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

The BC Wine Institute releases the latest vineyard acreage report, chock-full of geeky stats. It answers a lot of questions as to where we are growth-wise, but begs others like, “Who’s growing that half-acre of Nebbiolo?”

Speaking of the BC Wine Institute, I’m presenting a few trade education seminars for ‘em next week in Calgary! Work in restaurants or retail stores? Click here to learn more. 

After digging the quail at Edmonton’s Three Boars Eatery, Edmonton Journal wine columnist Gurvinder Bhatia makes a case for great Canadian Gamay.

Around here at My Wine Canada, we’re more than a little stoked that Ontario’s much-loved and acclaimed Tawse Winery is officially on board, offering 36 different wines for your sipping pleasure!

Over at Castanet, they’re spreading the word about the team who brought the 2013 North American Wine Bloggers Conference to Penticton launching our first-ever Canadian Wine Tourism Summit.

Rhys Pender MW wades into the world of natural wine at WineAlign, sharing his thoughts on recent Okanagan variations on the theme.

The Montreal Gazette’s Bill Zacharkiw pens a little ode to Syrah!

The New York Daily News is recommending a trip to Toronto this January for some eating, drinking and shopping, then heading on over to Niagara-on-the-Lake for the Niagara Ice Wine Festival.

Tim Pawsey of North Vancouver’s North Shore News tastes through vintage 2014’s fresh juice and tries to forecast the eventual wines they’ll become.

Finally, Michael Pinkus takes a look at how Ontario’s wine ages after a few years in the cellar, specifically honing in on vintages from 2001 to 2007. Kudos to those who can hold onto wine for that long!

Kurtis Kolt is a Vancouver-based wine consultant, writer, competition judge and enthusiast. He’s not half as fancy/boring as that sounds. He Tweets and Instagrams @KurtisKolt.