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Motorcycle Road Trip - Going to the Sun Road, Montana 
Last Sunday, I polished up my bike in preparation of checking off another item on my "Bucket List". Destination - Going to the Sun Road, Montana - one of the best bike rides in North America with spectacular scenery. It was not a disappointment. It was hard to wind up the bike with all the traffic, however, but definitely worth doing! After the ride, a nice cold beer was in order. I found a Saloon in Kalispell named Mooses, complete with sawdust and peanut shells covering the floor, country musi...
POSTED July 11th, 2012 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
As a wine and beer maker I take pride in making the best kits on the market. In order to appreciate your wine or beer to the fullest, it’s important to pay attention to quality.The vast majority of kits on the market contain lesser quality juice and use dated technology to produce kits that have virtually NO development potential! From what I have gained in experience, I only want to make kits that stand alone in the industry and consistently produce the best wine or beer.Some producer&rsq...
POSTED June 28th, 2012 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT WINEMAKER MAGAZINE INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION 2012 
This prestigous international competition was held April 20 – 22 in Manchester, VermontUSA. The total number of entries was 4,318 from 50 States, 8 Provinces and 7 Countries.We want to congratulate two of our Wine Guild members who did extremely well in this tough competition!Dave Bracey received two GOLD medals – 1 for his Selection White Merlot and 1 for his Selection Sparkling New Millenium. He also took a SILVER Medal for his Selection Limited Edition Pacifica White.Wayne Thomsen...
POSTED June 28th, 2012 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT Vintners Reserve Angel Blanco- WHAT A WINE !!!! 
WOW! This Vintners Reserve ( 4 week ! ) wine kit has blown us all away! Angel Blanco is the newest white in the Vintners Reserve line-up. It is an easy drinking, well rounded white wine with appealing fruit flavours and aromas. Rich and boldly fruity from a blend of Chardonnay, Muscat and Riesling that delivers up a floral aromatic nose, and a fine mix of peach, honey, pineapple fruit finishing, with a perfect balance of acid...
POSTED June 22nd, 2012 | 1 COMMENT | POST A COMMENT Wild Rose Brewery Seasonal HooDoo Hef ( Hefeweizen ) 
Paul & I tried the new Seasonal Wild Rose Brewery''s HooDoo Hef ( Hefeweizen ) last night. It comes in a 650 ml bottle and it is described as:"Inspired by traditional weisse beers of Bavaria, this wheat ale is hazy gold and naturally cloudy. Canadian malted wheat blends with a specially selected yeast to give a clove-like spiciness to the aroma and flavour. A refreshing thirst quencher for warm Alberta summer days."It does live up to its description!&...
POSTED June 21st, 2012 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT International Wine Competition Results 
Congrats to our customers!! Our Winemaker of the Year from the Provincial Competition , Wayne T, garnered THIRTEEN medals at the International Winemaker Magazine Competition in the States - a combo of Silver and GOLD!! And Dave B, who took a Silver for his Winexpert Pacifica White , a GOLD for his Winexpert White Merlot and another GOLD for his Wx Millenium Sparkling! To quote Dave, "This year the judges in the Blush/Rose category were a little tough in that they only gave out 2 Gold, 3 Sil...
POSTED June 20th, 2012 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
My daughter Jessica and I spent a day touring the ruins of Palmyra. It's mentioned in texts back as far as 2000BC, but most of the ruins are from the first and second century. Once Syria's star tourist attraction we were the only foreigners they have seen for a long time, as there are very few foreigners in the country. It's very hard on any one working in the tourist industry. In the old city of Damascus the souqs (markets) are still busy and bars aren't too hard to come by. Despite what you he...
POSTED June 9th, 2012 | 0 COMMENTS What Wine goes with Camel Meat? 
What wine goes with Camel Meat?Should you be BBQing your camel this summer look for a fairly heartyred wine. We found a Lebanese 2009 Ksara Blend, but with a lot ofearthy Cab Sauv. Camel meat, having a softer texture than beef butwith a stronger flavour, ideally would call for a Tempranillo style -but those are hard to find here.For those BBQing back in Calgary, don't forget your stouts to match your steaks.From Damascus, Syria.
POSTED June 7th, 2012 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
Although we found some excellent beers in Damascus, it has been ofLebanese origin. Their local beer, from the Barada beer company, ishonestly one of the worst beers I have had in years. It's theircheapest brew, and definitely reflects that.I will continue the quest for more drinkable beers.Paul
POSTED June 7th, 2012 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT Ever Heard of Mad Housewife Wine?? 
"Somewhere near the cool shadows of the laundry room. Past the litter box and between the plastic yard toys. This is your time. Time to enjoy a moment to yourself. A moment without the madness. The dishes can wait. Dinner be damned. Mad Housewife Cabernet Sauvignon." So reads the descriptor on the back of the bottle! What's domestic bliss without a little wine?While visiting in Vancouver last weekend, my daughter-in-law, Sara...
POSTED June 2nd, 2012 | 1 COMMENT | POST A COMMENT 
This past weekend Paul and Pat travelled to Vancouver to attend the 2012 Winexpert Conference at the Rimrock Casino Resort. What a place - holy cow -such opulence! It was beautiful. Upon arrival late Saturday afternoon, we were all treated to a delicious dinner, and the conference was all day Sunday.Many interesting sessions to choose from, but the theme of the entire day was Winexpert's committment to quality and maintaining its position as producing the best wine and be...
POSTED June 1st, 2012 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
When I was a little kid I would often go beachcombing along the shorelines of the Gulf Islands. I had always hoped to find a bottle with a note in it from someone in a far off land across the Pacific. I came across a lot of glass, but never did find a message in a bottle.Decades later, I still love glass bottles. With plastic becoming a more and more common packaging medium, I much prefer the feeling and weight of glass. And, for me, there's still an aspect of romance in a glass wine bottle. But...
POSTED May 31st, 2012 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
Today I had the pleasure of stabilizing one of the Selection Limited Editions from this season, the German Traminer Spatlese. For those of you that attended the Limited Edition event in November you may remember that the eqivalent wine offered for tasting was a sweet take on a Gewurztraminer. Once the FPack was added to this wine at stabilization today, the aroma and flavors were a little sweet, fruity and fantastic! Last year the Pacifica was so fantastic that it sold out almost as fast as...
POSTED May 31st, 2012 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
I found a really good Lebanese Pilsner in Damascus, sitting on the balcony overlooking the city. This is the ideal beer for a week that is going to be 32C all week. This beer is very much in the style of the Czech Pilsner, and slightly hoppier than our Candian Pilsner. Although Syria does produce their own wine and beer, there seems to be a much better value with the Lebanese import. My daughters and I will continue with our quest to find some better, locally produced brew.
POSTED May 31st, 2012 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT Portuguese Douro Tinto is aging nicely!! 
Out on the deck at Paul's over the long weekend we decided to try one of our 2010 Limited Edition Portuguese Douro Tinto's. It is a deep garnet, ruby red wine and I recall when it was young , there was lots of delicate, floral notes. We noticed as it ages these floral notes have changed into coffee, oak and vanilla notes. It is aging well, with such depth! We found it went great with roast chicken, but also it doesn't need food! It is an excellent patio sipper served slightly chi...
POSTED May 24th, 2012 | 0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT |
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