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Okanagan Crush Pad. Christine Coletta & Darryl Brooker/ Modest Wines releases  with Jeff Hundertmark

THE SHOW

A press release arrived this week:

Seasoned veteran Darryl Brooker returns to the industry he is passionate about to lead dynamic growth plans set in motion by Okanagan Crush Pad founders Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie who view the appointment of Darryl Brooker as an important piece of their succession planning.

In addition to overseeing the senior management team, Brooker’s key focus will be facility expansions and to build out the founders’ vision for Garnet Valley Ranch, a 320-acre organic vineyard and farm.

The players

Christine Coletta:  Co-founder of Okanagan Crush Pad.

A visionary  leader not only in the Okanagan but the entire BC wine industry,

Christine Coletta

Christine and her husband Steve  started a custom crush pad which included their own labels

Haywire, Narrative, The Bub, etc.

Their wine releases are now so successful,  the labels are key to the future of OCP.

Darryl Brooker:  New CEO of OCP

Darryl Brooker

Darryl Brooker is a graduate of  UC Davis. Plus management&  science education in Australia

Brooker also served in various capacities from vice president of winemaking to general manager and then president of Mission Hill from  2015 to March 2021. Darryl was also vice president of winemaking and operations at CedarCreek Estate Winery and senior winemaker at Andrew Peller Limited.

It’s great to have him back. With a little staining and wine spitting, he’ll be as good as new.

Enjoy the conversation. Lots of give and take. Opinions abound.

Audio here. Zoom video on our You Tube Channel. (terrydavidmulligan) Its funny at times.

Christine brought with her three really fine Spring releases:

2019 Haywire  Gamay Rose.  High elevation Gamay acidity. Seacrest Vineyards in  Oliver.

80% concrete 20% stainless steel. Fermented dry..pressed to concrete.

On lees for 6 months – 13.5 % – $24.90.

Cellared an extra year this Rose  has found its form.   Not to be gulped…take your time.  It’s well worth waiting for.

If you see it – buy it. Taste the future of BC wine.

2019  Free Form – VinGris. (unfiltered Pinot Noir) 12.6 %.  Garnett Valley Ranch. Grown in Limestone and granite Texture, herbal notes.  Whole bunch pressed. Compelling in the mouth.  Causes you to really think about this wine. I think the word for this wine  is “engaged”

Sipping is to believe. The label is made from stone paper. $29.00

If you can’t find it, there may be some at Cactus Club.

2020  Narrative 2 Pinots.  13%

From the North Okanagan,  Pinot Gris. From the South,  Pinot Blanc.

Bone dry. Rich Texture. From concrete eggs. Delightfully  delicious

Seafood, pasta, chicken, soft cheese. Or by itself. $22.90

www.okanagancrushpad.com

www.haywirewinery.com

Jeff Hundertmark – Sommelier and Chief Winemaker Mt Boucherie, Rust Wine Co, Modest Wines.

Jeff Hundertmark

Jeff came to the Okanagan from Niagara several years ago. (That’s where we first met)

Back East Jeff was a well-known sommelier and restaurateur who was convinced to add winemaking to his knowledge.

He worked his way through various wine jobs from cellar rat to winemaker.

The more he tasted the wines of BC the more he knew he had to give the West a shot.

And here he is, once again working his way through cellars in the Okanagan.

However, he has found a home at Mt Boucherie. And Rust Wine Co and Modest Wines.

The family owners hold some  300 acres of prime land all over the valley.  During  bountiful years, the cellars are overrun with juice. Frankly, it’s a great problem to have.

However, Jeff is bringing with him today Spring releases from Modest Wines.

The idea of experimentation, risk-taking and paying homage to classic wine regions of the World came from the Modest Butcher Restaurant at the winery.

They wanted a fresh take on wines to pour with their distinctive menu.

Have a look:

2021 The Elder Vicar.   Lazy River Vineyard. South Cawston. Similkameen Valley

A Noble blend of Riesling. Gew. Muscat. Pinot Gris (apples. peaches. apricots)  $24.99

A number of you will go crazy for this blend. I think it’s you people over there..in the corner.

2021 La Graves Robber.  57% Sauvignon Blanc and 43% Semillon. Grown in OK Falls. This has a future.

Ah, my kind of blend.  It has weight and texture. Grapefruit on the nose and palate. Spice. Ripe Melon. Herbs.

All are contained in stainless steel.  $27.99

2021 Eye of the Partridge. Pinot Noir Rose. I’ll leave the color story to Jeff.

Grown in South Cawston. On skins for somewhere between 2 hours and 5 minutes or 8 hours. 5 minutes and 24 seconds.

Clean. Dry. Minerality. Raspberry. Strawberry. Did i mention Minerality.  Herbs!  It’s freaking  Delicious!!  $24.99

2021 Steen Down So Long  – Chenin Blanc.  Acidity. Fresh. Inspired by the wines of Cape Good Hope. South Africa.

Aged on lees in Acacia Puncheons for 90 days before blending. Just finished the bottle. Go find this wine. $27.99

2020 By Jove.  Sangiovese. (with a touch of Merlot & Cab Franc)

Barreled aged 14 months. French, American, and Hungarian Oak.

Well done Ferreira Vineyards. Ripe black fruit. spice. cassis.

Love this wine.  Love it. Paired with ribs and BBQ chicken.  $29.99

Impressive finish. Seeking more immediately. You should too!

2020 Crimson Crusader – Carmenere from the Black Sage Bench.

Whole clustered. French Neutral Oak. 15% New.  14 months.

There may only be 2-3 Carms in the whole of Canada. This is one of them,.

Love your pepper?  Spice ?  Full expressive finish? This wine has it all.

$29.99  Buy early.  Small batch,.

www.mtboucherie.com

www.modestbutcher.com

@modestbutcher

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Moon Curser

Hillside Winery

Unsworth Vineyards

JP Customs/The Hatch

BC Wine Month

Spring Releases

OK Falls Pour Spring Wines In Vancouver.

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THE NARAMATA SHUFFLE

(Foxtrot. Moraine. Four Shadows)

THE SHOW

We hope you enjoyed our five week, 25 interview road trip through the Okanagan.

Along the way we ran into our pal Tina Baird from the Naramata Bench Wineries Association.

We’ve known each other a long time. Through film sets, festivals and movie premiers.

During our day on the Naramata Bench Tina somehow got us a table at the Naramata Inn for dinner.

As we departed an incredible meal, Tina  let me know that if I had any extra time she had three stories she thought wine fans  would appreciate.

Her suggestions became this show. Thank you Tina!

This weeks guests are:

Dwight Sick.   Chief Winemaker Moraine Winery (Naramata Bench) www.morainewinery.com

Really fine winemaker. 10 years at Stag’s Hollow. Now the Chief winemaker at Moraine on the Bench.

Pouring 2018 Reserve Riesling. Clone 49 (elegant. beautiful long finish)  2019  Pinot Noir Clone 777. (Classic Bench Pinot. Bliss)

“this bench is like Goldilocks. Not too hot. Not too cold. Just right”  Dwight Sick

Nathan Todd  President and GM  Foxtrot Winery (Naramata Bench) www.foxtrotwine.com

Even though he made his name working in very serious wine sales out of  New York City he did have a early connection to the Okanagan Valley.  Harvesting  fruit to make ends meet.

Years later  he blind tasted a Foxtrot Pinot. It may have changed his life. He never forgot that wine and years later convinced his wine friend Douglas Barzelay to eventually buy the winery from the Allander family.  Barzelay is one of the  World’s leading authorities on Burgundian wines. Their wine consultant is Veronique Drouhin from Domaine Joseph Drouhin. Torsten Allander’s son Gustav was retained as winemaker. Quite a team.

Nathan poured:

2 versions of Foxly Rose 2019/2020 (both instantly likeable. $24)

An Estate Vineyard 2019 Pinot Noir.  (everything a great Pinot should be. texture. balance. Defines a long finish.)

Nathan Todd Foxtrot

Wilbert and Joka Borren – Co-founders/Co-owners of Four Shadows. (Upper Bench . Naramata) www.fourshadowsvineyard.com

What a great story. Joka and Wilbert were pig farmers in Lacombe Alberta with four growing sons. They dreamed of moving to the Okanagan and being farmers there. That’s exactly what they did. They bought a forgotten vineyard on Upper Bench and decided to bring back the vineyards and plant their own vines to then sell the fruit to wineries.

Wilbert and Joka Borren

Along the way it made much more sense to become a winery and Four Shadows was born. The name is from a photo of their four sons.

Did I mention they had no wine knowledge but they knew how to farm pigs. I mean, how tough can it be to grow grapes?

They had amazing mentoring from Lindsay and Graham O’Rourke at Tightrope and consultant Pascal Madevon.  It paid off. They learned well.

You say “Pigs to Pinot”  They say “Swine to Wine.”

They poured

20o20 Rose 2020  Riesling Classic, 2020 Riesling Dry, 2020 Riesling sparkling, 2018 Pinot Noir  and 2018 Merlot.

Thank you Tina Baird, Naramata Bench. Thank you Barry and Carol Beecroft for “the swim”.

STORIES WERE WORKING ON:

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The 5^th and final week of Okanagan Reconnect

Presented by The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association

THE SHOW

We come to the last show in a series that started August 21^st (you remember August, right?)

The master plan was to reconnect with the people,  wineries and food of the Okanagan after a two-year hiatus.

So many changes, many Covid related.

Thankfully we found an excellent  supporting partner in TOTA – The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association. They sure know their territory. Top shelf management.

To my delight, I also got to re-connect with long-time friend  CEO Ellen Walker-Mathews and discovered the invaluable assistance of Rob Grifone. My thanks to both.

For week five we find ourselves back at our home base at Moon Curser Vineyards in Osoyoos. Got to stay and do the interviews at their fabulous Hideaway.

The whole thing is on Corey Wood’s video. (see below)

 Our final guests are:

 Beata and Chris Tolley – Our hosts at their gorgeous winery and the co-founders of Moon Curser Vineyards  www.mooncurser.com

Beata & Chris Tolley

Moon Curser

Pouring  2020 Arneis (the little rascal of Piedmont. A flinty white)  and 2019  Dead of Night

(a spectacular blend of Tannat and Syrah. Spicy/Opulent)

Paula Cooper – It was Paula’s  last day as winemaker at CC Jentsch (Golden Mile). Now she’s at  Lakeside.  (Osoyoos)  www.lakesidecellars.ca   www.CCJentschcellars.com

Paula Cooper

Just a note that Paula came by at my request,  as I wanted to salute her work at CC Jentsch and to honor her mentor Chris Jentsch who passed away recently.

The vineyards are up for sale now and likely the new owners will rebrand. This week’s Tasting Room Radio is dedicated to Chris and CC Jentsch.

Things got  emotional on both sides of the microphone.  We thank Paula for hanging in. Thanks also to Michael J McCoy for keeping CC Jentsch open until the end.

Chris and Betty Jentsch

Dan and Carol Scott – Co-founders of Lariana Cellars (Osoyoos)  www.larianacellars.com

At first taste, I knew these were special wines. When I discovered their mentors were Richard Cleave and Senka Tennant, that explained everything.

Dan and Carol listened and learned well. They brought and poured 2020 Viognier (one of the very best expressions in all of Canada) and 2018 Carmenere (glorious pepper heaven. 70% French Oak 27% new)

Dan and Carol Scott. Lariana

And that’s it –  25 interviews captured in one week and spread out over five weeks of shows. Now it’s time for you to do your own reconnect.

When it’s safe to do so please consider making plans to do your own week in the Okanagan Valley.

Senka Tennant Lariana

Remember to check out www.totabc.org  All the safety and planning info is there.

Lariana vineyards

Thank you TOTA.  Thank you, guests, Corey Wood and Meg.

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

A visit to Four Shadows

Dwight Sick at Moraine

Nathan Todd at  Foxtrot

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Talking with Platinum winners of  The Nationals and  next weeks Will Travel For Food

THE SHOW

The 20th National Wine Awards of Canada wrapped up earlier this month in Penticton. It’s the best such competition in Canada which is why they’re called “The Nationals”

It’s been fully 20 years since the first competition in 2001 drew 528 wines from 71 wineries, judged by eight men.  20 years later, 26 judges — 14 men and 12 women — tasted 2,075 entries from more than 260 wineries. 

Many of the judges have been guests on Tasting Room Radio and certainly, a great many of the wineries have appeared as well.

The Platinum winners were announced this week and I tried to find as many as I could – on the day.

“And so to the top drops – the best 1.4% of the 2075 wines entered in the 2021 National Wine Awards of Canada! To reach this rarified level is a major accomplishment of which the 24 different winemakers should be very proud. (Yes, there were four wineries with more than one platinum). The judges thank and congratulate you!”

David Lawrason – Mentor, organizer and judge

Platinum winning  guests include:

Jeff Martin – La Frenz  Founding Co-Owner/Lead Winemaker.

Jeff and Niva Martin

As I started to type this info I knew Jeff and La Frenz had won double platinum for:

2019 La Frenz Reserve Ensemble  (Naramata Bench)

La Frenz Non Vintage Liqueur Muscat (Naramata Bench)

and have now been named The  2021 Best Small Winery in Canada.

Here’s why –

6 Gold and 5 Silver

La Frenz N/V Liqueur Muscat
La Frenz 2019 Reserve Ensemble
La Frenz 2019 Reserve Chardonnay
La Frenz 2018 Cabernets Rockyfeller Vineyard
La Frenz 2020 Riesling Cl. 21B Freedom 75 Vineyard

For the record, the Best Performing Small Winery of the Year is awarded to the top-scoring winery that produces 10,000 cases of wine a year or less. The top 5 wines from each winery are used to calculate the winner. Congratulations to everyone at La Frenz.

The above all happened in real-time. Couldn’t be happier.

Jeff and Niva Martin.  Great people and really good friends. Fantastic staff!

www.lafrenzwinery.com

Jan Nelson  CEO Maverick Estate Winery  (Oliver)

2019 Maverick Bush Vine Syrah  – ironic because that’s what Jan and I talked about in July,  bush fires.

Maverick was judged the #3 Best Small Winery in Canada. Here’s why –

1 Platinum, 2 Gold, 3 Silver, 2 Bronze

Maverick 2019 Bush Vine Syrah
Maverick 2020 Amber Pinot Gris
Maverick 2019 Rubeus
Maverick 2020 Cross Road Chardonnay
Maverick 2020 Carbonic Syrah

www.maverickwine.ca

Evan Saunders  – Blasted Church  Winemaker  ( OK Falls)

Blasted Church was honored with double Platinum for:

2019 Blasted Church Big Bang Theory   Merlot driven Bordeaux Blend

2019 Blasted Church Cabernet Franc. Balanced, smooth, and round.  Beauty!

www.blastedchurch.com

Will Travel For Food

 Guests: 
Mia Glanz, Odd Society Bar Manager
Sam Shem, The Dessert Club Founder, and Chef

Will Travel for Food: Mexico to Spain features delicious Spanish and Mexican tapas and desserts by Sam Shem complemented by cocktails inspired by Odd Society Bar Manager Mia Glanz’s time spent in Mexico. Spanish cheese and meat boards, Albondigas, and Crema Catalana are just three of the traditional dishes guests can explore, alongside an inventive slate of drinks including El Diablo Slush, Margarita Tamarindo, and Sour al Pastor.

The Mexico to Spain menu will be priced à la carte and available at Odd Society Spirits (1725 Powell St.) on two nights only: November 18 and 19,  Reservations can be made through Tock.

Mia Glanz, Odd Society Spirits Bar Manager 
Mia Glanz is a cocktail bartender, writer and photographer usually found conducting the bar at Odd Society Spirits. The distillery is also her laboratory where she created and now produces her namesake liqueur, Mia Amata Amaro.

Mia Glanz

Its recipe is an extension of her studies in ethnobotany and traditional aphrodisiacs at the University of British Columbia. Her cocktail training was completed in Mexico City where she worked at Jules Basement and Maison Artemisia, two of the city’s top bars. Since then she has explored almost every part of the bartender profession, including writing about alcohol and cocktails, photographing cocktails, designing syrups, cocktail kits, cocktail menus, consulting for small and large establishments such as the Marriott Pinnacle Hotel, cocktail pairing dinners, competitions, events, pop-ups, and even a few private yacht parties. Mia lives between Mexico City and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Sam Shem, The Dessert Club Founder, and Chef
Sam Shem is an artist and pastry chef based in Vancouver. He is a graduate of Emily Carr University (BFA), Goldsmiths College, University of London (MA in Fine Art), and the Baking and Pastry Arts program at VCC. During the last 10 years, Sam’s focus has been on travel.

His passion for food has led him to discover specialty ingredients, organic farms, cooking classes with locals, and delicious meals in India, Japan, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Spain, Portugal, France, the UK, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Costa Rica, and the US. Sam is currently known for his simple yet playful takes on classic cakes and retro-inspired desserts. You can follow his dessert journey on Instagram @thedessertclubca.

This is a crazy interview. I had no idea what I was stepping into but really liked the mix. Desserts and Cocktails. Turns out it was far more than just desserts. Mia’s cocktails were well beyond my knowledge. It was like arriving in a foreign country with no language skills.

BUT – I needed to go there to learn and share. That’s what Tasting Room radio has always been about.

You ready?   Let’s go.

Reservations? – It will be sold out!!

https://www.oddsocietyspirits.com/contact/

Event Info

Here is the link to the Will Travel For Food: Flight One, Mexico to Spain.

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

More Winners of National Wine Awards

Cider tour of Vancouver Island and Gulf islands

Church and State

Tightrope

BC Zin

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New releases from SummerHill and Clos Du Soleil.

(Ezra Cipes & Michael Clark )

THE SHOW

 Ezra Cipes  – CEO   Summerhill Pyramid Winery (South Kelowna Slopes)

Ezra Cipes

Ezra Cipes was 5 years old when his family moved from New York in 1968! Since that epic move, he has grown up in the wine industry and feels blessed to now lead a company dedicated to creating beauty in collaboration with nature.

After working in the wine production cellar while attending public school in Kelowna, Ezra embarked on a career in music. He worked as a touring and session musician and became a published songwriter.

He and his daughter Ruth along with his brothers Ari, Gabe, and Mathew have created a band called The Oot ‘n Oots.   Making music for all ages.  For children, that can be appreciated and even liked by adults. The music they make is labeled Kindie and it’s growing every year.

Despite his love for music, Cipes has always felt called back to the vineyard. Home on the family farm, Ezra initiated a half-acre permaculture garden, selling vegetables and herbs to Summerhill’s onsite Sunset Organic Bistro. After reconnecting with the winery and the land, Cipes knew he needed to assume a greater role at the winery. He became Chief Operations Officer in 2008 and CEO in 2012. Recently Ezra has taken a leadership role in the Canadian wine industry as a director of the Canadian Vintners Association, Vice-Chair of the British Columbia Wine Institute, and Chair of the BC Wine Appellation Task Group!

Summerhill is the first biodynamic winery in Canada and shortly will become part of the wine-growing area known as South Kelowna Slopes. (along with Cedar Creek and St Hubertus)

Summerhill

We welcome back Ezra Cipes.  CEO of Summerhill and co-founder of The Oot ‘n Oots.  The new Oot’nOots album is Ponderosa Bunchgrass and The Golden Rule. 

Ezra brings new releases –

2020 Estate Grown Biodynamic Chardonnay $40

25%  in 500 liter oak barrels – 75% in stainless steel.  100% delicious!

2020 Estate Grown Biodynamic Riesling $29

Naturally fermented temperature-controlled stainless steel. These Riesling clone 21B vines were planted in – 1978!!

2020 Estate Grown Biodynamic Gruner Veltliner $28  Naturally fermented with ambient farm yeasts.  10-year-old vines.

2020 Estate Grown Biodynamic Pinot Noir $40  Fermented 10,000 litre oak tank. 3 months in Neutral oak barrels. Unfined/unfiltered

Cellar to 2030.

www.summerhill.bc.ca

https://www.theootnoots.com/

 Michael Clark – GM and Winemaker at Clos Du Soleil  (Similkameen)

Michael Clark

 Clos Du Soleil is a small artisan winery and estate vineyard on the Upper Bench of the South Similkameen Valley.

They produce ultra-premium quality wines, borrowing an aesthetic derived from the great wines of Bordeaux, but stamped with the flavors and aromas of their particular piece

of hard and rocky Similkameen land.

Through traditional winemaking techniques, informed by research, but adhering to the philosophies of minimal-interventionist winemaking and biodynamic viticulture,

they produce wines that are complex and classic, age-able, and truly elegant.

Winemaker Michael Clark presents two amazing releases.

2020 Capella – 80% Sauvignon Blanc 20% Semillon $28 (le Cote Vineyard)

Light gold in the glass. Aromas of grass and lemon/lime..grapefruit?

Flavors of peach & ripe apricot, pineapple, lemon & lime. Beautiful acidity.

Fermented in French Oak Puncheons. Barrel-aged 9 months. Blending together best barrel lots. Wow.

Can be cellared. Released end of November.  410 cases. Did I say wow – I meant WOW!

2020 Winemaker’s Series  100% Chardonnay – $24.90

Apple, lemon, floral notes.  Flavors of ripe melon, apple & pineapple.  Vanilla & oak. Wonderful texture and mouthfeel. Pale Yellow.

50% French Oak Puncheons and 50% stainless steel tanks. 352 cases.  Yowza!!

www.closdusoleil.ca

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Church and State

Hester Creek

Tightrope