Two short videos illustrating the red winemaking process here at Norm Hardie’s in Prince Edward County, Canada. This is Pinot Noir being processed. The first video shows the punching down…
Harvest at Norm Hardie’s (1)
Norman Hardie is one of Canada’s most celebrated winegrowers. Since his first vintage in 2004, his Chardonnay and Pinot Noir – elegant, light in alcohol and very old world in…
In Nova Scotia, Canada, visiting the remarkable Benjamin Bridge sparkling winery
It was my first time in Nova Scotia. This is on the Atlantic coast of Canada, and it’s the youngest of Canada’s cool climate wine regions. I was here to…
The judgement of… How useful are comparative blind tastings?
It’s 40 years since Steven Spurrier’s famous Judgement of Paris (also a story in Greek Mythology). This was the tasting that is credited with opening the way for New World…
In the Okanagan, BC, Canada: Laughing Stock and Bella
The last couple of visits in the Okanagan were really interesting. The first was at Laughing Stock Vineyards on the Naramata Bench. Cynthia and David Enns (above) were financial people…
In the Similkameen Valley, BC, Canada
The Similkameen Valley is a peaceful yet dramatic place. Running parallel to the Okanagan, it lacks the lakes, but makes up scenery wise by being hemmed in moodily by mountains….
In the Okanagan, BC, Canada: Le Vieux Pin, La Stella, Black Hills and Tinhorn Creek
Severine Pinte is the winemaker behind two high-end Okanagan properties: Le Vieux Pin and La Stella. The former is a Rhône specialist and is currently making some of Canada’s top…
In the Okanagan, BC, Canada: Meyer Family Vineyards, Culmina and CheckMate
Jak and Janice Meyer bought a small vineyard in the Naramata Bench back in 2006. Originally, this was just a hobby vineyard, but in 2008 when Jak started selling the…
In the Okanagan, BC, Canada: Summerhill Pyramid, Liquidity and Painted Rock
Summerhill Pyramid Winery is one of the Okanagan’s most distinctive. We visited with Ezra Cipes, CEO and son of the founder Stephen Cipes. Stephen brought his family here back in…