 9 Vintages Release
July 9 Vintages: Best Wines to Buy Top score wines, 90 plus points Affordable sparkling wines Dry rose and white wines Big red wines from Argentina, Chile and Australia Best wines from Niagara and the Okanagan Here are some of my top picks and best value wines from the July 9 Vintages Release. You’ll find all 57 wines here that I’ve recommended from a wide range of price points, scores, food pairings, regions and styles, including red, white, sparkling, rose and dessert wine. Make sure you have some back-up choices in case some of these are sold out. You can […]
Top 5 Wines for Canada Day: Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sizzle beside the Grill
Here are my top 5 wines for Canada Day … be sure you’re well stocked up! Cheers, Natalie [table id=9 /]
Enjoying Kelowna’s Stately Wines
By Michael Fagin What does Michael Fagin have in common with both Queen Elizabeth II and President Barack Obama? We all like British Columbia white wines. President Obama sipped the Quails’ Gate Okanagan Valley Chenin Blanc in Ottawa and my wife and I sipped Quails’ Gate Estate wine in Kelowna. And Queen Elizabeth II? She also sipped Okanagan wine in the 1980’s. This was, incidentally, about the same time that a Michael Fagan broke into the Queen’s bedroom at Buckingham Palace and stole a half bottle of wine (type unknown). It needs to be clarified here that that Michael Fagan […]
Vintages Release June 25: Malbec and Chardonnay from Argentina + Barbecue Wines
Here are some of my top picks and best value wines from the June 25 Vintages Release. You’ll find all 75 wines here that I’ve recommended from a wide range of price points, styles, scores and food pairings. (Make sure you have some back-up choices in case some of these are sold out.) You can also put my best value and top rated wines into your custom shopping list by clicking on the little shopping cart icon. Then follow your wine bliss! Natalie [table id=8 /] You get all of my recommendations when you subscribe to my wine reviews […]
LCBO Vintages Release June 11: Father’s Day wines, big Australian and Italian red wines, zesty white wines
The LCBO Vintages June 11 Release features some terrific wines for Father’s Day, full-bodied, fleshy red wines from Italy, zippy whites for summer salads and seafood, and robust Australian shiraz and cabernet for your barbecue. I’ve highlighted some of my best value and top rated picks here. You can find all 49 wines that I’ve reviewed here as well as here on the site. I’d love to know what your favs are! White Wine 2010 Arboleda Sauvignon Blanc, Acongagua Valley, Chile: VC: Founded by Chilean superstar Eduardo Chadwick of Viña Errazuriz fame and California’s Robert Mondavi (Chadwick now owns solely […]
Touring the Eastside Kelowna Wine Trail
By Michael Fagin Winemaker Anthony (Tony) Lewis told us that all you need to enjoy his wine is some music, art and good chemistry. The music came first with the rock band called Storytyme. Tony and his two brothers played in the band and had a fun seven year run that ended in 2008. The brothers kept the good times flowing as Tony became the winemaker perfecting his skill in chemistry and the art of winemaking. Tony’s brother Phil gives the artistic touch to the wine bottles. My wife and I are slowly decorating our house with these wonderfully crafted […]
April 2 New Wine Reviews: Vintages Release
Number of Wines Recommended: 62 Review date: April 2, 2011 The highlights in this Vintages release include… 2009 Inniskillin Riesling Winemaker’s Series Two Vineyards, V.Q.A., Niagara Peninsula, Ontario Bring-you-to-your-knees mouth-watering aromas and flavours of lime, white peach, and green apple. Juicy and vibrant: this wine cries out for food. Although it’s medium dry, it tastes bone-dry to me. Drink: 2011-2016. 105387 12% MD 750 mL $17.95 Score: 89/100. 2009 Domaine Roux Père & Fils Chardonnay Les Chaumes Chassagne-Montrachet 1Er Cru, A.C., Burgundy, France VC : This is a simply gorgeous wine. The complex nose carries tones of vanilla, apple, citrus, […]
March 19, 2011 Vintages Wine Reviews
Number of Wines Recommended: 67 Review date: March 19, 2011 There are some amazing reds from Spain and Portugal in this release, plus Californian cult wines and more bargains to stock for parties … White Wine 2009 Colmello Di Grotta Pinot Grigio, D.O.C., Isonzo Del Friuli, Italy: VC: Pinot Grigio from the tiny region of Friuli has rightly become renowned, and Colmello di Grotta’s version features many of this variety’s great strengths. Light straw in colour, this is crisp and light with melon and apple tones. Traces of candied fruit, accented by mushroom and nut, add complexity and depth. […]
