Vancouver Island winery, Averill Creek, is gaining a solid reputation for their Pinot Noir.
The 2009 offers aromas of sweet cherries, vanilla, earth and violets with sarsaparilla, sweet spice and earthy, forest floor undertones. On the palate, cherry, cranberry, cedar and cocoa flavours are lifted with bright acidity and fine spice trails on the finish.

©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 10th, 2012

This Vancouver Island red is a blend of 85% Marachel Foch, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot.
There are aromas of cherries flambe, spicy red berries, and bruised apple. It is tangy on the palate - red fruit, spice, tobacco and fine cocoa tannins, it is dry and fairly smooth.
Pair with spicy tomato sauces or rustic stews.

©copyright 2011 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - February 14th, 2011

Made from 80% Marachel Foch, 15% Marachel Foch/Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot from estate fruit.
If you've had Marachel Foch from the Okanagan Valley before, you'll notice some distinct differences from those on Vancouver Island. They fall more into the red fruit category and are quite juicy compared to the meaty (often bloody) Foch characters from the Okanagan.
The Averill Creek offers maraschino cherry and dried cherry aromas, leather, violets and carob with toasted coriander and dried herbs. It is earthy but fresh in the mouth and offers tart red fruit, cocoa and leather and trails fine spice and tobacco across the finish.
The savoury character of the wine will pair well with roasted meats, but the bright acidity allows you to pair it with hearty tomato-based pastas and stews.

©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 6th, 2012

I was looking for the chink in the armor.
I'd heard such rave reviews, such prose about this boutique winery's magical bubbly elixir made in, of all places, Wolfville, Nova Scotia (birthplace of my beer guzzling college roommate - hi Steve!).
Sometimes reviewers jump on the bandwagon. One great review from a rival critic and they have be outdone - and so on...
So, when the bottle of 2004 method classique (translation: it's made in the traditional, time consuming and laborious style of Champagne) bubbly arrived, I was more than curious.
Made mostly from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (also the classic varieties of Champagne) with the addition of Vidal and the regional, L'Acadie variety it is aged six years prior to release. I can tell you about the perfectly persistent and miniscule bubbles, the aromas of baking apple tart tartin, the red currents and the hazelnuts layered with liberal sweet citrus. I can also mention the extraordinarily silky palate, creamy mousse, vibrant acidity and incredible concentration and complexity. But I think what you want to hear is this - it's the most complete and flawless sparkling wine that I have ever reviewed.
If you want to get you hands on the 2005 Brut Nature, British Columbia (I know I do), head to BenjaminBridge.com and sign up for their BB wine club to get some shipped to you.
Do it quickly, especially now that there is a direct-to-consumer market to ship wine between Nova Scotia and B.C.
©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - December 15th, 2012

Bella is comprised of BC wine guy, Jay Drysdale, his fiancee, Wendy Rose and Bella, their Bulldog...Bella.
Bella Wines currently makes two sparkling wines - both just released, which were made at the Okanagan Crush Pad facility in Summerland. 69% of this was placed in three-year-old barrels for 12 weeks with occasional lees stirring. Once bottled it was hand riddled twice each day for thirty days and released without a dosage.
Made from 100% Seacrest Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay from Oliver BC, this elegant sparkling smells of creamy pears and apples, honeydew melon and lemons with vanilla, wild flowers and chalky mineral notes rounded out with leesy, nutty hints. I love the pure, clean white orchard fruit, green melon and citrus flavours, which lounge on a creamy palate. Wonderful balance here - the fuller mid-palate tapers nicely into a juicy, citrusy finish.

©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 13th, 2012