Sipping into Spring...
 But where did spring go?

It's cherry blossom time in Vancouver!
Each year I wait for the blossoms in my courtyard to form fluffy pink clouds so dense and thickly pink I feel I could step right off the deck onto them.
Cherry blossoms remind us that spring is on the way and crisper summer wines are next on the agenda.
Unfortunately it's raining (which leaks into Wine Diva's springy thoughts) so I wait...
Here's hoping April will be more suited to my springy-flingy wine reviews...

Stay tuned!

 

 Australia
 The regional theme for the Playhouse Wine Festival

Wynns Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia, 2004
Earthy and rich with inky colour and dense aromas.
Fresh dark fruits, earth, dark flowers, tobacco, green herbs and leathery aromas on the nose.
In the mouth the Wynns is solid, chewy and spiced with coffee and cocoa on the finish, the tannins present, warm and earthy but not overwhelming.
$21.99
+502039

Read more reviews... 

 More wines to taste at Vancouver Playhouse Wine Fest!
 More teasers....

Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay, California 2005-

A juicy, buttery Chard even for those of you who indignantly proclaim...ABC!
Sweet tropical fruit aromas-pineapple and melon with orange blossoms, vanilla and the enticing fragrance of fresh, buttery croissants slathered with spiced cream.
On the palate the Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay is crisp on the entry with lemon, minerals and orange zest. It becomes more voluptuous on the mid-palate and finishes with just a suggestion of spiced nuts and a hint of toasted oak.
Do I smell a Chardonnay revival?
$23.99 (+296566)

Read more reviews... 

 Keep rating those wines!
 

I love seeing those pink stars appearing on the wines I have reviewed.
Since you (the readers) are the ones tasting the wines, you should have your input too.

The average score will always appear and as soon as you score the wine the results are tallied!

See the latest reviews and start rating wines... 

 Recent Tastings...
 Victoria Festival of Wine, Osoyoos Larose

• Salt Spring Island
• Gary Oaks
• Winchester Cellars
• Cherry Point
• Church & State
• Saturna Island
• Osoyoos Larose '01, '02, '03, '04, '05

And more... 

 CityFood & Wine Diva
 Join forces to bring you the best of wine & food...

Log onto CityFood.com everyday in March to read Wine Diva's Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival wine pick of the day.

www.cityfood.com

Read all of the reviews already posted on CityFood.com 

 More wine reviews
 Garnacha de Fuego Old Vines, Spain, 2005

This hot new arrival will be burning up the shelves at your local wine store.
It sports a stunning label and good juice to boot!
The de Fuego is made from grapes from a 60-80 year old vineyard and has rich aromas of cocoa, ripe red berries and spiced cherry, earth and dark flowers. On the palate it has layered flavours of bitter-sweet chocolate, herbs, earth and tobacco.
An excellent value!
$14.99
+255745

Read more new reviews... 

 Wine Diva's Newest Feature - Shelf Talkers
 Perfect for Agents and Retailers

Shelf Talkers are perfect for agents who need them quickly and don't have in house printing. Or for all you Retailers-private beer and wine stores in and outside of Vancouver who read Wine Diva religiously, carry the products I review and want to have your own "Pink & Cheeky" Wine Diva talkers.
You can print them in black and white or in colour. (Just remember to set you advanced printer settings and check off "colour").
There are four per page-all different-and they print out exactly as you see them on the page.
You can see all the available shelf talkers by clicking on the Shelf Talkers menu item on the left side of the site. If a wine review has a shelf talker, it a link will appear in the review. If you want to know how to get a shelf talker made for your wine contact me at daenna@winediva.ca

See all Wine Diva reviews that have Shelf Talkers.... 

 How Cheesy!
 Epoisses

The Queen of cheeses?
Wine Diva will bow down to her!
This cows milk cheese from the Bourgogne village of Epoisses has a soft amber-hued washed rind (bathed in marc or brine) with an intense and pungent barnyard aroma to it. (I placed one in the overhead bin on a short plane trip once, quadruple wrapped and in a plastic container. By the end of the trip it was smelling up the entire cabin).
Robust flavour, earthy, sweetly creamy and decadently rich...

Read more Cheesy bites... 

 How Cheesy!
 Fleuron de Bruges

This cows milk cheese from Belgium was one of the three cheeses I picked up in Victoria at Ottavio Gastronomia.
The Fleuron de Bruges has a soft, washed rind with a slightly amber hue (from the bathing) and a creamy yellowish interior. The texture is amazingly velvet, slightly rubbery and is sweet, creamy and nutty...

Read more cheesy bites... 

 Wine Diva-isms
 The Power of Pink!

...the pinker side of technology with a focus on the discussion of pink gadgets.
Is pink what women really want?
What was your girlish reaction at the release of the Pink Motorola RAZR back in 2005?
...The biggest surprise to manufacturers; like most trends, the pink one hasn't died down, fallen off the fad treadmill or died a quick pink death.
Pink says manufacturers are interested in female buyers, female buyers want to separate themselves from male buyers and pink is after all, the most feminine statement of all...

Read more from this Globe and Mail article... 

 Castano Hecula Monastrell, Yecla Spain, 2004
 

Juicy!
Spiced red berry and cherry aromas grounded with rustic nuances-earth and leather. In the mouth, lovely bright acidity, juicy red fruit, tobacco, herbs and spices a smooth mouth-feel with hints of charred oak on the finish.
A affordable wine to serve with dinner and impress your guests with your wine savvy!
$15.95
+583690

 

 Church & State Merlot Coyote Bowl Vineyard, 2005
 

Love the name and the new label for this Vancouver Island Winery!
The grapes for this wine were sourced from the Okanagan Valley and are reflected in its ripeness and rich, deep colour.
Aromas of black cherries and plums, fragrant floral aromas and a hint of spicy jalapeno. On the palate it is fresh, smooth and elegant with sweet black fruit and spices, vanilla and fine dusty tannins.
Wine Diva expects to see great things from this winery and winemaker Bill Dyer (formerly of Burrowing Owl Vineyards)...

Read more Vancouver Island reviews... 

 Upcoming
 A look into what's coming onWine Diva

April-Wrap Up of Vancouver Playhouse Wine Fest

April-What's up in Washington

April-New BC Releases

May-What we'll be drinking this summer

Ongoing-New Releases