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February 22nd, 2025: Headed for Hanks and Kurtis Kolt explains all…

February 22, 2025 Tasting Room Radio 0:52:02

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Heading for Hanks Cowichan and Kurtis Kolt explains “Everything”!

 

THE SHOW

Hank’s – Provisions from The Cowichan

Hank’s was originally going to be called “Hank & Ludo” named after our dog Hank and a gigantic bull mastiff named Ludo.  Then the name was shortened to just Hank’s. Hank, the dog,  is named after one of my favorite customers who passed away the month we opened,  at the age of 98, Hank was a local gentleman that I met at the Duncan Farmers Market and would walk to the market every Saturday rain or shine with chocolates for us in his pockets and a joke.  

(Louise)

Hank would buy charcuterie boxes and terrines from me every week – some he gave as gifts to friends and the rest he ate throughout the week”   Louise Pickles

 

“When you walk into Hanks, there’s a busy bustle going on. There may be 10 customers looking at what’s being offered, some standing in line. In the open kitchen, there’s just as many  chefs, bakers, cooks and servers. This is such a wonderful experience.” (TDM)

 

Louise Pickles –Red Seal Chef, Owner/Operator Pickles’ Pantry Ltd. and Hank’s Cowichan Ltd. 

Born and raised in Hong Kong, food has always been an essential part of family life for Red Seal Chef Louise Pickles. After graduating from Brentwood College in 1998, followed by Queen’s University and University of Victoria, Louise decided to make her passion for food and cooking her occupation and signed up to attend the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in 2003.

Since graduating, Louise’s career has taken her around the world and back again working in hotels and resorts throughout BC such as The Terminal City Club, Diva at the Metropolitan Hotel, Sonora Resort, Black Rock Oceanfront Resort, and The Hotel Georgia.

After moving to Western Australia to work in Margaret River and the one hatted restaurant “Bistro Moncur” in Sydney NSW, she returned to Ucluelet to take on the role of Executive Chef at Black Rock Oceanfront Resort before starting a family in 2014.

As a family, Louise and her husband and business partner Aaron Walsh have chosen the Cowichan Valley as their home . Louise decided finally to start her own business in 2020. She teamed up with Aaron and coffee roaster, Dana Meiner, to open Hank’s Cowichan in Duncan.

Louise and Aaron

A go-to spot for freshly made pastries, sweet treats, and coffee, Hank’s provides an assortment of provisions, including amazing soups, celebrated sandwiches, cheeses, and charcuterie crafted by Pickles’ Pantry. The breads are a work of edible art. Louise explains how they connected with a French baker who crafts the art.  Louise and Aaron are both Red Seal Chefs.

Just imagine how outstanding Hanks is. Well, it’s even better than that. A destination to be celebrated.

 

 

Home | Hank's Cowichan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aaron Walsh – Co-owner & Chef Hank’s Cowichan 

Originally from Windsor Ontario, Aaron attended cooking school at George Brown College and went on to work in Toronto for a number of years before moving to Vancouver Island where he worked at various establishments including Long Beach Lodge and later with Lisa Ahier to open SOBO.

He stayed on the West Coast for 16 years and he has since worked abroad in Australia and in BC at numerous restaurants and hotels including Black Rock Oceanfront Resort in Ucluelet.

Aaron now oversees production and manages all culinary things and bread baking at their own  business, Hanks Cowichan.

 

www.hankscowichan.com

 

Kurtis Kolt – Wine Educator, Judge, Writer. (Vancouver)

This a wild and crazy time in the wine business.

Kurtis Kolt

As a result of the 2024 cold snap in the Okanagan, many vineyards were killed and what did survive offered up very small production possibilities.

In order to survive, BC wineries were given permission to source grapes from out of the province. They headed for Washington, Oregon,  California, Niagara and The Cowichan. Those wines, the whites at least, will be showing up on shelves in early spring. Blends we’ve never seen before. The bottles will be marked and labels changed to reflect out of province sources.

How will wine fans respond?

Also, the Vancouver Wine Festival begins soon.  Some of those new BC wines may be being poured.

California is the featured region. Multiple stories follow.

Because of US tariffs, there’s a renewed discussion about provincial trade barriers finally changing. The  Alberta / BC wine partnership  is part of the discussion.

 

Best of all, Top Drop 2025 is coming to Vancouver (May 13) and Calgary (May 15)

Top Drop Vancouver

It’s the best small wine festival anywhere.  One of the reasons it’s held in such high regard is that  Kurtis Kolt is one of the driving forces behind the choosing and presenting of the attending wineries.

 

Kurtis guests  on Tasting Room Radio to talk about “everything”.

 

www.kurtiskolt.com

www.topdrop.ca

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

New BC Releases

Vancouver Wine Festival

The Hatch

Wine Growers of BC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 15th, 2025-Interview with Grant Stanley – Winemaker at Spearhead #1 Winery. And the BC Ale Trail 

February 15, 2025 Tasting Room Radio 0:50:12

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Interview with Grant Stanley – Winemaker at Spearhead. #1 Winery in Canada.

And the BC Ale Trail  (Mid-Vancouver Island!)

 

grant stanley Spearhead

 

THE SHOW 

 

Grant Stanley – Winemaker and GM  Spearhead Winery (Kelowna)

 

Grant Stanley is the winemaker and general manager at SpearHead Winery,  on the south eastern slopes just outside Kelowna, BC.

Grant is a dual citizen of Canada and New Zealand. He’s acclaimed for growing and creating exceptional Pinot Noir wines.

 

When the 2024 Wine Align Canadian National Wine Awards took place and  1800 wines from over 200 Canadian wineries were judged.

SpearHead Winery won three Platinum medals in the Pinot Noir category. That’s not all they won.

When the points were tallied, Spearhead had won Best Performing Small Winery In Canada and the Winery of the Year.

It was the wine version of the Kelowna Rockets beating the Russian National Hockey team.  They had won 12 medals in all.

The medals won in the Nationals by SpearHead  included Platinum medals for the 2022 Pommard Clone Pinot Noir, 2022 Club Consensus Pinot Noir, and 2022 Saddle Block Pinot Noir, as well as a Gold Medal for the 2021 Golden Retreat Pinot Noir.

Spearhead Pinot Noir Braided Hill Vineyard 2022 - Tasting Note - Gismondi On Wine

 

Then,  Mother Nature took over and a Winter cold snap wiped of many of their vineyards.

In order to keep making wine and paying the bills, Grant headed south to the wine regions in Washington and Oregon looking for just the right vineyards to gather harvest from.

Grant had made wines in Oregon in past years.  He knew exactly where to find the best grapes.

We’ll talk about those award-winning Pinots and those special new wines – called Dual Citizen – on this edition of Tasting Room Radio.

 

www.spearheadwinery.com

 

 

Ken Beattie –  Executive Director BC Craft Brewers Guild

A Guilded Existence: The Career of Ken Beattie, Part I - What's Brewing Magazine

(Ken Beattie)

 

Interview also includes Matt Hill – Founder and Owner  –  Fern and Cider Brewing.

The BC Ale Trail is kicking off two exciting Tasting Passport campaigns, inviting craft beer lovers to explore, sip, and win in some of British Columbia’s best beer destinations. From February 1 to March 9, 2025, participants can collect stamps while enjoying locally crafted beers, ciders, and spirits— all while supporting BC’s brewing communities.

Both the Langley Ale Trail Tasting Passport and the Central Island Tasting Passport highlight the diverse flavours, rich brewing history, and stunning landscapes that make these regions must-visit destinations for beer lovers and adventurers alike.

Each completed passport enters participants into a Grand Prize draw, featuring overnight stays, dining experiences, and more in Langley, Comox Valley, Cowichan, Nanaimo, and Parksville-Qualicum Beach.

In a brisk last segment, Ken and Matt become BC travel guides taking us down the Central Island Tasting Passport BC Ale Trail.  This ale trail is a blast.

Check out the fabulous website –

 

www.bcaletrail.ca

www.fernandcider.ca

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON 

Hanks  Provisions –  Duncan

The Hatch

Vancouver Wine Festival

Wine Growers of BC

Spring Releases

New “out of BC” wines…

February 8th, 2025- “Part Two of The Victoria Whisky Festival”

February 9, 2025 Tasting Room Radio 0:51:06

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Part Two of Victoria Whisky Festival

 

THE SHOW 

 

It’s the second half of the 2025 Canadian Whisky Awards and  Victoria Whisky Festival  

 

Our guests this week are:

The Sons of Vancouver: (East Van)

Jenna Diubaldo –   Blender and Whisky Program Manager

James Lester – Founder-Blender-GM. (Middle)

 

Jenna –  A grad of SOV Distillery School and the Seibel Institute in Chicago.  Originally from Winnipeg.  Oversees the whisky program and manages production at distillery. Insisted the bar get a slushy machine.  She and the machine very popular.

 

James – One of the founding owners of SOV, he started the distillery in 2005.  James has a vast knowledge of the whisky industry and spent time making bourbon in Seattle. Quirky and funny, like his label names and overall design.  Clever and very interesting , like his blends.

 

 Forty Creek 

Bill Ashburn – Master Blender (Grimsby Ontario)

Bill has been a part of Forty Creek since John Hall acquired the plant from Otto Reider in 1992. After it was purchased by the Italian brand Campari Group in 2014, happily Bill remains the Master Blender to this day.

Still making Barrell Select and Special Reserves.  Bill and Forty Creek are winners of many awards!!

Bill won Master Blender of the Year and Whiskey Maker of the Decade in 2020.

 

The Strath (Victoria) and Odd Society (East Van)

Adam Bradshaw – Whisky Specialist The Strath Liquor Store

 

Gordon Glanz – Odd Society

Adam and The Strath are known as one of the premier locations in Canada for whisky lovers. Also  Vancouver Island’s home for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, as well as founder of the 1200+ member strong Whiskey Folk.

Gordon Glanz – Founder and distiller holds a MSc in brewing and distilling from Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland and finished his education with a week at whisky school at  SpringBank in Campbeltown

BOTC 2016

Gordon Glanz

 Hiram Walker and Sons (Windsor, Ont)

JP Wiser's whiskey bottles on wooden post outdoors.

 

Dr. Don Livermore – Master Blender. 

Dr Don Livermore and TDM

Responsible for many of Canada’s award-winning whiskies, such as JP Wiser’s,  Lot 40, Pike Creek, and Gooderham and Worts. He has also created the Canadian Whisky Flavour Wheel. Now in over 150 countries.

Author – The Keeper of History Vol 1

Author – Blending 101 Vol 2

In 2019 and 2020 the Canadian Whisky Master Blender of the Year

 

 

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

A Spring full of Surprises

Grant Stanley – Spearhead Surprises.

Michal Mosny – Winemakers Cut

Hanks – Duncan

Hester Creek

 

 

 

 

February 1st, 2025-Canadian Whisky Awards and the 2025 Victoria Whisky Festival.

February 1, 2025 Tasting Room Radio 0:52:46

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It’s early January.

It’s Victoria.

Must be Whisky Season!!

 

THE SHOW 

 

Victoria Whisky Festival

It’s the first of two Whisky Specials from the 2025 Canadian Whisky Awards and the 2025 Victoria Whisky Festival.

There are always headlining whiskies and star whisky makers in attendance!

Whisky fans want to taste and explore the new releases from Crown Royal, Canadian Club, Forty Creek, Hiram Walker, JP Wiser’s Lot 40, Pike Creek, Gooderham and Worts, Nikka, Amrut, The Dalmore and Glencadam.

For the first time ever,  Gisbelle Distillery a distillery from China,  would be joining the lineup.

The West Coast and Vancouver Island were well represented.

Stillhead, Odd Society, DubhGlas, Sheringham, Sons of Vancouver & Shelter Point.

Over 200 whiskies were up for the awards. 14 judges from across the country tasted and scored.

The Grand Prize Winner, judged Canadian Whisky of the Year was,

The Peat Project Moscatel Barrique single malt from Macaloney’s Island Distillery (Saanich)

Here are the guests on part one of the 2025 Whisky Awards and Victoria Whisky Festival

Davin De Kergommeaux  –  Davin is the flag bearer for Canadian Whisky. He singlehandedly brought Canadian Whisky to the attention of Canada and The World.

 

His latest book is the updated and expanded third edition of Canadian Whisky – The Essential Portable Expert.

I love the first line.

“Handles, mickeys, shots or drams, no matter what its measure, Canadian whisky is a story of Canada.”

 

Davin is my ultimate connection to the world of Canadian Whisky. He helped create these awards and leads the judging team.

Davin de Kergommeaux

Grant Stevely – Distiller at DubhGlas (Oliver)

 

In the fall of 2010, Grant purchased some property at Gallagher Lake near Oliver, B.C.

“I wanted to build a distillery from the ground up, which is distinctly different from a lot of other

distilleries,” he says. “So we built the distillery with expansion in mind.”

Grant Stevely

Grant Stevely

At the heart of the operation is a German-made Arnold Holstein still.

No sooner did Stevely open Dubh Glas Distillery in the spring of 2015, when he began winning awards

for his first product, Noteworthy Gin.

“Dubh Glas” is Scottish Gaelic for “from the dark water.” It’s pronounced “Douglas,” which happens to

be Stevely’s middle name.

 

Jason MacIsaac – Distiller. Sheringham (Langford, BC)

 

Sheringham Distillery  won Best Contemporary Gin at the 2019 World Gin Awards

Its Seaside Gin captured the award against World-class competition from 23 countries,  including the UK  and USA.

“We created Sheringham because we saw a hole in the market: the opportunity to create the world’s most drinkable spirits. This approach has served us well, and in the seven years since founding Sheringham, we have been on the ground building authentic connections with buyers, retailers, and consumers, sharing our story and highlighting our chef-driven approach to innovation and quality.”  (Distiller Mag)

Jason and wife  Alayne now have their growing portfolio available across Canada and in 15 markets in the USA.

 

Graeme Macaloney – Master Distiller  Macaloney Island Distillery (Saanich)

There once was a wee Scottish lad by the name of Graeme Macaloney who found a summer job bottling

whisky and fell in love with Uisge Beatha, the ‘water of life’. He dedicated his heart to finding a way to

make whisky for a living.

Graeme set up shop on Saanich, just outside Victoria. Some of his favourite Scottish and Irish whiskies were island-made.

Graeme has found his “island” in Canada.

Congratulations Champ!!

– Distillery opened in 2016

– The first whisky made onsite and  released in 2020

-Canadian Whisky of the Year – 2025

 

Brennan Colebank – Master Distiller Stillhead Distillery (Duncan)

Founded by the Colebank family, Stillhead Distillery Inc. opened its doors in October of 2017.

For those of you who haven’t met me, my name is Brennan and I’m one of the owners here at Stillhead. I’ve had a hand in creating the spirits you enjoy, and now I’ll be moonlighting as our social media content creator for the next bit! I’ll be sharing some behind the scenes content over the next few weeks. You can also find me creating cocktails at the new lounge Thursday-Saturdays, and have some exciting plans starting this weekend! I’m always up to talk cocktails, especially the ones involving a glass and whisky. If this sounds up your alley and you find yourself in Duncan then I’ll meet you at our lounge! If you have read this far, then I have a trivia question for you, and a correct answer will enter you in the running to win you a prize! What was the name of our very first rye whisky? 🤔

 

After working 15 years in the tech industry, Master Distiller Brennan Colebank left his job to pursue his dream career,

blending the two things he loved most: chemistry and spirits.  The chemist has created an amazing portfolio and a home for Whisky in the Cowichan Valley.

 

www.victoriawhiskyfestival.com

www.canadianwhiskyawards.com

 

 

NEXT WEEK – Part Two featuring 

Dr Don Livermore – Hiram Walker & Sons (Ontario)

Bill Ashburn – The legend from Forty Creek (Ontario)

Sons of Vancouver – The next generation of artisanal whisky. Won the whole shebang two years ago. (east van)

Gordon Glanz – Odd Society   –  (East Van)  Holds an MSc in brewing and distilling from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Followed by a week at Whicky School at Springbank Distillery in Campbelltown

Best Coast Distillers – Just opened in North Saanich. Where innovation meets passion.

 

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Part two of Whisky Special

The Hatch

Grant Stanley – Spearhead for 2025

Vancouver Wine Festival

Fort Berens

Hester Creek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 25th, 2025 Alderlea (Cowichan) and Meyer/Mayhem(Okanagan Falls)-

January 25, 2025 Tasting Room Radio 0:41:39

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Alderlea (Cowichan) and Meyer/Mayhem (Okanagan Falls)

 

THE SHOW

North of Duncan, Vancouver Island lies Alderlea Vineyards.  Formerly home of Roger and Nancy Dosman.  Roger would talk about his Pinot Noir plantings until you ran out of batteries.

Rightly so.  For over 20 years, they had beautiful Pinot Noir harvests.

When they sold, Zac and Julie were the perfect couple to carry on.

Julie and Zac

Think of their training.

Zac had been involved in personal security in places he can’t talk about (and had grown up in Port Hardy. Had family still on the island.) Julie had spent her life in executive training and leadership. No mention of wine until….

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They began to  make and blend wines at home but this was a chance to really create on another level.

They started with Pinot Noir vines over 20 years old.  Such a blessing.

 

As I was doing this  series of interviews about the state of wineries in the Okanagan that had been decimated by cold snaps,  I was also aware the Cowichan Valley had not been touched by that Artic weather. The Cowichan is not called Warmland for nothing.

Julie ands Zak did make and send wines for several winery friends in the Okanagan.

They’ve created a really fine uptake on Island wines. Wine fans have taken notice.  Me included.

Whites, reds and Rose.

Bacchus, Pinot Gris, S Blanc, Pinot Noir, PN Reserve, Merlot, Clarinet, a fabulous red blend called Valerie. Named after Julie’s Mother and more.

 

I talked to Zak about how they handled the Winter conditions on Island and what their plans were for 2025.

 

Find Alderlea – in bottle or in Duncan. Its a classic small winery that’s really going to grow.

 

www.alderlea.ca

JAK Meyer – Meyer Family Vineyards (OK Falls)

Terry Meyer Stone – Mayhem Wines  (OK Falls)

 

The Meyer Family is a real family. Not just a name on a label.

 

JAK Meyer runs Meyer Family Vineyards. The #2 winery in Canada. As voted by Wine Align Canadian Wine Awards.

Terry Meyer Stone runs Mayhem Wines. Both are in the Okanagan Falls Sub Region.  Brother and Sister.

Terry Meyer Stone (Western Living Mag)

 

JAK makes sublime Pinot and Chardonnay that wins awards every year.

TDM with JAK & Janice Meyer

Terry runs Mayhem.

Fun and affordable wines, also in OK Falls.

I was looking for answers to:

How did your vineyards do in the cold snap?

What grew and what died?

What varietals did you harvest in Washington State?

How’s your Alberta base doing?

What’s next?

 

www.mfvwines.com

 

SHOWS WE’RE WORKING ON

VICTORIA WHISKY AWARDS

VANCOUVER WINE FESTIVAL

SPEARHEAD WINES

HESTER CREEK

FORT BERENS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 18th 2025- Changing BC Wines in 2025.

January 18, 2025 Imported data, Tasting Room Radio 0:32:18

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Changing BC Wines in 2025.

Guests:

Rhys Pender – Master of Wine/Little Farm Winery  (Similkameen)

Kathy Malone – Winemaker at Hillside Estate  (Naramata Bench)

 

Kathy Malone Hillside

The SHOW

There are so many elements in play during the 2025 BC wine growing season. AND it’s just started.

Two cold snaps that damaged or killed many vines and vineyards over the past two Winters.

It caused many growers to consider planting  more winter proof varietals and adjust vineyard locations. Some just got out of the business entirely.

 

Then came news that an agreement had been reached between Wine Growers of BC and the BC provincial government.

While the new plantings were taking hold, in order to help farming families survive, for one year BC wineries could source their grapes from out of the province. Many headed for Washington. Some to Oregon, California, Ontario, the Frazer Valley and Vancouver Island.  They  were not hit by the cold.

Some wineries flatly refused to use non-BC fruit.

 

We’ll all start to see labels that say something like  “Washington grapes crafted in BC” and have fun tasting the blends and varietals that we’ve never seen here before.

 

We’ll be doing a series of specials on how various wineries and growers have decided to survive and what their new direction may be.

There’s no denying it – BC Wines will be changing but there will be wines!!!

 

Enjoy the conversation between myself and Master of Wine Rhys Pender and Winemaker at Hillside Estate on the Naramata Bench Kathy Malone.  

Rhys Pender

 

www.hillsidewinery.ca

www.wineplus.ca

www.littlefarmwinery.ca

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

The story of 2025

New out of province wines

Vancouver Wine Festival

Victoria Whisky Awards

Hester Creek

Fort Berens

The Hatch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 4th 2025-Author Luke Whittall and his Sipster’s 3 Pocket Guide

January 4, 2025 Tasting Room Radio 0:48:42

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Look who’s on a Roll – It’s this week’s guest,  Author Luke Whittall

 

Luke and his Sipster’s Pocket Guides Books.

In the third volume in the popular  Sipster’s Pocket Guide series, wine expert and educator Luke Whittall presents his latest top 50 British Columbia wines under $50 (including many under $30) and along the way shares his thoughts on wine country and common misconceptions about certain grapes, and offers up tangents on everything from scented candles to middle children to jazz hands.

With food and activity pairings that range from Thai noodles and pool noodles to classic rock and hootenannies, and an index of attitudes that lets you choose a wine based on your mood (come hither, dressed to kill, razzle-dazzle), the Sipster’s guides are equal parts freewheeling and focused.

 

Divided into chapters on sparkling, white, rosé, red, and dessert wines, the latest volume of Sipster’s will snap you out of a catatonic funk in the liquor store and stick around for a quiet evening paging through a book—perhaps this book and perhaps there’s even a wine for that.

Welcome to Volume 3, where a Viognier can be a lot like a bouncy castle, a red blend that is the icing on top of another layer of icing and also  a wine that will upstage Taylor Swift and Kayne and an adventurous evening calls for a certain Trebianno (not the guy from Friends . . . but then again, maybe?).

The Sipster's Pocket Guide to 50 More Must-Try BC Wines: Volume 3

The Sipsters series are written in a language anyone can understand. Words we all use and can remember a day later.

Make no mistake, Luke knows his wines from the vineyards to the bottle. He just makes the journey much easier than it really is.

 

We also start TRR with a conversation about vineyard damage & recovery,   plus the coming discovery of BC Wines made with Washington grapes.

So those damaged vineyards, wineries and wine-farming families can survive the next couple of years.

 

And heads UP – The Sipster’s Ontario Vol 2 is coming – 

 

Then surely, the Luke Whittall film starring Ryan Reynolds. 

www.sipsterswinepodcast.ca/books 

 

Luke Whittall

Online:

The Sipster’s Wine Podcast – Sipsters Icons on Substack   WWW.

 

Books:

“The Sipster’s Pocket Guide to 50 More Must-Try BC Wines, Volume 3″ 2024 (Touchwood Editions)

“The Sipster’s Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try Ontario Wines, Volume 1″ 2023 (Touchwood Editions)

“The Sipster’s Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try BC Wines, Volume 2″ 2023 (Touchwood Editions)

“The Sipster’s Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try BC Wines, Volume 1″ 2021 (Touchwood Editions)

“The Okanagan Wine Tour Guide” 6th Edition (with John Schreiner) 2020 (Touchwood Editions)

“Valleys of Wine: A Taste of British Columbia’s Wine History” 2019 (Whitecap Books)

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Vancouver Wine Festival

This is Wine School

Hester Creek

Fort Berens

The Hatch

Ruby Blues

etc

 

 

 

December 28th 2024- Complete Interview with Anthony Gismondi: Co-founder of 2024 The Nationals!

December 27, 2024 Tasting Room Radio 0:39:18

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Complete  Interview with Anthony Gismondi: Co-founder of The Nationals!

 

THE SHOW

 

The 2024 National Wine Awards of Canada wrapped up in June in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Founded by Canadian wine experts David Lawrason and Anthony Gismondi, ‘The Nationals’ are the largest and most respected Canadian wine competition.

This year,  22 judges tasted 1,800 entries from 230 wineries. Canadian wine is indeed gathering acclaim internationally, but ‘The Nationals’ is the most important peer competition local wineries can enter. With nearly every producer of note in the country competing, making it to the top ten of any category list is special.

Getting on the annual list of the Top 25 Wineries in Canada is one of the most sought accolades in the business.

The Judges

The entries came from seven provinces. British Columbia had the highest representation with 147 wineries entered, Ontario came second with 84, followed by wineries from Quebec, Nova Scotia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.

The finale, the Top 25 Wineries of the Year list, has become an all-out race we look forward to every year and one warmly received by consumers looking for an edge when shopping for top Canadian wine. Each year has its rhythms, and 2024 was no different. Less winemaking and more of that elusive terroir/site/origin was making its way into the top-scoring wines, something eminently satisfying for the judges tasked with finding the best in the country. Every medal is hard fought for at the national level and should signal consumers that something good is going on at the recipient wineries. Our goal has always been to award medals that mean something in a crowded retail market, and we couldn’t be prouder of this year’s collection.” Co-Chair, Anthony Gismondi, Gismondi on Wine

I look forward to connecting  with Tony each and every time. So much to talk about.

Anthony Gismondi

He is, after all, the perfect guest. I just ask the questions and get out of the way.

 

The master link for the final results is included below.  Perhaps pour yourself something: a morning coffee or an afternoon platinum rose (yes, that actually happened) and follow along.

Its an amazing read.  Congratulations to Anthony and David, their volunteers and staff, the judges and especially the wineries of Canada.

 

https://www.winealign.com/awards/2024/07/23/2024-nwac-results/

and to the Winery of the Year – Grant Stanley GM and Winemaker

https://www.winealign.com/articles/2024/07/24/results-from-the-2024-nationals-winery-of-the-year/

 

Enjoy!!  Onward to whatever 2025 brings.

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

The Hatch

Canadian Whisky Awards

Hester Creek

Van Wine Fest

Fort Berens

Ruby Blues

etc

 

 

 

 

December 21st, 2024 -Harry Hertscheg  2025 Van Wine Fest and Daenna van Mulligen New Reviews from Wine Diva-

December 20, 2024 Tasting Room Radio, Uncategorized 0:51:13

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Harry Hertscheg  2025 Van Wine Fest and Daenna van Mulligen New Reviews from Wine Diva

 

 

THE SHOW

 

Both of this weeks guests have become a  part of the fabric of Tasting Room Radio.

 

Harry Hertscheg is the Executive Director of the Vancouver International Wine Festival.  This is Year 46.

Harry Hertscheg (sip mag)

 

Harry brings with him background on  multiple seminars and wine pours on California Wines.

There are 50 wineries attending as the feature region.

VanWineFest also has seminars on West Coast Wine All-stars, California comes to The Cowichan, Engaging Future Wine Consumers, Notes on the  Bacchanalia Gala, cruising California at Earle’s in Yaletown and  a taste of sustainability with DJ Kearney.

Harry covers the wines from BC, Washington, Oregon, Argentina, Greece, Italy and many more.

Harry also suggests that if you wish to attend any of the winemaker’s dinners – Book Early!!!

The 2025 Festival runs Feb 22 to March 2 

All your details at www.vanwinefest.ca

 

 

 

Daenna van Mulligen – The Wine Diva

Daenna and Terry

As The Wine Diva, Daenna van Mulligen has been blessing us at Tasting Room Radio  with her wine smarts for at least 15 years.

Normally at this time of year, she’s posted her Top 50’s lists. (Under $20, Over $20 & Over  $50.)

This year is different in that she’s compiling wine reviews from all of her travels and tastings.

Because there are so many wines to choose from, we decided to focus on 5 or 6 of each from the

Rose, White, Red and Bubble.

 

Rose

Sandhill, Clos du Soleil,  Bartier Bros,  Township 7,  Joie Farms etc

White 

Wild Grouse, Burrowing Owl, Sandhill, Wente,

Red

Luke, Valparaiso, Yalumba, Prisoner, Blue Mtn, Chat. Haut-Mezieres

Bubble

Township 7 Rigel, Terravista, Taittinger, Blue Mtn Brut, Janz

 

And a  bunch that I gladly added when she had to take a breath.

 

 

Www.winediva.ca    www.winescores.ca

 

Thank you Daenna. A wonderful Christmas to you and yours.

And Harry….gets some naps between bike rides. Its all training for the new year and Thank You.

Merry Christmas and Memorable Holidays from “The Team” at Tasting Room Radio.

Meg, Corey, John and TDM

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON 

 

Hester Creek

Fort Berens

Canada Whisky Awards

The Hatch 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 7th, 2024 Luke Smith and the Howling Bluff Reconnect

December 7, 2024 Tasting Room Radio 0:34:50

hello

THE SHOW

 

Luke Smith – co-founder and chief winemaker of Howling Bluff (Naramata Bench)

 

It’s been a while since I “sat down” with Luke Smith from Howling Bluff on the Naramata Bench.

Howling Bluff Estate Winery | Award Winning Wine

Howling Bluff has been established for 20 years now.  Luke and family planted Pinot Noir, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sémillon grapes .

Howling Bluff is still a locally owned, family-owned-and-operated estate winery.  They take great pride in growing vines and crafting small lots of remarkable wines.

They honor the authenticity of Old World Burgundy varietals and apply innovative, New World techniques to optimize the quality of their winemaking.

John Schreiner on wine: Howling Bluff's journey of discovery

Upon moving to the Bench in 2007, I went looking for the storytellers in the vineyards and cellars. The first was Kathy Malone at Hillside and right down the road was Luke Smith at Howling Bluff.

 

With no prodding at all, Luke would talk about his vineyards, especially the pinot noir plantings.  I quickly realized that this wasn’t a vanity project, somebody who just wanted to “get into” wine.

Luke’s was a deep understanding of winemaking.  Not just someone who talked about the growing season. Luke talked for hours about the history of the specific wines he was growing , especially Pinot Noir.

Howling Bluff Winery 2024 | www.alhudapk.com

It was impressive.

 

That’s when I came to realize that if the people making the wines were interesting, passionate and caring, imagine how interesting and passionate the wines would be.

Like everyone else in the Okanagan, Luke lost vineyards and fruit to the two years of Winter cold snaps.

 

That’s basically where this conversation started. There’s simply nothing more important than accessing the damage caused.

From that beginning,  we began to get into what his plans were for the current vintages and plans for the future. Unlike many wineries, Luke will not be farming and harvesting grapes from outside BC. He’ll explain his thinking.

 

… and Yes, we do get to the wines available…

The spectacular Astrum 2019 RD Brut Rose. $35.00  May be the last we see of it.

2019 Method Trad RD Sparkling

2022 Faux Paw Frizzante– 100% Pinot Gris (also called Perspective) $27.00 at winery

2023 Sauvignon Blanc $25.00

2023 Sauvignon Blanc (85%) and Semillon (15%)  $25.00.  Award winning gem. Granny Smith, ripe tropical fruit.

2022 Pinot Noir Three Mile Creek.  clones 667 – 777

2022 Century Block Pinot Noir  (limited production)

 

www.howlingbluff.ca

www.naramatabench.ca

www.winebc.com

 

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

Meyer Family

The Hatch

Township 7

Fort Berens

Hillside

Black Swift

Artema

Hester Creek

2025 Van Wine Fest