Jurgen Gothe

Great wines from Okanaganâ��s Lake Country on to Italy

Great wines from Okanagan’s Lake Country on to Italy

By Jurgen Gothe | February 7, 2012

We've got nine sippers from around the globe to whet your palate this week.

Saxenburg reds to seek out

By Jurgen Gothe | February 1, 2012

Sometimes the roly-poly little god of wine deigns to smile on me.

Local B.C. Chardonnays to love

By Jurgen Gothe | January 25, 2012

Four fabulous new B.C. Chardonnays are worth a special quest.

These table wines are more than just fine

By Jurgen Gothe | January 17, 2012

Although all these bottles sell for under $14, the taste and quality may surprise you.

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Upscale Chilean wines take on the cheapies

By Jurgen Gothe | January 10, 2012

When the first big wave of Chilean wines rolled over the Andes and hit here, we welcomed it with open arms and even more open wallets. We loved the invasion. And what wasn’t to love?

Any time is right for good-value sparkling wine

By Jurgen Gothe | January 3, 2012

The problem with big-C Champagne is simple: big-C price. But non-Champagne bubbles are around every corner, and these ones will surely fit your budget.

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Innis & Gunn's Connoisseur's Oak Collection is a timeless treat

By Jurgen Gothe | December 27, 2011

If you didn’t get a set of oaken beers for Christmas, there may still be time.

Snap up a case of Figaro and finish with icewine treats

By Jurgen Gothe | December 27, 2011

Figaro is a beautifully built, bracing, crisp white—steely, flinty, and hearty.

Black Hills winery's portfolio is a dream for tasters

By Jurgen Gothe | December 21, 2011

Hard to say if the Tennants and the McCarrells set out to create a wine brand of near-mythic proportions when they came into possession of a practically derelict vineyard property in the south Okanagan.

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Pink wine goes with everything for the holidays

By Jurgen Gothe | December 14, 2011

Pink wine is perfect—festive, fun, tasty, and versatile.

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Wine to serve, give, and read about

By Jurgen Gothe | December 7, 2011

Once you’re done buying for the guests, pour yourself a glass, sit by the fire, and pore over one of these books.

Veuve Clicquot opens the fridge to celebration season

By Jurgen Gothe | November 29, 2011

Standing loud and proud, bright yellow on the shelf, this great Champagne is perfect for toasting the holidays—or nothing in particular.

At under $15 each, these wines go down easily

By Jurgen Gothe | November 22, 2011

Cheap wines that are good ’n’ tasty are something of an oxymoron. Still, here are a few to try as we approach the holiday season.

Splurge on new age-defined Courvoisier Cognacs

By Jurgen Gothe | November 22, 2011

Two new 12-year-old and 21-year-old Cognacs are simply delicious if you want to indulge.

Pinot Blanc goes two ways

By Jurgen Gothe | November 16, 2011

Here we know the same grape—and the wine made from it—as Pinot Blanc. And there is lots of that throughout the vineyards of British Columbia.

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A six-pack of new wines for the tasting

By Jurgen Gothe | November 9, 2011

An expanded six-pack of various new wines from various wineries today, all with names you may not have encountered before.

Sweet, fruity treats to usher in cold weather

By Jurgen Gothe | November 1, 2011

The Similkameen Valley’s Forbidden Fruit Winery carries several mistelles, a sweet wine with higher alcoholic content than table wines.

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Laughing Stock Vineyards and Top Table Restaurants launch Directors’ Blends

By Jurgen Gothe | November 1, 2011

There's one each, white and red, and they're named after the four wine directors at West, CinCin, Blue Water, and Araxi.

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Sauvignon Blancs under $20 ensure affordable fall sipping

By Jurgen Gothe | October 26, 2011

For those fall days when red just doesn’t suit, try these crisp, food-friendly whites.

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B.C. Wine Awards honour top red, white, and dessert wines

By Jurgen Gothe | October 18, 2011

Summerhill Pyramid, Red Rooster, Jackson-Triggs , and Volcanic Hills Estate wineries all took away top prizes this year.

New arrivals and surprises shows the softer side of Sauvignon Blanc

By Jurgen Gothe | October 12, 2011

Many people prefer the mellower, softer styles of Sauvignon Blanc, which are richer and more food-friendly.

Exotic grapes can be found close to home

By Jurgen Gothe | October 5, 2011

Tannat and Tempranillo, Oraniensteiner and Pinotage. What are these exotic grape varieties doing in our ’hood?

KWV Paarl Cape Ruby Fortified Wine is a deep, sweet tipple

By Jurgen Gothe | September 29, 2011

Just so we understand each other, I’m still something of a purist when it comes to certain wine nomenclature.

Unusual flavours in vodka and oaken brews surprise the senses

By Jurgen Gothe | September 27, 2011

Żubrówka Bison Grass Vodka is one of the spirit world’s oldest and more unusual flavoured vodkas, while oak-aged beer gets a rum cask.

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40 Knots and UnConventional Wisdom new to B.C. wine scene

By Jurgen Gothe | September 20, 2011

With new wineries popping up all over the province, here is a list of B.C. bottles to uncork, sip, and savour.

Belgian wit wheat beer perfect for the patio

By Jurgen Gothe | September 14, 2011

If you think Belgian wit is Peter Sellers playing Poirot, this isn’t for you.

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Pinot Grigios, from the bland to the extraordinary

By Jurgen Gothe | September 14, 2011

More lore today—and tastings—of the Pinots Three: Gris, Grigio, and Auxerrois.

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A Pinot Gris refresher course

By Jurgen Gothe | September 7, 2011

It’s all about Pinot Gris today, with a sidelong look at Pinot Grigio, and maybe also—just to confuse everything, Pinot Auxerrois.

Calliope wine flies and vines flourish in B.C.

By Jurgen Gothe | August 31, 2011

The B.C. industry continues to expand, with 24 growers planning new wineries, while a new portfolio of wines aims to take over your tastebuds.

Fabulous Tesch Rieslings screw with cap tradition

By Jurgen Gothe | August 23, 2011

A brilliant, new trio of Rieslings has strolled into town, and like the proverbial western stranger, has raised all kinds of dust.

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Sumac Ridge's Harry McWatters launches a red 2007 Meritage under own label

By Jurgen Gothe | August 16, 2011

There's only one wine so far in the McWatters Collection, but a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay are rumoured to be in the plans.

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Refreshing, light white wines for Sunday brunch

By Jurgen Gothe | August 9, 2011

The second half of a two-part Uncorked: whites to wake up to after Saturday-night's rosés and red blends.

RosÃ©s and red wines for your Saturday-night barbecues

Rosés and red wines for your Saturday-night barbecues

By Jurgen Gothe | August 3, 2011

Here starts a two-part Uncorked: rosés and red blends for the Saturday-night barbecue, whites for the Sunday-morning brunch.

Okanagan Spirits' sea-buckthorn liqueur a surprise success

By Jurgen Gothe | July 27, 2011

A novelty? Sure. A treat? Absolutely. A drink to stump your know-everything-when-it-comes-to-booze pals? Definitely.

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More Rieslings to love, and some lessons, too

By Jurgen Gothe | July 20, 2011

So much Riesling, we just have to sip some more.

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Canadian Club Sherry Cask is a sweet whisky treat

By Jurgen Gothe | July 13, 2011

New from the national whisky maker Canadian Club is a delicious whisky for people with a bit of a sweet tooth—and you can’t buy it here.

Old wine favourites get the test

By Jurgen Gothe | July 13, 2011

We guzzled gallons of it, simply gallons, and propelled parties with it. Hangovers? Too numerous to mention—and anyway, who wants to recall hurt, especially self-inflicted hurt?

Focus on the many faces of Riesling

By Jurgen Gothe | July 6, 2011

No other white-wine grape lends itself to such a broad range of expression: sparkling, dry, off-dry, semi-sweet, sweet, really sweet, and super sweet, all from the same grape.

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Drinks to usher in summer

By Jurgen Gothe | June 30, 2011

From tequila to hard sodas, we've got your summer drinking covered. Well, that is if it ever gets here.

St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur makes for seductive, hand-picked cocktails

By Jurgen Gothe | June 21, 2011

The French producer of this new liqueur draws from artisanal traditions.

Moscatos make for a refreshing summer wine

By Jurgen Gothe | June 15, 2011

Based on Muscat, one of the most versatile grape families, muscatos are perfect for sipping before or after dinner.

Forbidden Fruit Winery's Caught Apricot Mistelle a delightful treat

By Jurgen Gothe | June 15, 2011

Made from three varieties of organic apricots, this fortified wine goes especially well with white chocolate.

Rosé wines sit pretty on the patio

By Jurgen Gothe | June 7, 2011

With unbridled optimism about the eventuality of our summer, wineries are sending forth their new vintages of pink wine: rosés of every type, style, grape variety, and price point.

Moon Curser wines jump off the shelf

By Jurgen Gothe | June 1, 2011

Moon Curser, eh? What kind of name is that when it’s at home?

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A pre-summer tasting of new Chardonnays

By Jurgen Gothe | May 24, 2011

Summon the faithful for a tasting of this favourite grape variety in its various guises, including two unoaked versions.

Magners Irish Cider a bracing warm-weather treat

By Jurgen Gothe | May 19, 2011

It’s not all that long a way to Tipperary—you just have to stop by the miscellaneous beer coolers/cider section of your nearby LDB store and pick up a can or three of Magners Irish Cider.

Bright ideas from abroad and winning wines from B.C.

By Jurgen Gothe | May 18, 2011

The last thing we’re thinking about right now is how to keep the bubbly cool, but the time will come, and the house of Moët & Chandon has come up with just the thing.