One minute I was surrounded by wines from sunny France and Spain. The next, I was driving through what looked suspiciously like January in my Calgary neighbourhood... on June 30. Join me for a Canada Day toast to cool-climate vineyards and a delicious coast-to-coast menu celebrating the best flavours our country has to offer.

Sourdough has less in common with supermarket bread than with wine: alive, temperamental, and full of personality. Bright, high-acid whites highlight its tang and crisp crust; stone-fruit Viognier complements its creamy, lactic side; off-dry Riesling balances spicy or funky toppings; light, earthy reds echo its chew and savoriness. The right wine transforms every loaf into an event.

Steamed mussels with butter, white wine, and a glass of Pouilly-Fumé. Simple, briny, and deeply satisfying. A little French flair turns an easy seafood dinner into something worth lingering over.

Foie gras is an indulgence that deserves the right wine. Tokaji Aszú and Sauternes bring the sweetness, acidity, and balance to match its richness. It’s not about restraint. It’s about enjoying a little luxury well. Happy New Year 🥂

Our Christmas Eve table always travels a little. This year, Scandinavian gravlax met Canadian maple and Japanese yuzu sake. A pescatarian tradition gently reinvented. Paired with Champagne, the salmon’s silky richness, citrus lift, and delicate bubbles made for a quiet winter celebration.

Calgary may be buried in snow, but a Rioja tasting with cheese was my little winter escape. From Joven to Gran Reserva, each pairing brought a taste of Spain to the table and made the blizzard feel a little less bitter.

Sicily is Italy’s largest wine region and boasts a diverse array of exquisite wines that reflect its rich terroir and cultural heritage. While there are numerous options to explore, I will highlight just a few exceptional selections that you can readily find in local stores here in Alberta, Canada.

Vacherin Mont-d’Or is Switzerland’s fleeting winter treasure: a rich, woodsy, irresistibly molten cheese from the Vaud Alps. Appearing only in the cold months, it arrives in its signature spruce box like a miniature seasonal festival. Its classic partner is Chasselas, Switzerland’s crisp, quietly elegant white wine, whose freshness lifts every decadent, spoonable bite.

Aromatic white wines are a shortcut to impressing even the pickiest wine snob. Think bottles bursting with terpenes: floral Muscat, dramatic Zibibbo, bold Gewürztraminer, sharp Riesling, or flirtatious Torrontés. These grapes glow with citrus, flowers, and herbs, whether dry or sweet. When lost in a wine shop, just whisper “terpenes” and follow the aromas, your most fragrant allies.