Co-Hosted with This is Wine School -Part Two of 2025 VanWineFest
THE SHOW
This is Wine School are founders, educators and award-winning sommeliers Jenna Brisco, Kelcie Jones and Maude Renaud-Brisson.
We gathered in a small circle of chairs, surrounded by many 100’s of wine trade attendees constantly on the move at the convention center.
We welcome to the chairs…
The much-celebrated Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein.
Evan Goldstein
The first ever Master Sommelier for a professional sports team – his hometown San Francisco Giants. (Evan touches on that very subject when we talk about attracting new, younger wine fans)
Evan was the keynote speaker at a recent VanWineFest and has developed a long-distance love affair with
Vancouver and many of our wineries in BC.
Once he’s set in motion, there is no way to stop Evan from talking wine. Highly entertaining.
Then we talk to David Gates. VP of vineyard operations at Ridge Vineyards at Monte Bello (Santa Cruz Mountains) and Lytton Springs (Sonoma)
And
John Niven. Owner of Baileyana (Edna Valley Central Coast)
Situated in California’s coolest growing region, nearest the Pacific Ocean. In San Luis Obispo County.
Specializing in Chardonnay and Piot Noir. Lots of both!
Tony Holler is the owner of Poplar Grove Winery (Naramata Bench)
Tony Holler
Tony makes things happen. He’s a leader.
For example, when a dozen or so Naramata wineries were looking for out of province fruit to replace vineyards lost in the Winter deep freeze, Tony offered to search and buy for everyone as he felt there was more bargaining power in the collective. At Van Wine Fest Tony was pouring the new Poplar Grove Cascadia series. Says right on the front of the bottle
Washington Grown, Made in BC
Cascadia series includes Pinot Gris & Rose. Out April 2025. Lots more varietals to come.
Amber Pratt – winemaker at Moraine Winery (Naramata Bench)
Because Moraine takes pride in using only Naramata grown fruit, I was interested in knowing if Amber was now working with out of province fruit in this special year.
Interesting conversation. www.morainewinery.com
We finish in a roundtable discussion with Jenna, Kelcie and Maude from This is Wine School.
General observations on the Wine Fest and the changing landscape of BC Wine.
What a year 2025 promises to be.
Many Thanks To
Kellie Cassidy and Ruby Gillett from
Milk Creative Communications
www.thinkmilk.ca
STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON
Hester Creek – 2024 Columbia Valley Collection
The Hatch
Best Coast Distilling
Hillside Releases
Winemakers Cut – 2024 releases
Wine Growers BC
Pinot Noir Update
