Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 92/100

I am already making a turn to rosés! Haywire Winery's Orchard + Field Cranberry is a zesty little number (5% abv) produced from fruit sourced from the winery's Garnet Valley Ranch. Lovely balance and brightness on this light cranberry and red berry fizz, fresh, tart and balanced with a touch of sweetness. Chill and enjoy it with a splash of soda or on its own, and it is a perfect pairing to a roast turkey roll or turkey tournedos. Terrific value as well! Tasted February 2026.

Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 93/100

It was indeed a Happy New Year with Township 7 Vineyards & Winery's Nebula! From the winery's Seven Stars series, Nebula brut rosé is only one of the beautiful Seven Stars sparklers from this winery! A delicate coral hue in the glass, enchanting, ethereal, soft and lively with ripe peach, red berry, soft citrus flavours delivered on a fine perlage, it is a beautifully balanced and elegant bubble. Chill and enjoy it anytime! Don't wait for a special occasion but make the occasion special ;) Tasted January 2026.

Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 93/100

Love this superb Cabernet Merlot from Township 7 Vineyards and Winery. From the winery's Provenance Series, the 2022 Cab Merlot is absolutely stunning and their best one yet! A beautiful composition of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, it is a spot on pairing with sirloin steak from the grill. Dry, medium-plus-bodied and gorgeous with aromas of fresh violets, dark plum, dark cherry, cassis, a hint of mint, a touch of spice, it finishes long on the palate with a smattering of cocoa, framed with supple, fine-grained tannins. Enjoy it now through 2032. Tasted December 2025.

Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 95/100

I had this very charming, sophisticated and elegant red from Hester Creek Estate Winery with an absolute perfect pairing of a rosemary and garlic-rubbed roast leg of lamb. Hester Creek Estate Winery's Undici 2022 is the winery’s newest release, and its name says it all. “Undici” translates to the number "11" in English. So, what is the significance? Mark Hopley, Hester Creek Estate Winery’s Winemaker, states "the grapes for this Super Tuscan came from a newer Hester Creek vineyard on the Osoyoos East Bench" which he and the winery believe is an exceptional vineyard and therefore rated the wine "11" on a 10-point quality scale. I wholeheartedly agree! Not only is Undici 2022 so quaffable now, but it will age well into the 2030s. So incredibly elegant, this inaugural vintage is a red wine blend of 61% Sangiovese, 19% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec and comes in at 13.7% abv. Dry, medium-plus-bodied and very easy to love with its silky dark cherry, cacao, earthy and dried wild herb nuances on the palate, it finishes long and savoury with a kiss of warm Madagascar vanilla. Tannins are super fine and the wine is ultra-balanced. Tasted December 2025. The official launch of Undici 2022 will take place at the Vancouver International Wine Festival (March 7-14, 2026). So, if you happen to be attending the festival, stop by the winery's booth to taste and chat about the wine.

Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 92/100

Kung Hei fat Choi! Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Lunar New Year 2026! February 17, 2026, begins the rare Lunar New Year of the Fire Horse cycling every 60 years. An intensely energetic symbol, it calls to follow your passion, move forward with action, to be clear, decisive and to be your authentic self. To celebrate the arrival of this dynamic Lunar New Year, Haywire Winery has created a Limited Edition Lunar Red. Produced from Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes sourced from the winery’s Summerland vineyards in British Columbia, this release continues a tradition started in 2014, when Haywire became the first winery in B.C. to release a wine in honour of the Lunar New Year. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of every bottle of wine goes to the Chinatown Storytelling Centre, Canada’s award-winning cultural hub celebrating the people and stories of Vancouver Chinatown. Fragrant with dark plum, dark berry and cigar box spice aromas with a touch of spice on the palate with notes of black cherry, cocoa and vanilla, it is a perfect pairing with meat dumplings or honey-glazed spareribs. We paired it with a savoury lamb and root vegetable pot pie, and it was a perfect match with it as well. Tasted January 2026.