Wine Judge
Member since 1977
Founding Member of Nanaimo Winemakers
What is your most memorable wine or wine and food experience?
I had the opportunity to join a tour hosted by the German Wine Academy where we tasted wines from all the major wine regions of Germany, including the Rhine and Mosel River valleys. The tastings were usually held in a castle or equally impressive location, with a lavish banquet accompanied by top notch wine pairings.
What wines have you always wanted to try but haven’t? What is your favorite vineyard? Region?
There is a Pinot Noir from Marlborough County in New Zealand that I would like to try. My favourite wine region is Germany, where they produce high quality Riesling wines.
What event or experience started your journey in wine?
I began making wine around 1965 in Flin Flon, Manitoba, where I became friends with a City Councillor who was a winemaker. A friend from the Canadian Air Force opened a winemaking supply store that sold only two types of wine concentrate – you had your choice of red or white – both from Spain! From these primitive beginnings, I began to learn through trial and error. After relocating to BC, I joined the British Columbia Artisan Winemakers Association (BCAWA) to connect with others who wanted to improve their ability to make quality wines. I also joined the BC Guild of Wine Judges (Nanaimo Chapter) to connect with those wanting to learn to appreciate and assess quality wines.