My Favourite Wine: George Canyon

Country music star George Canyon released his sixth studio album, "Better Be Home Soon," on Mar. 28, 2011. Born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canyon is a two-time Juno Award winner and has sold more than 250,000 albums in Canada.

Canyon is the national spokesman for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 14, Canyon was forced to abandon his dream of becoming a Canadian Air Force pilot. He has since taken control of his disease and travels across the country speaking to young people and spreading his message that the sky is not the limit. 

In 2008, Canadian defence minister Peter MacKay named Canyon an Honoury Colonel of the Canadian Air Force 14 Wing Greenwood in Nova Scotia.

Canyon won Record Producer of the Year with Richard Marx at the 2011 Canadian Country Music Awards for "Better Be Home Soon."

Canyon appeared at the 2011 Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival and spoke to Wine Access about his favourite wine.

Q: What is your favourite wine?

“We [Canyon and his wife] really enjoy very big, large-bodied, heavy reds — old vine zins especially. Friends of ours have a winery in Napa and we’re very fond of their Hendry Block 28 Zinfandel," says Canyon.

They also enjoy Layer Cake Primitivo, "There’s just a whole variety of taste. It almost changes with each bottle, but it’s the same wine," says Canyon.

Q: Do you have any favourite memories that involve wine?

“My wife and I had a great trip to Napa, but the weekend that we spent in Osoyoos [at the Celebrity Wine Festival] is very special, very magical. That will definitely live in my memory forever," says Canyon.

Q: If you could share a bottle of wine with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be?

“My wife would be first and foremost. I met James Taylor once and he just seemed like the sweetest guy. It would be neat to sit down and enjoy a bottle with him," says Canyon.