For a long time, I didn’t quite get Champagne.
A glass of Taittinger.
I certainly understood its place in the wine world: the long history, the meticulous production, the reverence. But every time I found myself at a party where a bottle was opened, I couldn’t understand why people were willing to shell out several hundred dollars for something that never quite lived up to the fuss. The bubbles were fine, the wine was pleasant, but it rarely left a mark.
What I didn’t realize then was that what I’d been drinking often wasn’t Champagne at all. More often than not, it was sparkling wine passed off in the same broad category—a prosecco here, a cava there—festive, fizzy, and fun, but not the same thing. I knew enough about wine to know Champagne had pedigree, but not enough to know I hadn’t really met the real deal yet.
That changed one day on the California coast.
Read More
A new journey begins.
In Surrey, British Columbia, a new chapter in the province’s wine story is unfolding. Once known as Cavallo Estate Winery, the property has been reborn as Gate 22 Winery—a sleek, modern destination where creativity and craft are setting a new standard in BC wine.
“When we took on the property, we wanted to create a destination that feels both modern and approachable,” says Christa-Lee McWatters, VP of the Gate 22 team. “Our goal was to make wines that express a true sense of place while inspiring curiosity for what’s possible.”
That philosophy has become the heartbeat of Gate 22, shaping not just its wines but every guest experience, from the first pour to the final sip.
Read More
Winemaker Gary (Gennadi) Zhygailo.
Most people don’t think of the Fraser Valley as wine country. It sits in the rain shadow of Vancouver, where damp coastal weather keeps umbrellas permanently within reach. And yet, just outside Langley, Chaberton Estate Winery has been quietly challenging expectations for decades.
Founded in 1975 by Claude and Inge Violet, Chaberton holds the distinction of being one of the oldest estate wineries in British Columbia, and the very first in the Lower Mainland.
Read More
A comprehensive look at BC wine today.
Wine Growers British Columbia gathered the province’s leading producers under one roof for the annual Swirl Around BC Wine Expo, an exclusive day-long celebration designed for trade and media. More than 60 wineries representing the province’s diverse growing regions poured their latest releases, offering a comprehensive look at the state of BC wine today.
The day unfolded in two parts: a dynamic walkaround tasting of new releases and a series of curated seminars tackling the industry’s most pressing challenges.
Read More
Working my first harvest in Oregon 2024.
Last fall, I did something I never thought I’d do, I worked a wine harvest. Not from the sidelines, not as an observer, but right there in the thick of it cleaning tanks, sampling, sorting fruit and even helping with blending trials. I didn’t pick grapes (turns out, that’s its own brutal art form), but I did just about everything else, thanks to the incredible generosity of Tracy Kendall at Folly of Man in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
It was messy, physical, humbling, and absolutely thrilling. I came away with sore muscles, purple-stained hands, and a deeper respect for the craft than any wine tasting could ever offer.
Winemaker Alison Moyes with the just bottled 2024 Chardonnay.
But even as the last tank was pressed off and the cellar began to quiet down, I knew I was only just beginning to understand the life of a wine. So when winemaker Alison Moyes of Solvero Wines in Summerland, BC invited me to join her team for bottling, I jumped at the chance. Their 2022 Chardonnay was recently crowned Best White Wine in Canada at the All Canadian Wine Championships, and this time, they were sealing up the 2024 vintage.
Read More
Recent Comments