The Chronicle
Latest dispatches
33 results across all types
- news
Family-Friendly and Pet-Friendly BC Wineries & Cideries for Summer 2026
It is not too late to start checking out wine-inspired vacation destinations in British Columbia. But if you have children and/or fur babies, you may want to pick locations and wineries that have something to offer for them as well. Here is a list of BC wineries and more that have family-friendly options for parents travelling with children or pets for...
- news
Two Rose Wines From BC’s Hester Creek’s 2025 Vintage_PR SAMPLE
We are having wonderful summertime sunny weather, and it is a great time to review two BC rosé wines for you. I have Hester Creek Estate Winery’s Rosé Pinot Noir 2025 and Rosé Cabernet Franc 2025. Many people know about rosé wine being made from Pinot Noir grapes, but not too many know that Cabernet Franc also makes an excellent...
- news
Ontario Chardonnay Review: Growing Seasons and the Wines
I have been interviewing Ontario winery principals for many years about their harvest and the growing season. Weather and growing conditions can vary widely from year to year. For my Ontario Chardonnay Review I tried to get wines that were from one or two growing seasons. Most of the wines I received came from 2023 and 2024, with a few...
- news
Ontario Chardonnay Review: Soils of the Niagara Region and Winery Locations
Soil is one of the important factors influencing the aromas and flavours produced by wine grapes. For my Ontario Chardonnay Review, I checked with the Government of Canada National Soil Database (NSDB) Soils of Ontario to determine the soil types associated with each of the Ontario wineries that provided their bottle(s) of Chardonnay. Using the free, open source, computer mapping...
- news
Two French Red Blends: Chateau Daviaud and M. Chapoutier Belleruche_PR SAMPLE
I recently decided to review two French red wines that are blends. Blends have the benefit that two or more grape varieties together fill in the weakness of the other grape. For example, one grape may be fruity but lack tannins, while another grape has plenty of tannins but lacks much fruit character. Putting the two grape varieties together makes...
- news
Book Review: Heart of Glass, RIEDEL and the Art of Taste_PR SAMPLE
Many wine lovers have probably heard of RIEDEL glasses or have RIEDEL glasses. I have a few sets, with many glasses that have broken over time. Such is the fate of all wine glasses eventually. But what do you know about the history of RIEDEL glasses? I recently received an advanced copy of the “Heart of Glass, RIEDEL and the...
- news
Ontario Chardonnay Review: Dreas Blanc de Blancs Brut 2021_PR SAMPLE
The last Chardonnay to review for my Ontario Chardonnay Review is a sparkling wine made by Drea’s Wine Co. which produces small batch, single vineyard, low intervention wines. Drea’s wines are certified by Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario. I really enjoyed tasting Drea’s Cabernet Franc wines when I undertook my Ontario Cabernet Franc Review last year. Let me tell you about the latest...
- news
Ontario Chardonnay Review: Two Reserve Wines from Henry of Pelham_PR SAMPLE
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I received four bottles of different Chardonnay produced by Ontario’s Henry of Pelham winery. I previously tasted their more entry level wines: Henry of Pelham Family Estate Classic Chardonnay 2025 and Speck Brothers Family Tree “The Goat Lady” Chardonnay 2023. These wines were under screwcap. The next two wines that I just tasted...
- news
Celebrate Team Canada with Champagne Taittinger Brut Reserve FIFA Edition_PR SAMPLE
The FIFA World Cup starts June 11, 2026, with Canada’s first game on June 12th against Bosnia and Herzegovina. As we play and win games, which sparkling wine will you be drinking to celebrate our wins? Champagne Taittinger has been awarded the Official Champagne of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Their special edition FIFA Brut Reserve Champagne is available across...
- news
A Journey Through The Menus on An Avalon Waterways River Cruise
One of the most profound joys of river cruising is the realization that the view changes as often as the courses. As a food and wine reviewer, I find the true success of Avalon Waterway’s program lies in its balance of the modern traveler’s desire for healthful dishes as well as the culinary traditions of the European heartland. I downloaded...
- news
Haywire Winery and Provence Marinaside Sparkling Wine Collaboration
Created through a collaboration between Provence Marinaside and Haywire Winery, this newly released, limited edition, Brut Nature Sparkling wine is all about purity, precision, and place. Crafted from 66% Pinot Noir and 34% Chardonnay grown at Haywire’s organically farmed Garden Valley Ranch estate vineyard in the high-altitude Okanagan, the wine carries a subtle shade of pink in the glass. Bottled...
- news
The History and Issues of Parker Wine Scoring
I have a short quiz for you about the Robert Parker 100-point wine rating scale, which many wineries, companies, and people hold in high regard. Here are the questions: You would like to buy a bottle of Riesling. In the store, side by side, one wine has a sticker showing 89 points, and the bottle beside it with a...
- news
What to Expect for Wines on a Rhine River Cruise With Avalon Waterways
Many people have taken an ocean cruise travelling up to Alaska or around the Caribbean, or maybe the Mediterranean Sea, but fewer people have taken a river cruise, as far as I know. I decided to go on a Rhine River cruise hosted by Avalon Waterways, travelling from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland. It was an eight day trip and included...
- news
Ontario Chardonnay Review: Dobbin Estate Winery Chardonnay 2020_PR SAMPLE
Ontario’s Dobbin Estate Winery does not talk a lot about itself. It lets their wines do the talking. Last year I tasted their Dobbin Estate Cabernet Blend 2020, which I rated as one of my top wines for 2025. They are located on the highly acclaimed Twenty Mile Bench, and they note their calcium-rich soils are ideal for producing Chardonnay,...
- news
Two Elegant Big Reds from BC’s Township 7: Reserve 7 2022 and NBO 2022_PR SAMPLE
BC’s Township 7 Vineyards & Winery has two elegant red wines that should go well with our beautiful summer plans of a BBQ with family or friends. The wines I received to review are their Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Benchmark Series NBO 2022 and Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Benchmark Series Reserve 7 2022. Both wines are blends. The...
- news
Growing the Blue Grouse Estate Winery Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Potential_PR SAMPLE
Blue Grouse Estate Winery from Vancouver Island has changed hands a few times. The latest owners are the second and third-generation Jackson family (California) members Katie Jackson, Julia Jackson, Chris Jackson, Hailey Jackson-Hartford Murray, and MacLean Hartford. The family sees tremendous potential in Cowichan’s cool-climate maritime winegrowing region and plans to embolden the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. I have...
- news
Ontario Chardonnay Review: Wending Home Estate Vineyards & Winery Chardonnay 2023_PR SAMPLE
I received three vintages of Chardonnay from Ontario’s Wending Home Estate Vineyards & Winery as part of my Ontario Chardonnay Review. I reviewed the 2020 and 2021 vintages previously (see article), and today I am reviewing their 2023 vintage. Without further delay, here are my tasting notes for this wine. My Wine Tasting Note Wending Home Estate Vineyards & Winery...
- news
Côtes du Rhône, Makes It Fun for the Summer!_PR SAMPLE
French wines from the Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages AOCs are here to show a new generation of drinkers just how delicious and versatile these appellations can be. I have a rosé and 2 red wines from these AOCs to review: Louis Bernard, Cotes du Rhone, Rosé, 2024 Mas de Sainte Croix Tendresse d’un Climat, Cotes du...
- news
Düsseldorf: A Deep Dive into German Altbier
As you may have noticed, I was on a Rhine River Cruise starting in Amsterdam, ending in Basel, Switzerland. But inbetween, I spent many days in German cities. In one city, Düsseldorf, I signed up for a German Altbier walking tour. Here is what I learned about this style of beer from a local guide as he brought us to...
- news
The Last Two Wines From My Rhine River Cruise
Here are my tasting notes for the last few wines I enjoyed on my Avalon Waterways cruise of the Rhine River. I did try several German beers while on excursions during the day and will try to write an article on German beer later. My Wine Tasting Notes Christoph-Seydel-Str 2024 Spätburgunder trocken Reinhessen. Crystal clear. Medium minus red cherry colour. ...
- news
A Few More Wines From My Avalon Rhine River Cruise
The ship has sailed and I am halfway through this trip on the Rhine River with Avalon Waterways. I saw many steeply sloped vineyards yesterday south of Koblenz as well as a few castles perched on hillsides. Today we passed by Heidelberg. Here are my tasting notes for a few more wines I enjoyed during my dinners. I have been...
- news
A Few Wines From My Avalon Rhine River Cruise
Cruising on the Rhine River with Avalon Waterways cruise line, the wine list at dinner changes daily. Here are a few of the wines I tasted from my first two dinners. All wines from the cruise are European. Many are from Austria. None of these wines are currently available through the BC Liquor store, but who know, they may be...
- news
Ontario Chardonnay Review: Wending Home Estate Vineyards & Winery Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2020 and 2021_PR SAMPLE
Last year I was tasting through Ontario Cabernet Franc wines, and I adored the wines from Wending Home Estate Vineyards & Winery Estate Vineyard, so I had great expectations when I received Chardonnay wines to review as part of my Ontario Chardonnay Review study. I was not disappointed. These are excellent wines. In case you wanted to know about the...
- news
How to Enjoy the Sweeter White Wines of Bordeaux Seminar
How often do you drink white Bordeaux wines? Do you know that they range from bone dry to lusciously sweet? Do you know which grape varieties go into white Bordeaux wines? I recently attended a seminar at L’Abbatoir in Gastown, covering these wines and some ideas for wine pairings that was hosted by Wines of Bordeaux. Our speaker was Emma...