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BC Wine Harvest Fast Facts For those vineyards that survive the wildfires, the time to harvest grapes is approaching. Painted Rock Vineyard · BC’s most planted grapes are Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinot Noir. · A grapevine might have seven pounds of fruit (more or less), so with 2.6 pounds of fruit per bottle, one vine can produce between two and three bottles of wine. · BC terroir is unique – not as cool as

The history of the Dirty Laundry Winery, in Summerland B.C., begins with the desire of Chinese railway workers for better working conditions. A family started the laundry as an alternative to railway work, serving the needs of the labourers in the area. Men who were perhaps getting their only set of clothes cleaned, were invited to take a trip up to the second floor of the establishment, to avail themselves of additional services the women of the business offered. This establ

A bottle of Gamay Noir Gamay (pronounced ‘Gam-may’), also known as Gamay Noir, is a light-bodied red wine varietal related to Pinot Noir. It grows in the region of Beaujolais, France and is also grown in other areas like the Loire Valley and Canada. Gamay wines are enjoyed for their floral aromas, fruity flavours, high acidity and soft tannins. Gamay pairs well with food, especially fish, and is often served slightly chilled to bring out the wine’s signature fruity note

Matching foods with the right wine can enhance the experience of both the wine and the meal. Here are some recommendations for a variety of British Columbia wines. Wine and Food Can Compliment Each Other Red Wines Cabernet Franc BC versions are outstanding and very versatile food wines. Try it with roast chicken, pork, roasted or grilled, beef, duck, sausage, lamb, veal, hearty fish dishes and even hard or soft cheese. Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon stands up beautiful

A Glass Decanter What Is Decanting Wine? Decanting wine means slowly pouring the wine from its bottle into a different container, without disturbing the sediment at the bottom. Wine is often decanted into a glass vessel with an easy-pour neck. Examples include the swan, cornett, duck, and standard decanters, which come in small, medium, and large sizes. What Are the Benefits of Decanting Wine? 1. Decanting separates sediment from liquid. Decanting is first and foremost about

Wildfire season is here again and vineyards face the danger of smoke taint ruining the year's crop of grapes. Grapes that absorb too much CO2 from exposure to smoke will have their flavour profile altered and no longer be capable of producing wine that doesn't taste like ash. A number of different approaches have been undertaken to try and preserve grapes in a high-smoke environment. One is carbon hoods, installed over the grape clusters, which can block up to 97% of smoke pe

Newfoundland was used for several centuries as a storage and maturing location for Portuguese port wine. The benefits of cold weather aging were discovered by accident in 1679, when a Portuguese vessel carrying port wine was attacked by a buccaneer and escaped by going off course and taking shelter in Newfoundland. Forced to overwinter, they stored their port barrels in caves at St. John's harbour, eventually transporting their cargo to its original destination, London. There

Cover Art Idea The latest draft of Pinot Mort is done, and we had a small 'Book Wrap' celebration last night, June 6, to mark the occasion. It's a significant milestone to reach and took two and a half years of effort. I've sent out the completed product for error checking of the spelling and grammar. The next activity to look forward to is a cover reveal, as I'll be working on a cover design now that we know the total number of pages in the book. The novel came in at just ov

A number of interesting grapes have been used successfully to produce great wines in the more northerly areas of the Okanagan Valley. These are two of the more prominent varietals. Maréchal Foch Used to produce a variety of styles of wine, Maréchal Foch is a hybrid French red wine grape. It’s a cross between Goldriesling grapes and a Native American Vitis. The origins of Maréchal Foch go back to the early 1900’s, where it was discovered by Eugene Kuhlmann. It made its way o

Fortified wines hold a distinguished place in the world of viniculture, a testament to the art of enhancing wine with a distilled spirit, usually brandy. These wines, richer and often sweeter, have their roots in history, developed primarily as a means to ensure wines endured long sea journeys. From the sun-drenched vineyards of Spain's Jerez producing the complex notes of Sherry, to the terraced banks of Portugal's Douro Valley where Port reigns supreme, and the sun-soaked M

Now that better weather is here in the northern hemisphere, here are some recommended reads to peruse while enjoying the patio or back yard. Read the Amazon description of The Sky On Fire by Jenn Lyons. Enter a world ruled by dragons in a daring new fantasy heist adventure. Anahrod lives only for survival, forging her own way through the harsh jungles of the Deep with her titan drake by her side. Even when an adventuring party saves her from capture by a local warlord, she is

A View Along The Naramata Bench. On May 13, 2019, wineries in the Naramata Bench joined Skaha Bench, Okanagan Falls and Golden Mile Bench, near Oliver, as wineries that meet the requirements of the Wines of Marked Quality Regulation. The Naramata Bench is roughly defined as the bench lands between Penticton Creek and Okanagan Mountain Park on the east side of Okanagan Lake. Nowhere else in the Okanagan Valley can you find so many wineries packed into a single touring route, w

My love of literature is rooted in the large amount of time I spent in libraries as a child, to the point where I had read every book of interest in the Sudbury Public Library and was reduced to pouncing on new acquisitions, the moment they arrived, in order to find more reading material. From this foundation comes my firm belief in the power of literature. Apart from being a source of entertainment, books are a vehicle for introducing values, delivering moral perspective, pr

The aging of spirits in oak barrels is a craft steeped in tradition. One of the most intriguingly named aspects of this process is the phenomenon known as the Angel’s Share. This term refers to the portion of the spirit that evaporates during aging, a natural loss that can amount to 2-5% of the volume each year. While it might seem like a frustrating waste, the Angel’s Share plays a role in shaping the character and quality of the final product. This post explores the sc

Complex soils and minerality of the Similkameen Valley "Soils have been deposited from retreating glaciers, meltwaters, floods and streams. Wind-blown soils, alluvial fans and coarse rocky material have been broken down from the surrounding mountains. Our soils tend to be high in calcium carbonate and derived from limestone, schist or granite which seem to give a desirable mineral sensation to the wine. One of the most elusive and exciting elements unique to just a few reg

Blends, Cuvées and Assemblages. “In the world of wine, the practice of blending is an art that is applied with great sophistication by winemakers around the world. Although the term “blending” is often associated with a technical sound, there are a variety of more elegant terms for this practice. In German-speaking countries, we like to use terms such as cuvée, assemblage, coupage or even mariage…” “These terms all stand for the same thing: the harmonious blending of wines

From Barrel-Aged Wine: How Barrel Aging Transforms Wine: “Red wines are best suited to barrel aging. Many classic red wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir, are aged in oak barrels. Oak aging is integral in producing many high-quality red wines, lending them their characteristic depth and complexity.” Barrel aging can improve flavours, by allowing a wine to mellow, reducing astringent tannins and structural harshness. It can also introduce new flavours

The Oxford Dictionary defines terroir as the the complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as soil, topography, and climate. The terroirs of the Okanagan Valley, one of Canada's premier wine regions, vary greatly. Cooler and wetter in the north, hot and dry in the south, the grapes grown and the notable wines of each area are different. As a rule of thumb, whites and rosés excel in the north, while the south is known for its

The top songs on the TNT Music Playlist, Spring 2026.

Wine Facts #2 from my upcoming mystery novel Pinot Mort. Ever wonder what 'Brut' means? It refers to the sweetness level of a sparkling wine. Specifically in the range of 0 - 12 grams of sugar per litre. 🍾