Tasting Room Radio

July 28th, 2018 – Naramata Bench Spring Releases!

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NEW SPRING RELEASES FROM THE NARAMATA BENCH:

  

THE SHOW

 

SPRING!

 

Renewal. Bud Break. Real warmth in the day. Sunrise at 6am.

AND new releases from BC’s wineries.  Perhaps, the very best time of the year.

We spent almost 5 glorious years on the Naramata Bench.

It was everything we had hoped it would be. A mix of farms, food, wineries and really fine people.

Now, when they make their annual Spring Wine Release trip into Vancouver and Victoria  it feels like old home week.

 

Tailgate Party

I have the wonderful job of sitting down and getting re-acquainted with familiar faces and new wines.

For you wine fans  joining us, it’s a chance to perhaps,  find your wine of the year or at the very least your Spring/Summer.

 

Our guests this week include:

Val Tait  – Winemaker and GM at Bench 1775  www.bench1775.com

Senka Tennant – Co-Owner &  Winemaker at TerraVista www.terravistavineyards.com

Dominic McCosker – Winemaker at La Frenz www.lafrenzwinery.com

Riley Hollenbach – Winemaker at Red Rooster www.lafrenzwinery.com

Kathy Malone – Winemaker at Hillside www.hillsidewinery.ca

Matt Mikulic – Winemaker at Three Sisters  www.3sisterswinery.com/Wines

Bob Ferguson – Co-Owner & Winemaker at Kettle Valley  www.kettlevalleywinery.com/

Del Halliday – co-owner and winemaker at Elephant Island www.elephantislandwine.com

Gavin Miller – co-owner and winemaker at Upper Bench  www.upperbench.ca

Lindsay O’Rourke – Co-owner and Winemaker at Tightrope  www.tightropewinery.ca

 

www.naramatabench.com/our-wineries

http://www.winesofcanada.com/naramata.html

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

 

www.tastingroomradio.com

 

 

 

 

 

April 21st, 2018- Top Drop Vancouver !

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Full Natural Wines  with Lock & Worth &  Bella, Top Drop 2018 and The Okanagan Wine Initiative

 

THE SHOW

 

Matthew SherLOCK and Ross HackWORTH.  Lock and Worth. 

Jay Drysdale and Bella…

 Want to get a sense of BC’s wine future?  Matt and Jay will be a the very front, leading the movement.

Honest, single vineyard wines of time and place – priced for everyday consumption.

Mathew Sherlock

 We strongly believe that one should be able to drink high quality, single vineyard (non-commodity), small production wines that are priced reasonably from British Columbia. We plan to be around 20 years from now, not by becoming a large company but by creating a sustainable business within our community. For us part of that means making wines that always over deliver

 Sherlock and Hayworth farm organically and work the vineyards by hand whenever possible. They use native yeasts for fermentations, limited sulfur, and a gentle touch that avoids punch downs or pumping over or racking during élevage. The wines are bottled without fining or filtration.

Up the road at Bella, is a winery owned by Jay Drysdale and his wife, Wendy Rose. Bella only makes sparkling wines and only works with Chardonnay and Gamay Noir.

Bella ’s annual production is 2000 cases, split between a vineyard series and a natural series. Each wine in the vineyard series highlights a single grape, from a single vineyard, and single vintage. Dry-farmed and organic vineyards from Kelowna to Kamloops supply the fruit. The natural series uses the same vineyards, plus Bella’s four-acre estate vineyard.

The vineyard series wines are made using the traditional Champagne method, with commercial yeasts and sugar added to the wine to trigger a second fermentation. Jay and Wendy make the natural series wines by pressing whole cluster grapes and allowing wild yeast fermentation to begin in neutral barrels.

No additives, allowing fermentation to finish in the bottle.  This process is called méthode ancestral and Bella is the first winery in western Canada to use it.

Jay and Wendy

 

The natural process causes some of the bottles to be cloudy.  As Jay has said “Yes, they’re cloudy. Get over it”

Here’s a quote from a go-to wine human Kurtis Kolt in the Georgia Straight

Natural wine.  It’s wine made with minimal intervention. This means organic (and sometimes biodynamic) farming (without the use of pesticides and such), naturally occurring ferments with wild yeasts in the cellar, and winemaking without fining, filtration, or manipulation.

 

Kurtis Kolt –  Top Drop 2018

Kurtis Kolt

Wonderful and Unique two-day festival brings together international wineries, craft breweries, cideries, gastronomy & more. At Roundhouse Mews in Yaletown.

On May 17th and 18th 2018, Top Drop Vancouver returns, with a continued focus on sustainably-farmed, handcrafted wines offering a distinct sense of place, without heavy-handed winemaking trickery to get in the way.

Roundhouse

They believe in the importance in farming one’s own fruit and/or being constantly engaged with grape-growers to ensure sustainability and a high standard of viticultural practices. They believe in wines that reflect their vintage, and wines that aren’t suffocated by vinicultural trickery. They believe in winemaking decisions that are made by a winemaker, and not by a board of directors or marketing team. They believe in those who take chances. They believe these kinds of wines, honest wines of integrity, need a time and place to have their story told.

They also believe craft beer, cider, along with authentic and sustainable produce, dairy, meat, and seafood are part of the same conversation, which is why they ’re proud to showcase some of the very best in those areas.

An Astonishing gathering of wine professionals.  Check out all the guests and details at

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/top-drop-vancouver-2018-main-event-tickets-44277154160

 

Christine Coletta Member of Okanagan Wine Initiative (Haywire)

 

Tdm & Christine Coletta

Even after doing the interview I’m still not quite sure what the role of this 7 member group will be. The thing is, they’re capable of doing just about anything they set their minds to.

The story broke just before we went to air and I made a cold call to Christine Coletta from Okanagan Crush Pad to try and get the essence of the story.

Here’s the press release:

Seven leading BC wineries: 50th Parallel Estate Winery, Culmina Family Estate Winery, Haywire Wines, Liquidity Wines, Painted Rock Estate Winery, Poplar Grove Winery, and Summerhill Pyramid Winery, have formed a partnership, The Okanagan Wine Initiative.

The association groups together seven Okanagan wineries to share resources and collaborate on varying projects internationally, across Canada, and in their home market, British Columbia. The members share a common passion to drive one-another to excel and adopt best business practices and to help elevate the identity of the Okanagan as a premium wine producing region and superb wine tourism destination.

I do know one thing..this group..these thinkers and doers..will make things happen and this week may be the start of BC taking its expanded place in the World of Wine.

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

The Naramata Bench Wineries pour new releases in Victoria.

The Okanagan Falls Wineries pour new releases in Vancouver.

 

 

April 14th, 2018-The Artisans of Vancouver Island & The Gulf Islands

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13 guests for The Annual “Locals Only 3.0″The Artisans of Vancouver Island & The Gulf Islands.

 

THE SHOW

 

It was an afternoon exploring the diversity & creativity of our coastal producers.

Through the interviews below we get to meet the farmers, fermenters and distillers that define our cool climate coastal appellation.

 

Event photos by @socialtyvr

 

This is Locals Only 3.0 – 2018

No fancy marketing campaigns or graphic trickery.  Just an opportunity to taste clean honest products from the producers who are defining our cool climate coastal appellation. 

  • Speak with the producers who were natural before it was fashionable
  • Learn more about distilling while speaking with a Master
  • Meet and taste with the people who planted the vines and then made the wine


Locals Only is about keeping it real, real honest and really local.

 

Organic estate farming , clean winemaking , neutral barrels & vessels, amphora, orange wines, concrete, spontaneous ferments, dry farming + way more. Discover the next destination you just have to check out.

Off Shore craft makers.

 

Guests include:

 Massey Wines –  Louise Fedyk.  Co-Organizer of event  http://www.masseywines.com/

 Mike Rathjen – Rathjen Cellars  https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgo92Vuntu8/

Mike Nierychlo –  Emandare Vineyards  http://www.emandarevineyard.com/    

Dave Brimacombe – Wayward Distillery (Unruly Gin/Vodka) https://www.instagram.com/p/BgpPVn3Hw0U/

Jason MacIsaac – Sheringham Distillery  https://www.sheringhamdistillery.com/

Andy Johnson  – Averill Creek  https://www.averillcreek.ca/

Loretta Zanatta – Zanatta Vineyards https://zanatta.ca/

Chris Turyk – Unsworth  https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgr0mocH0rh/

Bailey Williamson – Blue Grouse https://www.bluegrouse.ca/Home

Dan Dragert – Kutatas Vineyards ( Koo Tah Tass) You’re on your own. Well worth The Search.

Brenda Hetman-Layne – 40 Knots  https://www.instagram.com/p/BgkFfRknXdL/   

Marilyn Venturi –   Venturi-Schulze Vineyards  https://www.instagram.com/p/BgraOj7nK_o/

Julia Powell – Alderlea Vineyards  https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgtz5m0HCrX/

 


@averillcreek
@unsworthvineyards
@alderleavineyards
@vswine
@bluegrousewines

 

  

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

 Bella – Jay Drysdale goes full frontal bubble. (All natural)

Lock and Worth – Matt Sherlock finds balance between Nichol and  Lock & Worth (All natural)

Naramata Bench Pours in Victoria. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 7th, 2018 – Jann Arden Returns to the Tasting Room!

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Jann Arden returns To The Tasting Room.

(joined by  Ricasoli, La Crema, Giant Head and Gurvinder Bhatia)

 

THE SHOW

Gurvinder Bhatia   (Quench magazine)

  

 

Gurvinder Bhatia

 

The first two interviews took place at this year’s VanWineFest.

After 2 One hour specials,  I grabbed my  recorder and sought out journalist Gurvinder Bhatia and  Winemaker Craig McAllister,  at La Crema.

Gurvinder is well known in wine circles. As a judge, educator and reviewer.

Wine Editor for Quench Magazine, columnist for The Edmonton Journal and  for Global TV (Edmonton). He’s currently the wine buyer for  UnWined in Edmonton.  He specializes in Italian wines.

Because of his legal background and the fact he lives in Alberta, I thought we could talk about wines and BC’s  wines banned in Alberta.

http://quench.me/

 

Craig McAllister – Winemaker at Le Crema (Sonoma)

A New-Zealand native, Craig McAllister spent his first 20 years in Christchurch, New Zealand, then lived in London for six years. He has travelled extensively throughout the world. He found himself drawn not just to the wine industry, but to the wine lifestyle due to his love of cooking, traveling and being outdoors. This led him to Lincoln University in New Zealand, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in viticulture and enology.

Craig McAllister La Crema

 

 

Craig’s deep passion for winemaking has taken him all over the world, from New Zealand to Australia, Chile and Cyprus. Craig first joined the La Crema team in 2007 as the Harvest Enologist.

After gaining additional experience abroad, he joined the La Crema team full-time in 2009.

He has been a steward of La Crema’s Monterey program and worked extensively on the Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. He also helped to further develop La Crema’s esteemed collection of single vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. He was promoted to head winemaker in 2017.

https://www.lacrema.com

 

 

Francesco Ricasoli  – (Barone Ricasoli)

Francesco Ricasoli

The name Ricasoli has been associated to wine since 1141, when Brolio Castle was acquired by the Ricasoli family.

 

Bettino Ricasoli (1809 – 1880) was the promoter of the most famous Italian wine in the world today: Chianti.

Today it is the largest domaine in the Chianti Classico area: Castello di Brolio, where Baron Bettino Ricasoli came with the Chianti formula in 1872, is surrounded by 1,200 hectares in the towns of Gaiole and Castelnuovo Berardenga.

Since 1993 Francesco Ricasoli  is the 32nd  family member to lead  the family winery. Second oldest in the World and oldest in Italy.

We welcome the charming Francesco to Tasting Room Radio.

 

https://ricasoli.com/en

 

Jann Arden – Feeding My Mother: Comfort and Laughter in the Kitchen as my Mother Lives With Memory Loss.

“Jann Arden is one of the most honest and talented women I’ve ever met, and her love for her mother is so rich.” —Chef Lynn Crawford

Even though Jann and I have known each other for 30 years it didn’t make the book any easier to read.

The pain of watching her Mother fade away commands each and every page of this cookbook and then you turn the page and it’s

a recipe for split pea soup.

We talk about dealing with the slow loss of her Mother and “Candy Grams for Mongo”

That’s exactly what a Jann Arden concert is like..crazy fun one moment and heart wrenching  the next.

As each day steals more and more of her Mother’s  memory, it’s her  kitchen  and the food in it that connects  Jann and her Mother.

Amazing book.

Fascinating performer.

Wonderful friend.

www.jannarden.com

https://penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/562454/feeding-my-mother#9780735273924

 

John Glavina – Owner of Giant Head Winery  (Summerland)

 

John was born in Montreal in 1960. His father, an immigrant from Malta, was a computer technician with Honeywell. In 1985 the family moved to Vancouver where John  graduated from SFU with a  degree in computer science, with a minor in business.

John Glavina

He met his wife Jinny Lee at SFU and together they had a dream  of owning a farm.

Finally in 2002, the couple and their two children moved to the Okanagan and bought an apple orchard near Summerland.  After a couple of years farming apples Jinny Lee  admitted grapes would be better.

They grow Pinot Noir, Merlot, Gewürztraminer and – for blending with the latter – about 100 vines of Riesling. Both took viticulture courses but John leaves much of the viticulture up to Jenny Lee.

First they were strictly growers but then came their  2014  vintage. It was the first one they sold.

 

My pal Herschel Miedzygorski  invited me to attend the release of the latest Giant Head wines..at Tap and Barrel right next door to the Convention Centre. It was John’s birthday and a new release pour. The room was jumping.

John was  proud of his Canyonview Chardonnay, his 2016 Merlot, a  2016 Pinot Noir, a Rose made from Merlot and his 2016 Blanc De Blanc,  made from his Pinot.

 

 

 

 

 

I couldn’t get anywhere near Jenny Lee with my microphone as she was being congratulated by a large group of friends all night long.

 

www.giantheadwinery.com

 

 

Stories we are working on:

  • IVSA Pour in Victoria
  • BC Cider Festival. North Vancouver
  • Locals Only – Granville Island
  • Naramata Bench Pours on the Coast
  • Spring releases from OK Falls
  • Matt Sherlock (Lock and Worth/Nichol Vineyards) and Jay Drysdale (Bella) Natural Wines and New Directions

 

 

 

March 31st, 2018 – Parksville Uncorked!

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Untapped and  Uncorked in Parksville – with special guests!!

 

THE SHOW

 

A truckload of fun. Heading for the 10th annual Parksville on Vancouver Island.

Half of the weekend takes place at the Beach Club Resort and the other half at Tigh Na Mara.

https://www.beachclubbc.com

www.tigh-na-mara.com

10th Annual Parksville Uncorked Wine, Food & Beer Festival

Join us for the 10th Annual Parksville Uncorked : Sip savour, mix and mingle while sampling some of BC’s best:

– The craft brewers, Cider makers  and Spirits gathered at Untapped at The Beach Club Resort on the Thursday
– The Wine Tasting signature gala event, Swirl was  at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre on the Friday.

 

– Orofino and Dirty Laundry winemakers dinners on the Saturday at both resorts.
– and the whole weekend ended, as it should, at  Bubbles & Brunch at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre on the closing  Sunday.

Feature interviews with:

John Weber – Orofino Winery. Owner and Winemaker  (Similkameen Valley)

Mason Spink – Dirty Laundry. Winemaker.   (Summerland)

Joseph Luckhurst –  Business Manager/Leader  Road 13  (Golden Mile Bench Oliver)

Chef Eric Edwards – Executive Chef  (Tigh Na Mara)

 

Also quick chats with:

Chris Silvestri –  Category 12 Brewing  (Victoria)

Dave Paul – Brew master and Owner at Love Shack Libations ( Qualicum)

Love Shack

Dave Woodward – Head Brewer  Mount Arrowsmith Brewing  (Parksville)

Carmen Parry  Dominion Cider  (Summerland)

 

www.dominioncider.com

www.dirtylaundry.ca

www.road13vineyards.com

www.orofinovineyards.com

www.tigh-na-mara.com

www.beachclubbc.com

www.arrowsmithbrewing.com

www.category12beer.com

www.visitparksvillequalicumbeach.com/things-to-do-parksville-uncorked

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

  • IVSA Pour in Victoria
  • BC Cider Festival. North Vancouver
  • Locals Only – Granville Island
  • John Glavina – Giant Head Wines
  • Craig McAllister – Winemaker at La Crema Russian River
  • Gurvinder Bhatia – Edmonton Wine Expert at VanWineFest
  • Naramata Bench Pours on the Coast
  • Spring releases from OK Falls
  • Matt Sherlock (Lock and Worth/Nichol Vineyards) and Jay Drysdale (Bella) Natural Wines and New Directions

March 24th, 2018- Oaxaca City, Mexico!

hello

Heading to The Home of true Mexican Cooking in Oaxaca with Susana Trilling.

 

The SHOW

 

Cheers and welcome to Year 10 of Tasting Room Radio.

You can find the Podcast on iTunes, Airs at 11am Pacific every Saturday at Roundhouse Radio 983 Vancouver.

Alex Chen – Canadian Culinary Championships – Gold Medal Winner

 

Chef Alex Chen wins GoldWe start in Vancouver at the Boulevard Restaurant at The Sutton Place Hotel with Gold Medal Winning Chef Alex Chen.

He’ll be answering the question – How did he do it?  How did he beat the very best chefs in Canada in the Canadian Culinary Championships.

He’s a totally engaging and passionate guest, very much like his cooking.

Alex  was one of 11 chefs who won Gold Medal Plates regional competitions held across the country in 2017 to earn the right to compete in the national championships, which began with a Mystery Wine pairing event on Friday night and continued Saturday with a Black Box competition that allowed chefs just one hour to prepare a dish using seven mystery ingredients.

The two events culminated in Saturday night’s grand finale, where Chen prepared the same signature Parfait of Wild BC Shellfish, ‘Chowder’, Northern Divine Caviar and Bull Kelp ‘Brioche’ — paired with Sea Star Estate Farm and Vineyards’ 2016 Ortega from Pender Island, BC — that earned him top spot at the Gold Medal Plates regional competition in Victoria, BC last October.

Please meet our first guest Chef Alex Chen.  Pure Gold!

www.boulevardvancouver.ca

/blvdyvr on Facebook / @blvdyvr on Twitter and Instagram.

 

Susana Trilling – Seasons of my Heart  –  Oaxaca, Mexico

 

SusanaTrillingOaxaca (Wha-haka) is the home of traditional Mexican cooking. It’s also the epicenter of Mescal and Mole Sauces.

How lucky was I to find a place to sit in the shade in a small courtyard and see her sign right in front of me?

Surely,  here was a perfect guest for the show. A chef and author who discovered the historic centre of true Mexican cooking and never left. Teaching and advocating as she went.

 

 

Check out just a small part of Susana’s personal history.

 

Susana Trilling is a chef, teacher, caterer, author, TV hostess, food consultant and director of Seasons of My Heart Cooking School and Sazon de Mi Corazon S.A. de C.V., producing gourmet Mexican products.

She owned 2 NYC restaurants, a restaurant in Fremantle, Western Australia and has lived in Oaxaca since 1988, where her two sons were born and raised on her ranch outside of the city.

She wrote My Search for the Seventh Mole and Seasons of My Heart; A Culinary Journey through Oaxaca, Mexico to accompany her 13 part PBS series, that ran for 6 years.

 

A renowned authority on Oaxacan cuisine, Susana has filmed and hosted numerous TV programs in addition to her own series including: Two Hot Tamales, MexicoOne Plate at a Time with Rick Bayless A Cooks Tour with Chef Anthony Bourdain, Andrew Zimmern’s  Bizarre FoodsThe Diary of a Foodie, and Jeff Corwin’s series Extreme Cuisine.

 

. She was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Oaxacan International Food and Wine Festival in 2002 and in 2012 was presented with the Espiga de Oro Award for her work promoting Oaxacan cuisine internationally. She has been featured at many Food and Wine and Cacao Festivals and been a celebrity chef at CIA San Antonio’s annual Paella Challenge.

Susana’s company, Sazon de mi Corazon, SA de CV produces the Seasons of My Heart line of gourmet Mexican food products available internationally in both retail and food service presentations.

She is a member of Slow Food, IACP, The Mexican Mycology Association and is currently promoting her newest book, titled  FromMilpa Seed to Salsa, written in collaboration with CEDICAM and others about rural Mixtecan farmers in Oaxaca, their system of growing organically and sustainably and the recipes that result.

 

mole!

 

 

 

Please enjoy this mid-afternoon chat with Susana Trilling. If you get a chance please Google her complete history. It’s fascinating.

 

http://seasonsofmyheart.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oaxaca City is quite simply an amazing city, full of sensational food, extremely friendly people and fantastic history! Go VISIT!

 

Paola ManriquezManager of La Contra  Mexican Wine Store in Oaxaca

 Paola was nervous that her English wasn’t good enough for radio.

I was concerned that I would butcher every label pronunciation.

Somehow we managed to pull it off.

Paola Manriquez

 

We won’t ever see a lot of Mexican wines in Canada. A basic fact of life there is that Tequila has the inside political track and the Government’s attention. Not surprisingly, the Mexican government makes it almost impossible to export or even carry their wines back home with you.

It’s a damn shame because their wines are getting so much better as young winemakers learn their craft in the USA and then return to bring change to the wines back home.

I was delighted to find La Contra open for business and selling only small independent local and regional wines with Ensenada and the Guadalupe Valley leading the way.

 

There are La Contra stores opening across Mexico, so keep an eye out.

 

Calle Gomez Farías 212-B
Colonia Centro C. P. 68000
Oaxaca, Oax.

 

 

Tel. 01 951 5152335 o 5157977
Cel. 9515471082

[email protected]
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[email protected]

Alison Moyes  – Winemaker.  Liquidity Wines (OK Falls)  Wins Gold at Chardonnay du Monde

Liquidity Wines estate-grown 2016 Chardonnay Reserve has been listed as the number one wine in the Top 10 Chardonnays to receive Gold medals at the recent 2018 Chardonnay du Monde Awards.

Alison Moyes

The Awards recognize the world’s best Chardonnays as evaluated by a panel comprised of 300 international experts. This year, 679 wines from 39 countries were tasted by the judges.

Liquidity’s award-winning 2016 Chardonnay Reserve features layered aromas of toasted almond, pear and peach with a subtle whisper of allspice. Complex yet well-balanced, the wine captures flavours of lime zest, pineapple, lemon curd and intense minerality, and leaves a lingering finish on the palate. The wine will be available for purchase in April to Liquidity’s Equity Tasting Club members, followed by Club Liquidity members ($42, plus tax); it will also be available in the winery tasting room in July (while supplies last).

Liquiditywines.com.

Originally from Southern Ontario, Alison moved to Halifax  to attend Dalhousie University and pursue an interest in science, studying Microbiology. During this time, she had the opportunity to work at some of Halifax’s finest restaurants. As her palate developed, she began to consider a career in winemaking and acquired a degree in Oenology & Viticulture from Brock University.

Following several seasons working in the Niagara region, the Okanagan beckoned. Alison brings experience from two top wineries in the Okanagan, having worked under Pascal Madevon at Osoyoos Larose and as Winemaker for Stoneboat Vineyards for five years.

The big surprise is that although she obviously can craft a world class Chardonnay, Alison at heart is a 100% Pinot Head.

When the Chard runs out,  as it certainly will, I urge you to taste the Pinot Noirs.

And the Viognier and Pinot Gris.  OK… just try everything!

www.liquiditywines.com

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Parksville Unplugged and Untapped

IVSA Pour in Victoria

John Weber  (Orofino)

Joe Luckhurst (Road 13)

BC Cider Festival. North Vancouver

Locals Only – Granville Island

John Glavina – Giant Head Wines

Craig McAllister – Winemaker at La Crema Russian River

Gurvinder Bhatia – Edmonton Wine Expert ay VanWineFest

Naramata Bench Pours on the Coast

Spring releases from OK Falls

 

 

 

March 10th, 2018- Van Wine Fest part 2!

hello

Hour Two of 2018 VanWineFest

 

THE SHOW

 

Last week’s show focused of Spain and Portugal.

This week its friends and neighbours.

BC, Washington, California, Nova Scotia and a final Spanish Winemaking Star Alvaro Palacios.

Loved doing this hour.  Winemaking friends from all over sharing thoughts and opinions.

VANCOUVER, BC – FEBRUARY 26: The 2015 Vancouver Wine Festival at the Vancouver Convention Centre February 26, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick)

 

We talk about the Alberta Wine Ban and its effect.

I felt it was important that I ask the question “What are you pouring here today and why?”

Co-hosts were Sandra Oldfield and Daenna van Mulligen (The Wine Diva). They did a great job!

www.WineDiva.ca  /  https://sandraoldfield.com

Guests include:

 

DJ Kearney – Wine Director www.NewDistrict.ca

Christine Coletta – Co-Owner of Okanagan Crush Pad (Haywire)   https://okanagancrushpad.com

Galen Barnhardt – Winemaker at Monte Creek. Kamloops https://www.montecreekranchwinery.com/

Chris Turyk – Brand Ambassador Unsworth. Cowichan Valley https://www.unsworthvineyards.com

Bruce Ewert – Co-Owner/Winemaker L’Acadie Vineyards. Nova Scotia www.lacadievineyards.ca

Howard Soon – Head Winemaker Vanessa Vineyards www.vanessavineyard.com

John Skinner – Owner Painted Rock www.paintedrock.ca

Nikki Callaway – Winemaker Quails Gate https://www.quailsgate.com

Kurtis Kolt – The Bottle / Georgia Straight. Top Drop Vancouver. www.kurtiskolt.com

Calla Bischoff – Sileni Estates NZ https://www.sileni.co.nz

Jim Robertson – Stoneleigh  NZ  www.stoneleigh.com

Alvaro Palacios – Spanish wine legend  www.rarewineco.com/producer/alvaro-palacios

Ray Signorello –  Owner Signorello Estates. Napa  https://signorelloestate.com

Randy Ullom  – Chief Winemaker – Kendall-Jackson.  Sonoma www.kj.com

Eugene Mylnczyk.  Master of Wine . Charles Smith Wines. Washington https://www.charlessmithwines.com

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

Alex Chen – Gold Medal Winning Chef

John Glavina – Giant Head Wines

Naramata Bench pours on the Coast

Susana Trilling – Seasons of my Heart Oaxaca, Mexico

Craig McAllister – Head Winemaster  La Crema Russian River Valley

John Weber – Owner.  Orofino Vineyards. Similkameen Valley

CC Jentsch – On the Golden Mile Bench

 

 

 

 

 

February 24th, 2018 – New Zealand Part 2

hello

Tour Number 2 of New Zealand begins in Hawkes Bay where Syrah is King..through the legendary Gimblett Gravels… and finishes on the south Island  in Nelson at NZ’s first Maori owned and operated winery.

North island

North Island

 

[divider]

THE SHOW

  Part 1 of our wine tour of New Zealand took us through the Auckland area and on to Hawkes Bay and that’s where we begin Part 2.   Elephant Hill Elephant Hill Elephant Hill is a stunning and innovative winery estate and restaurant located on the idyllic Te Awanga coast, in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand.

They create 2 very fine chardonnays piggyslots , Sauv blanc, a white & red blends called Le Phant Blanc/Rouge and a 5 star Viognier and favour Syrah on the Red side.. We sit down in their fabulous restaurant with Viticulturist Jon Peet and sales and marketing leader Vince Labatt. The word I get from the NZ wine business is… watch these guys..they’re very good.   http://www.elephanthill.co.nz/

 

Pask Staying in the Hawkes Bay area on North Island NZ we head for Pask.

 

On Roys Hill Overlooking Gimblett Gravels with Greg Allinson (Pask)

On Roys Hill Overlooking Gimblett Gravels with
Greg Allinson (Pask)

On our tour of NZ #1 we talked to Kate Ranburnd the famous winemaker at Pask. This time we take to the Gimblett Gravels fields and meet the guys who grow in that stunning region. Gimblett Gravels Gimblett Gravels     Pask’s 59 hectares of vineyards are located on Gimblett Road where Chris Pask was first to plant in the region now known as the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing District®.

Formed over 100 years ago when the Ngaruroro River changed its course, the light, stony soils of the region are low in nutrients, completely free draining, and create the perfect environment for growing premium quality grapes. Their  very first vintage of 1985 Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded 5 stars in Cuisine Magazine.

Since then Pask wines have consistently enjoyed gold medal and  trophy success in London, Australia, Asia, the United States, Canada and New Zealand across a range of varietals and winestyles. Pask is one of New Zealand’s leading wineries with an enviable reputation for excellence  around the world for over 25 years. Pask has been a member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ) since its inception.

Kate Radburnd spent five years as Chair of the SWNZ advisory/working group. I get to  meet Danny van Selm

Greg-Allinson-marketing-and-Danny-van-Selm-vineyard-manager-at-Pask

Greg-Allinson-marketing-and-Danny-van-Selm-vineyard-manager-at-Pask

 the vineyard manager and Greg Allinson – direct sales and marketing manager. Interview takes place on a picnic table under a large tree  in the middle of Gimblett Gravels.   http://www.pask.co.nz/

Trinity Hill Their  story began in 1987 when John Hancock met Robert and Robyn Wilson in their London restaurant Bleeding Heart. Over a bottle of John’s award-winning Chardonnay, the concept of a Hawkes Bay winery was born. They were convinced they could produce world-class red wines as well as white in this region of New Zealand.

John recognized the outstanding potential of Hawkes Bay’s Gimblett Gravels winegrowing district and in 1993 Trinity Hill became one of the region’s early pioneers, planting grape vines on a barren plot on the former bed of the Ngaruroro River. The first Gimblett Road wines, barrel-aged, were released in 1998 (vintage 1997); Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot and Syrah, to critical acclaim and a number of gold medals and trophies. In 2000, a further 20 hectare parcel of prime Gimblett Gravels land was purchased, named “Gimblett Stones” where Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot plus areas of Tempranillo, Syrah and Viognier were planted.

By 2001 The Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Association was set up with 34 wineries and winegrowers from a “terroir”-defined area of the old Ngaruroro Riverbed, including Gimblett Road. Trinity Hill was and remains a founding member. In 2002, the first vintage super-premium wine Homage Syrah was made. When it was released in 2004 it received critical acclaim world-wide. The 2006 vintage of Homage Syrah won the Supreme Award at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards in 2007. John Hancock is our guest http://www.trinityhill.com/ http://www.gimblettgravels.com/

Sileni Estates Sileni Estates is a major vineyard and winery development in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand’s oldest established vineyard area. The first vintage was in 1998. Sileni boasts a state of the art winery designed to crush over 1500 tonnes of grapes.

sileni estate

Sileni Estate

The  Winemaking Team strive to maintain high standards in environmentally sustainable viticultural and winemaking practices Our Guests are  Winemaker   Grant Edmonds and Senior winemaker Rachael Garnham (currently on Mat leave. Two 1 year old twins)) With over 20 years experience in the New Zealand wine industry, including the position of Chief Winemaker for the Villa Maria Group and Esk Valley Estates, Grant now leads a team of talented winemakers and viticultural staff who all share Grant and Sileni Estates’ commitment to the vision of making internationally acclaimed wines.

They grow wines in a new sub-region of Gimblett Gravels The Bridge Pa Triangle Wine District in Hawke’s Bay has recently been launched to celebrate and promote one of New Zealand’s premium wine-growing sub-regions.  The area extends over more than 2,000 hectares on the western side of the Heretaunga plains and includes the largest concentration of quality vineyards in Hawke’s Bay.  It now has 10 winery members, including Sileni Estates. Sileni Estates has implemented and maintains both the ISO14001 and Sustainable Winegrowing certification.

http://www.sileni.co.nz/

Mission Estate

 In 1838 a group of French Missionaries (with the blessing of the Pope)

arrived and established a Marist Mission in the north of New Zealand. 1851 In 1851 a mission station was established near the Ngaruroro River between Napier and Hastings at Pakowhai.  In 1858, the missionaries moved to land they had purchased at Meeanee and a major community was established.

Mission Estate

Mission Estate

A cottage for living quarters was transported from Pakowhai and later a Church, school and study halls were built.  Vines were planted to produce both sacramental and table wine.  The first record of a commercial sale dates back to 1870 when a parcel of mostly dry reds were sold. Today Mission Estate is Hawke’s Bay’s oldest winery, with a well-respected reputation in the New Zealand market as a producer of consistent quality, value for money wines. Winemaker Paul Mooney  Paul Mooney has been the winemaker at Mission Estate for over 30 years, making him one of the most experienced winemakers in New Zealand.

Paul Mooney

Paul Mooney

Paul’s winemaking philosophies are heavily influenced by his mentor, Brother John, who trained in Bordeaux during the 1960’s http://www.missionestate.co.nz/

Then it’s off to Wellington and then Nelson on the Northern tip of the South Island.  Te Mania and Richmond Plains Te Mānia was established by Jon and Cheryl Harrey in 1990 near Nelson at the top of the South Island of New Zealand.  A two time Champion of the prestigious Bragato Wine Awards, Te Mānia has created  excellent Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Riesling wine.

Te Mānia  is the Maori name for “The Plains” pronounced “Tay Ma-ni-a” Big Balls Syrah To celebrate worlds biggest

At Richmond Plains & Te Mania with Lars Jensen owner of Richmond Plains plus winemaker Steve Gill

At Richmond Plains & Te Mania with Lars Jensen owner of Richmond Plains plus winemaker Steve Gill

grapevine rugby ball and to support their  world beating rugby team they have  released the Te Mania 2010 Big Balls Syrah. It’s an ideal accompaniment to roast springbok, bbq wallaby, coq au vin and to wash down English puddings!

Big Balls at Richmond Plains

Big Balls at Richmond Plains

Richmond Plains is an organic and biodynamic Nelson wine making pioneer producing New Zealand’s first Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir from certified Organic and Biodynamic grapes.  They  also produce Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay, Rose, Syrah and Blanc de Noir – Pinot made as a white wine. Richmond Plains has been growing and making organic wine since inception in 1991 and its grapes are certified by BioGro and Demeter New Zealand. Richmond Plains  won the Trophy for the best Sauvignon Blanc at the 2012 Sydney International Wine Competition. Our guests are Winemaker Steve Gill – Both labels Lars Jensen – Owner Richmond Plains   Tohu  

Tohu Wines..Maori Owned

Tohu Wines..Maori Owned

  Tohu produces award-winning New Zealand wine crafted from grapes grown in the  breath-takingly beautiful, Awatere Valley Vineyard. When Tohu launched in 1998 we were the world’s first Māori owned wine company.

Since then they’ve  grown a reputation for producing premium wine in a range of varieties, winning awards for  Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Méthode Traditionnelle.   . Tohu Wines now has a sister brand.  Aronui Wines was launched early in 2013 by the whanau who have been brining you award-winning Tohu Wines for over 15 years.

The word Aronui derives from the Māori mythological basket of knowledge associated with crafts, arts and working with the land in beneficial ways. This reflects their  commitment to caring for the land and their  artisanal approach to winemaking. As the owners are kaitiaki (guardians of their natural resources) and focused on sustainable enterprise, both Tohu and Aronui vineyards are certified by Sustainable Wine Growing New Zealand (SWNZ), the  company is CEMARS accredited, and the wines are carboNZero certified.

Whenua Matua (Significant Lands) is the name of our Aronui vineyard. It is located in Nelson’s Moutere Valley – an area fast becoming an aromatics powerhouse. This compliments their Tohu vineyards located in Marlborough, where they continue to produce  Single Vineyard Estate grown wines and exceptional Kaumatua-Reserve range, named after special elders from within their whanau.

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Maori mussles Capt Dave Higgins aboard Hicapoo Hunter

Our hosts also take us to their mussle farms just off shore. That’s where we get the treat of the trip..fresh live mussels cooked on deck and washed down with their Sauvignon Blanc.  

Whanau = family. Māori = indigenous peoples of New Zealand. Kaumauta = respected elder   Our guests include: Kerensa Johnson – Company Secretary and Lawyer Mike Brown – CEO Kono beverages Capt Dave Higgins – Hicapoo Hunter fishing boat. Our next New Zealand special will feature: Spy Valley Yealands Stoneleigh & Brancott Seresin Staetelandt Maraqeta Lodge

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Stories we’re working on:

Hour 1 of the 2018 Vancouver International Wine Festival featuring Spain and Portugal

February 17th, 2018 – Alberta Bans BC Wine!

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Alberta Bans BC Wine. Here’s the Pushback!        

 

THE SHOW

BC/ Alberta showdown

 Nobody saw it coming.

We all woke up on a recent Monday morning to the news that the Alberta Government in retaliation to the BC Government’s environmental concerns about the interprovincial pipeline took the highly unusual step of banning BC Wines from sale in Alberta.

That’s 30% of BC’s wine sales.

That’s just as many tourism  visits every year from our neighbour.

At first I could definitely hear the voice of Albertans. They were pissed and mad as hell!

BC was messing with their livelihood. After all the highs and lows what they really didn’t need in Alberta was a neighbour creating more hurdles to jump.

BC  responded that they were protecting their invaluable coastline but in the middle of all of this were the farmers, growers, small businesses and stores of the BC wine industry and Alberta partners.

BC Wine Country

So I went to talk to the winemakers and stores. . I sought out people who had a sense of the battle ahead and why they were having a battle at all.

Some remarkable comments here:

 Guests include:

Christine Coletta – Okanagan Crush Pad/Haywire  https://okanagancrushpad.com

John Skinner – Painted Rock Winery  www.paintedrock.ca

John Clerides – Marquis Wine Cellar  https://www.marquis-wines.com

Michael Bartier – Bartier Bros.  (his brother/partner lives in Calgary)  www.bartierbros.com

Bob Shaunessy – Former Albertan and former owner of Tinhorn Creek.  (currently in NZ)

Bruce Ewert – L’Acadie Vineyards Nova Scotia. Removed from the fray but former BC winemaker www.lacadievineyards.ca

www.winebc.com

 

Roberto Roberti – Beverage Manager  Fountana Group Canada (Canadian Rockies Whisky)

This interview with Roberto was supposed to be included in our coverage of the Victoria Whisky Festival but we ran out of time in the show.

Roberto Roberti

 

The interview is timely because their feature whisky Canadian Rockies is made from Alberta grain and corn. It’s  welcomed and sold in BC.

Lots of great whisky information included.

 

 

www.fountanagroup.com

 

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

Francesco Ricasoli – Oldest winery in Italy

Alex Chen – Gold Medal Plates wins Gold in Canada. This is how he did it.

2018 Van Wine Fest

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tasting Room Radio February 10th, 2018 – 23 floors up. A Mark Anthony Portfolio Tasting

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THE SHOW

 

It was windy and wonderful.

The invite was from The Mark Anthony Group, who distribute beautifully chosen wines to this part of the World.

Would I be interested in interviewing some of their top winemakers from around the World..on the top of the Telus Building on Georgia? Yes Please.

If you’re seeking new fresh wines and winemakers here’s some top level suggestions..

 

Dlynn Proctor – Winemaking Ambassador – Penfolds ( Australia )

Darryl Brooker – Winemaker – Mission Hill Family Estate. (BC)

David Adelsheim – Founder and Director – Adelsheim.  Willamette Valley, (Oregon)

Thibault Brotte – Export manager – Maison Brotte (France)

Vincent Thebaud – Export Director – – Brumont (France)

Rachael Watson – Canada Manager – Henkell Co. (Germany)

Johannes Hasslebach – Winemaker – Gunderloch  (Germany)

We had time to taste and talk about their wines..what were they pouring and why? Whats available in BC and what are the price points.

Several of these guests were missing harvest back home and couldn’t wait to get back but they had a  story to tell. About their wines and their home.

This was such fun.  Touring the Wine World 23 floors up. Did I mention it was Windy??

www.markanthonywineandspirits.ca

 

Thank You Aimee Williams

 

We finish the show with Hometown Blues – in memory of Tom Petty.

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

Two 1 hour specials from VanWineFest.

Alberta Bans BC Wine – Comments Coming next week