This Maggie is a Passionate Wine Gal!

"It's all about the enjoyment of wine," says Maggie

About a year ago, life as we know it changed. Change inspires and so here we are gathering weekly on Zoom to learn about grape varieties and wine regions of the world. One of the first ladies to get on board and show her support was Margaret "Maggie" Robinson. Maggie loves food, wine and family and I think she  considers the Good Wine Gal community - family. Click to read more about Maggie.

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What do you do? 

After more than 40 years in the insurance industry I have retired and it's wonderful. You'd be amazed at how busy one can be attending the cultural events and activities in the city. My favorites are The Arts Club and Jericho Theaters, Bard on the Beach, Chor Leoni and Ballet BC. I love movies and never miss the Vancouver International Film Festival. Oh and let's not forget the International Wine Festival. It's a highlight of the year for me. Sadly with the pandemic, it has put a halt to so many things. Ah Covid!. I come from a large family and am missing our gatherings - cooking, sipping wine and sharing in celebration. I miss not being able to travel but am hopeful this will all change in the not too distant future.

When or how did you fall in love with wine?
I fell in love with wine when I was traveling in Europe during a break in university. I can't say that I knew anything about wine then, but I liked it nonetheless. When I started my career, wine events with friends  happened and I started paying more attention. I attended informal classes at O'Doul's Restaurant on Robson for example. It was like going to school but with wine and food! It was lot's of fun to focus on specific regions and varieties and then enjoy great food pairings. I also attended the wine seminars offered through the Vancouver International Wine Festival. These events got me tasting outside my comfort zone and helped expand my wine horizons.

Why Good Wine Gal?
I met Barb Wild when a friend of mine invited me to a wine tasting at Feast Dining in West Vancouver about five years ago. The tastings were small and intimate and the focus was pairing of wine with food. I really loved the intimate size of the group and relaxed atmosphere. I also found it less intimidating and non judgmental which as a newbie made a big difference for me.  Although we are not able to meet for in person tastings, I really think going online is the next best thing! I am  enjoying Mark's style of teaching. We are not only learning about wine, but also the history and culture around the wine which is so important.

Thanks for sharing Maggie. We love you too!