Four Can't-Miss Canadian Wine Events
Celebrate Canadian wine and food this summer
How to indulge in your love for Canadian wine and food this summer.
Touring Parés Baltà
Tom Firth visits the vineyards and tastes the wines of this Spanish wine producer
After visiting Luxembourg to judge at the Concours Mondial, I headed to Barcelona for a few days with my brother, who is currently studying in Brussels, Belgium.
Judging at Concours Mondial
Travelling to Luxembourg to judge Old World wines
When I was invited to judge at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in Luxembourg in May, I was pretty thrilled. Luxembourg probably isn’t on most Canadians’ travel bucket list — I hadn’t given the country a spare thought since I was in university — but opportunity brings new experiences and I was looking forward to visiting the country for the first time.
Okanagan Celebrity Wine Festival
A weekend of wine, food and glamour in the Okanagan Valley
Want to rub elbows with celebrities and taste fabulous B.C. wine?
Tinhorn Creek and Hester Creek Summer Concerts
More opportunities to hear great music in beautiful B.C. this summer
As soon as we wrote about Mission Hill and Jackson Triggs' summer concert series, we heard about two other great musical events at Canadian wineries this summer.
Wineries feature Summer Concerts
Niagara and Okanagan wineries showcase top performers
Make the most of your wine country experiences this summer by combining a winery visit with a concert. A glass of wine, a beautiful summer night, and great tunes — it doesn’t get much better than that. Here, then, are a few options to consider this summer when you’re planning your vacation:
Where to Stay and Eat in Burgundy
Accommodations and restaurants Beaune and Chablis, as well as Paris
Check out Jennifer Hamilton's article on Burgundy and learn about Chablis.
Get Away to Banff for a Wine Festival
The Banff Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival runs from May 13 to 14, 2011
Escape to Banff for a weekend of fine food and wine at one of the most beautiful hotels in the world.
Now Where?
Wine regions in the New World and Old World that are worth the trip
In September 2010, I realized my dream of visiting Madeira, Portugal. Since entering the wine industry and discovering the region, I have been captivated by its wine, geography and history — it was wonderful to finally see it in person. I plan to return soon, for a wine trip and a vacation.
Wine Events in the Prairies and Atlantic Canada
Don't miss these opportunities to taste and celebrate wine this spring
We asked our followers on Twitter to tell us about what's coming up in wine in the Prairies and Atlantic Canada.
Summerhill Masquerave
Party in the pyramid this May
Want to party with winemakers and winery proprietors from Kelowna, B.C.?
Niagara-on-the-Lake Wine and Herb Touring
Try herb-inspired food and wine pairings in Ontario this May
Looking for an excuse to travel to the Niagara region this spring?
Mission Hill Luxury Wine Cruise
Tour the western Mediterranean in October 2011
Tired of the same old winery tour?
Tinhorn Creek to open Winery Restaurant
Miradoro restaurant opens on April 1
On April 1, a little bit of the Mediterranean arrives in the Okanagan Valley.
Sipping Mastroberardino and Rivera Wines in Italy
Exceptional wines from Campania and Puglia
Read part one of my trip through southern Italy, with tasting notes for the fantastic wines that I tasted in Sicily. Keep reading to see which wines I tried in Campania and Puglia.
Southern Italy Wine Touring
Tasting traditional and local grapes in Sicily
I just got back from a very satisfying wine excursion around southern Italy.
Cuvée Weekend
Celebrate the best of Ontario wine and food
Want to rub shoulders with Ontario winemakers and industry insiders? Consider attending the Niagara Community Foundation's 23rd annual Cuvée Weekend, Mar. 4 to 6.
Taste the Stars at Township 7
Valentine's affair to benefit the Starlight Children's Foundation
Looking for a Valentine's event that is perfect for the charitable wine enthusiast? Township 7 Vineyards and Winery is hosting the fifth annual Taste the Stars on Saturday, Feb. 12 at their winery in Langley, B.C.
Barraida Wines and an Underground Museum
Visiting Caves São João, Quinta do Encontro and the Aliança Underground Museum
We began our second and final day in Barraida with a trip to Caves São João, which is named after St. John. It was a spectacular December day and compared to the temperatures back home (between -10 and -20 C,) the 8-10 C in Barraida was a welcome change.
Sparkling Wine and Suckling Pig in Barraida
Exploring one of Portugal's lesser-known wine regions
On my most recent trip to Portugal, I was absolutely stoked to participate in a brief side trip to a wine region of my choice. I was asked to rank my preferences among the Douro, Vinho Verde, Bairrada and Dão.
Sipping Shochu in B.C.
Sample shochu at Drift Izakaya in Rossland, B.C.
A quaint mountain town deep in the heart of the rugged Kootenays seems an unlikely spot for an urbane izakaya pub, but Rossland, B.C. is just that kind of place.
Sun Peaks Winter Festival of Wine
The perfect B.C. winter getaway for wine lovers
There’s something about a picturesque alpine village setting that makes wine taste even better. This goes double in the wintertime. Nothing sets up an evening of fine wines and food pairings like a day on the slopes. The annual Winter Festival of Wine at Sun Peaks Resort has built itself around this successful formula. Formerly known as the Icewine Festival, the event broadened its focus in 2010, becoming the Winter Festival of Wine.
A Glenfiddich Weekend at the Banff Springs Hotel
The famed whiskey producer brings the Scottish experience to Alberta
So what is it like drinking scotch worth more than your car?
Tasting Henriques and Henriques Madeira
Tasting Henriques and Henriques wine on another great day in Madeira
After a full weekend of seeing the sights, I spent Monday with Humberto Jardim, the chairman of Henriques and Henriques Madeira. Heading to Câmara de Lobos in the early morning, we had a chance to visit the whole operation – tanks, barrels and the aging and the blending areas. While most wineries have their wine aging in gloomy cellars, in Madeira, you can have barrels aging in front of large picture windows or in the attics, rather than in a cool basement.
Madeira, At Last
Madeira is a beautiful island in Portugal that produces the fortified wine of the same name
Landing on the island of Madeira was a little like being an eight-year-old flying to Disneyland – I was hopping around most of the flight and on the descent, had a big, goofy grin from ear to ear. I had wanted to visit the island since the mid-90s, when I first caught the Madeira wine bug.
Vinho Verde: The Last Day
Tom Firth wraps up his vinho verde tour, before heading to Madeira
On Wednesday morning, our group then headed off to one of the highlights of our trip, the biodynamic farm and winery of Afros. Touting a strong link to Aphrodite, which means “farm-born” as well as being the goddess of love and beauty, they take their wine very seriously. A fully biodynamic operation with farm animals providing “assistance” with weed management and fertilizer production, as well as some bee keeping on the property, this is an award winning winery.
Portugal: Touquinheiras and Soalheiro Wineries
Visit Touquinheiras and Soalheiro wineries in Portugal
Tuesday began with a visit to the Comissão de Viticultura da Região dos Vinhos Verdes (CVRVV) offices, where they test and taste vinho verde daily for quality. The CVRVV also provides marketing support, technical support for the wineries and growers and the stickers on the back of vinho verde bottles to indicate that the wine inside adheres to their standards.
Vinho Verde: First Day
Visiting Guimarães, Casa de Sezim, Quinta do Minho and Casa Vila Verde
When I got the invitation to go to Northern Portugal for almost a week to taste wine, I couldn’t say no. The trip was sponsored by the Comissão de Viticultura da Região dos Vinhos Verdes (C.V.R.V.V.), the Regional Wine Commission of Vinho Verde.
Vino and Vinyasa
If you love yoga and wine, try Yoga in the Vineyard
I love yoga. And I love wine. With that in mind, I’d love to check out Yoga in the Vineyard. The new series of events will pair yoga with winery tours and seated tastings at various wineries in the Niagara region.
Support Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries at Taste the Season
Explore 22 Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries at Taste the Season
If you're an Ontario resident looking for a fun way to pass a weekend this fall, we recommend that you check out Taste the Season at Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Okanagan Feast of Fields
Wine Access contributor Kurtis Kolt tells us about the Okanagan Feast of Fields and why we should go.
Upcoming Events
- Characters of the Okanagan Wine Tasting Experience
September 30th- October 1st, 2011
- Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival Calgary
October 14th & 15th, 2011
- Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival Edmonton
October 21st & 22nd, 2011
- Cornucopia Whistler's Celebration of Wine and Food
November 10th-13th, 2011
