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Week in Review
Thursday, September 11 2025
09 · 11Onwards and Upwards
This summer has been a productive period for our team, as we completed the 25th WineAlign National Wine Awards, navigated ongoing developments regarding Free Trade within Canada, and addressed concerns raised by the anti-alcohol lobby. With the arrival of fall, we are returning to our primary focus: evaluating wines and sharing informed opinions daily, to assist our readers in finding quality wines at competitive prices — no easy task. Our monthly newsletter, which is free and currently enjoys a 72% open rate, provides valuable insights for subscribers. As the influence of social media figures diminishes in the wine industry, we remain committed to offering expert perspectives based on decades of experience and on-site visits at most wineries whose products we review from around the world.
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Anthony
Mission Hill 2025 National Wine Awards of Canada Winery of the YearThe Okanagan hilltop winery with the stunning vistas has returned to the top of the heap once again at the 2025 WineAlign National...
2025 WineAlign National Wine AwardsAfter posting 20 consecutive years of growth, the sparkling wine category took a step back in 2023 and 2024 in the US and Canada. However,...
The Wine Align National Wine Awards of CanadaThis year, the National Wine Awards of Canada celebrates a quarter-century of our once-a-year snapshot of Canadian wines. As the...
From Disaster to Short Term ReplacementsThis month, the GOW tasting team offers an early look at some of the replacement, or Crafted in British Columbia wines, made in response...
The Rhone Valley is Leaning WhiteI've just returned from the Rhône Valley, France's second largest wine growing region, producing nine percent of the country's...
Vineyards and ValorExplore the rich history of a time when the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada distinguished themselves in the trenches of France. This...
Contributors
by: HJ Cha
Top 10: Merlot
Merlot doesn’t always get the spotlight it deserves. For years, it’s been overshadowed by other reds: the so-called king of grapes, cabernet sauvignon; the elegant pinot noir; or trendier picks like gamay and cabernet franc. Merlot is often dismissed as too soft or too safe, but merlot is the world’s second most planted wine grape and the backbone of countless world class bottles...Read More ...
Cheese Pleaseby: Allison Spurrell
European Raw Milk Ban
I think it's going to be an interesting winter season at les amis. With winter comes the season of raclette and fondue, as well as the craziness of the busy Christmas months. It's a hectic time here with pallets of cheese arriving almost faster than we can deal with them. This year, we will have an additional obstacle to navigate. I have just had a second letter from a supplier letting me know that many of our regular European cheeses made with raw milk will not be available for some time...Read More ...
by: Brent Gushowaty
Naramata Bench
British Columbia wine regions are currently divided into nine Geographical Indications similar to appellations used in other wine-producing countries. These G.I.s are determined by analyzing similar soils, climate, annual weather, etc.. The Okanagan Valley G.I. is further broken down into sub-Geographical Indications (sub-GIs). Established in 2019, the Naramata Bench Sub-GI was the third sub-GI created...Read More ...
