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

Some serious frost hit Prince Edward County and Niagara regions on May 22 and 23. Rick VanSickle talks to a number of winemakers about the impact of the cooler weather, with some photos showing the damage. More here on the frost via CBC/The Canadian Press.

The Globe and Mail did a nice profile of Véronique Rivest, one of Canada’s top sommeliers who recently opened Soif, a wine bar, in Gatineau.

Sticking with the Globe, the folks at Summerhill Pyramid Winery are among those who discuss Canadian wine sales in China.

On a related note, John Szabo MS writes in the National Post about the perception of Canadian wine in the UK at a recent tasting that included lauded palates Steven Spurrier (of Decanter) and Hugh Johnson.

Over at the Montreal Gazette, Bill Zacharkiw notes that the SAQ is now publishing residual sugar levels on their website. Will other provinces follow suit? Check it out here.

Hey MWC team member Kurtis Kolt –whatcha writing about over there at The Georgia Straight these days? Tasting some pink wines, huh? Good thinking.

Last Saturday (May 23) I attended the fabulous Table for 1201, a massive pop-up dinner staged behind the Manitoba legislative building. Check out some photos at the Winnipeg Free Press website or search the hashtag #tablefor1201 on Instagram.

Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson is the wine columnist and literary editor for the Winnipeg Free Press. He’s on Twitter and Instagram at @bensigurdson.