Eating and Drinking Guide 2010: Wine and Beer

In this annual guide I get to reflect on a year of interesting drinking and pick out wines—most widely available—that offer exceptional value and that speak more of people and place than of marketing budgets. There’s crisp mineral whites that jump out of the glass and bold reds that taste of earth, stone, and sun. 2010 brought the 20th birthday of VQA, the quality program that jump-started our affection for the wines of our own province. One in five wines we buy is now VQA, more than any other region (apart from all those cellared-in-Canada bottles). Wine in B.C. is always going to be expensive, but 2011 looks to offer some great buys with a strong dollar bringing down the price of imports and keeping local vintages competitive. The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival’s focus on Spain will bring big interest not just in $10 bargains but in the wines of Priorat, Rioja, and Bierzo. But grapes aren’t all we drink, so I also pay tribute to all the pioneers who fought the bureaucrats to make cider, mead, fruit wines, gin, and vodka (with whisky coming soon) from the bounty that is B.C.

Wines Under $12

Wines Under $25

Wines Over $25