Category Archives: Terroir

Whiners and Winers

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Montreal wHines about another foot of snow.

Oak Bay wHines about lawnmower noise instead of snowplow noise.

Calgary wHines about Minus 40 and Snow.

Summerland wHines about Minus 15 and Not enough snow for skiing.

North Saanich wHines about not enough colour for his sunset shots.


We go visit the Goddess and wine.


Even if you aren’t a carnivore, you’ll enjoy this one.  You could do fish or just share with nachos. A cheese plate would go wonderfully with it.


We chose to make a big, fat, thick homemade stew that filled the house with warmth. 

Beautifully structured from aroma to finish.  A vineyard we very much like.


A true 93 pointer of Syrah/Shiraz.  Deep rooted, organically grown vines that are at least 25 years old. Around 12 months ageing. 85% of which takes place in concrete tanks to preserve the freshness and minerality of the fruit. The remaining 15% is aged in barrel which gives the wine consistency and power, along with aromatic complexity.

CROZES HERMITAGE – CHAPOUTIER MEYSONNIERS ORGANIC 19

$29.99

14% alcohol

UPC: 03391180001749

Are you writing your’s?

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Restlessness leads to adventure, following the travels of Ulysses.


Halliburton disappeared in 1939 while trying to sail a Chinese junk from China to San Francisco, the victim of a legendary typhoon.

A somewhat brazen account of his experiences, but beware reading this to the young.  A considerable amount would be considered racism today.

An inspiration to travellers, young and old and is a worthy read if you are a fan of the Odyssey.


Consider it a good lark. It’s amusing, readable and original.

The Glorious Adventure, Richard Haliburton, 1927

A shameless plug but no compensation

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Not as thick as other kefir or probiotic drinks, but that’s a good thing and a bad thing.

Good because it doesn’t need a whole lotta shaking going on before you pour it.  

A bad thing because you just keep on sucking it up and soon you’re at the bottom of the container and looking for more.


It is an ideal substitute for milk (made with Coconut milk) and it’s probiotic.


Riviera has been around since 1920. Their novel products are catching the attention of people. 


Try their yogurt too!

Riviera Kefir (Strawberry)

Profond

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The village of Vaux-en-Beaujolais was the inspiration for Gabriel Chevalier’s classic novel, Clochemerle. It seems that really very little has changed here since Chevalier wrote his humorous social observation in the 1920’s! Maybe that’s true when it comes to the inhabitants of the village but it’s certainly not the case when it comes to wine-making.   Situated at about 400 metres above sea-level, the vineyards are some of the highest in the Beaujolais region and there are approximately six grower-winemakers in the village, all of whom are highly regarded. This is indeed Beaujolais ‘profond’!


This wine is 30% Auxerrois, 30% Muller Thurgau (a crossing of Riesling and Chasselas), 30% Tokay Pinot Gris and 10% Gewurztraminer.

Full of flavour, with a very dry finish.


One doesn’t need anything to pair with this.  Unless you have two bottles.  One before and one during your meal.  We showed extreme constrain and only had our usual one glass with dinner (scallops and couscous) and saved the other half for the next night with pasta.

Chateau Vaux Beaujolais

$32.99

13.5% Alcohol

Think Apples

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It’s slightly sweeter than we’re used to with a Chardonnay, but that’s just us.


This Chardonnay boasts ripe pear and apple notes. Citrusy on the palate and  moderately acidic.


Very Expressive and sends good vibes.

It’s by the Elicit Wine Project, part of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates of Washington State and definitely one to remember for the deck in the summertime.

In some locations, you’ll be able to buy it in Cans, to put on ice.

CHARDONNAY – FRUIT AND FLOWER

$15.47  regularly $18.99

13.7% Alcohol

UPC: 00088586010828

Non Standard and Unsettling

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It’s not exactly a memoir, nor is it a travel book.  It’s painfully part autobiography, but also brutally honest.


I found this book to be uneven and ultimately disappointing, but it was an interesting read. This isn’t the story I thought it was going to be. Instead of really being about traveling, it was about his exploration of the paranormal. 


Less of a travelogue per se, it is more of a personal discovery of the self. It’s about the journey and not the destination.

Travels, Michael Crichton

Got it right in One

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The best things in life are usually really simple.  And this is a wine that is just that: Good, honest, and delicious. Simply – just pour it and enjoy.

It’s created by a wine maker with a great philosophy: Linda Trotta’s motto “A good wine is a wine you like“. Thus, pleasure is the aim for the majority of their wines rather than following a particular trend, matching with special food or expressing the nuances of a certain terroir.

As Linda says “Remember, red wine is seasonal, as in good in every season. Don’t overthink it.”


And as I would say “Suck it up Sunshine!”

CABERNET SAUVIGNON – BREAD AND BUTTER

$22.99

13.5% Alcohol

UPC: 00818051020744

The other guy’s

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Lunch at F F Farms (2 or 1) is always a delight and a treat.  Not only because nonsense is understood, discussed and respected, but because it’s an opportunity to plot future shenanigans.


Himself had to exercise extreme patience  (and ingenuity) extracting a very reluctant dry cork from a bottle of 1997 Burrowing Owl Merlot.  A most enjoyable imbibe.  Old style, classic offering.  If it were a blind taste test, I would have said it came from the Land of Oz or South Africa, not the BC Interior. If I hadn’t have had to be chauffeur, I would have shown true appreciation for the wine by helped him drain the entire bottle.  Vastly different to the current very fruit forward variety from the Vineyard on the Hill.


Food – it was the best home made Tomato soup we’ve ever had!  Followed by salada and a wonderful seafood crepe and then … and then … an assortment of cheesecakes.  And then, .. plotting future escapades in front of the fire in the sitting room.


To celebrate their 54 years of being His Lord and and Her Ladyship – we brought chocolates.  Not His. Not Mine.  The other Guys (Purdy’s).

View from the top of Burrowing Owl Winery in 2006

Different terroir made the difference

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North meets south in this 50/50 blend. The South Okanagan Valley’s arid, desert-like landscapes deliver grapes with rich, round, generous flavours. In contrast, the North Okanagan’s cooler temperatures and high elevation yield fresh and bright notes with a delicate balance of acidity. 


2019 was up until September, near picture perfect. Warm days, but not too warm, cool nights, but not too cool, set the ripening process on a trajectory of ideal balance. With September came cool weather and some rainfall, but with careful attention to sorting and managing harvest dates, we feel our hard work paid off with wines of ideal balance and intense fruit character. In particular, the lively acidities have produced wines which are bright and fresh.


The finished blend of these two contrasting regions celebrates the uniqueness of both places. As you sip, you’ll experience the taste of the entire Okanagan Valley coming to life.


93% stainless steel, 7% neutral oak for 3 months.


It had better acidity than in the past.


This versatile wine goes with everything, or nothing at all. The first night we enjoyed it with a baked, salsa chicken thighs

CEDAR CREEK – PINOT GRIS 2019

$21.99

13% alcohol

UPC: 00778913022098

Would you like this to be part of your address?

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Bacon Level, Alabama
Dead Horse, Arkansas
Nothing, Arizona
Greasy Corner, Arizona
Forks of Salmon, California
Nowhere, Colorado
Hazardville, Connecticut
Flurry Landing, Florida
Volcano, Hawaii
Santa, Idaho
Bone Gap, Illinois
Neutral, Kansas
Hell for Certain, Kansas
Accident, Maryland
Satan’s Kingdom, Maine
Embarrass, Minnesota
Money, Mississippi
Bear Dance, MT
Buttsville, New Jersey
Truth or Consequences, MN
Flasher, ND
Knockemstiff, Ohio
Slapout, Oklahoma
Zigzag, Oregon
Hooker, South Dakota
Difficult, Tennessee
Hurt, Virginia
Pinch, West Virginia
Electric City, Washington
Disco, Wisconsin
Recluse, Wyoming
Repente, Germany