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

Oh, man! I’m in Kelowna right now presenting B.C. Wine Seminars for restaurant and retail trade on behalf of the B.C. Wine Institute, and have just saddled up on a stool at Pilgrim & Pearl. I gotta say, I’m flipping through a wine list that is not only one of the best in the Okanagan, but I’d venture to say it’s one of the most ambitious and fun in not only Western Canada, but potentially the whole country. They have a commendable balance of B.C.’s best along with a fun array of global gems, natural wines, an embarrassment of grower’s Champagne, and not to mention ridiculously low mark-ups.

Do you make wine in B.C. and like shiny medals? Entries for the B.C. Wine Awards are now being accepted!

The Aquilini family, who own the Vancouver Canucks, a host of blueberry farms, a whole bunch of real estate, and more, are making some major inroads planting vines in Washington State’s coveted Red Mountain AVA.

Globally-renowned wine writer and critic Jamie Goode covers a half-dozen Canadian wine gems, including Orofino’s Hendsbee Vineyard Riesling, and you can nab yourself a bottle right here at My Wine Canada!

Over at The Vancouver Sun, Anthony Gismondi raises the Languedoc flag.

My Wine Canada popped down to Sugar Beach last night to check out the Toronto Wine & Spirit Festival. The festival runs until June 20th and if you're in the area, it's definitely worth a visit!

I love this! At Western Living Magazine, they got a bunch of Okanagan winemakers to recommend wines from neighbours and colleagues (their site is currently down - keep checking as we're sure it'll be back up soon). Nice to see My Wine Canada partners Tantalus, Le Vieux Pin and Laughing Stock Vineyards as producers of a handful of the most coveted bottles.

Kurtis Kolt is a Vancouver-based wine consultant, writer, competition judge and enthusiast. Track him down at KurtisKolt.com, or on Twitter and Instagram @KurtisKolt.