WHEN GREAT WINE IS POINTLESS
Recently, a more-than-credible wine competition recognized one of our wineries. Weingut Rabl was named best white wine winery and awarded best Grüner Veltliner at the International Wine and
PRODUTTORI DEL BARBARESCO SHOWS CO-OPS DON’T HAVE TO SUCK BY DEFAULT
A lot has been written about Produttori and their superb wines. More than that, they’ve done it in the cooperative model which is infamous for
GET OVER IT-SOMM IS A ROLE AND A TITLE
Recently, a well-known sommelier posted an image of himself pouring wine for what looked like some kind of judging panel. It included a caption that
CHATEAU YVONNE — SPIRITUALLY, CRIMINALLY GREAT
A wandering priest, a criminal, and a nun walk into a vineyard… In the Middle Ages, around the time and place that Graham Chapman’s King
ESTATE BAROLO AT COOPERATIVE PRICES
Mark your calendar: February 10 – 14 (Calgary and Edmonton ½+½) Great Barolo isn’t know for its price-friendliness. If you love a story and the
LET’S DIGITAL THIS TOGETHER
With this new year and decade, we figured it’s time to adopt digital. That means launching this new website, renewing our social media activity, and
TWO OF BURGUNDY’S BEST HAVE JOINED WISDOM
What if Toni Morrison and Harper Lee wrote a book together? Or Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammed Ali opened a boxing school? There are few
WINE HARVEST AND VINTAGE QUALITY 2019
From the sources’ mouths With the 2019 Northern Hemisphere harvest in the books (or barrels), we asked some of our wineries to gauge the vintage.
THE ALBERTA WINE MARKET IN 2020
In English, we have a saying: “Hindsight is 20/20”. It means that when we look back at what’s happened, we usually see it far clearer
ISOLE E OLENA — PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
We all have it. But what do we learn from it? The first time I met Paolo de Marchi, owner of Isole e Olena in
WINEMAKERS, COME TO ALBERTA FOR THE MOOSE, SPRUCE, AND GOOSE
If you’re from Italy, Spain, or France, you might not come to Alberta for avant-garde fashion. If you’re from California, you may not be keen
RETHINKING CAHORS TERROIR AT TERRACAË
Did you notice the label? The words “Cahors” and “Malbec” have equal real estate and the same style. This sums up how Pascal Verhaeghe and
THE ELEGANCE OF BARBS
Silly reasons to try new wine One of our favourite things about wine is that it’s your journey, so you can take whatever route you
WINE AS PART OF OUR DAILY LIES
Do you lie about your products? Hey, booze industry peeps. A question: When you’re selling, how much is it OK to misrepresent your product? A
THE 2019 VINTAGE ON THE BRACKETS OF IBERIA
The grapes are in and converted and the wines are now resting in their vessels over the winter. Spring is coming. Cellar temperatures will start
TIBERIO FROM ABRUZZO IS MAKING YOUR NEXT GO-TO WINE
Abruzzo-cadabra—pulling great out of seemingly nowhere When was the last time you sought out a wine from Abruzzo, never mind kept some at-the-ready? The truth
WORDS LIKE NO OTHER FOR CHÂTEAU DE SAINT COSME WINERY
With her, and Saint Cosme, having dinner, in Toronto She sat across the table, her usually carrot-red hair more copper in the candlelight. It’s not
THE TURLEY ZINFANDEL PARADOX
I’m a traditional-wine-style guy. That means my taste and constitution lean toward the leaner side of weight with kaleidescopic aromatics. Think of great Ontario Chardonnay
WHERE LIES TRUTH, AND JUSTICE, AT BETHEL HEIGHTS VINEYARDS?
When you read about Bethel Heights‘ vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills in Oregon, you first find conflicting accounts of their agricultural suitability. You also read about
DOMAINE MARCEL DEISS VIEWS TERROIR AS SYNESTHESIA
The word terroir is a fun one to drop because:1. many agree on its general definition2. some dispute its validity altogether3. others have a more specific idea
YIN YANG FAVIA
The history and technical information are from a video call with Annie Favia and Andy Erickson on August 23, 2021 8:30 am MDT. The interpretation is