Last Weekend I unexpectedly found myself packing a bag and driving over to the Island for an impromptu family gathering.  I find it very hard to drive that new Island Hwy without venturing off to the more scenic route of the old and who can drive past Fanny Bay without picking up some seafood.  I still believe that Fanny Bay Oysters are some of... »View More

Just when you least expect it a sample of wine floats your way and knocks your taste buds for a loop.  God I love it when that happens.  Matt Thirlwell, director for Vintage West Wine Marketing walked in my door recently with an insulated parcel of wine to sample.  He guaranteed that we would love his wines and being the skeptics that we are wine... »View More

I am quite certain it is not me that fills my day’s agenda and I swear that busy schedules create themselves.  So how does one get through a hectic weekend…well the recipe for a beautiful sunny day last week went something like this…….. Add:   One part-           Day Off Two parts-        Vancouver’s False Creek Three parts-      ... »View More

Just when you least expect it a sample of wine floats your way and knocks your taste buds for a loop.  God I love it when that happens.  Matt Thirlwell, director for Vintage West Wine Marketing walked in my door recently with an insulated parcel of wine to sample.  He guaranteed that we would love his wines and being the skeptics that we are wine... »View More

Pairing wine with food is not rocket science.  The greatest thing of all is that your taste buds are your own and are as individual as you are.  These guidelines are simply a beginning to a vast world of combining flavors.  However, if you are open to ideas and suggestions then let’s have some fun.  Jake says….Balance is the key here and I say….... »View More

Is from the Robert Oatley vineyards and is a tribute to his great great grandfather James Oatley called Tic Tok Shiraz with grapes representing Frankland River, Mudgee and McLaren Vale. The very famous convict James Oatley should be googled at the very least as his colorful background is worth checking out. Imagine a life sentence for stealing bed linen,... »View More

Everyday is spent checking weather reports and opening blinds to see if for some reason the weather man is wrong when he says rain and right when he says sun.  By the way…….he’s fired!  Summer is taking it’s time here in B.C. and people are becoming noticeably irritable with the lack of vitamin D available.  I felt it was time (regardless... »View More

Watching your budget and still enjoying all that summer has to offer is an often unwelcome challenge at best. In light of this, consumer pressure suggests I add a few pallet friendly and wallet friendly wines to the blog. With task at hand, friends and family, myself included, began sipping wines from $ 8.95 – $ 14.99 per bottle in search of great... »View More

Twenty years of selling, tasting, buying and recommending wines has led me to this seemingly obsessive behavior…my life revolves around wine. I dream about it, think about it and talk about it every day. I would like to thank those that study the health benefits of both red and white wine for their daily recommendations of this delicious nectar.... »View More

Get ready to crack open the newly crowned KING OF WHITES…… Lake Breeze 2009 Pinot Blanc wins BEST WHITE WINE OF THE YEAR at the All Canadian Wine Championships held last month in Ontario as well as Best of Category.  The bottle now sits with a Double Gold Medal draped around its neck.   With a record setting 1143 entries from seven different... »View More