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by Nicole MacKay, Wine Writer & Consultant

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  • Cellar Management
  • Writing Portfolio
  • About
    • Samples & Ratings Policies
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  • Vine,  Wine

    20 Adorable Winery Dogs Who Shake-a-Paw at BC Vineyards

    Pretty soon, vineyards across British Columbia will be welcoming Spring‘s arrival. Temperatures will rise, buds will start to break and winery dogs will be let loose among the vines to chase birds, howl at deer and greet wine-loving guests. While tours, tastings and experiences have changed drastically over the past year, the warmth and hospitality of visiting a winery have endured. Part of that comfort is knowing that employees are often treated like family. Sometimes, it’s an actual family that lends a hand in any or all aspect of the winery operations, and that includes the family dog! For dog-appreciating…

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  • 2021 drinks calendar
    Wine

    Get Organized With the Social Sips 2021 Drinks Calendar

    There’s a day for everything. Have you heard of Talk Like Yoda Day (May 21) or Chicken Wing Day (July 29)? Of the 365 days in a year, it’s tough to find a day that doesn’t celebrate something. That includes…

    By Nicole MacKay
  • Sponsored Post,  Wine

    Holiday Wine Guide 2020: Pop These Sparkling Wines For New Year’s Eve

    Opening a bottle of sparkling wine can seem like quite a commitment, especially in 2020. This year, most celebrations are relegated to less than a handful of people. If you pop a cork, you’ve pretty much pledged to finish that…

    By Nicole MacKay
  • Dine,  Sponsored Post,  Wine

    Holiday Wine Guide 2020: Tempting Wines For Your Holiday Meal

    For reasons beyond our control, Canadians are being forced to throw their holiday entertaining schedule out the window. An evening with girlfriends, a neighbourhood open house, an office Christmas party – it’s all cancelled! Some may sigh in relief while…

    By Nicole MacKay
  • best wines to give
    Sponsored Post,  Wine

    Holiday Wine Guide 2020: The Best Wines to Gift

    Wine is paradoxically one of the easiest and most difficult things to give as a gift. It can be a thoughtless, grab-and-go, hand-it-over absentmindedly in a wine bag kind of present. Or it can be an impactful buying decision, with…

    By Nicole MacKay
  • become a champagne expert
    Sponsored Post,  Wine

    How To Become a Champagne Expert

    If you went into a wine shop today, could you confidently pick out a bottle of Champagne to buy? I ask whether it’s with confidence because for the amount of money a single bottle costs, shouldn’t you know what grapes…

    By Nicole MacKay
  • Sponsored Post,  Wine

    Holiday Wine Guide 2020: 4 Special Wines Under $25

    It’s hard to buy anything of a certain quality these days for less than $25, let alone a wine that makes its way from another part of the world. Depending on where you live, a bottle travels through several hands…

    By Nicole MacKay
  • Sponsored Post,  Wine

    Holiday Wine Guide 2020: How To Set Yourself Up For Success

    Are you someone that preps for the holiday season weeks in advance? Or do you a fly by the seat of your pants and hope to have an ounce of sanity left by December 24th? I’m somewhere in between the…

    By Nicole MacKay
  • Wine

    Best BC Wines Of 2020: 10 Outstanding Bottles That Stand Out From The Crowd

    Despite all the bad things that came at the world this year, some of us have been lucky enough to experience silver linings. Never in our lives will we get to spend this much quality time with our children. We’ve…

    By Nicole MacKay
  • Vine,  Wine

    How Love Led Us To Road 13 Chenin Blanc

    Road 13 Chenin Blanc is one in a million. Scratch that, it’s actually three in a million. Road 13 Chenin Blanc, made from grapes grown on vines that are more than half a century old, is vinified three different ways.…

    By Nicole MacKay
  • confusing wine terms
    Wine

    10 Of The Most Confusing Wine Terms Explained

    Reading about wine or attending a wine tasting can sometimes feel like visiting a foreign country, grappling to understand a different language. I try to avoid too much ostentatious wine speak on my blog. My goal isn’t to show off…

    By Nicole MacKay
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ABOUT Nicole Mackay

Nicole is a Wine Writer, Consultant and Marketing Specialists. She’s a Spanish Wine Scholar and holds her Level 3 Certification from the Wine & Spirit Educational Trust.

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Feb 17/2021 – We’re Back
Jan 6/2021 – 2021 Drinks Calendar
Dec 30/2020 – NYE Sparkling Wine Guide
Dec 23/2020 – Wines for Your Xmas Meal
Dec 16/2020 – The Best Wines to Gift

Recent Posts

  • 20 Adorable Winery Dogs Who Shake-a-Paw at BC Vineyards
  • Get Organized With the Social Sips 2021 Drinks Calendar
  • Holiday Wine Guide 2020: Pop These Sparkling Wines For New Year’s Eve
  • Holiday Wine Guide 2020: Tempting Wines For Your Holiday Meal
  • Holiday Wine Guide 2020: The Best Wines to Gift

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Nicole MacKay
An easy-drinking midweek Spanish sip to celebrate An easy-drinking midweek Spanish sip to celebrate passing my Spanish Wine Scholar exam. 

A blend of 3 international varieties (Syrah, Tempranillo & Merlot), hailing from DO Montsant.
One of the best traditional method sparkling wines One of the best traditional method sparkling wines from the Okanagan. 

61% Chardonnay
39% Pinot Noir

100% estate grown grapes from Greata Ranch.
It doesn’t look like much but this creamy caulif It doesn’t look like much but this creamy cauliflower soup 🥣 is beyond easy and superbly delicious. 

Step by step recipe (from @saltandthespices) is in my stories. 

Wine pairing suggestions: a dry, fuller white such as unoaked Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, or perhaps a Gruner if you’re feeling adventurous 😜
I’m diggin’ BC Viognier lately. This one fro I’m diggin’ BC Viognier lately. 

This one from @road13vineyards, made from grapes grown in the Similkameen Valley, is *chefs kiss*.
What’s your study 📚 beverage of choice? Min What’s your study 📚 beverage of choice? 

Mine is tea 🫖 and I’ve been drinking copious amounts lately in preparation for my SWS exam this week. 😬 

Tea makes me calm and when I drink it out of my ❤️ Valentine’s ❤️ mug, it’s like nothing can go wrong. Even though I’m very aware that a lot of things can go wrong 😑. 

And full disclosure, this mug is almost the size of my head and can hold 750ml (that’s an entire bottle of wine). I know because I measured. So do what you want with that information 😉
This isn’t your typical Malbec. @luigiboscaofici This isn’t your typical Malbec. @luigiboscaoficial seeks and finds terroir character in this elevated and expressive version from the Uco Valley 🇦🇷.
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