We continue to increase our knowledge and excitement about BC wines. Last week, we drove to my hometown Vancouver to attend a Wines of BC tasting, Swirl Around BC. Coming on the heels of our recent, successful Okanagan trip, we looked forward to more BC wines to experience. We were not disappointed. More than 50 wineries poured new releases that showcased the diverse terroir in BC. Our favorite wine of the day: Black Hills 2020 Ipso Facto. Two sparklers also caught our attention: Tinhorn Creek Blanc de Blanc 2018 and Tantalus Blanc de Blanc 2019. Read on for more about these and other BC wines we appreciated.
Category Archives: Merlot
Moon Curser
Moon Curser Vineyards is one of the most highly regarded wineries in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley, both for its impressive wines and its number of “firsts.” At least half the wineries on our fall tour lauded Moon Curser for being the first winery to grow Tannat in the valley, the only one to plant Arneis and Touriga Nacional, and the only winery in Canada to blend all six permitted Bordeaux grapes in its Border Vines wine. Its flagship Syrah-Tannat blend, Dead of Night, is also one of a kind (and our favorite). Named after moonlight-evading gold rush smugglers, Moon Curser has a unique story to share. Read on for details.
Luxury Brand
CheckMate Artisanal Winery, a luxury brand in British Columbia, crafts gorgeous, super-premium Chardonnay and Merlot in the Okanagan Valley. Regular readers know that neither of those two grapes is our first choice of wine. But wow, CheckMate had us hooked from the minute we walked into their beautiful Oliver tasting room last month. Their wines can proudly stand side-by-side with any world-class Chardonnay and Merlot. Read on for details of the spectacular wines, the winery, winemaker Phil McGahan, and our excellent visit. Continue reading
Vanessa Vineyard
We finally visited Vanessa Vineyard, located in B.C.’s picturesque Similkameen Valley, west of Osoyoos. We’ve been fans of the winery’s esteemed winemaker Howard Soon for years. And while we have tasted three vintages of his outstanding Meritage red blend, we had never stopped by the winery, where he played a key role from the beginning. What a treat! All of Howard’s wines are impressive, and we also had the pleasure of meeting owners Suki and Desha Sekhon.
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