Vino Borealis Columnist Peter Turner is a wine enthusiast who once had the dream job of selling wine at a store that carried 4,500 varieties.
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Vino Borealis
Big House Red
I was in the Yukon Liquor Corporation about six weeks ago, when I was delighted to make the acquaintance of an old friend. Read more
Matching Wine to Cheese Fondue
I'm always interested whether when people choose the foods for dinner first, and then select accompanying wines, or vice versa. I use both methods. Several weekends ago my partner and I hosted a cheese fondue in honour of a friend's birthday... Read more
Some New Wines to Look For and Try
Since September there have been some good additions to the Yukon Liquor Corp. (YLC) shelves. October and November seem to be emerging as the wine tasting season in the Yukon. In the span of five weeks, I participated in, or organized, three... Read more
Autumn Brings Renewed Interest in Chiantis
While we had an exceptional summer, part of me welcomes the changing leaves, grey cool days, slower pace, stars, and northern lights. This change of season has brought me back to our kitchen, making pasta, pizza and roast meats. And my partner and... Read more
Crystal Cruises
Fundraising Fun avec Vin
About a year ago, I worked with Yukon Artists @ Work on a project called "Canvas Confidential," a fundraiser to help Yukon artists if illness prevented them from working. As part of this event, we hosted a wine tasting, and had very specific... Read more
A Home Run Malbec from Cahors, France
We are familiar with names of great French Bordeaux wines like Château Lafite Rothschild, that sell out immediately, year after year, and command prices that average, for the 2009 vintage, $1500 a bottle. When it comes to Roll Royce wines, the... Read more
Kitchen Sink Wines
With the exception of New Years Eve, I think I drank two glasses of wine in January — not propitious behaviour for a wine writer. I even missed having something nice for my birthday, but I guess the flu followed by pneumonia is a decent excuse... Read more
A Happy Start To The Holidays in Dawson City
Christmas and New Year's are fast approaching us here in the Yukon, and this weekend reminded me what a beautiful and magical place we live in. If Whitehorse was not beautiful enough, I just came home from driving 500 km through low-angle sun and fre Read more
Crystal Cruises
Legado Munoz: A Terrific Spanish Red
We're plunging into the winter and holiday season at full tilt and for me this is a season of getting together with friends for dinner and searching out new and more robust wines to bring to the table. The falling snow outside makes me yearn for... Read more
Message in a Bottle
I try to write a wine column every couple of weeks, unless life gets crazy, as it has over the past month or so. In that period of time, I will usually get the chance to have perhaps two or three dinners where I will want to serve a bottle of wine... Read more
A Happy Find for Bordeaux Lovers
It's a treat to ease off of the money diet as I shop for wines these days! While I have made some terrific wine discoveries that are well worth exploring regardless of your budget, I've been able to look again at a few more wines in the $17-20.00... Read more
Photo: Yukon Arts Centre Facebook Page
And the Winner Is ...
As I mentioned in my last column, I had been invited by the staff of the Yukon Arts Centre to help them offer up a wine tasting as part of the launch of their new arts season. So last week, I came up after work and helped them set up a selection... Read more
A Taste for the Arts
Love of (and interest in) wine has opened wonderful doors for me in my life. Tasting wine has been the lens through which I have experienced lessons in history and geography. Friends have mailed me bottles from places such as Malta, and I have had... Read more
Treats for Summer Evenings
It took until the middle of July, but it seems (I don't want to jinx us) that summer has arrived in the Yukon! The past two weekends have actually been HOT, and I've been lucky enough to spend two Saturdays nights kayaking, swimming and sitting... Read more
The Other Side of the Andes
In my last several articles, I have been reviewing a number of inexpensive, yet tasty Malbec and Malbec blend red wines from Argentina. The high altitudes, dry climates and pure waters of the Andes contribute to the growing of terrific grape stock... Read more
Argentine Finds on the Money Diet
As mentioned previously, I've been on a "money diet" these past months, but still want to be tasting interesting wines to go with meals I have with friends. Sometimes force of circumstance leads to happy discoveries. I wanted to share some new... Read more
Crystal Cruises
Learnings from a Wine Tasting
In my last article, I told you about the wine tasting I was planning at Bombay Peggy's in Dawson City over the May long weekend. We had about 20 people attend, a few less than I would have hoped for, but a good first effort. Three of the bar staff... Read more
Crystal Cruises
Planning a Wine Tasting
Several months ago I was asked by my friend Wendy in Dawson City to plan a wine tasting at her B&B, Bombay Peggy's. We'll be doing it over the May long weekend, so by the time you read this it will have been completed. Read more
A Walk Through the Wine Store: Finale!
Several articles ago I promised to finish my tour of the Yukon Liquor Corp. (YLC) wine shelves before the snow melted. With the rains coming down and my frozen lake looking mushy, I'd better hurry! Read more
Aerating a Red (and a Money Diet Suggestion)
Drinking inexpensive wines does not have to mean you are missing interesting wine experiences. This was brought home to me this past Sunday evening, when I invited a friend from work, and her partner, to my cabin for a dinner of home-made pizza... Read more