Tasting Room Radio

September 16th, 2017-Is the Okanagan for Sale?

September 15, 2017 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:50:45

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Is the Okanagan for Sale?

 

Seattle Urban Wineries pour in SoDo. (South of Dome)

 

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THE SHOW

 

Headline of the Week..check that… YEAR!!

GRIMSBY, Ont. — “Andrew Peller Ltd. said Monday it has signed deals to acquire three B.C. wineries for a combined price of $95 million.

Is the Okanagan for Sale?

The Ontario-based wine producer says it has signed definitive agreements to acquire Black Hills Estate Winery and Gray Monk Estate Winery and a letter of intent to acquire Tinhorn Creek Vineyards.”

.Yes, everyone knew Black Hills was up for sale and Grey Monk was on the market but Tinhorn Creek being included was surprising.

Also that three wineries were changing hands was the real surprise.

 So..what does this all mean for BC wines and the BC wine consumer?

Let’s find out from:

 DJ Kearney – NewDistrict.ca www.newdistrict.ca

Bill Eggert – Fairview Cellars  www.fairviewcellars.ca 

Joseph Luckhurst – Road 13  www.road13vineyards.com  

Chris Turyk – Unsworth  www.unsworthvineyards.com

Christine Coletta – Okanagan Crush Pad/Haywire  https://okanagancrushpad.com/buy-haywire-wine

 

www.peller.com

 

Seattle Urban Wineries

 

A sweet secret even some locals haven’t discovered.

Photo: Sean Hoyt/Courtesy of Blanton Turner

SODO Wine Co-op at SODO Urbanworks

Washington state wineries came to the realization that it’s tough to sell Seattle wines from Walla Walla and Yakima.

So, they searched for a building to call home. Downtown.

What they found was an old Sears Receiving Terminal and moved in as The Seattle Urban Wineries.

Photo: Sean Hoyt/Courtesy of Blanton Turner

 

Some just pour there. Some actually ship their fruit to the building and crush and bottle there.

The area is called SODO – South of The Dome is one name used.

We talked to four wineries during their Fall party several weeks ago.

It was our great friend Tim Meeks who told us about all this and that it would make a great story for Canadians wine fans. As usual, he was right.

 

 

Guests include:

Tim Meeks – The Murse

Andrew Latta – Latta Wines www.lattawines.com

Trey Busch – Sleight of Hand www.sofhcellars.com

Paul Zitarelli – Full Pull  www.fullpullwines.com

Ryan Crane – www.kerloocellars.com 

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

Planeta and Boutinot pour in Vancouver

A Mark Anthony Tasting

Kamloops Wine Trail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 9th, 2017- Jay and Dan … up the Creek!

September 7, 2017 Imported data, Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:50:55

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THE SHOW

 

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Jay Onrait and Dan  O’Toole  – TSN

 There is no possible reason why Jay and Dan should be on a show about food and wine. They’re sportscasters and comics.

They are just barely Canadian.. BUT – they came home to Canada last Monday to again host the evening highlight package.

At least Jay  Onrait knows his wines..Norm Hardy in Prince Edward County and Jason Parkes at The Hatch in Kelowna.

Jay and Dan

Dan O’Toole drinks light beer. End of discussion.

The real reasons why Jay and Dan are on today’s show..?

They friends and they funny.

The guys before make-up! (getty Images)

http://www.tsn.ca/jay-and-dan

 

BC Pinot Noir Celebration – The Best of the Rest

 

Last week’s show highlighted the BC Pinot Noir Celebration at Linden Gardens in Kaleden. As usual I did far too many interviews. The last four guests are

Andy Johnson – Averill Creek  Cowichan Valley

Luke Smith – Howling Bluff  Naramata Bench

Bryant Mao – Hawksworth Group

Gustav Allander – Foxtrot

 

www.bcpinotnoir.ca

 

Sandra Oldfield – Tinhorn Creek (The Creek)

 

Established in 1993 by the Shaunessy and Oldfield families, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards is located just south of

Oliver B.C. in the famed Golden Mile Bench sub-appellation.

Family owned and operated, Tinhorn Creek offers an unrivalled

visitor experience, wines that rank among the best in the world, and the award-winning Miradoro

Restaurant.

Miradoro

The winery produces wines in three tiers: the single-varietal series features six 100% varietal wines; only

worthy wines are selected each year for the winery’s Oldfield Reserve tier; and  The Creek,  the new flagship wine .

The red wines in the Oldfield Series are aged for three to four years prior to release. All Tinhorn Creek wines evoke the unique terroir of

the region: the sage-covered desert terrain.

 

The Creek:

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards is proud to announce the release of The Creek, its highly anticipated flagship wine.

A toast to 23 years of experience in farming and winemaking on the southern Okanagan Valley, The Creek is

an elegant, luscious and modern wine that reflects both place and time.

The 2014 The Creek is a unique blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 9% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot.

Aptly named after the iconic waterway that has shaped the surrounding landscape, the new flagship wine is a

celebration of Tinhorn Creek Vineyards’ longstanding pursuit of both excellence and innovation in winemaking

The Judges visit Tinhorn

“We have been working toward this wine since my husband Kenn and I first landed in

Oliver in 1994,”  Sandra Oldfield, Founder and CEO of Tinhorn Creek Vineyards.

“Inspired by our desire to honour the region where the grapes come from, and to create the best possible wine in

our cellar, The Creek reflects a spirit of innovation both in how we farm our land and how we treat

our wines. We will continue to push forward and evolve with creativity and dedication because that

is what our customers have come to expect from us.”

www.tinhorn.com

 

Jeremiah Tower – The Last Magnificent

Produced by Anthony Bourdain , The new Documentary –  JEREMIAH TOWER: THE LAST MAGNIFICENT -explores the remarkable life of Jeremiah Tower, one of the most controversial and influential figures in the history of American gastronomy. Tower began his career at the renowned Chez Panisse in Berkeley in 1972, becoming a pioneering figure in the emerging California cuisine movement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After leaving Chez Panisse, due in part to a famously contentious relationship with founder Alice Waters, Tower went on to launch his own legendary Stars Restaurant in San Francisco. Stars was an overnight sensation and soon became one of America’s top-grossing U.S. restaurants. After several years, Tower mysteriously walked away from Stars and then disappeared from the scene for nearly two decades, only to resurface in the most unlikely of places: New York City’s fabled but troubled Tavern on the Green.

There, he launched a journey of self-discovery familiar to anyone who has ever imagined themselves to be an artist.  Featuring interviews by Mario Batali, Anthony Bourdain, Ruth Reichl and Martha Stewart, this delicious documentary tells the story of the rise and fall of America’s first celebrity chef, whose brash personality and culinary genius has made him a living legend.

When you walk into your favourite restaurant and see an open kitchen, farm to table dining, farmers and farms mentioned in the menu that’s just some of the legacy of Jeremiah Tower.

Here is our feature interview with Chef Tower.

 

Facebook: Last Magnificent
Twitter: Last Magnificent
Instagram: Last Magnificent

 

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

Sodo Urban Wines – Seattle.

Featuring

Ryan Krane – Kerloo

Trey Busch – Sleight of Hand

Paul Zitarelli – Full Pull

Andrew Latta – Latta Wines

Tim Meeks –  host and wine taster.

 

Planeta and Boutinot pour in Vancouver

September 2nd, 2017 – The Judgement & A Pinot Party!

September 1, 2017 Audio FIle, Imported data, Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:43:00

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Two Stories.  The Judgement of BC and BC Pinot Noir Celebration.

With a cast of All-Stars.

 Heads UP *** – TRR will move to 11am starting next Saturday on Roundhouse Radio. Followed by Fong on Food at Noon.

 

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 THE SHOW

 

The Judges visit Tinhorn

 

It’s the third annual Judgement  of BC.  Presented by Wines of BC

12 from around the World and 12 from BC. Poured head to head to see where BC stands in comparison.

This year we tasted the two most grown  varietals in BC  Pinot Gris and Merlot

 

12 BC Wines against 12 acknowledged global benchmarks. We are proud to announce BC’s Checkmate Black Rook Merlot 2013 from the Okanagan Valley ranked first among the flight of Merlot, and Kim Crawford Pinot Gris 2016 from Marlborough, New Zealand came out on top for the flight of Pinot Gris with BC placing third, fifth and sixth.

Hosted by the BC Wine Institute, and curated by celebrated Vancouver wine expert and Director of Wine at NewDistrict.ca DJ Kearney, the Judgment of BC third edition event took place last Friday in Summerland, during which 22 international and national wine judges tasted and ranked 24 wines.

The Judges

So much to talk about..

Each judge had to set aside the style of Pinot Gris that they preferred and just start fresh.

And the merlot judging has big bold dark fruit go head to head..with no sign of  lighter style.

One esteemed judge could only identify  2 BC wines out of 24 in a blind tasting.  The mind and palette play tricks on you.

 

Guests include:

 DJ Kearney – New District.ca

Rhys Pender – Master of Wine

Richard Hemming  – Master of Wine

Sid Cross – Food and Wine Educator and judge

Kurtis Kolt – Wine Expert

Michaela Morris – Wine Expert

And Yours Truly

 

Here are the results…

PINOT GRIS RESULT ORDER

  1. Kim Crawford Pinot Gris 2016 | Marlborough, New Zealand | 13% | $19.49
  2. Domaine Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris Turkheim 2014 | Alsace, France | 13% | $41.00
  3. 50thParallel Pinot Gris 2016 | Okanagan Valley, BC | 13.5% | $19.90
  4. King Estates Pinot Gris 2015 Willamette Valley, Oregon | 13.5% | $26.49
  5. Gray Monk Pinot Gris 2015 | Okanagan Valley, BC | 13.4% | $16.99
  6. Arrowleaf Cellars Pinot Gris 2016 | Okanagan Valley, BC | 13.9% | $20.99
  7. Pfaff Steinert Grand Cru Pinot Gris 2012 | Alsace, France |13.5% | $30.99
  8. Alois Lageder Pinot Grigio Vigneti del Dolomiti IGT 2015 | Italy | 12.5% | $25.99
  9. Blue Grouse Estate Pinot Gris 2016 | Vancouver Island, BC | 13.5% | $22.00
  10. Haywire Switchback 2015 | Okanagan Valley, BC | 13.6% | $26.99
  11. Poplar Grove Pinot Gris 2016 | Okanagan Valley, BC | 13.1% | $16.99
  12. Santa Margarita Pinot Grigio Valdadige DOC 2016 | Italy | 12.5% | $19.99

 

MERLOT RESULT ORDER

  1. CheckMate Black Rook Merlot 2013 | Okanagan Valley, BC | 14.4% | $85.00
  2. Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot 2013 | Napa Valley, California | 14.5% | $63.99
  3. La Stella Maestoso 2012 | Okanagan Valley, BC | 14.6% | $90.00
  4. Sterling Merlot 2013 | Napa Valley, California | 14.2% | $29.99
  5. Château Haut Carles 2010 | Fronsac, Bordeaux, France | 15% | $64.99
  6. McIntyre Heritage Reserve Merlot Ardua 2012 | Okanagan Valley, BC | 15.5% | $80.00
  7. Casa Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre Apalta Vineyard 2012 | Colchagua, Chile | 14.5% | $33.99
  8. Burrowing Owl Merlot 2014 | Okanagan Valley, BC | 14.8% | $30.00
  9. Intersection Merlot Silica 2013 | Okanagan Valley, BC | 14.8% | $29.00
  10. Charles Smith The Velvet Devil Merlot 2015 | Washington State | 13.5% | $19.99
  11. Château de Ferrand 2011 | Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France | 14% | $51.99
  12. Culmina Merlot 2014 | Golden Mile Bench, Okanagan Valley, BC | 14% | $35.00

 

 

http://www.winebc.com/judgment-bc

Pinot Party. Christine Coletta & Curtis Krouzel

The BC Pinot Noir Celebration.  Linden Gardens,  Kaleden, BC

The fourth annual BC Pinot Noir Celebration brought  together 34 of the province’s best Pinot Noir producers to celebrate the varietal that is defining the region.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than 300 guests  sipped, swirled and discovered the nuances of BC’s Pinot Noirs on Saturday, August 19th at Linden Gardens  in Kaleden. The event paves the way for provincial, national and international recognition of BC Pinot Noirs as a wine of excellence.

There were lively breakout sessions, special key note speaker with special keynote speaker Master of Wine Richard Hemming.

Pairing only the best foods were  Cameron Smith & Dana Ewart from Joy Road Catering, Alex Sielmann  from Frog City Café, former Okanagan Chef Matt Batey  & Mike Bernardo from Vij’s and Sutra in Victoria.

 

 

Our guests include:

 Barb and Iain Phillip – Wine Experts

Chris Turyk – Unsworth

Jak Meyer – Meyer Family Vineyards

Christine Coletta – Haywire and OK Crush Pad

Thorsten Allander – Foxtrot

Doug Reimer – Mirabel

Leslie d’Andrea – Noble Ridge

Jeff Martin – La Frenz

Curtis Krouzel – 50th Parallel

DJ Kearney – with the wrap.

 

We couldn’t fit everyone in.

So next week we’ll complete the story with…

Andy Johnson – Averill Creek

Luke Smith – Howling Bluff

Bryant Mao – Hawksworth

Gustav Allender – Foxtrot

 www.bcpinotnoir.ca 

  

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Sandra Oldfield – Introduces The Creek

Planeta and Boutinot pour in Vancouver

Rod Butters gets The Book out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 26th, 2017 – The Hatch goes top 10!

August 23, 2017 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:50:50

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Tasting Room Radio Post Banner

   The Hatch was named 9th best winery in Canada and 5th in BC.

And IS this the weekend  to Lick Your Plate?

 

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Some wine fans follow labels, some follow grapes, some follow regions and some follow Winemakers.

Can I please suggest one winemaker  you may want to follow?  Jason Parkes!

First of all he’s born in Peachland, so the man knows his fruit.

jason-parkes-customs

 

 

He’s fronted two punk bands. OK, that has nothing to do with wine-making but there’s a do-it-yourself attitude in the punk/post-punk community and that works in a vineyard/cellar…

 

He started making wine in the Okanagan to pay the bills and get his band’s van back on the road.

 

Now, after multiple harvests, he’s gathered around him a great team of growers, cellar hands and winemakers.

It shows in the wines he creates.

The Hatch

  • Black Swift
  • Contempt by Pamela Anderson
  • Screaming Fenzy
  • Gobsmacked
  • Talking Stories

and countless more.

2016 WINE ALIGN AWARDS OF CANADA, THEY WERE NAMED THE 9TH BEST WINERY IN ALL OF CANADA. 5TH BEST IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.

http://www.winealign.com/awards/2016/07/27/2016-nwac-top-25-wineries-in-canada/

Here’s what they say about themselves..

The Hatch is the absolute culmination of the wants and dreams of a select, rare and bizarre cadre of people who are unconcerned about the convention and now have a chance to show the world exactly what real wine, real hospitality and real people are all about. ‘the hatch’ is the direct confluence of all our favourite arts.

the-hatch

The liquid arts, the visual arts and the living arts; finally together and together forever.

That answers the ‘what’, but also asked is the ‘why’. Why ‘the hatch’? Because the time is long overdue for something like this to enter your life, and more-so; to make your life that much better. Now it’s time to shut-up and go drink some wine.

 

Jason Parkes brings lots of stories to the edition of Tasting Room Radio. Great fun.  Fabulous wines.

Drink the future!!

 

https://thehatchwines.com

 

 

Lick Your Plate  –  Authors Julie Albert and Lisa Gnat

 Yes,  they are sisters and best friends, they each have 3 kids and they live within 5 blocks of each other.

authors-julie-albert-and-lisa-gnat

julie and lisa

 

These sisters  create a force in any kitchen. Julie writes… Lisa Cooks.

Julie and Lisa have  released their third cookbook Lick Your Plate. A follow up to Bite Me and Bite me Too!

The girls write about food and family (family first).

They talk with me about Sloppy Joe’s, Baja Fish Tacos, Slutty brownies and the fact that it takes  Twinkies 45 seconds to explode in a microwave!

We do take time to go back and remember their Grandmother.  Alice Leiberman welcomed them into her kitchen and very likely set this whole career in motion.

We also get sidetracked into their fave MuchMusic VJ, Bon Jovi and what BC wines I’m recommending to these two Torontonians

Lick Your Plate offers 160 original recipes, several 30-minute dinner ideas, tips, tricks, mouthwatering visuals, funny anecdotes, drool-worthy descriptions of every recipe, and is perfect for everyone from the beginner to the well-seasoned home cook.

“We’re not Martha telling someone to make the eight-hour broth, but we’re also not Rachael Ray saying put cheese on toast. There is that happy medium,” says Gnat, who developed the recipes.

The sisters say they understand the importance of accessible recipes, where all the ingredients can be bought in one shop.

“We love and admire ‘the foodie’ and we’re happy to sit down to a gourmet meal. And we are all about fresh flavours and great food. But we also live in the real world with six kids between us. We don’t always have that sort of time and inclination to go on a goose chase for fig paste,” says Julie.

 

http://www.bitememore.com/

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/252970/lick-your-plate-by-julie-albert-and-lisa-gnat/9780147529886/

 

Todays Wild Salmon Celebration – Fisherman’s Wharf  Granville Island

 

There are a lot of local food and wine events to finish off August but this one may be the best.

Some of ther very best chefs across the country are teaming with some of our best local chefs to create salmon and seafood dishes that can be eaten right on the docks at Fisherman’s Wharf. Six perfect dishes paired with 5 perfect wines.

All the info you need can be heard from today’s guests …

 

Chef Robert Clark  – The Fish Counter

Chef Jessie McMillan,  Campagnolo Roma, Vancouver

Chef Charlotte Langley,  Scout Canning, Toronto

 

Today at 6PM..The first annual Wild Salmon Celebration will be taking place at False Creek Fisherman’s Wharf  from 6 to 9 p.m.

Hosted by the Chefs’ Table Society of B.C. and the B.C. Salmon Marketing Council, this outdoor dinner offers  seafood dishes created by top chefs from across Canada working with local chefs.

See Chef list below.

The main theme of this al fresco meal is salmon.  BBQ salmon with sesame seeds with  dashi  glaze, cured salmon with risotto &  pickled field cucumber, and salmon poké bowls, etc.

See Wine list below

 

Must be drinking age. Tickets are $49.00 per person.

 

 

CHEFS

 

Lee Cooper, L’Abattoir (Vancouver)

Ryan Bissell, North Arm Farm (Pemberton) and Erin Vickars, Outer Shores Expeditions

Charlotte Langley, Scout Canning (Toronto, ON) with Steve Duyzer, Vancouver Fish Company (Vancouver)

Nathan Middleton, The Home of the Brave (Toronto, ON) with Jesse McMillan, Campagnolo Roma (Vancouver)

Tyler Shedden, The Chase Hospitality Group (Toronto, ON) with Robert Clark, The Fish Counter (Vancouver)

Peter Zambri, Zambri’s (Victoria, BC) with Lucais Syme, Cinara (Vancouver)

 

 

WINES

 

 

Culmina Family Estate Winery,

Covert Farms Family Estate,

Haywire Winery at Okanagan Crush Pad,

Sage Hills Estate Winery

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards

 

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON: 

On the Labour Day Long Weekend

The Judgement of BC – who won what

The BC Pinot Noir Celebration – 34 PN makers in one lovely park.

 

 

August 12 th, 2017- Okanagan Falls Wineries – A dozen reasons to stop and taste!

August 11, 2017 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:50:51

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Looking for  the best “Patio Wines” AND talking to a dozen  winemakers from Okanagan Falls!

 

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THE SHOW

Liquidity

It’s the 5th annual Okanagan Falls  Winery Association Spring Wine Tasting at Earls in Yaletown.

One of the best events in the calendar year.  Everybody shows up. Owners, winemakers and principals.

They pour all their new offerings and the best of their portfolio.  There was even a table filled with nothing but OK Falls Pinot Noir.

At the same time, I was writing my food and wine column for Living Magazine.  The theme in the next issue was looking ahead to Summer. They suggested I recommend Patio Wines.

So, one of the  questions I asked was “What’s your best patio wine?”  (fyi – I’m not a big fan of the term patio wine..I happen to think it sells great/complex wines short, as though they were a throwaway!)

 

Here’s the line up of  wineries and guests .  (in somewhat alphabetical order)

 Blasted Church                  Elaine Vickers/Winemaker                      blastedchurch.com

Blasted Church

Blue Mountain                   Christie Mavety/ family & marketing   www.bluemountainwinery.com

Crescent Hill                      Teresa Murray Wiseman/Owner            www.crescenthillwinery.com/

Kraze Legz/Skaha             Gerry  Thygesen/Owner-WM                www.krazelegz.com/

Liquidity Winery/Bistro Ian MacDonald/Owner                            www.liquiditywines.com/

 

Meyer Family Wines       Janice Stevens-Meyer/Owner                www.mfvwines.com/

Meyer Family

Nighthawk Vineyards      Christy Bibby/Co-Owner                          www.nighthawkvineyards.com/

Noble Ridge                        Leslie/Jim D’Andrea / Owners                www.nobleridge.com

 

Painted Rock                      Lauren Skinner/ Family & marketing   www.paintedrock.ca

Lauren Skinner. Painted Rock

Pentage                                Julie Rennie – Co-Owner

www.facebook.com/Pentage-Winery-179523385395966/

Synchromesh                      Alan Dickinson /Owner-Winemaker    www.synchromeshwines.ca/

Wild Goose                         Roland Kruger                                             www.wildgoosewinery.com/

 

https://www.ofwa.ca

 

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

Vikram Vij – Vij, the book

John Schreiner – ICON.  Flagship Wines from BC’s Best Wineries.

Jill  Spoor with  Christine Coletta.  Jill Creates a White Terroir Blend

Judgement of BC

BC Pinot Noir Celebration

Bloom

 

 

 

July 29th, 2017 – Books and Wine nothing better!

July 28, 2017 Imported data, Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:51:02

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Two books for Summer reading – One from Vikram Vij on his life and career and John Schreiner on BC Icon Wines.

And Sommelier Jill Spoor creates her first wine with Christine Coletta from Okanagan Crush Pad.

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THE SHOW

 

Vikram Vij 

 

Vikram Vij

 

What kind of person would stop his car in the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge and jump out to celebrate being a free man?

This guy.

  

Vikram and Meeru

Vij reveals the story of Vikram Vij, one of Canada’s most celebrated chefs and entrepreneurs. Co-owner of the world-famous Vij’s Restaurant in Vancouver, his story is a true rags-to-riches tale of a college dropout from northern India who made it to Europe’s temples of high cuisine, then with a one-way ticket bound for Canada, found fame serving some of the world’s most transcendent Indian cuisine. Vij’s Restaurant, originally a fourteen-seat establishment known for its extraordinary flavours and spice blends, along with a firm no-reservation policy, received accolades from restaurant critics and patrons alike.

A culinary journey that began in India as a boy enjoying the praise of visitors for his chai and biscuits, Vikram’s passion for Indian cooking and his lifelong mission to bring awareness to the culture he left behind have fueled his tireless drive in building a world-renowned food empire. Driven to succeed, Vikram realized his dream to launch five major initiatives under the Vij’s brand by age fifty, but with challenges and sacrifices along the way.

For the first time, Vikram opens up about his struggles with prejudice, his mentors’ lasting lessons, and the painful demise of his marriage—both the successes and the failures that have shaped and sharpened one of Canada’s most unique and revered culinary talents.

 

That’s what the press release wanted you to know. Fair enough.

I knew some of the story but what I really wanted to know was the rest of the story!!  This interview attempts that reveal.

Lamb Popsicles

 

Vikram Vij was born in India and grew up in Amritsar and Mumbai. He studied hotel management in Salzburg, Austria, before moving to Canada to work at the Banff Springs Hotel. He opened the original fourteen-seat Vij’s Restaurant in 1994, and has appeared on many television shows and regularly cooks for events, including the James Beard Awards gala in New York. A certified sommelier, he is passionate about pairing wines with Indian food. In addition to running Vij’s and Rangoli with Meeru, Vikram is the chef and owner of My Shanti.

 

The RAW version of the interview can be heard on TastingRoomRadio.com

 

www.vijs.ca

https://youtu.be/DBVGzZD_Yn4   Check out Vikram’s wonderful TedX Talk

 

John Schreiner – Icon. Flagship Wines from BC Best Wineries

 

John Shreiner

British Columbia now has such an array of high-calibre winemakers that John Schreiner has compiled a book showcasing the icon wines from BC’s best wineries. An icon wine is the very best wine that a producer can make, and the prestige of an icon wine cascades across a winery’s entire portfolio.

 

 

For each wine profiled, readers will learn the behind-the-scenes story of the winery and winemaker, as well as the history, provenance, and inspiration behind each wine. The most recent vintage is listed, along with detailed tasting notes for as many vintages as are available, information on number of cases produced, percentages of varietals in the case of blends, and even the clone number of particular varietals.

My personal favourite is the cellar life of a particular wine. How long to hold on to the wines and when enough is enough.  Drink it NOW!

 

The essential guide for any collector of BC wine, this book is also the culmination of research that illuminates John Schreiner’s passion and unique contribution to BC’s wine region.

 

“BC wine fans love John Schreiner. He’s always been there for us. With the explosive growth of BC wines, he has paved the way for our all-important next step: how to choose and cellar the best of those wines, the icons.” ―Terry David Mulligan, host of  “Tasting Room Radio” program on Roundhouse Radio.

 For John’s follow up comments on wineries that didn’t make the book please read his blog

http://johnschreiner.blogspot.ca/2017/06/why-some-of-best-wineries-are-not-in.html

 

Jill Spoor and Christine Coletta –   Okanagan Wine Campus

Okanagan Wine Campus, created in 2011 by Okanagan Crush Pad, is a mentorship program that provides selected Vancouver Sommeliers with the unique chance to make a small lot wine using the grape variety and style of wine they wish. The proceeds from the sale of the wine are given to the BC Hospitality Foundation wine scholarship fund to support students pursuing their higher level wine education certification. To date, $30,000 has been donated from seven projects including Kurtis Kolt (2010), Owen Knowlton (2011), Terry Threlfall (2012), Samantha Rahn (2013), Mike Bernardo (2014), Jason Yamasaki (2015) and Jill Spoor (2016).

 

Jill Spoor joined Fairmont Pacific Rim in 2011 to open Giovane Winebar, implementing an all-Italian wine program.  Spoor’s enthusiasm and dedication to the wine program at the hotel led her to her role as Wine Director.

Jill Spoor

 

 

Jill Spoor has developed Botanist’s wine program to reflect exclusive terroir-driven wineries that support sustainable, organic and biodynamic farming and winemaking practices.

Recently, Spoor was designated Okanagan Crush Pad Winery’s ‘2016 Harvest Intern,’ and has been hard at work developing her own wine label – a beautiful white blend.

The wine label was designed by her niece Taryn Brown, who is a gifted artist living in Victoria.

Jill recommends pairing with scallop or ling cod from the Botanist menu. Juicy green melon with entrancing high-notes of newly cut grass, fresh thyme and sage. A rounded mouth feel on the mid-palate gives way to a refreshing, zippy lime finish. Assembled specially by Jill Spoor, Matt Dumayne, David Scholefield and world-renowned terroir expert, Dr Pedro Parra, this blend of Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc is a pure expression of what the Okanagan does best.

 

About the blend:

Juicy green melon with entrancing high-notes of newly cut grass, fresh thyme and sage. A rounded mouth feel on the mid-palate gives way to a refreshing, zippy lime finish. Assembled specially by Jill Spoor, Matt Dumayne, David Scholefield and world-renowned terroir expert, Dr Pedro Parra, this blend of Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc is a pure expression of what the Okanagan does best.

 

Available at select private retail stores, at The Botanist Restaurant, Fairmont Pacific Rim or from WWW.OKANAGANCRUSHPAD.COM

And Christine Coletta is – one of the leaders in the BC wine industry and the co-owner of Okanagan Crush pad.

www.okanagancrushpad.com

www.botanistrestaurant.com

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Planeta and Boutinot pours in Vancouver

Naramata Bench pours in Vancouver

Okanagan Falls pours in Vancouver.

Lots of pouring going on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 8th, 2017 – Vancouver International Wine Festival- Part 2!

July 6, 2017 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:50:44

hello

Last Week’s TRR Hour One was all BC.

This week Hour Two  features winemaking guests from Ontario, Nova Scotia and back to BC.

Chris Waters (Vines Mag) / Daenna van Mulligen (The Wine Diva) /Keith Tyers  (Closson Chase)/ Bruce Nicholson (Inniskillin Niagara)/Charlie Pillitteri (Pillitteri)

Craig McDonald (Trius)/ Bruce Ewert (L’Acadie)/ Jean Benoit Deslauriers (Benjamin Bridge)/  Moira Peters (The Wine Lovers Guide to Atlantic Canada)

HansPeter Stutz  (Grande Pre)

Ezra Cipes (Summerhill)/Val Tait (Bench 1775)/Randy Picton (Nk Mip)/John Skinner (Painted Rock)/Mark Hicken (Vintage Wine Law) and Randy Ullom (Kendall Jackson)

 

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THE SHOW

These were the best two weeks for wine fans in Canada!!

Because Canada was the Theme  Region of the 39th Vancouver International Wine Festival.   Hour One was all BC.

This week Hour Two  will feature Ontario and Nova Scotia Wine stars and then we come full circle back to BC to finish off with “The Eastsiders”

Summerhill, Bench1775 and Nk Mip.. plus a Skinner, a Lawyer and a Yank!!

Our guests include:

 Ontario

Daenna van Mulligen – The Wine Diva once again joins me on air to hold my wine hand and share her insights..she also brought along

Chris Waters – Co-Founder and Editor of Vines Magazine. Through their InterVin judging they both have a unique view of Canada’s wines.

www.vinesmag.com   www.winediva.ca

 

chris waters

 

Keith Tyers – Winemaker  From Closson Chase in Prince Edward County. Famous for their Chardonnay..now comes Pinot Noir.  One to watch.

www.clossonchase.com

Bruce Nicholson – Inniskillin  Niagara. Spent many years in the Okanagan at Jackson Triggs. Famous for their Ice Wines.  A Pro!  https://www.inniskillin.com/Niagara

Bruce Nicholson

Charlie Pillitteri – CEO/President  of Pillitteri Wines.  Charlie told me “ why bother sending Ontario wines to BC. You’re Homers!!  You drink everything BC makes.”  Fabulous troublemaker. https://www.pillitteri.com

Craig McDonald – Trius Wines.  Ontario Winemaker of the year 2008 & 2016. A legendary risk taker who paid his dues at Villa Maria, Penfolds, De Bortoli, Sokol Blosser in Oregon.  Great guy. https://www.triuswines.com

Nova Scotia

 Vines were planted in Nova Scotia in the 1600’s. Making it one of the first wine regions in North America.

There are now 70 growers and ALL are close to water..mostly the Bay of Fundy.

Welcome to The Annapolis and Gaspereau Valleys.

The acid and minerality in the soil makes it perfect for bubble.

Our guests:

Bruce Ewert – L’Acadie Vineyards. BC Born. Earned his skills through Cal/Oz/BC and Ontario. Created Nova Scotia’s first Traditional Method Sparking Wine in 2008.  Wonderful man and family. www.lacadievineyards.ca

Bruce Ewert

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jean Benoit Deslauriers – Winemaker Benjamin Bridge.  A stunning hunk of burning wine love.  “Ben Bridge is the new Canadian sparkling wine star”  Oz Clarke. Their Prestige Brut  won Gold and Top Score at 2010 Wine Awards.

“If a young Hemmingway made wine – he would be  just like JBD!” tdm www.benjaminbridge.com

 

Jean Benoit Deslauriers

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moira Peters – Co-Author of The Wine Lovers Guide to Atlantic Canada.

Along with partner Craig Pinhey she gives the first complete guide to wines now in the Maritimes and where they’re headed.

Great overview.  https://www.nimbus.ca/store/wine-lover-s-guide-to-atlantic-canada-the.html

HansPeter Stutz-  Domaine de Grand Pre owner.  One of the first four wineries on Nova Scotia.  A leader and a legend. www.grandprewines.ns.ca

 

Back to BC

Ezra Cipes – CEO Summerhill Wines. Bio-Dynamic. Demeter Certified (1st in BC) Director of the BC Wine Institute.

Chaired the Task Force to certify BC’s wine sub-regions. Summerhill is winner of many awards including Worlds Best Sparking Wine and White Wine of the year BC Wine Awards. https://www.summerhill.bc.ca

Ezra Cipes

Valeria  Tait – GM/Chief Winemaker Bench 1775 

Voted Top 10 Best Small Winery in Canada at National Wine Awards.

Val Tait

Because She was a viticulturalist first, very few wine makers have the soil/varietal  knowledge that Val possesses.

She was pouring Spirit a fortified Petit Verdot, Spirit of the Splendid Bastard,  Ice wine and Chill comprised of 7 varietals.

www.bench1775.com

Randy Picton – Chief winemaker Nk Mip (Ink-a-meep) – Canada’s first Aboriginal owned winery.  Current Canadian Winery of the Year.  Amazing wines from a huge success story.  www.nkmipcellars.com

Randy Picton

 

John Skinner – Proprietor of Painted Rock.  A mover and a shaker who produces outstanding wines. Making strides in the Chinese market with his Icon Reds. www.paintedrock.ca

John Skinner

Mark Hicken – Vintage Law Group and Vice-Chair of VanWineFest.

When the wineries want a legal opinion the go-to guy is Mark Hicken.  Mark also reveals the thinking behind the choosing of Canada as the theme region.  www.winelaw.ca

Mark Hicken – Vintage Law Group

 

Randy Ullom – Chief Winemaster  Kendall-Jackson Sonoma  The very popular Californian seems to have found a second home here. He likes us. He really likes us.

Randy Ullom

John, Mark and Randy get into a last minute discussion about a possible trade scuffle between California and BC over our odious wine laws.  www.kj.com

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

John Schreiner – Icon. Flagship Wines from BC’s Best Wineries

Four F’s/  Food, Fishing, Friends, Fluids @Skitchine Lodge

Bloom – BC wineries pour new releases in Vancouver

Planeta and Boutinot bring their best to Vancouver.

 

 

 

 

 

July 1st, 2017- Vancouver International Wine Festival!

June 28, 2017 Audio FIle, Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:50:41

hello

This is our 8th year of covering the Vancouver International Wine Festival.  For them this is Year 39.

Canada is the featured region and it’s going to be a wonderful family gathering with the pace of a gong show.

If you care about how Canadian wines are doing and where our wine industry is headed..this show and next week will hopefully supply answers and focus.

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THE SHOW

 

 

Here is the guest line up for Hour One:

Daenna van Mulligen – The Wine Diva  www.winediva.ca

Rhys Pender – Master of Wine     www.littlefarmwinery.ca

DJ Kearney – NewDistrict.ca  Director of Wine

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

Howard Soon – Sandhill Wines  www.sandhillwines.ca

Ann Sperling – Sperling Vineyards  www.sperlingvineyards.com

Sandra Oldfield – Tinhorn Creek  www.tinhorn.com

Harry Hertscheg    – Executive Director VIWF  vanwinefest.ca

Christa-Lee McWatters Bond – Evolve  www.evolvecellars.com

Harry McWatters – Time Wines  www.encorevineyards.ca

Chris Jentsch – CC Jentsch Wines  www.ccjentschcellars.com

Gustav Allander – Foxtrot  www.foxtrotwine.com/winery

David Scholefield – Haywire https://okanagancrushpad.com/

 

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

John Schreiner – Icon. Flagship Wines from BC’s Best Wineries

Four F’s/  Food, Fishing, Friends, Fluids @Skitchine Lodge

Bloom – BC wineries pour new releases in Vancouver

Planeta and Boutinot bring their best to Vancouver.

 

June 24th, 2017 – National Aboriginal Week in Canada

June 22, 2017 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:51:37

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It’s The Island Icons Pinot Noir Celebration in the Cowichan Valley. We take you there to join  the winemakers.

And it’s National  Aboriginal Week in Canada. We talk to Justin Hall at North America’s  first Aboriginal owned winery Nk’ Mip and  the first  Osoyoos Nation winemaker.

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THE SHOW

 Island Icons. The first Pinot Noir Celebration

 

Today at Averill Creek it’s the first  Pinot Noir Celebration.

 

Cowichan winemakers believe that they are perfectly suited to make a name for themselves with the heartbreak grape.

All day today they will salute Pinot Noir.

A seminar at 11 with John Schreiner.

Meet the Makers from Noon to 4PM. Sample your heart out.

and a sold out Long Table Dinner with Bill Jones from Deerholme Farm.

Bill Jones

 

Guests include:

Mike Nierychlo – Emandare  www.emandarevineyard.com

Michelle Schulze – Venturi Schulze www.venturischulze.com

Andy Johnson – Averill Creek  www.averillcreek.ca

Xavier Bonilla – Cherry Point Estate Wines  www.cherrypointestatewines.com

Zac Brown – Alderlea  www.alderlea.com

Mark Holford – Rocky Creek  www.rockycreekwinery.ca

Nk’Mip

Wednesday was National Aboriginal Day in Canada. Also National Aboriginal Week.

Nk’Mip cellars Justin Hall & Randy Picton

Most of you know that Nk’Mip is not only North America’s  first Aboriginal owned winery, it’s also Winery of the Year in Canada at Intervin International wine awards.

Randy Picton has always been the winemaker there but he’s been mentoring Justin Hall, a band member and the future of the winery.

We find Justin in the winery  and immensely proud to be the first Osoyoos band member to be named winemaker.

www.nkmipcellars.com

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

John Schreiner – Icon Wines of BC

Bloom – New releases from BC VQA  Wineries

Skitchine Lodge – 6th annual fishing, food, wine and um wine gathering

Cider Special

 

 

June 17th, 2017 – Live from the BC Shellfish Festival…

June 16, 2017 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show

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LIVE from the 11th annual BC Shellfish festival in Courtney Comox 

  Click to Listen

 

 

The SHOW

 The unique culinary event that promotes the region’s shellfish farmers and their delicacies to seafood lovers and chefs grows bigger every year.  This is Year 11.

Tasting Room Radio is covering both weekends.

 

What originally began as a one‐day event 11 years ago, has become the largest seafood festival in Western Canada, featuring popular local and international culinary celebrities and outstanding seafood.

Highlights for 2017 include the B.C. Seafood on Your Plate Restaurant Campaign, the B.C. Seafood Expo, a completely new Fresh Fest and the Fanny Bay Oyster Shucking Competition and OceanWise Chowder Challenge at the signature festival event, the Comox by the Sea Celebration,  Sunday, June 18th. For more information and tickets, visit bcshellfishfestival.com and bcseafoodexpo.com.

 WE ARE LIVE SATURDAY AT 10 AM!!

Our guests include:

 Culinary leader –  Don House Calgary http://www.idmg.ca/about-1/

Darren MacLean – Shokunin Calgary https://twitter.com/chefdmac?lang=en

Duncan Ly – Foreign Concept  Calgary  http://foreignconcept.ca/

JinnHee Lee – Foreign Concept Calgary  http://foreignconcept.ca/

Trevor Bird = Fable/Fable Diner  Vancouver www.fablekitchen.ca

Ned Bell – Ocean Wise. Van Aquarium  https://cookculture.com/blogs/chef-profiles/25079745-chef-ned-bell

Nick Nutting – The Wolf in the Fog.  Tofino  http://www.wolfinthefog.com/ 

Rod Butters – Raudz Kelowna  www.raudz.com 

Brock Bowes – Terra Fina  http://www.terrafinarestaurant.com/

 

Blue Moon

40 knots Winery  https://www.40knotswinery.com/

Blue Moon  https://www.bluemoonwinery.ca

Nathan Fong – Fong on Food www.fongonfood.com

 

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

  • John Schreiner – Icon
  • Skitchine Lodge with Rhys Pender. John Weber & Chef Mark Filatow
  • Cider Special
  • Bloom – BC VQA wines pour in Vancouver.