A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

Understanding the ‘Smoke Taint’ Threat to Local Wineries and How to Detect It in Grapes

(via) Grapes don’t like wildfire smoke. They can absorb the aromatic compounds (volatile phenols) that negatively impact a wine’s taste. This is called “smoke taint”, and it’s bad news for winemakers. Smoke taint is an especially worrisome phenomenon for wineries in areas where wildfire smoke is prevalent, places like California, Oregon, Washington and right here in British Columbia. As climate change increases the dry conditions that result in forest fires, there’s a rush afoot to fight the scourge through detection and, yes, even prevention. In the video above, Dr. Anita Oberholster of UC Davis digs into the fascinating science of it, demonstrating how small-scale fermentations can evaluate smoke exposure.

Five Winemakers Weigh In on Wines to Pair with Spring

We hook you up with BC vintages that articulate the vibrant and hopeful spirit of this much-anticipated shift in seasons, by going straight to the source for for personal recommendations from a handful of local winemakers.

From Collaboration to Climate Change: Get Gritty in the Vineyard with Winemaker Severine Pinte

Scout catches up with the oenologist, viticulturist, and decorated Executive Winemaker at the Le Vieux Pin and LaStella wineries to ask a few questions about the complexities of the wine industry...

Beer Brief, Vol. 70

It's back (and brief-er)! A bulleted briefing of beer news and imminent events, mapped for your crawling pleasure by Thalia Stopa.

The Coolest New Bars to Score a Cocktail in Vancouver Right Now

There are a whack of new bars to check out if you're looking for somewhere to grab a cocktail in Vancouver right now.