Category: Uncategorized


  • Tasting Terravista: An Evening in East Vancouver

    We recently gathered at Sweet Thea Bakery on Main Street for an intimate tasting hosted by Terravista Vineyards. It was a warm and welcome evening among fellow wine club members — including Stacey and me — as we caught up with familiar faces, picked up our club shipment, and raised a glass to creativity and…

  • The Macallan Flier: A sophisticated spin on a whisky classic

    Step into Enigma’s Macallan Lounge and raise a glass to whisky done differently There’s no better excuse to raise a glass of something exceptional than World Whisky Day—and this year, Toronto has just the place to do it in style. Tucked within the refined setting of Enigma Yorkville, The Macallan Lounge is the city’s first…

  • Drink River Stone Crafted in BC

    Reading Time: 4 minutes River Stone Estate Winery in Oliver, BC, is a small, family-owned boutique winery known for its hand-tended 7-acre vineyard on rocky, gravelly soils, producing premium Bordeaux varietals (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot) and whites (Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer). Its unique features include a full-bodied Malbec Rosé, a…

  • Cowichan Valley wine tasting

    Photo: Blue Grouse winery in the Cowichan Valley With 13 wineries, the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island has emerged as a serious viticultural area and a destination for wine tourism. It is hardly an overnight success. I recounted the history in my 2011 book, John Schreiner’s BC Coastal Wine Tour Guide, long since out of…

  • Jean Perrier & Fils Cuvée Gastronomie Chignin 2023 (Savoie) – Wine Review

    Tonight’s white wine review is a lovely white made with the Jacquère varietal that was grown in the Savoie Cru of Chignin. It is a brand-new arrival at the LCBO, landing on shelves across Ontario in last weekend’s May 10 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. It is produced by Jean Perrier & Fils, an historic,…

  • River Stone’s Good Neighbours: A Vintage Born of Resilience

    Winemakers are nothing if not resilient.  Being farmers at heart, they understand that every year brings its own challenges and the brutal winter of 2024 was a stark reminder.  Vine damage and even vine death became a harsh reality that many in the Okanagan had to grapple with.  But growers are optimists by necessity: always…

  • Beyond Red: A Fresh Look at the White and Rosé Wines of Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages

    Offering wine lovers a new perspective on a storied region. The post Beyond Red: A Fresh Look at the White and Rosé Wines of Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages first appeared on My VanCity. Read Beyond Red: A Fresh Look at the White and Rosé Wines of Côtes du Rhône and Côtes…

  • Cuvée 2025 – A Celebration of Excellence in Ontario Winemaking

    There is no better time than now to celebrate and support the Ontario wine and food scene as the 2025 edition of the Cuvée Grand Tasting returns to the Holiday Inn & Suites Conference Centre in St. Catharines on Saturday, May 24th. The Grand Tasting is the largest celebration of its kind, featuring over 100…

  • Hillside Winery is relying on its deep inventory

    Photo: Winemaker Kathy Malone The good news from Kathy Malone, the winemaker at Hillside Winery, is that Hillside’s vines, for the most part, survived the 2024 freeze and should produce a crop in the 2025 season. This is consistent with the experience of most Naramata Bench vineyards. The nearby Okanagan Lake moderated that cold spell…

  • A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 974: Flat Rock Cellars’ 2025 Annual Release & River Stone

    Ed Madronich leading the tasting Tuesday, May 4th: Invited to Flat Rock Cellars’ 2025 Annual Release, featuring the latest vintage with two previous vintages. Flat Rock Gravity Pinot Noir 2024 Ruby colour; lightly floral, raspberry nose with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, firmly structured, with a lick of tannin on the finish. (90–91) Flat Rock…