Events

Since the millennium, one night in the dull, dark month of February has been immeasurably brightened for wine-lovers by the creation of a special day to celebrate cherished bottles of wine. The last Saturday of February each year is OPEN THAT BOTTLE NIGHT. We open that one and extraordinary bottle of wine we’ve been hiding from the world for so long. Whether it is your vintage wine, a very expensive or rare bottle, or a gift from someone special, Saturday February 28 is a perfect occasion to open that bottle and enjoy what’s been hidden inside. OPEN THAT BOTTLE NIGHT is dedicated to making sure that those bottles of fine wine put away for a special occasion, are used and enjoyed!

Open That Bottle Night has been celebrated on the last Saturday of February, every year since 1999. Begun by the then-Wall Street Journal Wine Columnists John Brecher and Dorothy Gaiter, the event has gone worldwide. It is a call to open that special bottle with friends and share the experience, instead of letting it continue to sit in the cellar. Click here for the full story.

This is the night to open those bottles you have been saving from each batch of wine you made over the years and experience for yourself the benefit of aging your home made wine. This year we are opening our last bottle of Private Reserve Limited Release Infusion bottled in October 2023.

Dorothy & John said (as did Maya to Miles in the movie Sideways) “We all tend to get it backwards, thinking that a special occasion requires a special wine. Actually, when we open a special wine, it makes the night a special occasion.” Simply put, opening the bottle IS the occasion. Enjoy your night and your bottle.

March 3rd is Mulled Wine Day. The day we make a big heart-warming batch of glogg with mulling spices. Any full bodied red wine will do as the start, add some cinnamon, cloves, orange slices, nutmeg and warm it up. Serve with a cinnamon stick as garnish while sitting in front of a roaring fire. The perfect way to warm up inside and out.

Here’s an easy to follow, delicious recipe to try for Mulled Wine Day this year:

Ingredients:
✦ 2 small oranges
✦ 1 bottle of Winexpert™ red wine (Shiraz or Merlot work best)
✦ ¼ cup brandy
✦ 1-2 tbsp maple syrup or honey, to taste
✦ 2 cinnamon sticks
✦ 3 star anise
✦ 4 whole cloves
✦ Optional garnishes: Fresh whole cranberries (about ¼ cup), cinnamon sticks, additional orange rounds or half-moons

Directions:
✦ Slice one orange into rounds, and slice the other in half. Place the rounds into a medium heavy-bottomed pot. Squeeze the juice from the remaining orange into the pot.

✦ Pour the wine into the pot, followed by the brandy. Add 1 tablespoon of the sweetener. Add the cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves.

✦ Warm the mixture over medium heat until steaming (about 5 minutes), and keep an eye on it. When you start seeing the tiniest of bubbles at the surface, reduce to low heat.

✦ Carefully taste, and add another tablespoon of sweetener if it’s not sweet enough for your liking. If it’s not spicy enough to suit your preferences, continue cooking over very low heat for 5 to 10 more minutes.

✦ Serve in mugs with your desired garnishes.

Happy International Women’s Day! Cheers to strong women. May we be them, may be know them, may we raise them.

Daylight savings time begins today. Spring forward – set your clocks one hour ahead at 2 AM, or when you go to bed. Now you are one hour closer to Mimosa time!

Lose an hour of sleep. But gain an hour of daylight. Fair trade?

Or set them ahead at 4 PM on Sunday March 8 and happy hour starts one hour early!!

The Vancouver International Wine Festival is starting March 7 and runs until March 14.

We will be closing at 3 PM on Thursday March 12th to attend the general tasting. And we will be closed on Friday March 13th to attend other functions.

The host country this year is France! And the Global Focus is Champagne!

There will be over 100 wineries from all over the world pouring their best wines.

Hope to see some of you there!

International Riesling Day, celebrated annually on March 13, is a toast to the versatile and delightful Riesling grape. If you ever were (or are) a Riesling doubter, today is the day to put your “it’s too sweet” misgivings aside and give a grape a chance.

Whether you like your Riesling dry, sweet or somewhere in between It’s About Wine! has you covered.

Our Classic 4 week Riesling is slightly off-dry with floral aromas and hints of green apple and lime. This wine pairs well with spicy dishes while being delicious all on it’s own.

Our Reserve 6 week Riesling is dry with flavours of white peach and pineapple with mouth watering acidity. This wine pairs well with all food and is great on it’s own.

Or try a blend – our Reserve 6 week Traminer-Riesling from Australia is off-dry with flavours of stone fruit, honeysuckle and lime. Perfect for sipping on the patio on hot summer days.

Today only all our Riesling wine kits are $15 off. Celebrate accordingly.