February 25th, 2017 – Vancouver International Wine Festival- Part 2!

Last Week’s TRR Hour One was all BC.

This week Hour Two  features winemaking guests from Ontario, Nova Scotia and back to BC.

Chris Waters (Vines Mag) / Daenna van Mulligen (The Wine Diva) /Keith Tyers  (Closson Chase)/ Bruce Nicholson (Inniskillin Niagara)/Charlie Pillitteri (Pillitteri)

Craig McDonald (Trius)/ Bruce Ewert (L’Acadie)/ Jean Benoit Deslauriers (Benjamin Bridge)/  Moira Peters (The Wine Lovers Guide to Atlantic Canada)

HansPeter Stutz  (Grande Pre)

Ezra Cipes (Summerhill)/Val Tait (Bench 1775)/Randy Picton (Nk Mip)/John Skinner (Painted Rock)/Mark Hicken (Vintage Wine Law) and Randy Ullom (Kendall Jackson)

 

THE SHOW

These were the best two weeks for wine fans in Canada!!

Because Canada was the Theme  Region of the 39th Vancouver International Wine Festival.   Hour One was all BC.

This week Hour Two  will feature Ontario and Nova Scotia Wine stars and then we come full circle back to BC to finish off with “The Eastsiders”

Summerhill, Bench1775 and Nk Mip.. plus a Skinner, a Lawyer and a Yank!!

Our guests include:

 Ontario

Daenna van MulligenThe Wine Diva once again joins me on air to hold my wine hand and share her insights..she also brought along

Chris Waters – Co-Founder and Editor of Vines Magazine. Through their InterVin judging they both have a unique view of Canada’s wines.

www.vinesmag.com   www.winediva.ca

 

chris waters

 

Keith Tyers – Winemaker  From Closson Chase in Prince Edward County. Famous for their Chardonnay..now comes Pinot Noir.  One to watch.

www.clossonchase.com

Bruce Nicholson – Inniskillin  Niagara. Spent many years in the Okanagan at Jackson Triggs. Famous for their Ice Wines.  A Pro!  https://www.inniskillin.com/Niagara

Bruce Nicholson

Charlie Pillitteri – CEO/President  of Pillitteri Wines.  Charlie told me “ why bother sending Ontario wines to BC. You’re Homers!!  You drink everything BC makes.”  Fabulous troublemaker. https://www.pillitteri.com

Craig McDonald – Trius Wines.  Ontario Winemaker of the year 2008 & 2016. A legendary risk taker who paid his dues at Villa Maria, Penfolds, De Bortoli, Sokol Blosser in Oregon.  Great guy. https://www.triuswines.com

Nova Scotia

 Vines were planted in Nova Scotia in the 1600’s. Making it one of the first wine regions in North America.

There are now 70 growers and ALL are close to water..mostly the Bay of Fundy.

Welcome to The Annapolis and Gaspereau Valleys.

The acid and minerality in the soil makes it perfect for bubble.

Our guests:

Bruce Ewert – L’Acadie Vineyards. BC Born. Earned his skills through Cal/Oz/BC and Ontario. Created Nova Scotia’s first Traditional Method Sparking Wine in 2008.  Wonderful man and family. www.lacadievineyards.ca

Bruce Ewert

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jean Benoit Deslauriers – Winemaker Benjamin Bridge.  A stunning hunk of burning wine love.  “Ben Bridge is the new Canadian sparkling wine star”  Oz Clarke. Their Prestige Brut  won Gold and Top Score at 2010 Wine Awards.

“If a young Hemmingway made wine – he would be  just like JBD!” tdm www.benjaminbridge.com

 

Jean Benoit Deslauriers

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moira Peters – Co-Author of The Wine Lovers Guide to Atlantic Canada.

Along with partner Craig Pinhey she gives the first complete guide to wines now in the Maritimes and where they’re headed.

Great overview.  https://www.nimbus.ca/store/wine-lover-s-guide-to-atlantic-canada-the.html

HansPeter Stutz-  Domaine de Grand Pre owner.  One of the first four wineries on Nova Scotia.  A leader and a legend. www.grandprewines.ns.ca

 

Back to BC

Ezra CipesCEO Summerhill Wines. Bio-Dynamic. Demeter Certified (1st in BC) Director of the BC Wine Institute.

Chaired the Task Force to certify BC’s wine sub-regions. Summerhill is winner of many awards including Worlds Best Sparking Wine and White Wine of the year BC Wine Awards. https://www.summerhill.bc.ca

Ezra Cipes

Valeria  Tait – GM/Chief Winemaker Bench 1775 

Voted Top 10 Best Small Winery in Canada at National Wine Awards.

Val Tait

Because She was a viticulturalist first, very few wine makers have the soil/varietal  knowledge that Val possesses.

She was pouring Spirit a fortified Petit Verdot, Spirit of the Splendid Bastard,  Ice wine and Chill comprised of 7 varietals.

www.bench1775.com

Randy Picton – Chief winemaker Nk Mip (Ink-a-meep) – Canada’s first Aboriginal owned winery.  Current Canadian Winery of the Year.  Amazing wines from a huge success story.  www.nkmipcellars.com

Randy Picton

 

John Skinner – Proprietor of Painted Rock.  A mover and a shaker who produces outstanding wines. Making strides in the Chinese market with his Icon Reds. www.paintedrock.ca

John Skinner

Mark Hicken – Vintage Law Group and Vice-Chair of VanWineFest.

When the wineries want a legal opinion the go-to guy is Mark Hicken.  Mark also reveals the thinking behind the choosing of Canada as the theme region.  www.winelaw.ca

Mark Hicken – Vintage Law Group

 

Randy Ullom – Chief Winemaster  Kendall-Jackson Sonoma  The very popular Californian seems to have found a second home here. He likes us. He really likes us.

Randy Ullom

John, Mark and Randy get into a last minute discussion about a possible trade scuffle between California and BC over our odious wine laws.  www.kj.com

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Tony Holler – Poplar Grove

Chris Tolley – Moon Curser