We’ve been fans of Blue Grouse wines for years, and frequently cross the nearby border to buy bottles. However, in July, for the first time, we visited their classy estate winery. Blue Grouse is an acclaimed Cowichan Valley producer, with one of the oldest vineyards on Vancouver Island. Blue Grouse Estate Winery’s philosophy is “stewardship.” Their vineyards are all sustainably farmed. During our visit, our charming, knowledgeable host Vanessa Wheaton poured five wines for us – three whites, a sparkling rosé and one red. These are just a small sample of many standout Blue Grouse wines.
Category Archives: Riesling
Venturi-Schulze
In mid-August, we spent an entertaining and educational hour with Michelle Schulze at Venturi-Schulze Vineyards in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. Michelle is such a character, and as authentic as it gets. She shared lots of fun stories and good wine with us. Michelle manages the vineyards and works closely with her step-father, Giordano Venturi, to make the wine. Her mother Marilyn is hands-on, a scientist excelling in vinegar production. Venturi-Schulze was the third licensed winery on Vancouver Island in 1993. As well as 100% estate-grown wines, you’ll find ancient-method balsamic vinegar and jams. Moreover, the late, great Ron Zimmerman of well-known The Herbfarm imports Venturi-Schulze wines and vinegars for his restaurant near Seattle. And Venturi-Schulze Zeigelt is very popular with Victoria’s Hanks *a restaurant.
Canvasback Wines
We tasted nine Canvasback wines in June, when we visited the winery‘s rustic yet elegant tasting room for the first time. What a lovely Walla Walla location to experience Canvasback’s extensive wine portfolio. From sophisticated to hedonistic, polished to luscious, and refreshing to captivating, Canvasback has it all. Duckhorn pioneers Dan and Margaret Duckhorn founded the winery in 2012, and named it after the Canvasback duck, native to the Pacific Flyway.
Holiday Wines
Above all, make your season fabulous with stellar holiday wines. To help you out, 20 sparkling, rosé and white wines, plus 20 red wines, comprise our top 40 recommendations of wine for the holidays. Certainly, many of these holiday wines are special because of their high quality (and high price point). On the other hand, others are simply special good-value wines. Moreover, their prices range from an unbelievable $11 to $162. Most importantly, we suggest opening them during a quiet evening at home, pouring them for dinner guests, taking them to small holiday parties, or giving them as gifts. To sum up, read on for details. Continue reading