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Column: Getting the most out of winery visits

As travel restrictions begin to relax, people are beginning to explore around our province. We are so fortunate to have BC wineries located in scenic locations that produce very good quality wines.
BC winery
B.C is home to some very scenic wineries to visit.

As travel restrictions begin to relax, people are beginning to explore around our province.  We are so fortunate to have BC wineries located in scenic locations that produce very good quality wines. Here are some tips to make the most of your winery visits:

  1. Plan ahead – before you visit one of B.C.’s wine regions, make sure you do some research and have an idea of which wineries you want to visit.  If possible, schedule visits at each winery.  If you just show up and start drinking, you will still probably have a great time, but you won’t get as much out of your trip and you won’t remember very much about each winery.
  2. Make it the focus of your trip  - some people may disagree with me as I know some people like to combine wine trips with golfing or other outdoor activities.  If you are going to do that, then on the day you are visiting wineries, don’t schedule anything else.  You will get so much more out of your experience.
  3. Limit the number of wineries you visit – visiting wineries is not like trick or treating.  There is only so much wine you can drink, so I suggest you limit yourself to visiting a maximum of 3 wineries per day.  You can also have a nice lunch and dinner where wine is served but visiting one winery before lunch and 2 wineries after lunch allows you enough time to get to know each winery without getting bored. 
  4. Take tours offered by the winery – I would only visit wineries that offer tours of their facilities.  If you just want to sample wines, then just go to a wine festival or the liquor store.  But if you are visiting wineries, you should take their tours and get to know each winery.  Going on a tour is what leaves a lasting impression rather than just sampling a bunch of wines and leaving.  Although most winery tours will have a similar format, you will notice differences in attitude and quality standards.  By doing 3 winery tours a day, you will be able to compare first hand different wineries.  You get a very good sense of the winery and after a few wine tours, you will be surprised at how much of an expert you’ll will  become on winemaking techniques and identifying factors that affect the quality of a wine.
  5. Take notes – You would be surprised how many people can’t give me details of the wines they tasted during their wine trips.  If you are visiting multiple wineries, it’s hard to keep the wines straight, so I would suggest for each wine you taste on your wine trip, jot down the name of the each wine and 3 words to describe the wine.  Try to not to use any descriptor word twice.  This will slow down the drinking process and create a quick memory of the wine. 

And of course, don’t drink and drive.

This week’s wine recommendation is Domaine Bousquet 2019 Malbec.  2019 is a great vintage for Argentinean wines and at $15.99 a bottle, it is hard to imagine making a wine of this quality for this price.  2019 was a great vintage for Argentinean wines. It is protypical Malbec: earthy, herbs, spices, black peppers, dark fruit, tobacco.  For more about this wine, see my review of this wine on youtube by clicking here

Until next time happy drinking!

Tony Kwan is the Richmond News' new columnist. Lawyer by day, food and wine lover by night, Kwan is an epicurean who writes about wine, food and enjoying all that life has to offer.