Cost: $24.00 Grape: Syrah & Cabernet Sauvignon Category: Red Wine Location Bought: Winery Country: Canada Region: BC Format: 750 ml Producer: Gray Monk Winery Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Fruit forward & expressive. Score: 88/100.
Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ intensity on the nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, blackberry, blackcurrants, plums, mulberry, spinach leaves & vanilla.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Only available to wine club members
Winemaker’s Note:
Pairings: Drink this now or 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Korean short ribs.
Interesting winery that’s owned by John Rossignol for more than 30 years. Local artist contribute to the artwork on the wine labels and statues inside. Their two native grapes grown on the island are the French/North American hybrid grape, Marechal Foch, and The grape is a crossing of the Vitis vinifera variety Goldriesling and another inter-specific crossing Millardet et Grasset Joffre. Both grapes are early ripening which is perfect for the PEI climate. The wines were from okay to nope. Their winery is more geared to fruit wines not wine grape wines. However, Lisa the strawberry wine and the only one we bought. My only gripe with the winery is that you pay for the 3 wine tastings at $12, but they don’t wave that if you purchase X amount of bottles. Someone told me the reason was that the money goes towards cancer charity that his wife died from. If this is the case, I’m more than happy to pay for the tastings, just would be nice if people knew that, this way more people would take up the tastings.
Cost: $29.00 Grape: 55% Gamay Noir and 45% Pinot Noir Category: Sparkling Wine Location Bought: Winery Country: Canada Region: Okanagan Valley, BC Format: 750 ml Producer: Gray Monk Winery Alcohol: 11.2% Alcohol/Vol.
This versatile dry brut rosé is simply eloquent. Score: 95/100.
Tasting Note: Light copper in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, low to medium intensity on the nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, cherry, rhubarb, pink grapefruit & brioche.
Negatives: None
Winemaker’s Note: “The base wine underwent a traditional second fermentation in bottle and was aged sur lie for 24 months to enhance texture and complexity. After aging, it was disgorged and finished with a proprietary dosage to achieve a precise balance of acidity and subtle sweetness.”
Pairings: Drink this now or 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with Charcuterie Board.
Cost: $33.00 Grape: Pinot Gris Category: White Wine Location Bought: Winery Country: Canada Region: Lake Country, Okanagan Valley, BC Format: 750 ml Producer: Gray Monk Winery Alcohol: 13.4% Alcohol/Vol.
Crisp, clean wine that is an excellent substitute for a high-end Sauvignon Blanc. Score: 88/100.
Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, medium nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Grapefruit, kumquat, lemon, pear, dragon fruit, wet stone
Negatives: None
Winemaker’s Note: “Pinot Gris grapes were hand-picked from our Estate Vineyard (Block 8) from some of the oldest vines in British Columbia (approximately 40 years old). The grapes were gently pressed, then the juice fermented in stainless steel tanks for pure fruit expression, and aged in 2,000L French oak foudre for 6 months.”
Pairings: Drink this now or 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with lightly breaded pan-fried fresh-water fish with buttered new potatoes.
Cost: $33.00 Grape: Chardonnay Category: White Wine Location Bought: Winery Country: Canada Region: British Columbia Format: 750 ml Producer: Gray Monk Winery Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Top tier Chard that is exquisite, elegant & complexed. Wine features nice balance between oak, fruit & acidity. Score: 98/100.
Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, medium+ nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pineapple, peach, green & yellow apples, green mango, Haden mangos, butterscotch, ginger, dill, oak spice.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: In order to bring out everything this wine has to offer, don’t overchill and use the larger Chard style glassware.
Winemaker’s Note: “The grapes come from select vineyards in Kelowna and Osoyoos regions of the Okanagan Valley, and from the Similkameen Valley, allowing for unique Chardonnay characteristics from each terroir. 50% of the wine was fermented and aged in new French oak barrels for 3 months, with battonage (lees stirring), and underwent a full malolactic fermentation to soften the acidity. 50% of the wine was aged in stainless steel with no malolactic fermentation for a more refreshing fruit forward style. This first vintage of the Odyssey Chardonnay was blended, allowed to rest, then bottled in small production of 524 cases.”
Pairings: Drink this now or 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Chilean Sea Bass in butter.
Cost: $34.95 Grape: Chardonnay Category: White Wine Location Bought: Winery Country: Canada Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario Format: 750 ml Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
NC best Dean’s List Chardonnay to date featuring a balance between the oak, fruit & acidity. Score: 94/100.
Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, medium+ nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pineapple, peach, green apples, butterscotch, ginger, dill & oak spice.
Negatives: None
Winemaker’s Note: “This Chardonnay for the St. David’s Bench was aged in a combination of new and neutral French oak to balance the freshness of the fruit and the softness of the barrel.”
Pairings: Drink this now or 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with steamed lobster with drawn butter.
Best valued vintage Champagne style wine that I have tasted to date. Score: 98/100.
Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, yeast, lemon, Anjou pear, green & red apples, peach & buttered toast.
Negatives: None
Pairings: Drink this now or 8 – 10 years on its own or pair it with ocean East Coast Oysters.
I was staying in Richmond BC and noticed an interesting family-owned winery. The building was not conspicuous, and they had a large outdoor seating. There’s a pet farm beside them with three cows, two of which (milk cows) are huge.
On May 11, 2026, Lisa and I decided to explore the winery. We were greeted by Louis, a beautiful, friendly, black lab that belongs to Emi, the staff member that was giving us wine tastings and we also had some wine in the outdoor area.
The house is the original home of Suzie who grew up there. The Estate wines all come from the vineyards in the back, and their other wines come from the Okanagan Valley.
Lisa’s two favourite wines were their Estate Siegerrebe 2024, and “Suzie-O” Riesling from Okanagan Valley, while I chose their smoky “Hot Pursuit” Merlot 2021 from Okanagan Valley. Why the smoky notes? It was as a result from the fires that engulfed the Valley that year.
Unfortunately, I was not able to meet the wineries Wine Ambassador Tonya Karmin, but hoping to visit the winery sometime soon.
On visiting Lake Country, Okanagan Valley, BC, I fell in love with Gray Monk Winery, so much that I signed myself up for their Club Membership. They ship four times a year, and yes to Ontario for $25 shipping, but if you buy an addition 6, the shipping is free. What I really like about their membership is that you have options on what wines you want versus what the winery wants to get rid of. In addition, you get 15% of wines, merchandise and at the restaurant. Rob (retired from Ontario and moved to BC) was great in serving Lisa and myself wines. Thanks also to Tony for hooking us up with Rob.
The record-breaking “polar vortex” of January 2024 was devastating for the entire Okanagan region, and Gray Monk Estate Winery was not immune. They lost their entire Pinot Gris vines, which now they import from Washington State. Winemaker Jen Oishi has done an excellent job producing a quality Pinot Gris wine.
An interesting wine, in a good way, even Lisa liked that, and that’s saying a lot, is Siegerrebe. Siegerrebe is a white grape variety that originated in Germany in 1929 through the crossing of Gewürztraminer and Madeleine Angevine. Known for its early ripening nature, Siegerrebe is among the first grape varieties to be harvested during the season.
Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & an average length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon zest, pear & orange pith.
Negatives: Plain with slight bitterness
Interesting Point: Taste was very plain with a slight bitterness. Only way this wine is palatable is in a mimosa. However, there are a lot better sparkling wines at a better price to do that.
Winemaker’s Note: “The wine was produced using Cuve Closed Method, completing its secondary fermentation in tank, then bottled under pressure to maintain the natural effervescence.”
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 3 years and mix it with orange juice or any other juice.
