It’s never too early to talk wine! I enjoyed chatting with Steve and Sophie on Global TV’s BC Morning Show. Click on the arrow above above to play the video clip. We chatted about tips on how to spot great wines in the liquor store in general, as well as about four terrific bargain wines, including Quails Gate Riesling, Okanagan Valley; Goats do Roam, South Africa; Sumac Ridge Tribute Sparkling Wine, Okanagan Valley; and Alamos Malbec, Argentina. You can buy Unquenchable wherever books are sold as well as online from these book retailers. Stay tuned next Thursday when we chat […]
British Columbia Wine
Wine for Sex and the City, Casablanca, Bridget Jones, Sideways
What can make watching your favourite movie even more fun? A great bottle of wine. Here with her tips and sips is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com Welcome Natalie Hello Bob! You’re going to share some of your favourite wine moments in the movies, then suggest a pairing. What are we looking at first? In Best Supporting Role, I’d like to nominate this Cupcake Light-Hearted Chardonnay from California, with just 100 calories. Cupcake Vineyards Light Hearted Chardonnay California, United States So I’d raise a […]
5 Spectacular Wines from Black, Indigenous and People of Colour Winemakers
We often talk about buying wine because of the way it’s made, but we don’t often talk about who makes the wine in terms of race. Here with us today to highlight some of our country’s best wines that are owned or produced by Blacks, Indigenous or People of Colour (BIPOC) is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes. Welcome Natalie. Why does it matter who makes the wine, Natalie? These days we seek out wines because of how they’re made, whether that’s sustainable farming, organic viticulture or ethical Fair Trade practices. We vote […]
Pairing Movies & Wines: Video Tasting
You can still purchase the Ontario or B.C. wines (or both!) with the time-limited discount here (stock up for holiday entertaining and gift-giving): Get the Ontario Wines Here Get the B.C. Wines Here Join me for my next online tastings: Scary Great Pairings October 21 Holiday Hosting December 2 Chocolate and Wine Pairing February 10 Thirty Bench Small Lot Pinot Noir 2019 Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Trius Distinction Baco Noir 2020 Ontario V.Q.A., Canada […]
Video: How to Pair Wine + Quarantine Snacks
Anyone can pair a juicy steak with a Cabernet, but which wines should we drink with our favourite quarantine snacks? On Global Television’s Morning Show, I share my insider tips: What’s the key in terms of flavour, pairing a snack and a wine? Do you want opposite flavour profiles or similar? (ie: creamy snack, creamy wine or creamy snack, acidic wine)? What’s one important thing that people tend to forget when they pick a wine/snack pairing? Okay, let’s dive into these pairings! Which wine do you suggest pairing with pretzels and why? […]
The 31 Most Difficult Wine and Grapes Names: How to Pronounce Them
On CTV News, Leanne and I chat about the most difficult wine and grape names to pronounce. Click the arrows to watch the videos both above and below. As anglophones, we find many of these names difficult since their origins are often European, with accents and inflections that are new to us. Tip: often e and i are pronounced in the reverse when in the middle of a word, and an e at the end of a name often sounds like a long a. Why bother? We often overlook these terrific wines, and don’t ask for them in liquor stores […]
Icon: Flagship Wines from British Columbia’s Best Wineries (Video)
I consider our guest this evening the godfather of Canadian wine writing, such is both the quality and the quantity of his work. Beginning with regular wine columns in the Financial Post and the Vancouver Sun in 1974, he published his first book, The World of Canadian Wines, in 1984 and has since written fourteen books on Canada’s and British Columbia’s wines and wine culture. And he joins me live now from Vancouver: Welcome to the Sunday Sipper Club John Schreiner! Note: YouTube has the audio and video out of sync. So either close your eyes and listen, or you […]
What are Vegan and Vegetarian Wines?
Our guest this evening has been involved in his family winery since he was five years old. After working in the wine production cellar, he became a published songwriter. But despite his love for music, he felt called back to the vineyard and in 2008 became Chief Operations Officer in 2008 then CEO in 2012. Recently he has become a director of the Canadian Vintners Association and Vice-Chair of the British Columbia Wine Institute. And he joins me live now from his winery: Welcome to the Sunday Sipper Club Ezra Cripes of Summerhill Pyramid Winery! What was the exact moment […]
Video: From Champagne to Napa Valley: Wine Stories with Tilar Mazzeo
Our guest this evening is an Associate Professor of English at Colby College in Maine and she has a winemaking certificate from the University of California at Davis. She is also the author of the New York Times bestselling “oenobiography” The Widow Clicquot: The Story of the Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Built It, among other wine books. Five years ago she emigrated to British Columbia where she is the owner and winemaker at her family’s winery, Parsell Vineyard, in Saanichton. … and that’s where she joins me now live: Welcome to the Sunday Sipper Club Tilar Mazzeo! […]
Top 20 Canadian Icewines of 2015
It’s always a tough task choosing your favourite wines from any category, but when it comes to icewine, it’s even harder. I find there are few duds in this august group. However, here are my favourites that I tasted in 2015. I’d love to hear which ones you love, and which ones I’m missing. Click on the links below for the full wine reviews, food pairings and stock in your closest liquor store. Henry of Pelham Winery Riesling Icewine 2014 Niagara Escarpment, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Alcohol: 9.5% Sweetness: Sweet Size: 375 ml Drink: 2014‐2022 LCBO: 430561 Score: 93/100 […]
