Taking life one sip at a time
John Skinner
John Skinner didn’t have a background in wine when he established Painted Rock Estate Winery in BC’s Okanagan Valley. But like any good leader, he was smart enough to know what he didn’t know, and he made sure he surrounded himself with good people. He found a stunning property, hired one of the world’s top wine consultants, and not only is his winery thriving, Canada’s reputation as a wine-producing country is also reaping the benefits.
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A glass of Rosé makes for a perfect summer pairing.
Despite COVID-19’s current impact on social gatherings and its ability to cause seemingly endless uncertainty, there is little this virus can do to stop the undeniable force that is Mother Nature. Spring has sprung, summer is almost here, and despite social distancing and self-isolation, wine enthusiasts worldwide are finding company in their favourite rosé wines.
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The little winery that could.
Little Engine Wines takes its name from the renowned children’s story about working hard to achieve something despite the odds being against you. Proprietors Steven and Nicole French not only felt it was something they could relate to in establishing their winery, but that all of us can relate to on a personal level. The logo depicts a ladder and a moon—the moon representing a dream and the ladder signifying overcoming whatever it takes to reach it. The French’s personal motto “Dreams don’t come true, they are made true”, is proudly stamped on their corks as a further reminder to follow your own path.
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Christine Coletta
Talk to pretty much anyone in the Canadian wine industry and they’ll tell you Christine Coletta is a force to be reckoned with. She has spent much of the last 30 years helping put British Columbia on the world wine (and culinary) map and the accolades have followed. But meeting Christine in person, her kind and thoughtful demeanor clearly indicates that none of the recognition has gone to her head. And while most people would be contemplating a relaxing retirement plan after such a long and illustrious career, Christine isn’t most people. What began as the purchase of a 10-acre orchard to plant a vineyard and make some wine, has manifested into a sizeable custom crush facility and 4 wine brands.
Read MoreOur latest Video AdVINEture features highlights from our visit last year to the Sonoma and Napa Valleys. We were fortunate to re-visit some favourites such as Talisman Wines, Laurel Glen Vineyard, and St. Francis Vineyards, along with first-time visits to Smith-Madrone, Grgich Hills, and Barnett Vineyards. While we wait for travel to be opened up again, we hope you’ll enjoy this montage of winemaker clips from a region we look forward to returning to as soon as possible!
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Mrs. Beeton’s book: a great source of information for the dinner.
On November 24, 1899, 2 years before she passed, Queen Victoria invited her grandson Kaiser Wilhelm to dinner at Windsor Palace. Not much is known about that dinner, but a menu from that evening has survived. On November 24, 2019, we were invited to a dinner intent on replicating the original menu as close as possible and had been tasked to pair the wines…without knowing what wines were served at the first!
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Oregon vs Burgundy tasting at Domaine Drouhin.
On a recent trip to the Willamette Valley, Oregon’s prime wine-growing region, we had the opportunity to really delve into the connection between Oregon and Burgundy. We met with two winemakers from France, a sommelier from Oregon, several Oregon winemakers and did a comparative tasting of the two regions. The experience taught us a lot and of course was great fun as well.
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Chile’s climate provides ideal conditions for Carménère.
There are certain wine regions in the world that are known for a particular grape variety. For example, the Napa Valley is synonymous with Cabernet Sauvignon, Burgundy for Pinot Noir and Argentina for Malbec. Then there are the regions that have so many different unique micro-climates they can produce a much greater variety of high-quality wines. Sonoma is one that comes to mind with its 17 different AVAs and 259 different soil types. On a recent trip to Chile, we discovered that although it’s a place often associated with Carménère, it’s finally gaining notoriety for its quality with respect to a diverse range of varieties. For the last 3 decades, Viña Montes has been at the forefront of this transformation helping to reposition the country’s reputation worldwide both with quality and diversity.
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