Then on Friday we went out to a private wine tasting at Pacific Breeze Winery in New Westminster. I don't remember when Jim and I had last driven out to New West along Kingsway so was very interesting to see the changes. Pacific Breeze is a "garage winery" that sources grapes in Washington, Oregon, and California. It seems B.C. wineries keep all their best grapes for themselves...makes sense.
They focus on "big reds and luscious whites" and they really do deliver! I think we got an extra special tour since we knew wine. We got to do barrel tastings which isn't usually the case. I figured that an oak barrel was an oak barrel but it seems there are three forests in France and the oak from each one is a bit different and has a different effect on the wine. We got to taste the same wine from the three different barrels and it was definitely different. Also, barrels are "toasted" to different levels and that makes a difference. All new to Jim and me but not Don and Elaine....the wine aficianados extraordinaire! And of course we all bought some wonderful examples of the wine.
Then to the Stanley Park Fish House for dinner....excellent!
I don't imagine these will last long...
The barrel tasting was a real treat.
They just got started in 2005 and first wine released in 2007 but they've won quite a few medals already.
A great rainy day activity.
A super ending to the visit.
Pacific Breeze Winery - Serving Vancouver and the Lower Mainland | These outstanding wines are cellared by Pacific Breeze Winery right here in New Westminster, B.C.
