Ben Sigurdson

Ben Sigurdson

Literary editor, drinks writer

Ben Sigurdson edits the Free Press books section, and also writes about wine, beer and spirits. He paid his way through university by working at a handful of wine stores in Winnipeg, which helped him land the wine-writing gig on a freelance basis in 2005.

Ben started working in the newsroom in 2012 as a part-time copy editor. Later that year he was hired as a full-time web copy/web editor, working the graveyard shifts.

When esteemed books editor Morley Walker retired in January 2014, Ben rekindled his love for all things literary and started a new chapter at the Free Press.

Ben holds a bachelor of arts degree in English/politics from the University of Winnipeg as well as a master of arts degree in English (writing stream) from the University of Manitoba.

Recent articles of Ben Sigurdson

Bank and climate crises are crowding the vines

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Bank and climate crises are crowding the vines

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Yesterday at 6:00 AM CDT

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in the U.S. could spell big trouble for winemakers in California.

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Yesterday at 6:00 AM CDT

Marcio Jose Sanchez / The Associated Press files

From winemakers in California to startups across the Atlantic Ocean, companies are scrambling to figure out how to manage their finances after their bank, Silicon Valley Bank, suddenly shut down earlier this month.

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Thursday, Mar. 23, 2023

Field Guide releases a re-imagined version of his self-titled 2022 record Friday night and, in the process, will offer a sneak peek of one of the critically acclaimed artists of the 2023 Winnipeg Folk Festival.

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Thursday, Mar. 23, 2023

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Dylan MacDonald

Grape days ahead: wine classes educate the palate

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Grape days ahead: wine classes educate the palate

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 18, 2023

If you’ve got learning about vino on the brain, you’re in luck — there are all manner of wine courses being offered throughout the city over the next couple of months, in a range of prices and with themes that run the gamut from yoga to dessert wines to Chardonnay and beyond…

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Saturday, Mar. 18, 2023

Hess Select Chardonnay

Catton’s compelling, propulsive eco-thriller worth the decade-long wait

Reviewed by Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

Catton’s compelling, propulsive eco-thriller worth the decade-long wait

Reviewed by Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Saturday, Mar. 18, 2023

Fans of Eleanor Catton have been waiting patiently for the follow up to her sprawling 2013 Victorian-era novel The Luminaries. Then just 28, the Canadian-born former New Zealander (now living in the U.K.) became the youngest ever winner of the Booker Prize, (and with the longest book, at around 800 pages), and also took home the Governor General’s Literary Award for fiction.

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Saturday, Mar. 18, 2023

Murdo MacLeod photo

Eleanor Catton’s 2013 novel The Luminaries won the Booker Prize and the Governor General’s Literary Award for fiction.

What’s up

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 7 minute read Preview

What’s up

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 7 minute read Thursday, Mar. 16, 2023

Andy and Norm take on the Burt

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Thursday, Mar. 16, 2023

Andy Shauf

A matter of taste slightly — and briefly — altered

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

A matter of taste slightly — and briefly — altered

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 11, 2023

It seems odd to be writing about COVID in a drinks column in 2023 — not because COVID has come and gone, but more that it’s old news for most.

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Saturday, Mar. 11, 2023

Wine/drinks professionals have detailed the days, weeks or sometimes months they had to wait for their senses of smell and taste to return to normal — if they ever did at all.

What’s up

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Preview

What’s up

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 8, 2023

Celebrate International Women’s Day with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra

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Wednesday, Mar. 8, 2023

Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press Files

Have no fear. Plenty of roasted cricket flavours to choose from at the Food, Beer & Wine Event.

More Canadians getting into the spirit of becoming whisky connoisseurs

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

More Canadians getting into the spirit of becoming whisky connoisseurs

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2023

The Winnipeg Whisky Festival returns to the Fairmont Winnipeg this weekend for two days of decadent drams from all over the world as well as a wide range of other spirits.

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Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2023

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Among the trends Liquor Marts product ambassador Jamie Jette is seeing is an interest in flavoured whiskies. ‘We’re certainly seeing more releases in that category from different producers.’

Come alive with local brews in the dead of winter

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

Come alive with local brews in the dead of winter

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Friday, Feb. 24, 2023

Whether you’re planning to brave the deep freeze to take in the last weekend of Festival du Voyageur in person or prefer to crack a cold one in the warm confines of your own home, there are a few brews that will get you in the hé-ho spirit to be enjoyed in either setting.

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Friday, Feb. 24, 2023

What’s up

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Preview

What’s up

Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023

WAG-Qaumajuq and Manitoba Music celebrate Black History Month 

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Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023

Individia Obscura photo

Wonder World author K.R. Byggdin will answer your questions as guest of the Free Press Book Club on Monday.

Cellaring wine: keep it cool and dark

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Cellaring wine: keep it cool and dark

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023

A few weeks ago I wrote about rediscovering (and opening) long-neglected bottles that had languished, unseen, on wine racks and basement closets in my house for too many years.

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Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023

What’s up: Belly laughs, beading and budget-friendly dining

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Preview

What’s up: Belly laughs, beading and budget-friendly dining

AV Kitching, Ben Sigurdson, Alan Small, Ben Waldman, Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023

Winnipeg Comedy Showcase celebrates nine years with 32nd show

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Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023

Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press files

Sen. Patricia Bovey

Big-grape romance at bargain prices

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Big-grape romance at bargain prices

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023

When you write a weekly drinks column, there’s a certain sense of obligation around Valentine’s Day to offer up suggestions for wines to pop open with your sweetie. (There are only so many times you can write about wine and chocolate… trust me.)

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Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023

When you write a weekly drinks column, there’s a certain sense of obligation around Valentine’s Day to offer up suggestions for wines to pop open with your sweetie. (There are only so many times you can write about wine and chocolate… trust me.)

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 6 minute read Friday, Feb. 10, 2023

Dust off your ceinture fléchée a little early this year for Nonsuch Brewing Co.’s Festi Fridays, a celebration of all things Festival du Voyageur running Fridays throughout February both inside and outside their tap room at 125 Pacific Ave.

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Friday, Feb. 10, 2023

Rae Jennae Photography

Enjoy a beer-bannock s’more at Nonsuch’s Festi Fridays, running Fridays throughout February both inside and outside their tap room at 125 Pacific Ave.

Can’t take it with you, so savour Open That Bottle Night

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Can’t take it with you, so savour Open That Bottle Night

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023

Seventeen (!) years of writing about wine and drinks have seen all manner of wine, beer and spirits cross my desk. Most are tasted for the purposes of this column, some for “research” purposes and occasionally, I’ll crack something open for simple enjoyment.

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Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023

What’s up: 5 things to do this week

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Jen Zoratti, Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Preview

What’s up: 5 things to do this week

Eva Wasney, Alan Small, Jen Zoratti, Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023

Frostbyte @ Raw:Almond

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Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023

Booze events to help beat the winter blahs

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Booze events to help beat the winter blahs

Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023

If the late January doldrums have you feeling like you’re going a bit bonkers, fear not — there are plenty of wine, beer and spirits events taking place over the next couple of months that just might help you beat the deep winter blahs…

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Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023

Writer weaves life’s experience into rich, detailed prose

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Preview

Writer weaves life’s experience into rich, detailed prose

Ben Sigurdson 4 minute read Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023

In the vast and sometimes-turbulent waters of Canadian literary awards, Nicholas Herring netted quite the catch with his first cast.

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Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023

Herring’s debut novel Some Hellish won the $60,000 Atwood Gibson Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize in November. (Supplied)

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023

Sounds of Manitoba kickoff with Anthony OKS and The Søbr Market

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Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023

Rapper Anthony OKS will perform Friday at the Sounds of Music. (Mikaela Mackenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Prince Harry’s memoir an uneven but revealing look at life under the Royal fishbowl

Reviewed by Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Preview

Prince Harry’s memoir an uneven but revealing look at life under the Royal fishbowl

Reviewed by Ben Sigurdson 6 minute read Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023

Prince Harry’s memoir Spare opens with a poignant epigraph by William Faulkner — “The past is not even dead. It’s not even past.”

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Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023

This image provided by the Random House Group shows the cover of "Spare," Prince Harry's memoir. The book is an object of obsessive anticipation worldwide since first announced last year, is coming out Jan. 10. (Random House Group via AP)
This image provided by the Random House Group shows the cover of

Value through the grapevine

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Preview

Value through the grapevine

Ben Sigurdson 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023

A couple weeks back I wrote about the great quality-to-price ratio of red wines from France’s Rhône Valley. And with many still nursing post-holiday bills — plus with rising inflation and such — I was curious about discovering other wines that deliver good bang for the buck.

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Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023

GREG GALLINGER / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files

A call-out on social media and some scouring of the local shelves have helped produce this list of good value suggestions.

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 4 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 4 minute read Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023

Veg Out with vegan comfort food 

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Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023

Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files

Wab Kinew

Winnipeg couple launches the Søbr Market

Ben Sigurdson 10 minute read Preview

Winnipeg couple launches the Søbr Market

Ben Sigurdson 10 minute read Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023

Whether it be Dry January, Dry February, Sober October or just a desire for better health and a break from booze, there are plenty of reasons to consider reducing one’s alcohol intake.

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Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023

JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Jessie and Shane Halliburton are looking forward to taking their Winnipeg-based online non-alcohol shop, The Søbr Market, into their own bricks-and-mortar storefront.

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Preview

What’s up

Eva Wasney and Alan Small and Jen Zoratti and Ben Sigurdson and Jill Wilson 5 minute read Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023

Valley of the Birdtail book launch

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Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023

Phantom fan Gloria Dignazio is a subject in the 'Phantom of Winnipeg' documentary premiering in Montreal this week. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press)