Cork & Barrel Spirit Merchants

10/09/2026

10/09/2026

Blue Grouse W**ery in the Cowichan Valley is the original vineyard on Vancouver Island, planted by pioneering viticulturist John Harper in 1977, it was operated by the Kiltz family from 1988 until it was purchased by the Brunner family in 2012. Now owned by California’s first family of w**e, Jackson Family W**es, it continues to go from strength to strength, an unparalleled achievement for Vancouver Island w**eries. We are tasting some lovely Thanksgiving w**es this afternoon from 2 to 6. Cmon in and discover the Vancouver Island difference.

09/06/2026

A once in a lifetime tasting experience at Apoteck W**e Bar in Porto. Four iconic reds from four distinct Portuguese regions illustrate the power and finesse of Portuguese w**e making. All four are made with traditional Portuguese w**emaking techniques including foot stomping, fermentation in open lagares or concrete vats, long bottle-aging before release and sparing use of new oak barrels. All four from tiny producers who release just a few thousand bottles a year. I can’t do justice to all four but I will highlight one: a 1967 vintage Collares from Vuiva Jose da Silva. Collares is a coastal region where grapes grown in sandy soil produce high acid low alcohol w**e that only show its brilliance after decades of aging. This w**e was almost 60 years old but showed fruit and intensity of a youngster. The other three were also amazing, all from different regions, all showing amazing fruit intensity and persistent aromatics. I’m truly in heaven.

08/29/2026

Portugal’s Douro Valley is a viticultural jewel.

08/29/2026

Viticulture in Portugal’s Douro Valley is an heroic venture. For over 2000 years, w**e growers have etched terraces in the steep schist slopes and grown grapes without irrigation or any mechanization. The granite and schist soils are 800 million years old, older than Bordeaux, Tuscany or Napa. The resulting w**es are concentrated, complex tannic monsters that will age for centuries. Traditionally known for port w**es, increasingly the broad, sturdy reds are gaining international stature. We’re on a field trip to the Douro Valley and hope to broaden our selection of w**es from this historic area.