Summerhill Pyramid Winery: New Chapter & New Vision
My connection to Summerhill Pyramid Winery dates back to the late ’80s. Since I was 5, my family spent our summers camping at West Bay Beach Resort on the Westside of Kelowna. I’d lay on a lounge chair for hours peering through binoculars to the other side of the lake. I’d eye up mystery mansions and catch glimpses of the infamous Ogopogo (whom we all know is real!) Another curious item I’d spot, however, was a massive pyramid halfway up the mountainside. TASTE TESTS PREVAIL The pyramid belongs to Stephen Cipes, proprietor of Summerhill Pyramid Winery. What some considered ‘pie…
Telmo Rodriguez’s Spanish Wine Landscape
In 1994, gastronomy in Spain consisted of paella and sangria; One food and one drink known the world over as ‘Spanish’. In that same year, Telmo Rodriguez began traveling across the country in search of workable vineyards to create a…
O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars is Moving Mountains
It seems that authenticity and boutique-style experiences are trending. Wineries are giving visitors unique and personalized tours or the taste of one-off samples of experimental wines in order to be memorable. However, these experiences translate to visitors in vastly different…
Trialto Showcase: Yealands, Grgich & L’Ecole No. 41
I’ve never been speed dating but if I had, I’d imagine it to be fairly similar to a recent experience at a portfolio showcase for Trialto. I was invited to interview 3 of Trialto’s wine producers at one of my…
Upscale Casual Restaurants and Wine Picks for Fall
Fall is a busy time of year. Between prepping for Halloween and catching up on TV’s season premieres – meal prep and planned dinners tend to go by the wayside. It’s hard to always be on our A-game, but meals…
What It Means To Be A Single Vineyard Wine
I admittedly look for words like ‘reserve’ or ‘estate’ on the label when buying a bottle of wine. However when looking for a quality bottle, another label moniker to seek is ‘single vineyard.’ When I first started researching single vineyard…
I’m not a wine snob, but sometimes I think like one
The wine world can get information-heavy pretty quick. The encyclopaedias are thick; the barrels are deep and the snobbery can get ridiculous. However, being a wine snob is a thing of the past. Thankfully, those hoity-toity tides are turning with…
36 Things About Me On My Birthday
This weekend I turned 36 years old. These 36 things about me will help you get to know me and my wine-loving self a little better! If you asked me at any point in my life if I’m doing what…
Gamay is finding a home in BC #gogamaygo
I always try to personalize wine; it helps give a sense of understanding. For instance, let’s say Pinot Noir is your solid BFF. It’s distinct, reliable in a pinch and there’s never a doubt you’ll create many memories together. But…
Robert Mondavi Winery at Van Wine Fest
A few months back I sat in on seminar during the Vancouver International Wine Festival. It wasn’t just any seminar, it was a dive into Robert Mondavi, his path to wine, a peek at his family life and of course…
Summer Sangria Recipes to try for Canada Day
Summer has arrived and with Canada Day and the Fourth of July upon us, it means vacation time with friends, family and of course, wine! I am usually a purist with wine (I don’t do spritzers or any other form…
