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.

Picking Grapes with Lisa Cook

The GM at Bufala River District walks us through her very first BC wine crush, the perfect pour for spring, and a wine myth she’s itching to bust.

Win a Trip to Guadalajara at The Tequila and Agave Festival Cocktail Competition, May 20th

Backed by Nodo Tequila Blanco, this competition challenges bartenders to create a cocktail encapsulating their interpretation of the spirit of Guadalajara - and the prize is super rad!

Picking Grapes with Dylan Jones from Pizza Coming Soon

Today, we throw our wine-related questions at the Co-founder and Bar Manager of the hip Chinatown spot, whose playful approach to pretty much every aspect of the "Japanese Snack Bar with a confusing name" extends to behind the bar, including its rotating selection of natural wines. Hold on to yer horses, readers - things are about to get a little weird...

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.