Monthly Archives: March 2007

Ramblings Around Riesling

Posted on March 30, 2007 by

It’s the second day of the Playhouse Wine Festival here in Vancouver. Four days of wine tastings, seminars, and chatting with other people in the wine industry. Now only one year shy of its third decade anniversary, this year’s annual … Continue reading →

Posted in australian wines, Playhouse Wine Festival, riesling | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Oz Meet Mosel Mogel

Posted on March 30, 2007 by

Wait a minute. A Down Under winemaker showing off a bottle of German Riesling and a Mosel Mogul with big, fat Aussie Cab in hand? In the gregarious spirit of Old World meets New, award-winning winemakers Stuart Blackwell (left) and … Continue reading →

Posted in australian wines, Dr Loosen, german wines, riesling | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Riedel and Lipstick or Unlucky Pairings

Posted on March 27, 2007 by

Remember the sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach when you made a really bad choice in life? Something you knew, as you where doing it, would all go bad? To my deep regret, after lots of pleading and … Continue reading →

Posted in lovers, Riedel glassware | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Romance and Wine or Lucky Pairings

Posted on March 26, 2007 by

Spring must be lurking around the corner, hidden away in the rainy Vancouver weather. For our friends in Toronto, the daffodils are up and the magnolias are starting to bloom – ignore the rain comment. It is Friday and I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Amarone, bottle openers, corkscrew, french wine, lovers, Riedel glassware, Sancerre, wine and romance | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Required Reading

Posted on March 23, 2007 by

My bank account, the wine cellar, and I sat down this afternoon and took a long look at the required and suggested reading lists for my WSET Diploma and CSW from the Society of Wine Educators. I plan to write … Continue reading →

Posted in Society of Wine Educators, sommelier, wine books, WSET | Tagged | Leave a comment

Canadian Wines, VQA, and Other Dark Secrets

Posted on March 22, 2007 by

There is a dark little secret hiding on Canadian wine labels. It lurks, often in camouflage, waiting for the unwary. In most cases, no one ever notices. Another con perpetuated. But let’s start at the beginning. In Canada, some wines … Continue reading →

Posted in BC Wines, canadian wines, VQA, west coast wines | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Wine Quote of the Day for March 20, 2007

Posted on March 21, 2007 by

Wine improves with age. The older I get, the better I like it. Unknown

Posted in wine quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Brave New World Meets Wine

Posted on March 20, 2007 by

So when does a wine stop being a wine and becomes an engineered concoction? Some of the world’s largest foods giants are now tackling this thorny question. And hold onto your wine glass, because it’s a question that may be … Continue reading →

Posted in Sancerre, Sauvignon Blanc | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wine Quote of the Day for March 16, 2007

Posted on March 16, 2007 by

What a marvelous sentiment. We raise our glasses to this man. Writing in my sixty-fourth year, I can truthfully say that since I reached the age of discretion I have consistently drunk more than most people would say is good … Continue reading →

Posted in wine quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Surviving the WSET Exam

Posted on March 16, 2007 by

The exam is over. Done at last. It’s difficult right now to tell whether I’m experiencing pure relief at the thought I can actually sleep later than 6:00 am this Saturday morning without becoming overwhelmed by stabbing pangs of guilt … Continue reading →

Posted in wine books, WSET, WSET Exams | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

It’s D Day

Posted on March 13, 2007 by

6:30 am. Today is D Day, the day I sit the final exam for my Advanced WSET. I was wondering if like a hockey player before a big game, I would go unshaven today. This evening will be the end … Continue reading →

Posted in WSET, WSET Exams | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Magnetic Millions

Posted on March 13, 2007 by

It was probably the strangest tasting Frank and I have ever attended. A room full of 50 wine aficionados, each one of us given ten wines, pen and paper, and crackers to cleanse the palate. Sounds normal enough. Then James … Continue reading →

Posted in Masters of Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wine Quote of the Day for March 7, 2007

Posted on March 7, 2007 by

Alonso of Aragon was wont to say in commendation of age, that age appears to be best in four things – old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read. Francis Bacon, … Continue reading →

Posted in wine quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Countdown to Exam

Posted on March 7, 2007 by

Tonight was Frank’s final class before his WSET advanced level exam. Swirl, smell, sip, repeat. Six wines later, his instructor says, “you really need to drink more red wine.” Ah ha, some small measure of vindication for my love of … Continue reading →

Posted in WSET, WSET Exams | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Of a Romantic Nature

Posted on March 4, 2007 by

A couple of weeks ago, we were at a wine tasting led by Sandra Oldfield, winemaker at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. As it often does, the subject of cork versus Stelvin (dare we actually be so crass as to refer to … Continue reading →

Posted in corks, Stelvin, Tin Horn Creek Wines, wine tasting | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment