The Demystified Vine

Taking the mystery out of wine exploration!

My recent trip to the Okanagan wonderfully began at Little Straw Vineyards (@LittleStrawWine) in West Kelowna. There is a soft spot in my heart for this small vineyard and winery ever since I tasted their 2008 La Petite Paille Pinot Noir. I first stopped into this winery in May 2012, when I was on a …

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Pop quiz: How did Gray Monk Estate Winery get their name? Read on to find out, wine friends! Gray Monk Estate Winery is located in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. Established in 1972 by George and Trudy Heiss, Gray Monk has grown to be one of the most reliable wineries in BC for consistent …

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2011 Kanazawa Nomu

Valerie Stride, WSET ADV Certified

Kanazawa Wines, out of Oliver, BC, released their first vintage in 2010 with only a red and sparkling wine. In a mere two vintages since then, Richard Kanazawa has grown his wine label to include a blended white (Nomu) and also a fantastic dessert wine called “Diamond Flower” made from 100% late harvest Pinot Blanc. …

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Tempranillo is one of Spain’s most favoured varetials. It’s a black grape that is grown widely across the entire country. As a result, it is harvested and turned into wine of either single varietal, or added with other varietals of the country, including Graciano, Garnacha (Spanish for Grenache), Mazuelo, or some international varietals such as …

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Pfaffenheim is a brand that I stand behind for good quality, complex, and affordable wines. They really know how to make an amiable product. As Pfaffenheim’s wines are made in the Alsatian style, I particularly enjoy their Gewürztraminer, as it bursts forth with tropical fruit flavours. Alsace pushes the “edges” of wine by making bold, …

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