As you all know, I love wine.

As some of you may know, as well as an artist,  I am a "Wine Guide" at Liberty Wines on Granville Island. 

Well, I had a real adventure  in April of 2009- my wife and I were invited to a most amazing place, Sundance Ranch, near Ashcroft.  I had never been to a Western Ranch: it has been 20 years since I rode. I sit here today, a bit achy in the legs after 8 hours or so on a horse, I feel great! It was so fantastic to be out on horseback in "Big Sky" country. The horses were good, solid well cared for animals, the hands competent and amusing and the accomodations clean as a whistle and oh so comfortable.

I hosted wine tasting with selections from Liberty: Cynthia from the ranch and I did some coordinating. We did a white, a sparkling, a red and sherries. The guests at the ranch were invited to sniff, sip and score: we had some amazing results- it was a blind taste-test. The food was excellent: Sundance has managed to engage a talented young Chef- formerly of Daniel Boulud:Tom a spectacularly inovative and creative addition to the ranch (sorry Tom, I never got your last name!). The appies were spectacular in their presentation, ingenuity and presentation. Who knew that dates, parmasean and bacon could taste so heavenly together? I will put up some photos ASAP.

Sundance does weekends and special events all year, so please take a look at their website: you will be warmly welcomed. www.sundanceguestranch.com.

New discovery!!!

Mas de daumas Gassac

What a wine! This is my most amazind discovery of late. We were guided to a bottle while in Seattle and I managed to get it into Liberty. It is a quirky wine, almost mythic. To make a very long story short, a bottle can have Cab Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab France, Tannat, Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto. For a special occasion, it is a special wine. Most recently, I noticed that Pied a Terre in Vancouver carries it and an extra special eau de vie. An absolute must for your cellar. Drink it 3 or after 5 years  or even better, lay it down for 15-20 for a Great Wine.

I will let you all know of what I bring home and what I think of those bottles. All can be purchased at Liberty Wines. Tell them 'the French guy "sent you.

Gres St Paul-Romanis / French Red- from Lunel, France

One of my absolute favorite wines. Romanis is a 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre. It is a very fruity, spicy wine evocative of Provence. Think of thyme, rosemary and cassis: it is all in this bottle.

There is a French word for it "onctueuse" : smooth and rich.

More to follow: a bientot, Pierre.