Welcome to Wine Thursday

Wine Thursday is a weekly tradition where The Brit and I try a new wine or re-explore a favourite. Here are some of the BC wines we’ve sipped and savoured in 2020.

When we moved to Victoria in 2018, The Brit and I started Wine Thursday. I can’t remember exactly how it came about — but we each must have had one of those weeks where Friday just wasn’t soon enough to relax with a glass of wine. This weekly tradition is something that I’m glad to have, and not just because I really enjoy wine. (The appreciation of which, I have my father to thank for — a story I’ll share soon.)

It’s nice to have something to look forward to

In a year where few things are certain, having things to look forward to has been key to keeping our spirits and hygge vibes up. Wine Thursday is one of those things. It’s a welcome aspect of our week, and it’s something we can actually control. We choose the wine, we enjoy the wine, we talk about why it was nice (or not), we recycle the bottles.

Our weekly tradition has also been a way for us to do our small part to support local. The majority of the wine we’ve purchased this year has been from smaller BC wineries that have fab Roses and really lovely red blends. Many BC wineries stepped up really quickly to offer delivery across the province (check those out here) — but I really like selecting wine in the liquor store.

When I was mostly unemployed in the summer, Wine Thursdays was one of the things that stayed in my budget. I was not going to let 2020 take away another thing I enjoy. And it helped that there are so many BC wineries offering excellent wines at affordable for any budget!

Wine Thursday selections*

Back in September, Town Hall Brands introduced me to two BC wineries we had never tried before, and reminded me of a favourite white from an Abbotsford winery. They are great value for money and perfect to enjoy throughout the rest of fall/winter.

Bizou + Yukon Savvy Franc 2018 ($20.90 CAD)

First of all, you really need to follow this brand on Instagram. (The posts are in the voice of the winery’s namesakes: two incredibly adorable Great Pyrenees dogs.) Secondly, this Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc blend is delicious. Savvy Franc is almost Pinot Noir-like, but with the oomph that’s needed in wine for this time of year. I also really liked the clever label artwork.

TIME Fourth Dimension 2017 ($35 CAD)

TIME Winery’s Fourth Dimension is pretty bold in flavour, but has what I believe is called smooth finish — definitely one of my favourites this year. The wine takes its name from Albert Einstein’s characterization of ‘time’ as the fourth dimension. Therefore, a quad blend of Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon to create the loveliness.

Singletree Siggy 2019 ($16.99 CAD)

I previously talked about Singletree Winery’s Siggy here and here. German varietals tend to have the hardest to pronounce names, but that’s kind of what makes trying them fun! They can also tend to be quite sweet. The Siggy takes the tongue-twister out of its Siegerrebe (see-geh-RAY-buh) namesake and makes for a lovely white. It’s an accessible wine to enjoy any time, any place, by anyone who loves a nice glass of white wine.

Wine down on a budget

Other BC wines (all under $25 CAD) we’ve quite enjoyed on Wine Thursday this year include:

• Road 13 Honest John’s Rosé
• Evolve Cellars Pink Effervescence
• Diabolica Red 2017
• Mac & Fitz – Shift’s End Red 2018
• Rigamarole Red 2017

Wine Thursdays have truly been a sanity-saver for me. It’s nice to have something to look forward to, and sipping in front of our fireplace gives me all the hygge vibes. And if we can support local wineries at the same time? That’s a win-win for me.

Have you tried any of these wines before or do you have any weekly traditions that you look forward to?

“Either give me more wine or leave me alone.”

Rumi

*Please remember to enjoy your Wine Thursday wine or any alcoholic beverages safely and responsibly.

Thank you to Town Hall Brands for partnering on this post. As always, all opinions are my own.