Dork Uncorked

Pick(s) of the Week: Alderlea Vineyards Merlot, Vancouver Island Bonus: Nonny nonalcoholic IPA

Pick of the Week: Quails Gate Field & Flight Rose, B.C.

Picks of the Festival: Sandhill Sovereign Opal, B.C. Pajaru 'Picuraru' Primitivo, Italy

Pick of the Week: Whitehaven Pinot Noir, 2023, New Zealand

Special Guest Pick of the Week: Get a Muscadet white wine if you want a deal on an expensive wine

Pick of the Week: Escudo Rojo Carmenere, Chile

Pick of the Week: Casa Santos Lima, Traditional Blend, Portugal

Pick of the Week: Gabriel Meffre 'Plan de Dieu' Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages, France

Pick of the Week: La Vieille Ferme Rose, France

Pick(s) of the Week: White - Bolla Soave, Italy Red - Cusumano Nero D'Avola, Italy

Pick of the Week: Riverlore Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand

Pick of the Week: Monte Ory Garnacha (2022), Spain And Now Pair This Results: Strawberries: Champagne / Charme de l'île / Cava Cold pasta salad (cucumbers, olives, chickpeas, olive oil and balsamic, maybe some feta): Rose / Assyrtiko from Greece Simple grilled salmon: Pinot noir Basic hot dog: Riesling (if you have to)

Pick of the Week: Medoro Sangiovese, Italy

Pick of the Week: Bolla Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie, Italy

Pick of the Week: Carmen Gran Reserva Carmenere, Chile

Special Guest Pick of the Week: Clarinet, Alderlea Vinyards, Vancouver Island

Pick(s) of the Week: Monte Ory Garnacha, Spain AND Pietrame Montepulciano d'abruzzo, Italy

Pick of the Week: Mouton Cadet Bordeaux 2022, France

Pick of the Week: Escudo Rojo Carménère, Chile

Special guest pick of the week: An Aba, lightly peated 'sherried' whisky from Macaloney

Pick of the Week: Paul Mas Grenache Noir, France

Pick of the Week: Glimmer De-Alcoholized Blanc de Blancs, B.C.

Pick of the Week: Orso Bruno Zinfandel, Italy

Pick of the Week: Babich Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand Christmas Diner Wine Pairing Recap: White: Oaked Chardonay Chataue St Michelle, Washington State Tinhorn Creek Chardonay, B.C. Riesling: (off-dry for ham, dry for turkey) Dr. Loosen Mosel, Germany Quails Gate Riesling, B.C. Gehringer Brothers Riesling, B.C. Rose: Pinot Noir or grenache based Provence Rose Domaine Houchart, France Unsworth Rose, Vancouver Island Red: Pinot Noir (lighter styles) Red Rooster Pinot Noir, B.C. Stoneleigh or Oyster Bay Pinot Noir, New Zealand Zinfandel (with lower alcohol percentage) Orso Bruno Zinfandel, Italy, Luccarelli primitivo, Italy Ravenswood Lodi Zinfandel, USA Sparking: Cava Codorniu Clasico, Spain Freixenet, Spain

Pick of the Week: Monte Ory Garnacha, from Navarra Spain

Pick of the Week: Niro Montepulciano D'abruzzo, Italy Bonus - Rod's fancy Christmas gift ideas: Armagnac, a style of brandy from a certain region in France that's growing in popularity but so far is reasonably priced compared to its better-known cousin Cognac.  Domaine Drouhin Dundee Hills Pinot Noir, Oregon USA. A little pricey, but if you're spending on a gift Rod recommends.  

Pick of the Week: Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel, California 

Special Guest Pick of the Week: Maccha Okumidori Blend by Takaki (FYI it's a tea)

Pick of the Week:  Les Armes des Princes Vaucluse, France RESUTLS: AND NOW PAIR THIS, BC WINES EDITION Vancouver Island Ortega - local seafood such as spot prawns, salmon and halibut. Or lighter meats like chicken and pork tenderloin Vancouver Island Siegerrebe – lighter fish like snapper or black cod Okanagan Cabernet Franc – roast dinners, including pork chicken or RBYP (roast beef and Yorkshire pudding) Okanagan Meritage – steak and other beef dishes, or roast pork with herbs Van Isle Pinot Gris - spot prawns, halibut, Comox Brie & Comox Camembert, baked brie, Cremeaux De Bourgogne BC Pinot Noir - chicken, cedar plank salmon, brie, or pasta with a mushroom cream sauce BC Chardonnay - hot buttered popcorn

Pick of the Week: Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay, California

Pick of the Week: Gehringer Brothers Private Reserve Dry Riesling, B.C.

Pick of the Week: Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State

Pick(s) of the festival: Sula Brut Tropicale, India Miolo Alvarinho, Brazil  

Pick of the Week: Taylor Fladgate Fonseca 10-year Tawny, Port

Pick of the Week: Rocca delle Macìe Chianti Classico, Italy And Now Pair This, junk food edition, results: Plain Kettle Potato Chips - Cava or Oaked ChardonnayPopcorn - Also Oaked ChardonnayFrench Fries - Yet again Chardonnay, but for reds Pinot Noir or ChiantiCotton Candy - MoscatoReese's Peanut Butter Cup - Sherry, or very specifically Aphotic Red from California 

Pick of the Week: Giacondi Sangiovese Rubicone, Italy

Pick of the Week: Laya grenache/mourvedre, Spain Cowichan Valley Cycle Tour mentions: Alderlea Vineyards: Lizzante (currently only available at the vineyard) Zanatta Winery: Tradizionale Brut (but the Glenora Fantasia Brut is excellent if the Tradizionale isn't an option) Unsworth: Pinot Noir    

Pick of the Week (oddly not a white): Chateau Barbebelle Fleuri Rose, France

Pick of the Week: Lab, Vinho Regional Lisboa, Portugal

Pick of the Week: 'Via Condotto' Verdicchio, Italy

Pick of the Week: Artemis Karamolegos Mavrotragano, Greece (you might need to go to Ithika Greek Restaurant to find it)

Pick of the Week: Famille Perrin Ventoux Rouge, France

Special Guest Pick of the Week: Yalumba Y Series Viognier, Australia

Pick of the Week: Wente Vineyards Morning Fog Central Coast Chardonnay, California  Bonus Father's Day pick: Ruffino Il Ducale Toscano, Italy     

Pick of the Week: Gerard Bertrand Cote des Roses, France

Pick of the Week: Medoro Sangiovese IGT, 2022, Italy

Pick of the Week: Hecula Organic Monastrell, Spain 

Pick of the Week: Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon-Villages, France