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Tantalus Winery visit: What to expect & is it worth your time.
When someone names a business venture after God, more likely than not, they want to signal that the business possesses differentiating qualities of a particular deity. But what if the deity in question has more than one “thing” going for them? Take, for example, Tantalus, a Greek Demigod. It is said that Tantalus stole the… [Read more]
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Sandhill Wines winery visit: is it worth your time?
We have opined in the past on how difficult it can be to find honest feedback about the BC wineries from either the wine writers or industry insiders. It seems that if the winery is no good, they would rather say nothing about it. On occasion, you may find a review so divorced from reality… [Read more]
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Stumbling upon the Elephant: Elephant Island Winery of Naramata Bench
Let’s spice things up a bit. Shall we? Let’s start with a riddle. What do Agatha Christie’s fictional but famed detective Hercule Poirot and an elephant have in common? Don’t know? Here’s a hint. It is related to an alcoholic beverage. Still not sure? Okay… All right… We’ll tell you. The answer is… Cassis! Cassis,… [Read more]
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Culmina Family Estate wines review: Merlot, Dilemma and Hypothesis
“Why can’t Canada produce a good Chardonnay?” This used to be our “go-to” icebreaker when sitting down for wine tasting at California wineries we frequented over the past decade. The question never failed to steer a passionate conversation among the winery guests and sommeliers. The consensus among our Californian friends has always been that Canada… [Read more]
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Phantom Creek Rosé & Pinot Gris wines review
As with any winery in Okanagan, Phantom Creek Estates turns out an array of wines at various price points and quality levels. We visited Phantom Creek winery in the spring of 2022. All the wines we tasted at the winery were premium-priced quality wines. When we returned home, we sought out the Phantom Creek wines… [Read more]
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The fruit wines of the Elephant Island Winery
Is an alcoholic beverage made of fruit, wine or not wine? A grape is a fruit, so doesn’t that simple fact alone answer the question? In this piece, we opine on whether or not fruit wine is wine or a misnomer. We also share our tasting notes for three fruit wines made in British Columbia,… [Read more]
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Phantom Creek Winery visit and the bizarre case of mistaken identity
Oliver and Osoyoos wine country is sprouting brand-new wineries nonstop! Have you been to the area recently? If you haven’t, we guarantee you will find a few new wineries on Black Sage Road. Noteworthy arrivals are “French Door”, “Rainmaker”, “Red Barn”, “Here’s the Thing Vineyards”, and, finally completed, “Phantom Creek”. Quite seriously, they will soon… [Read more]