The 100 point Little Pawn Chardonnay.
Just a few years into its relatively short life, CheckMate Artisanal Winery in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley was the first Canadian winery to earn perfect 100-point scores in back to back vintages for one of its Chardonnays. How do they meet the immense expectations from critics and wine consumers as a result? Like any good chess player, it starts with a plan to ensure your always thinking a few steps ahead.
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JAK Meyer, Janice Stevens-Meyer (and Chris Hemsworth)
There’s a saying in the wine industry among winemakers that ‘it takes a lot of beer to make good wine’. In JAK Meyer’s case, it took a few beers with a good friend to convince him to establish his own winery. A decade and a half later, Meyer Family Vineyards continues to produce among the very best wine coming out of BC’s Okanagan Valley.
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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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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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Winemaker Matt Dees
As the winemaker behind Jonata, The Hilt and The Paring, Matt Dees’ reputation as a terrific winemaker easily precedes him. Meeting him and getting a glimpse behind Matt Dees, the person, quickly turned into a fascinating discussion that covered everything from vineyards and sedimentary rock, to Rock ‘n Roll and cellist Pablo Casals.
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