The Friday Files: News & Notes from Canada’s Wine Scene

The Vancouver International Wine Festival is underway, with Australia as this year's theme region. In The National Post, a few of Canada's top wine writers and critics pick what wineries to look out for during the festival's main event: Wines not to be missed at the Vancouver International Wine Festival.

Anthony Gismondi introduces us to ten winery principals visiting Vancouver for Wine Fest that we should really take the time to meet.

While wandering the room during one of the International Festival Tastings, you might recognize familiar faces pouring Canadian wines. My Wine Canada members Haywire, Laughing Stock and Painted Rock will all be there. Check here for tickets if you don't have one.

On this side of the country, the recent cold snaps may become disastrous for many growers' 2015 vintage. In Wines In Niagara, Rick VanSickle writes about the incoming data showing widespread bud damage, particularly in the Niagara sub-appellations of Creek Shores, Vinemount Ridge, Twenty Mile Bench and Short Hills Bench.

In The Ottawa Citizen, Rod Phillips highlights a new trend of entry-level wines moving the flavour descriptors to the front label.

Bill Zacharkiw's spotlight is Cab Franc in a Montreal Gazette piece encouraging us that a little herbacousness adds complexity and is typical in even properly ripened Cab Franc. "So deal with it," he tells us. I couldn't agree more.

I was excited to read about a new release from one of my favourite Tawse vineyards. Paul Pender made two barrels of Quarry Road Vineyard Chardonnay in a 'natural' style with minimal handling and no sulphur added. Rick VanSickle gives some background on the wine and talks about why the term 'natural' is a very loaded one. Also, see what's available on My Wine Canada from Tawse.

In The Globe and Mail, Beppi Crosariol asks What’s the right way to hold a wineglass? (Use the stem dammit!)

Oh come ON! Montreal gets a wine truck for Nuit Blanche??

 

Jake Skakun is a writer and sommelier from Vancouver, currently living in Toronto. He can be found most days pulling corks and twisting caps at the Black Hoof. He Tweets and Instagrams @jakeskakun.