Pixarola.com, Vancouver, BC (2026)

05/27/2026

is central Italy's cradle of food culture most renown for its prosciutto and Parmesiana Reggiano. Alongside comes the requisite wine pairing which is often .
I shared a beautiful brunch with other media folks hosted by Export Manageress of many of these lovely vini Antonella Pagnanelli who showcased a variety of Lambrusci from Sorbera, Salamino and the grippier categories.
What struck me was the sheer kaleidoscope of colours, styles and expressions of this family of grapes 🍇. Ranging from light pink to onion skin to garnet red with silvery shimmering highlights. Not only are they so pretty in the glass, but these wines are some of the most versatile when it comes to food pairings.
And chefs dished up some delicious bites including oysters on the half shell, charcuterie boards (of course!), signature fried chicken bites with pickle slices, haloumi canapés and mini mushroom tarts. Everything to try with the various styles from dry to sweeter, from gentle to assertive. It was hard to puck a favorite!
More of these wines are beginning to make their way onto shelves here in BC and I encourage you to try them. Perfect for lighter fare, summer picnics, pizza, sandwiches and so much more. They are getly sparkling (frizzante) which is palate cleansing and the higher acidity makes them feel so fresh and lively.
Big thanks to for facilitating such an exquisite and FUN event with deeper learnings even among us more seasoned tasters and wine folk. 🥂
WHAT STYLE OF LAMBRUSCO IS YOUR FAVORITE AND WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO PAIR WITH IT? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW! 👇

05/15/2026

It's been a week! From Monday with , olive oil tasting, masterclasses, wine mixers, , , 8-9 events total and hundreds of wines tasted.
Incredible to have access to so many winemakers and principals who travelled across the globe to be with us in Vancouver and share their stories, wines and histories with industry professionals across the city.
Many thanks also to great venues Yaletown, , hotel with excellent staff helping create such great immersive and smoothly run events with so many attendees!
And to all the winemakers, principals and others travelling so far, who made the effort to participate.
I can now rest a day before back to our usual programming. And importantly enjoy reviewing copius notes and details about the many learnings and especially rare, exquisite, special and DELICIOUS wines showcased throughout this week.
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOUR FAVORITE EVENT WAS IF YOU WERE THERE! ARE YOU INTERESTED IN WINE 🍷? SET UP A TASTING I CAN HELP FACILITATE?! LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW 👇

05/01/2026

The annual N. America ROADSHOW parachuted into Vancity yesterday and I'm so happy we were on that list!
gave a most engaging and informative seminar where we tasted some exceptional wines notably rare including a lovely Touriga Nationale Tempranillo blend and an exquisite Mourvèdre from 130+ year old vines--the oldest planting of that varietal on the planet! Several other noteworthy wines were all excellent. I am particularly happy to see grapes 🍇 like Italian and Nebbiolo thriving in Australia. A poignant 'avant-goût' to a casual walkaround tasting afterwards showcasing many top Australian white wines.
Among them were a few delicious bubbles from Tasmania, several expressions of Chardonnay (paired with oysters 🦪 on the half shell!) , Fiano, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and one of Australian wines darling grapes Semillon which paired well with bacon 🥓 wrapped dates, fresh pea spring rolls and delectable amuses-bouches prepared by the Chambar chefs.
Special thanks to Australia Wine Canada's Annie Dingwall for organizing along with all the efforts for the Roadshow team sharing some of the continents best vinos for us to savour. 🇦🇺🌏
And all the best as the Roadshow moves onwards to Boston and Nashville next week. Cheers! 🥂

04/18/2026

A GREAT line-up of top vinos were presented by yesterday in celebration of .

These wines really demonstrated the excellent diversity of expressions this grape 🍇 produces depending on vineyard sites, elevation, winemaking techniques and cellaring. Terrazas has such a lovely floral nose and bouquet. Over 100 years of Bosca history giving us sweet ripe black fruit and spice. Catena's bottling here from a higher elevation expressing bright and delicate fruits with good acidity and a fresh mouthfeel. My favorite of this dégustation was Decero. Just a wonderfully concentrated palate with complexity and good length. (And reminding me of my visit in 2020 which was quite special with a most memorable meal in the resto laid out for myself and my guests after tour and tapping barrels in the cellar!)
Great to spend some time with sharing her own stories and insights into these producers and wines.
BIG thanks to for facilitating and having such a top curated portfolio on offer in the heart of .
DID YOU UNCORK MALBEC TO CELEBRATE ITS SPECIAL DAY? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW! 👇

04/17/2026

Give it upfor today! It's world 🌎 Malbec Day, or . I'm happy a single varietal grape 🍇 has a special day unto its own.
is an annual observance celebrated on April 17, to commemorate the day on which President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento of officially made it his mission to transform Argentina's wine industry. On April 17, 1853, Sarmiento tasked Michel Aimé Pouget, a French soil expert, to bring new vines to Argentina.
While the grape has had a long history historically in France, it has firmly found it's place and true home in Argentina, where it thrives and has many expressions from bright and fruity to deeply concentrated and velvety round. It is grown at high altitudes aroound the
Andes Mountains 🏔️ as well as throughout Mendoza and across several other areas of the country.
I talked at length about Malbec a couple of year's ago with top winemaker of the world Dr. on my wine podcast "The Barrel Room"

if you're raising a glass today, why not make it Malbec? It's delicious and versatile when it comes to pairing. I like the Argentinian tradition of Asado which is like BBQ 🍖 meats and it especially goes well with hard ripened cheeses 🧀 like Cheddar.
DO YOU LIKE MALBEC? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PRODUCER? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW! 👇

03/16/2026

It's a wrap! for another year has come and gone and what a time! 🇫🇷 was the showcased country this time and while overall it was a smaller turnout for many reasons, those who came and represented were well received + among so many French wines I've enjoyed throughout the years, there were many here that were just outstanding and thankfully, for BCers, many are listed and available to purchase.
Over the course of several days I tasted through 100's of vinos and while my notes span many pages + descriptors, I have to say the overall QUALITY of all of them truly impressed me this year. I especially enjoyed a few rare treats (us winenerds have our special lists!) including from Molise IT, and AKA Zinfandel from its original discovery in Croatia! Also one of my favorite 'other' sparklers -- IT that always rivals the best Prosecco you've ever tasted.
The participation of so many BC Wineries was heartening and wandering round those tables I had a dozen conversations with winemakers and principals, so engaging and so passionate and despite recent challenges, are hopeful for our own industry. My overall impressions were again, exceptional freshness in the mouth, quality wines worthy of our support and enjoyment. It's sometimes only at a festival like VanWineFest where one has the opportunity to not only meet and chat with winemakers, but to taste more rare offerings likely made in smaller quantities so not available for general purchase. I enjoyed single varietal Marsanne, Roussanne, CabFranc + even a few unctuous and delicious BC made fr aromatic Ehrenfelser and spicier CabFranc.
I must also make mention of California whose showcase had many of the top vinos from across the States most famous AVA's which I was pleased to revisit and despite the current geopolitical situation having all U.S. wines off the main shelves --for now--I am pleased to say the special efforts and participation is notable and I for one will always be drawn to the Golden State's wines, stories and personalities that make some of the best wines anywhere and are even more coveted now while harder to find.
HUGE congrats

03/13/2026

is the best time of year! For me I never need an excuse to hang out, slurp and spit and taste fabulous vinos from all across the globe 🌎 with my industry peers.
Host Mark Davidson who's always entertaining and just a font of knowledge represents exports for and actually lives in Iowa! (we won't hold that against him 😆).
Classic & Contemporary gave a snapshot of some of the top wines of the continent and country including excellent examples of , Chardonnay, Fiano (!), Pinot Noir, and of course Shiraz.
What's always so evident is the quality of wines in the glass and the passion behind their producers and winemakers, some reaching 7th generations now! There's something for every palate or persuasion and having Mark fly in to present is such an opportunity for attendees.
Come taste some great wines at the festival. This year's theme is FRANCE 🇫🇷 but there are many countries represented and over 600 wines to savour.
DO YOU LIKE AUZZIE WINE? WHAT REGION DO YOUR FAVORITE ONES COME FROM? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW! 👇

10/28/2025

A Tasting of Wines from :
One of the highlights of Fall each year is when the invites me to their Vancouver event which showcases top vinos from across Italy with principals + in attendance.
Enjoying wines and grape varietals like sparkling + many others which are rarely seen in market. Always intriguing conversations with the likes of from or fr sharing his lovely sparklers 🥂.
The food pairings are PERFETTO 👌 with all Italian themes--charcuterie boards, fresh olives + cheeses from across the regions, excellent assorted sliders and an entire wheel of 🧀 replete with gorgeous seasonal flower arrangements and decor in 1 of the club's main ballrooms.
Shout out to all participants for sharing their wonderful , the local VanCity and organizers. 🙏💯😁
HAVE YOU TRIED NASCETTA OR OTHER RARE GRAPE 🍇 WINES FROM ITALY? WHAT DID YOU THINK? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW! 👇

10/16/2025

A great brunch chez today led by bestselling author of 8 cookbooks .lycopolus who guided us through stories and specially paired dishes from chef!
Kicking off with fresh with a lovely mignionette with micro-diced green olives was delectable. Followed by grilled octopus 🐙 with charred relish and the famous house HYDRA spreads featuring ripe olive tapenade.
For the mains was knock-out , Kritharoto with butterfly prawns + black olives and beautifully prepared Lavraki whole all dishes incorporating various styles, flavours and textures showcasing Cali olives as the star ⭐.
Chocolate Olive cake for dessert with so unique of sugared Cali ripe olives. MMM 😋
The dishes were all paired with GM and winemaker from in the Similkameen. Celestiale and unctuous SauvBlanc late harvest. LOVE. THESE. WINES. 🍷
Thanks for being the glue that puts together these great moments, for the very competent + friendly staff at HYDRA--such hospitality as always! Nicole from Maren Marcoux who took a red-eye flight from Toronto to present this event.
EXCELLENT all round.
COME TASTE THESE SPECIAL PAIRINGS AND DISHES FOR THE NEXT 6 WEEKS ONLY AT HYDRA ESTIATORIO AND ENJOY ELEVATED CUISINE IN A LEGENDARY SPACE located on Pender St. in the heart of downtown . Cheers! 🥂

09/25/2025

Did you know all the 18 sub-G.I.'s of South ? Neither did I! Which is why it's always a good idea to spend an afternoon with some of the coolest Aussie folks from the region, hear their stories, taste their wines and get in some great learnings all while slurping the best and .
Vancouver Edition was led by Matthew Deller MW who's a very busy guy running not 1 but THREE wineries these days -- . We kicked off a masterclass with his sublime Pn from Ashton Hills. 🍓 Strawberry, spice, umami .. WONDERFUL!
Great to have some time with 5th GEN winemaker leading a 140yrs of winemaking history. GSM was fleshy, complex with Licorice and spice.
shared her '21 Shiraz from which was elegant, structured with lively on the palate. Wowza! 🤩
delighted with a left-grip handshake + C
'20 CabSauv fr with fab black fruit intensity and finesse.
Ex-Calgarian Brad Rey fr shared his creek Shiraz + explained how his emoliated soils give depth and brightness to his wines. 29x SKUs + 80 varietals planted. Brad's another VERY busy winemaker!
Inca from shared why that famous soil of her region give deep, expressive black fruit herbaceous notes to their exceptional wines.
Altogether a fine representation of wines from all across the region, great moments, good conversations and out of this we here in BC hope to renew our alliances and deepen our connections moving forward together with leadership and support of each other in our ever-shrinking world. ✅
Thanks to , organizers, and massive thanks to all above mentioned participants sharing their time & wines with us all. 🍷
Shout out to staff too! 🥂

Pixarola.com

05/27/2026

05/15/2026

05/01/2026

04/18/2026

04/17/2026

03/16/2026

03/13/2026

10/28/2025

10/16/2025

09/25/2025

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category