Carl's Wine Club

Wine Wednesday, on the road!

We just got back from Prince Edward County and we have things to say!! Stop by for a quick members trip recap, Roche intel before the club launch this week, and a peek at what’s coming next. It’s a short one but we packed it in! Now we need something from you: What Canadian wine has completely blown your mind lately? Drop it in the comments. Don’t be shy! Let’s spread some homegrown wine joy. 🍁​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Cheers, Carl and Mira

Is this our 300th Wine Wednesday??? 📱

It's hard to believe we have been tasting Canadian wine almost exclusively for almost SIX years now! Stop by to hear some of our most recent discoveries and a sneak preview of a very special winemaker Zoom happening TOMORROW at 4:30pm with Penelope & Dylan Roche of Roche Wines :) See the Roche wines here (Zoom link in your inboxes this evening members) https://carlswineclub.com/pages/roche See the Icellars wines here: https://carlswineclub.com/pages/icellars Cheers, Carl & Mira

Is this our 300th Wine Wednesday???

It's hard to believe we have been tasting Canadian wine almost exclusively for almost SIX years now! Stop by to hear some of our most recent discoveries and a sneak preview of a very special winemaker Zoom happening TOMORROW at 4:30pm with Penelope & Dylan Roche of Roche Wines :) See the Roche wines here (Zoom link in your inboxes this evening members) https://carlswineclub.com/pages/roche See the Icellars wines here: https://carlswineclub.com/pages/icellars Cheers, Carl & Mira

The Secret to Opening Wax Wine Seals! #wine #winelover #waxseal #winecollection

The "friction trick" for wax-sealed wine is a game changer! 🍾 No blade, no mess, just a perfect pour. Follow for more, wine lovers! We taste and review Canadian wines every day. Cheers, Carl #winetasting #winelover #wine #canadianwine #lifehacks

3 BIG Myths About Canadian Wine DEBUNKED (Platinum Medal Petit Verdot)

Can Canada actually grow "big" Bordeaux varietals? Does Canadian wine have aging potential? And is it always overpriced? On Day 49 of our 1,000-subscriber challenge, we are cracking open a bottle that answers all of those questions with a resounding YES. We’re tasting the 2018 Petit Verdot / Malbec from Nostalgia Winery in Oliver, BC. This wine didn't just win a medal—it took home a Platinum Medal at the 2024 National Wine Awards, making it one of the top-rated wines in the entire country. In th

This 92+ Point Chard Wasn't Supposed to Exist! (Day 56)

In today’s episode of our 1,000-subscriber challenge, I’m cracking open something truly rare: the Sempre Mio Chardonnay 2023. This is a 'one-barrel selection' a wine so exceptional that the winemakers decided it couldn't be blended and should be bottled on it's own. Only 25 cases ever produced. Is it worth the $50 price? I’m diving into the orchard fruit notes, the seashell minerality, and that incredible 'custard' texture to give you my 92+ point review. In this video: The story of the Mio fami

Left Bank vs Right Bank: The Canadian Wine Showdown! (Day 55)

Is Canadian wine the world's best-kept secret? I think it might just be! I just found a $60 wine that acts like a $120! Today I’m putting two incredible Niagara-on-the-Lake red blends to the test: a powerful $100 Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend vs. a silky $60 Merlot dominant. The results for the "Right Bank" style that's only $60 shocked me: 94 points! Watch to find out why this bottle punches way above its weight class. Which style are you? Let me know in the comments! AND you can get these

Big Reds, Geothermal Tech, and a Family Legacy: Meet the Icels of Icellars! 📱

We are coming to you LIVE to chat about the stunning Icellars Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake! If you love big reds, or if you're not yet convinced that Canada can make big reds...you won't want to miss tasting Icellars. You can find my notes and scores including one 95+ pointer (WOW!), two 94 pointers, and THREE 93 pointers here: https://carlswineclub.com/pages/icellars We’re sitting down with Elif and Tolga Icel to talk about the incredible legacy of the late Adnan Icel, the man who liter

10-Year-Old Niagara Wine: Is It Still Good? (Day 54)

I just opened a 10-year-old 2016 Icellars 'Arinna' Red Blend from Niagara-on-the-Lake, and the results were absolutely phenomenal. Many people think Canadian reds can't age. This 94-point beauty proves them wrong. At $60, it drinks like a $100+ Napa or Super Tuscan, making it an absolute steal for collectors. Join me for Day 54 of our 100-day journey as we uncover the best of Canada's wines! Inside this tasting: 0:00 - Can Niagara Reds actually age? 0:45 - The 2016 Icellars Arena Blend 1:30 - Ta

I Just Got a 30-Bottle Mystery Case...Here's What I Opened First!

What happens when 30 bottles of Canadian wine show up at your door? 🍷 We are unboxing a massive delivery and putting one mystery bottle to the ultimate test. Stay tuned for a blind tasting where we break down the aromatics, the 'Charmat' method, and why this sparkling is just oh-so-enjoyable. Inside this video: 0:00 - The 30-Bottle Delivery 0:45 - What's in the box? 1:30 - Blind Tasting & Review 2:45 - The Verdict #CanadianWine #WineTasting #WineUnboxing #NiagaraWine #Sommelier"

Big Reds, Geothermal Tech, and a Family Legacy: Meet the Icels of Icellars!

We are coming to you LIVE to chat about the stunning Icellars Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake! If you love big reds, or if you're not yet convinced that Canada can make big reds...you won't want to miss tasting Icellars. You can find my notes and scores including one 95+ pointer (WOW!), two 94 pointers, and THREE 93 pointers here: https://carlswineclub.com/pages/icellars We’re sitting down with Elif and Tolga Icel to talk about the incredible legacy of the late Adnan Icel, the man who liter

Why This $31 Wine Surprised Me (Day 51)

On Day 51 of our YouTube challenge, Carl tastes a surprising 2018 Reserve Red from Icellars in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. At only $31, this wine punches way above its price point with a rich, silky texture and complex notes of black cherry, dark chocolate, and cedar. Discover how this 8-year-old Canadian wine is actually getting better with age! And hit the SUBSCRIBE button for more Canadian wine discoveries. #canadianwine #redwine #winetasting #winelover #wine #niagarawine

I Found a Gold-Medal Masterpiece for Malbec Day (Day 50)

Happy Malbec Day! 🍷 We are celebrating at Nostalgia Winery in the South Okanagan, tasting a legendary 2020 Malbec from the famous Black Sage Bench. This gold-medal winner is "big and bold" with an inky purple color that absolutely blew me away. In this video, we meet the team behind the wine, discuss the unique hot-with-a-great-diurnal-shift on the Black Sage Bench, at the winery who was the first in BC to go all-in on twist caps! 🔔 THE 1K SUB CHALLENGE: It’s Day 50! I’m opening a new Canadian

Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone. But Canadian! 📱

Once more, we have a tonne of Canadian wine in front us to share with you! Stop by, let's chat wine and also, our next Tasting Thursday event on Zoom with winemakers Penelope and Dylan Roche, of Roche Wines, from the Naramata Bench, BC. We’ve opened early access so you can taste these wines with us LIVE on April 30th with the winemakers🍷 👉 Grab your spot + see all the special releases here: https://www.jotform.com/form/260857126298265 Cheers, Carl & Mira

I Forgot This Bottle for 5 Years...Is It Still Good? (Day 52)

Have you ever forgotten a bottle in your cellar for years? That’s exactly what happened with this 2017 Megalomaniac "Big Mouth" Merlot from the Niagara Peninsula. At 9 years old, I had zero expectations, but the result was a total shock! Merlot isn't usually known as the strong suite of Niagara, yet this $35 bottle is hitting its perfect maturity right now. Watch as I taste through the savoury, floral notes and reveal why this "forgotten" bottle earned a solid 90 points. This is Day 52 of my cha

Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone. But Canadian!

Once more, we have a tonne of Canadian wine in front us to share with you! Stop by, let's chat wine and also, our next Tasting Thursday event on Zoom with winemakers Penelope and Dylan Roche, of Roche Wines, from the Naramata Bench, BC. We’ve opened early access so you can taste these wines with us LIVE on April 30th with the winemakers🍷 👉 Grab your spot + see all the special releases here: https://www.jotform.com/form/260857126298265 Cheers, Carl & Mira

The Secret to Opening Wax Wine Seals! #wine #winelover #waxseal #winecollection

The "friction trick" for wax-sealed wine is a game changer! 🍾 No blade, no mess, just a perfect pour. Follow for more, wine lovers! We taste and review Canadian wines every day. Cheers, Carl #winetasting #winelover #wine #canadianwine #lifehacks

The Safest Way to Open Wax-Sealed Wine (No Blade Needed)

Day 48 of our Canadian wine challenge… and today starts with a mistake almost everyone makes. Wax-sealed bottles look beautiful… until you try to open them 😅 Knives. Cracks. Flying corks. Panic. But there’s a much easier way (and once you see it, you’ll never go back). In this episode: 🍷 The simplest way to open a wax cork safely 🍷 Why wineries use wax in the first place 🍷 And a stunning 2019 Syrah from the South Okanagan that’s right in its prime window If you love Canadian wine, this daily series is for you. 👉 Subscribe + follow along as we uncover Canada’s best hidden gems 🇨🇦 And tell me in the comments: Have you ever struggled with a wax top bottle? 👇 Cheers, Carl and Mira

Eastern Europe's Beloved White Grape Is Hiding at a BC Vineyard. And It's Been There Since 1983!

This might be the most unique bottle we've opened yet. And tasting this today feels even more meaningful. In 2024, a brutal deep freeze wiped out most of the Okanagan's harvest. Almost zero crop. Then 2025 hit: a beautiful vintage and the second warmest year on record. And own-rooted old vines like these? They're the ones that survived. The verdict? 91+ points. $26 including tax. For the rarity, the old vines, and the story behind it, this is a bottle worth hunting down. 🙌 👇 New Canadian wine every single day until we hit 1,000 subscribers...hit the bell and come discover it with us. And drop a comment: Have you ever tried a Muscat Ottonel? Because I want to know! Cheers, Carl (and Mira!)

The Okanagan Lost the Entire 2024 Harvest. I Just Tasted the Comeback Vintage! #bcwine

My first taste of the Okanagan's 2025 "Come Back Vintage"! Day 46

What happens when an entire wine region loses 100% of its grape harvest? You wait, you commiserate with the winemakers, and then Mother Nature delivers something truly special the following vintage. Day 46 of our 1,000 subscriber challenge and we're cracking open one of the very first bottles of the 2025 vintage: Nostalgia Winery's Sauvignon Blanc straight from the Black Sage Bench in the South Okanagan. And yes, we chilled it right in the lake. 🏔️🌊 After a devastating 2024 where Okanagan growers lost nearly their entire crop, the 2025 vintage is turning heads, and this wine is proof why. 🍋 Lime, passion fruit, bright acidity, chalky finish: crisp, elegant, and versatile enough to drink year-round. All under $30. The comeback vintage is officially here. 🙌 👇 Hit the bell and follow along to learn about a new Canadian wine every single day until we hit 1,000 subscribers. The party is just getting started! Cheers, Carl & Mira

Is this the Canadian answer to Rombauer Chardonnay? Day 45

Could the Okanagan Valley produce a Canadian version of one of California's most iconic Chardonnays? Today we're tasting the Black Swift Breeze Hill Vineyard Chardonnay 2023 by Jason Parkes, one of Canada's boldest new-world style producers known for rich, opulent, oak-forward wines. I found beautifully integrated oak without the upfront punch...baked apple, peach, pear and vanilla. Rich, textural, and surprisingly well balanced. The verdict? 91+ points. And the search? It continues. 👀 Subscribe to discover more world class Canadian wine! Cheers, Carl & Mira

Who's up for a blind tasting? Two Pinots, same winery, one big difference. (Day 44)

Day 44 of our Canadian wine challenge and I got my hands on two Roche Wines Pinot Noirs from the Naramata Bench. Same producer, same hands on the barrels. But these two wines could not be more different. Can I tell them apart in a blind tasting? Watch to find out. If you love Canadian wine, hit the bell and join us. We are tasting a different Canadian wine every single day! Cheers, Carl & Mira

Rosé Season Is HERE! Do You Know Which Method Makes Which Style? Day 43

On Day 43 of our 1,000 subscriber challenge, join Carl to chat about the two completely different methods to make rosé, and how they deliver two completely different results. We put them head to head using two of Canada's most iconic bold red wine producers: Painted Rock from the Okanagan Valley and Icellars from Niagara-on-the-Lake, to show you exactly what each method tastes like. 🍷 Direct Press → Light, elegant, pure — think Provence style 🍷 Saignée (Bleed Method) → Bold, rich, red-wine-forward with beautiful acidity Same score. Very different wines. Which style is your favourite? 👇 Haven't joined the challenge yet? Hit the bell and come discover a new Canadian wine with us every single day until we hit 1,000 subscribers! Cheers, Carl & Mira Join the club for FREE at www.carlswineclub.com

Why I Decant White Wine (This 94 Point Viognier Proves It)

You might not decant your white wine…but maybe you should. In today’s Day 42 of our Canadian Wine Challenge, I open a newly released Viognier from Bottega Wine Studio in the Similkameen Valley and test it before and after decanting. The result? A completely different wine. This wine pushed right up against my 94-point “rockstar” threshold, and is quite possibly the best Viognier I've tasted from Canada to date. YES, the decanter made all the difference. If you love discovering hidden gems in Canadian wine or want to get more out of every bottle you open, this is for you. 👉 We’re opening a new Canadian wine every single day until we hit 1,000 subscribers. Join the journey and hit Subscribe! Cheers, Carl & Mira www.carlswineclub.com

Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Rhône varietals, all from one BC winery 📱

Holy smokes, we have a lot of world class Canadian wine open right now! Stop by for a sneak peek of an all-new, never before featured winery coming up soon in the club. And save the date! Our next Tasting Thursday with the winemakers is on April 30th at 4:30pm PT. Cheers, Carl & Mira

Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Rhône varietals, all from one BC winery

Holy smokes, we have a lot of world class Canadian wine open right now! Stop by for a sneak peek of an all-new, never before featured winery coming up soon in the club. And save the date! Our next Tasting Thursday with the winemakers is on April 30th at 4:30pm PT. Cheers, Carl & Mira

Can You Guess This🔥 Canadian Red from the South Okanagan? (Day 41)

Today's bottle takes us back to Canada's only dessert, and to a varietal that is done really well across BC. Hit subscribe if you love Canadian wine and help us reach our first 1,000 subscribers on YouTube! Cheers, Carl & Mira Join the club for FREE at www.carlswineclub.com

The 'Forbidden' Wine: How a Climate Disaster Created This DELICIOUS GSM! (Day 40)

Mother Nature threw a curveball in 2024, leading to one of the most dramatic vintages ever in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley. After extreme cold events wiped out 97% of the grape crop, BC wineries faced a devastating choice: produce no wine or find an unprecedented solution. In a historic one-time exception, the BC Government allowed wineries to source grapes from outside the province. This opened the door for Black Market Wine Company to create something truly unique: a 2024 GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) blend from Washington State's renowned Wahluke Slope AVA! Join us on Day 40 of our YouTube challenge as we taste this exceptional "Collusion Series" GSM. Winemaker Rob Hammersley seized this rare opportunity to craft a fruit-forward, approachable wine with layers of red fruit, baking spices, and a savoury richness. Discover how this blend of 51% Grenache, 29% Syrah, and 20% Mourvèdre, aged 9 months in French oak, delivers a delightful and versatile drinking experience.

This varietal is disappearing in Canada! Here's why. (Day 39)

This is one of my very favourite varietals we made in BC and beyond in Canada. The good news? When we make it, we make it soo well. Like this example from Roche Winery on the Naramata Bench, BC. The bad news? Because of the deep freeze of 2024, many wineries have pulled this varietal and re-planted with Cab Franc, or even hybrids. The wineries that know how to make this varietal well, though, are doubling down and planting more. So it's never been a better time to be 'in the know' about BC wineries and who to follow. Subscribe for more world class Canadian wine discoveries! Cheers, Carl, & Mira Join the club for FREE at www.carlswineclub.com