hello

Our first NO/LOW Special   (a sober October)

THE SHOW

“a true sparkling Chardonnay. Noughty feels much more like an adult celebratory drink”

Jancis Robinson

“It is, hands down, the best alcohol-free sparkling wine I have ever tasted and one of the best alcohol-free wines I’ve tasted overall”

Wine Enthusiast

 Sophisticated no-alcohol and low-alcohol (no/low) options have never been more in demand, as people increasingly embrace the sober-curious, moderation, and health-conscious trends.  They’re searching out beverage alternatives for a host of reasons whether it’s health, personal, or faith-related, and they don’t want to compromise on experience or great taste.

Young and old, fit and foodies, high-performance and hedonist; we all still want to share a round of drinks with friends, just without the side effects that come from alcohol… because let’s be honest no one likes a hangover.

No matter who’s research you come across, the trend for No alcohol/Low alcohol is heading up. Up 31% by 2024.

The drinks world is experiencing a non-alcoholic revolution. Having gained momentum over the past couple of years, the interest in and consumption of no-alcohol drinks is continuing to rise across the globe…

At first glance, it appears to be driven by a desire to lead a healthier lifestyle and there’s no question the movement is gaining many fans.

The range of drinks has grown significantly over the past 10 months, and now includes an array of non-alcoholic lagers and ales, still and sparkling wines, pre-blended cocktails, spirits, tonics, mixers, and more.

This special is dedicated to the person who has been telling me to cover no/low for years – Meg Mulligan!!

Today’s guests are:

Amanda Thomson – CEO Thomson and Scott. (UK)  www.noughtyaf.com

Amanda is the CEO and founder of Thomson and Scott. She is at the leading edge of the global shift to alcohol-free drinking. Her first No release was Noughty, the first alcohol-free, organic, vegan, halal, low sugar sparkling wine.

Amanda Thomson

Amanda is also driving the debate for greater transparency in wine production and labeling and wants consumers to push to know what’s on their bottles. ‍
After countless years of really bad non-alcoholic offerings in Canada, you/we finally have a great choice in Noughty and others.

Sparkling Non-Alcoholic Chardonnay (grapes from La Mancha, Spain)

Pale color with a crisp & ripe apple nose. Tight bubbles. A light sweetness on the edges.

Sparkling Non-Alcoholic Rose  (grapes from la Mancha, Spain)

100% Tempranillo. Great colour with berries on the nose. Balance and acidity in the mouth. Delightful.

Mark Kuspira – Soft Crush (Calgary)  www.softcrush.ca

Mark is the founder of Crush Imports a wine and spirits import agency in Calgary.

July 16^th of this year he launched Soft Crush, bringing sophisticated No/Low alcohol releases for Canadian consumers searching out high-quality alternative beverages.

Mark saw a gap in the market for flavorful and authentic no/low beverages.

Mark brings the stories  behind:

Big Drop (UK) Alcohol-free craft beer. (bolder hoppier flavors) www.bigdropbrew.com

Pine Trail Pale Ale/Paradiso Citra IPA/Galactic Dark Noir

Odd Bird (Sweden) Working with French and Italian vineyards. They make their wines the same as everyone else – then – they take out the alcohol. Keeping the flavor. www.oddbird.com

Spumante Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine (Veneto, Italy)

Blanc de Blanc Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine (Languedoc-Roussillon France)

We also talk about a new release of a  Benjamin Bridge Piquette and others.

Lots of discussion of who the new No/Low consumers are. Many are driven by wellness and health reasons. Some by faith or a need to stay clear-headed for the changing world around them.

We take the whole hour to try and tell this trending story.

(Thank You Corey Wood)

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Thanksgiving wines

Church and State

Summer Hill – Home of the Oot ‘n Oots (Kelowna)

Tightrope.. (Naramata Bench)

Hester Creek – (Golden Mile)

Restaurant update

hello

Our first NO/LOW Special   (a sober October)

THE SHOW

“a true sparkling Chardonnay. Noughty feels much more like an adult celebratory drink”

Jancis Robinson

“It is, hands down, the best alcohol-free sparkling wine I have ever tasted and one of the best alcohol-free wines I’ve tasted overall”

Wine Enthusiast

 Sophisticated no-alcohol and low-alcohol (no/low) options have never been more in demand, as people increasingly embrace the sober-curious, moderation, and health-conscious trends.  They’re searching out beverage alternatives for a host of reasons whether it’s health, personal, or faith-related, and they don’t want to compromise on experience or great taste.

Young and old, fit and foodies, high-performance and hedonist; we all still want to share a round of drinks with friends, just without the side effects that come from alcohol… because let’s be honest no one likes a hangover.

No matter who’s research you come across, the trend for No alcohol/Low alcohol is heading up. Up 31% by 2024.

The drinks world is experiencing a non-alcoholic revolution. Having gained momentum over the past couple of years, the interest in and consumption of no-alcohol drinks is continuing to rise across the globe…

At first glance, it appears to be driven by a desire to lead a healthier lifestyle and there’s no question the movement is gaining many fans.

The range of drinks has grown significantly over the past 10 months, and now includes an array of non-alcoholic lagers and ales, still and sparkling wines, pre-blended cocktails, spirits, tonics, mixers, and more.

This special is dedicated to the person who has been telling me to cover no/low for years – Meg Mulligan!!

Today’s guests are:

Amanda Thompson – CEO Thompson and Scott. (UK)  www.noughtyaf.com

Amanda is the CEO and founder of Thompson and Scott. She is at the leading edge of the global shift to alcohol-free drinking. Her first No release was Noughty, the first alcohol-free, organic, vegan, halal, low sugar sparkling wine.

Amanda Thompson

Amanda is also driving the debate for greater transparency in wine production and labeling and wants consumers to push to know what’s on their bottles. ‍
Finally, after many years of really bad non-alcoholic offerings in Canada, you/we finally have a great choice in Noughty.

Sparkling Non-Alcoholic Chardonnay (grapes from La Mancha, Spain)

Pale color with a crisp & ripe apple nose. Tight bubbles. A light sweetness on the edges.

Sparkling Non-Alcoholic Rose  (grapes from la Mancha, Spain)

100% Tempranillo. Great colour with berries on the nose. Balance and acidity in the mouth. Delightful.

Mark Kuspira – Soft Crush (Calgary)  www.softcrush.ca

Mark is the founder of Crush Imports a wine and spirits import agency in Calgary.

July 16^th of this year he launched Soft Crush, bringing sophisticated No/Low alcohol releases for Canadian consumers searching out high-quality alternative beverages.

Mark saw a gap in the market for flavourful and authentic no/low beverages.

Mark brings the stories  behind:

Big Drop (UK) Alcohol-free craft beer. (bolder hoppier flavors) www.bigdropbrew.com

Pine Trail Pale Ale/Paradiso Citra IPA/Galactic Dark Noir

Odd Bird (Sweden) Working with French and Italian vineyards. They make their wines the same as everyone else – then – they take out the alcohol. Keeping the flavor. www.oddbird.com

Spumante Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine (Veneto, Italy)

Blanc de Blanc Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine (Languedoc-Roussillon France)

We also talk about a new release from Benjamin Bridge and others.

Lots of discussion of who the new No/Low consumers are. Many are driven by wellness and health reasons. Some by faith or a need to stay clear-headed for the changing world around them.

We take the whole hour to try and tell this trending story.

(Thank You Corey Wood)

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

SummerHill – Home of the Oot n Oots (Kelowna)

Tightrope.. (Naramata Bench)

Hester Creek – (Golden Mile)

Restaurant update

hello

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:

Soft Crush brings the no/low

A return to Summerhill

What now with restaurants?

hello

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

No/Lo

hello

THE SHOW

For all you wine fans looking to step up the quality of your weekly wines and then cellaring the same,  this week’s Tasting Room has two of the best wineries and wine leaders in one show.

Michael Clark – Clos Du Soleil

Michael Clark is the GM and Chief Winemaker at Clos du Soleil in the Similkameen Valley.

“we’re borrowing an aesthetic derived from Bordeaux – the art of blending – stamped with the flavors and aromas of Similkameen soil. “

Michael Clark Clos du Soleil

Clos du Soleil takes great pride in creating delicate wines, featuring beautifully ripe fruit and an amazing minerality. The “soil” in the Similkameen Valley is hard and unforgiving. However, if you can get the right vines to exist in that soil..the results are highly rewarding. For them and especially for you.

Michael is proud to taste and talk about these three wines, any one of which has the flavor and texture components to become your next go-to wine.

Chardonnay 2019

Pale Yellow. Scents of apple, lemon, and floral notes. On the palate lemon, pineapple, and a classic Similkameen minerality. No new oak but 8 months in barrels. Gently filtered just prior to bottling. $22.90.  A beauty!

Tasting Room -Clos du Soliel

Semillon 2019

Pale yellow. Aromas of pear, yellow apple, and lemon.

The palate is soft. A wonderful texture of ripe apple, peat, apricot, vanilla, and herbs.  Mostly fermented in stainless steel tanks but also some time in French oak puncheon.  Prior to bottling,  the barrel and tank components were blended and lightly filtered. $21.90.  More evidence that Semillon has a place in BC Wine.

Estate Reserve Red 2016

33% Cab/32% Merlot/20% Cab Franc/12% Petit Verdot/3% Malbec

Aromas of spice, cedar box, ripe black fruit, forest floor.

The palate combines black currant, licorice, and graphite. Tannins lead to a beautiful texture and mouthfeel.

This is just a beautifully structured joy.

Next time you have wine friends over and they’re going on about Bordeaux this and Napa that ..sneak this wine into the tasting and watch the smiles when you tell them who made it and where it’s from. $54.90

Fyi – The Signature 2016 won Gold at the Decanter Awards. Congratulations to the winemaking team.

www.closdusoleil.ca

Jon Adrian. Architectural, winery, and lifestyle photographer.

John Skinner – Proprietor of Painted Rock

Painted Rock Estate Winery was founded with a family legacy in mind by John and Trish Skinner in 2004. Named InterVin International Winery of the Year for 2018/2019, the winery produces primarily Bordeaux red varieties, along with a Chardonnay, Rosé, and Syrah.

The star of the winery is Red Icon – a true Bordeaux blend.  2017  has been nominated for Wine of the Year at the Decanter Awards.  Results in January! That’s a game breaker for any BC wine.

It’s been quite a year for John, his family, and his staff. Surrounded by wildfires, they were protected by the First Responder firefighters this summer. On the ground and especially in the air. The smoke from the fires spared the vineyards plus the smoke was blown south.

John got a great mention in the recent  NY Times article on BC Wines.

If anyone is going to lead BC wine into a World profile it very likely will be John Skinner and his peers.

Here’s what we tasted with Painted Rock.

Jon Adrian.  Adrian Photographers

Painted Rock  2016 Estate Grown Merlot

Clones 181 and 347. Hand-harvested, the wine was aged 18 months in French Oak. 30% was new.

Beautifully structured. There’s nothing flabby about this Merlot.

Is this the key to their award-winning blends?  Don’t bet against this Merlot.  Spectacular. The $34.99

Painted Rock 2016 Estate Grown Syrah.

Clones 99 and 100.

18 months in 30% New Oak.(80% French. 20% American)

And the other 70% was French Oak.

White and Black pepper abounds. Sage and lavender, all in one bottle.

If you can give this Syrah another couple of years in bottle, the reward should be outstanding.

If you can’t wait..it’s a really fine pour right now. $39.99

Painted Rock 2017 Estate Grown Red Icon

38% Merlot/21% Cab Franc/20% Petit Verdot/11 Cab/8Malbec/2% Syrah.

I ask John if the Merlot drives this bus.  He says it’s actually the 2% Syrah.

Notes of ripe black fruit, cassis, and whole nutmeg.

The palate reveals more black fruit, chocolate, and blueberry.

The tongue lingers on the smooth full texture and clean acidity.

It will get better and better with each vintage and each year in bottle.

Just like the owner, a true Icon. $59.99

www.paintedrock.ca

Jon Adrian. Architectural, winery, and lifestyle photographer. Kelowna Photographer / Okanagan Photographer / Painted Rock Winery / Waterfront Restaurant

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Zoom tasting at Yalumba

Maenam – The book

Noble Ridge

Sandra Oldfield – Back Again!!

Vanessa

Year 8 – The Four F’s in Kettle Valley

(Food. Fishing. Friends. Fluids)

Mayhem and Meyer – All in the Family

Fonseca Zoomathon from Portugal

Dining at Row 14 in Cawston

Sam Roberts – Music and Wine