The Wine Diva, Daenna van Mulligen, returns with a great selection of recent reviews. Brewery and the Beast was a huge success..find out why. We return to The River Cafe in Calgary, celebrating that this year they’re above the Bow River. In Vancouver we’ll talk to Izele van Blerk. Chief winemaker for South African Giant KWV. In Kelowna our guest is Heather Pawsey, a wonderful soprano who’s playing the lead in The Lake this weekend at Quails Gate..where the story actually took place.
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THE SHOW
The Wine Diva
Wine Diva
Daenna van Mulligen..The Wine Diva tastes over 1000 wines a year. Only the best get reviewed. Here are some of the latest that made the cut.
- Antinori ‘Peppoli’, DOCG Chianti Classico,
- Tuscany Italy Monte Del Fra Corvina Veronese, Veneto Italy
- Negretti DOC Nebbiolo d’Alba, La Morra Piedmont Italy
- Undurraga ‘Sibaris’ Reserva Especial Pinot Noir, Leyda Valley
- Chile Perseus ‘Select Lots’ Cabernet Franc,
- Okanagan Valley BC Intrigue Wines ‘I Do’ Sparkling, Okanagan Valley BC Colby,
- California Red Blend Cantina Breganze Prosecco DOC ‘Extra Dry’, Veneto Italy
- Handcraft Artisan Collection Chardonnay, California River Stone Estate Winery ‘Splash’, Okanagan Valley BC
- Lariana Cellars Viognier, Okanagan Valley BC 50th Parallel Estate Winery Riesling, Okanagan Valley, BC
www.winediva.ca [divider] Brewery and the Beast (two parter)
Park from Memphis Blues BBQ
Why we Come…
Last year – on Father’s Day no less – Victoria’s Brewery and the Beast conquered Vancouver. Chefs created dishes using the highest possible quality ingredients for the conscientious consumer.
Meats featured will be hormone and antibiotic free, ethically raised, and sourced from farms on Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, the Fraser Valley, and select farms in Northern Alberta. Brewery & The Beast offered guests information on local farms and specialty food producers, unique dishes from top Vancouver chefs and restaurants, delicious beverages, and a true celebration of all things meat. Accompanying the menu du jour were refreshments provided by The Phillips Brewing Company, Left Field Cider, and Mission Hill Family Estate Winery. Homemade sodas, specialty coffee, and traditional iced teas were also be served to wash down the savoury, sweet, and smoky flavours.
Our guests are Phillips Brewing, Big Lou’s, Memphis Blues, Hawksworth, Nuba, Edible Canada, Merchant’s Oyster Bar, Mamie Taylor’s and Gringo.
Theresa Pedersen Left Field Cider
The date was Sunday July 27th, 2014 Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm (Rain or shine) Venue: Concord Pacific Lot Our shots are by Kate Havercroft. www.katesiobhanphotography.com A head’s up… Victoria’s event is Sunday Sept 21st. http://breweryandthebeast.com/ [divider] The River Cafe
It was the hill that saved River Cafe
A year ago The River Cafe on Prince’s Island in Calgary – on The flooded Bow River – was almost pushed under the water. They lost everything in storage including many sensational bottles of wine. I headed back to Calgary this year and Prince’s Island Park for my annual Mulligan Stew show at the Calgary Folk Festival. I’m pleased to say the wonderful River Cafe is back. Above water and thriving.
I set up my recorder at the far end of the bar and talked to Chef Andrew Winfield and Cellar Manager and Sommelier Bruce Soley.
Damn. It was nice to be back. Love this place. [divider] The Lake
The Lake Quails Gate
In our Kelowna broadcast we have a story that takes place at Quails Gate. Astrolabe Musik Theatre & Turning Point Ensemble , in collaboration with Westbank First Nation, proudly present the world premiere production of The Lake / n-ha-a-itk – August 15-17 at Quails’ Gate Winery in Kelowna, BC, in a fully-integrated evening of historical Canadian opera and contemporary syilx culture. Composed in 1952 by Barbara Pentland, with libretto by Governor-General Award-winning poet Dorothy Livesay, the Canadian chamber opera is based on the true-life story of pioneer Susan Allison, who sighted Lake Okanagan’s famous creature, na-ha-a-itk (Ogopogo), one stormy autumn day in 1873.
Turning Point Ensemble, under the expert direction of stage director James Fagan Tait and music director Owen Underhill, is joined by an incredible cast including soprano Heather Pawsey as Susan Allison, Westbank First Nation elder/singer Delphine Derickson, bass baritone Angus Bell, tenor Brian Kwangmin Lee, mezzo-soprano Barbara Towell, and Westbank First Nation dancer Corrine Derickson, with Curatorial and Heritage Researcher Jordan Coble, and youth from Westbank First Nation.
Our guest is Heather Pawsey..Soprano www.quailsgate.com http://www.astrolabemusiktheatre.com/
[divider] KWV In our Vancouver Broadcast we’re talking to one of South Africa’s best known winemakers. KWV is one of the leading wine and spirits producers in South Africa and has a distinguished heritage, celebrated around the globe, of product innovation and exceptional brands. These include Roodeberg, KWV Wines & KWV Brandies, and Laborie.
We get to talk to the respected winemaker who presents these wines to The World. From its earliest roots in 1918 as a small co-operative of growers – Proud Pioneers with the vision to improve wine industry standards and quality in South Africa – KWV has grown into a global producer of over 100 products. Our guest Izelle van Blerk Winemaker at KWV.
Izelle van Blerk KWV
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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON
A two part interview with Anthony Gismondi. Head judge for Wine Align, who just released their National Wine Awards of Canada results. Jason Priestley