Tasting Room Radio

June 10th 2017-Live from the Spot Prawn Festival Vancouver!

June 7, 2017 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 0:50:42

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It’s the 11th Annual Spot Prawn festival at
False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf
1505 West 1st Ave
Kits

Click here to listen!

 

It’s one of Vancouver’s most popular events of the Year..The Spot Prawn Fest.
Vancouver’s best chefs show up for cooking demos – everyone with a ticket gets a plate with prawns and other goodies..plus Terra Breads.
AND there’s R&B Brewing and Evolve Cellars pouring as well.
Presented by Chefs Table Society of BC

In 2006, it was Organic Ocean’s Steve Johansen, along with Chef Clark, Ocean Wise, and other members of the Chefs’ Table Society that helped create a groundswell of support for the local spot prawn fishery. Prior to that, almost all spot prawns caught off the coast of B.C. were shipped directly to Asia where they are revered for their sweetness and delicate texture. With local promotion of the spot prawn season, this group of sustainability champions helped generate a wave and launch the annual Spot Prawn Festival.

The majority of spot prawns are now enjoyed in B.C. and the rest of Canada, making this local, ocean-friendly seafood choice a delicious seasonal ingredient, and helping to reduce the pressure placed on other unsustainable prawn fisheries.

SATURDAYS GUESTS INCLUDE

Chef Ned Bell Ocean Wise Executive Chef
Chef Rob Clark Co-Founder and The Fish Counter
Chef Weimar Gomez Yew @ Four Seasons
Chef Dino Renaerts Bon Vivant Group
Christa-Lee McWatters Bond Evolve Cellars
Leslie Fenn – Owner of R&B Brewing
Steve Richards – Exec Director Pacific Prawn Fishermen’s Association
Chef Robert Belcham – Campagnolo
DJ Kearney – New District.ca and Wine Educator

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Feature length interview with Chef Jeremiah Tower Legendary ground-breaking Chef. Subject of a new Documentary Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent
Produced by Anthony Bourdain.
Cider Special.
John Schreiner – His new book BC Icon

June 3rd, 2017- Top Drop!

June 2, 2017 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:50:50

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Its Top Drop Vancouver 2017.  Kurtis Kolt presents his 4th annual gathering of small, hands on wineries who are passionate about their craft.

“The Most Awesome Wine Event of the Year” – Vancouver Magazine

And the bad boys of smoke,  Park and George from Memphis Blues BBQ bring the do’s and don’ts  of BBQ Season.

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THE SHOW

  

Top Drop 2017

 Kurtis Kolt

Kurtis Kolt

Embarking on its fourth year, Top Drop Vancouver was a two day trade and consumer event being held at the Roundhouse in Yaletown and various Vancouver restaurants  bringing together a collection of small, hands on wineries, craft breweries, cideries and food purveyors who are passionate about their craft.  Their  focus is terroir-influenced, handcrafted wines, and the people behind them.

 

This is what Top Drop “believes”

 

– 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 our best in those areas.

 

We stopped at four seminars:

 

Stranger Things –  (Wildebeest)  Wineries that have stuck their necks out to share something unique with the World. Some of the strangest wines of Top Drop 2017.

 

Herdade do Esporão – Alentejo, Portugal  (Pedro Vieira)

Vina Falerina – Elqui Valley Chile   (Paulo Flessati.  Winery Family)

Fattoria Colmone Della Marca  Marche Italy  (Giovanni Meschine. Owner)

Masseria Li Veli – Puglia, Italy  (Giuseppe Gullo, Manager)

 

All About Bubble – (Chambar)

Okanagan Crush Pad –  Summerland  ( Christine Coletta co-owner)

 

Organics and Biodynamics (L’Abbitoir)

(The Brothers Pender)

Tawse Winery – Niagara Escarpment  ( Paul Pender, Winemaker)

Little Farm Winery – Similkameen Valley, BC  ( Rhys Pender MW, Co-Owner/Winegrower)

 

Of Grape and Site (Cin Cin)

What did the winemaker see in the site, the blend, or the clone that compelled them to make at least two different expressions of the same grape? 

Shane Taylor – Sommelier of the Year (Cin Cin)

ShaneTaylor Cin Cin

Synchromesh Wines – Okanagan Falls, BC.  ( Alan Dickinson, Owner/Winemaker/Farmer)

Bachelder – Burgundy/Oregon/Ontario  (Thomas Bachelder, Winemaker)

Thomas Bachelder – Top Drop

Cambria Estate Vineyard and Winery – Santa Maria Valley, California  (Denise Shurtleff, Winemaker)

Many thanks to Kurtis Kolt for the support and congratulations for 4 years of spectacular growth!!  Top Drop Vancouver,
proudly supporting the B.C. Hospitality Foundation.

 

www.topdropvancouver.com

 

Instagram:

@TopDropYVR

Twitter:

@TopDropYVR

Facebook:

TopDropVancouver

 

 

BBQ Season – Do’s and Don’ts

Park Heffelfinger and George Siu  Co-owners of Memphis Blues BBQ.

 

George Siu and Park-Heffelfinger

These guys are not just in the BBQ business..they live it and  breath it.

They talk smoke like some talk wine.

And speaking of wine..their drink menu includes some of the best pairing wines, a great list of bourbons, beer  and whiskey.

Park and George make BBQ fun!!  The boys walk and talk us through the do’s and don’ts of Q.  It’s a Master Class in smoke!!

Multiple locations in BC and Alberta.

January 1999 George Siu and Park Heffelfinger  had a stopover in Memphis while flying from New Orleans. Lunch was a Pulled Pork Sandwich, and it was love at first bite.

Since then, they have attended the World Barbecue Championships in Memphis where they conducted extensive research. They were able to reproduce the recipes at home, and decided to bring Authentic Southern barbeque to Canada.

http://www.memphisbluesbbq.com/

 

 

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

John Schreiner – ICON

Cider Special

Bloom – BC/VQA Spring-Summer releases

Annual  food, wine and fishing special with

Rhys Pender, John Weber, Chef Mark Filatow at Skitchine Lodge.

2017 Vancouver Wine Festival – Two 1 hour specials

OK Falls Spring Pour

Naramata Bench Spring Pour

Prawn Festival Kick Off

A gaggle of Somms at Unswoerth

Chefs John Bishop/Umberto Menghi and Quang Dang

 

 

May 27th, 2017 – “4th Annual BC Pinot Noir Celebration”

May 26, 2017 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:50:40

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The SHOW

Without-a-doubt one of the most anticipated wine events of this summer is the 4th Annual BC Pinot Noir Celebration to be held at the beautiful Linden Gardens in Kaleden, just South of Penticton. Saturday August 19th. A one day event from 3-10PM.

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Linden Gardens

 

 

They have room fir 350 guests and are expecting 34 BC wineries.

 

 

 

 

ALL pouring their best Pinot Noir.  With food from Joy Road Catering,

Mike Bernardo from Vij’s group, Matt Batey (formerly from Mission Hill now The Nash in Calgary) and Alex Sielmann from Frog City Cafe.  Its a celebration because BC is showing signs of becoming a Pinot destination.  For example they poured 13 Pinot noir year one, 16 in year two, 26 in year three and 34 this year.

Guests today include Vikram Vij, JAK Meyer (Meyer Family Vineyards) David Patterson (Tantalus). Kurtis Kolt (Georgia Straight) Mike Bernardo (Vij’s Group)
Make your plans and check the link. bcpinotnoir.ca
Jane Ferrari- Yalumba

When pressed,  Jane describes herself as the Yalumba storyteller and what a story she brings this time.
Jane will introduce all of us to The Caley. Its not often I’ll bring you the story of a  $500 bottle of wine but this wine is very special.

It`s The Caley.

Fred Caley Smith was a man in possession of green thumbs, inquisitive eyes and tired feet.

In 1893 he set out on a two-year journey that would take him through Europe, North America, the Middle East and Indian subcontinent in search of new markets for the wines and canned fruits produced at the Barossa estate established by his grandfather and still known today as Yalumba.

Fred’s pen was perceptive and prolific, but even more valuable than his journalism are the letters he sent home at a rate of one every couple of days for the entirety of his trip.

The letters tell tales of how the wines of colonial Australia were finding their way in the world, of the latest developments in horticultural practice and how a thoughtful and curious young man engaged with a world that couldn’t have been more different from the small Barossa town of Angaston to which they were sent.

They were compiled, bound and stashed away in the family archive at Yalumba, where they gathered dust until they were recently called into service to help launch the most ambitious wine Yalumba has produced in its 168-year history.

The wine is called The Caley, not just in honour of the adventurous Fred but as a reference to the path Yalumba has travelled to this point and the direction in which it’s headed.

Australia’s oldest family-owned winery is many things, but flashy isn’t one them, and its various vinous offerings have always come into the world with a quiet confidence rather than a big splash.

This was Yalumba making a clear statement of intent.

A scan of the tasting schedule provided clues: a session exploring Yalumba’s history with cabernet followed by something similar with Barossa shiraz, then culminating with a look at the company’s fabled history of blending the two.

It didn’t require Sherlockian powers of deduction to work out the wine we were waiting for would be some form of that blend.

Yalumba has always been at the forefront of the peculiarly Australian practice of blending cabernet and shiraz, going right back to the days when we commonly called such wines claret.

In fact before the idea came to call the wine The Caley it went by the working title Super Claret.

The Caley is a truly great claret.

Aromatically it’s beguiling rather than bombastic, an ethereal fragrance drawing you deeper in to the wine.

It’s beautifully polished and impeccably poised. This thing is weighted like a jockey set for a big Spring, not a single gram of unnecessary fat. Barossa shiraz puts just enough supple cladding on the well-constructed frame Coonawarra cabernet provides.

It’s layered and finely etched, beautifully tapered and finely threaded with micro-fine tannins.

This is a wine that more than lives up to the high hopes held for it.

Jane also walks us through new  very special pours from Yalumba.

Im told they’re currently in BC

The Octavius,  $130

The Menzies, $70

The Signature, $75

 

The Caley will arrive in about 3-4 months.

www.yalumba.com

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Top Drop Vancouver 2017

BC ShellFish events in Courtney/Comox

John Schreiner’s new book ICON

BC Cider Special

BC Spring/Summer releases at Bloom

May 20th, 2017 – Culinary Legend! Jeremiah Tower

May 16, 2017 Audio FIle, Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:50:49

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The Culinary  Legend himself Jeremiah Tower with comments from  Chef Ned Bell and  San Francisco’s  Foodie Chap: Liam MayClem.

DJ Kearney with a yuge list of wines to pair with Spot Prawns and Christopher Silva from St Francis Wines on Sonoma.

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The SHOW

 
“Jeremiah Tower’s menus were a complete re-evaluation of not just American food and ingredients – but food itself.”


ANTHONY BOURDAIN  Producer

 

Anthony Bourdain

  

Jeremiah Tower – The Last Magnificent

 The new Documentary that opened last  weekend –  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.

Jeremiah Tower 

Jeremiah 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.

Chez Panisse

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.

 We start the show with two plugged in culinary stars.  First is Ned Bell:  Executive Chef Ocean Wise Canada

Chef Ned Bell

…and second is a bit of a legend himself Liam Mayclem, The Foodie Chap of KCBS-SF.

Liam Mayclem

They both paint a verbal picture of Jeremiah Tower.

http://jeremiahtower.film/

http://www.oceanwise.ca/

www.cbssf.com/foodiechap

 

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

 

DJ Kearney – Wine Director at NewDistrict.ca

 

Last weekend DJ was the final  guest on our LIVE broadcast from the 11th annual Spot Prawn Festival kick off.

She brought with her a large list of recommended wines to pair with most spot prawn recipes but the show was so busy I felt we didn’t really give her the spotlight she and the wines  deserved.

She is after all, a very special wine educator. She gives you all the information you need and entertains at the same time.

Thanks Deej.

Here’s THE LIST!

 Cipes Blanc de Noirs 2008

Mission Hill  Perpetua  Chardonnay

Hedges Sauvignon Blanc

St Hubertus Reisling

Culmina R&D White Blend

Haywire Pinot Gris

Tightrope  Rose

The Meyer Rose

  St Francis  – Chris Silva (President/CEO)  Sonoma

 Fifth-generation Sonoma County native, Christopher Silva is firmly rooted in Sonoma County agriculture. He was raised in a family of Petaluma dairy farmers, and nine years after graduating from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, he retired from practicing law to join St. Francis Winery. At the age of 38, he became President & CEO of St. Francis in 2003. He understands firsthand that a farmer’s footprint and intimate knowledge of the soil, microclimates and terroir of the region are the most important ingredients for healthy vines.

Chris Silva

As President & CEO of St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, Chris has a specific focus: crafting world class Sonoma wine. St. Francis is best known for luscious, elegant, fruit driven Sonoma County Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and “Old Vines” Zinfandel.  Additionally, St. Francis was named “#1 Restaurant in America” by Open Table  in 2013 and 2015 in recognition of its farm to table wine and food pairings offered on site to Winery visitors each day.

“Our time at St. Francis will not be measured in years. It will be measured by the contributions each one of us makes—as individuals—to constantly improving the quality of our grapes and our wines. ‘Good enough’ is contrary to our mission.”

 Chris gives us a Master Class in St Francis ZIN.

 http://www.stfranciswinery.com/

 

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 STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

  • The return of Jane Ferrari – Spokesperson for Yalumba and The Caley
  • Cider Special
  • BC Shellfish Festival

 

 

 

May 13th 2017-Live from the Spot Prawn Festival Vancouver!

May 11, 2017 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show

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Tasting Room Radio is LIVE this Saturday at 10am!!

It’s the 11th Annual Spot Prawn festival at
False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf
1505 West 1st Ave
Kits

Click here to listen!

 

It’s one of Vancouver’s most popular events of the Year..The Spot Prawn Fest.
Vancouver’s best chefs show up for cooking demos – everyone with a ticket gets a plate with prawns and other goodies..plus Terra Breads.
AND there’s R&B Brewing and Evolve Cellars pouring as well.
Presented by Chefs Table Society of BC

In 2006, it was Organic Ocean’s Steve Johansen, along with Chef Clark, Ocean Wise, and other members of the Chefs’ Table Society that helped create a groundswell of support for the local spot prawn fishery. Prior to that, almost all spot prawns caught off the coast of B.C. were shipped directly to Asia where they are revered for their sweetness and delicate texture. With local promotion of the spot prawn season, this group of sustainability champions helped generate a wave and launch the annual Spot Prawn Festival.

The majority of spot prawns are now enjoyed in B.C. and the rest of Canada, making this local, ocean-friendly seafood choice a delicious seasonal ingredient, and helping to reduce the pressure placed on other unsustainable prawn fisheries.

SATURDAYS GUESTS INCLUDE

Chef Ned Bell Ocean Wise Executive Chef
Chef Rob Clark Co-Founder and The Fish Counter
Chef Weimar Gomez Yew @ Four Seasons
Chef Dino Renaerts Bon Vivant Group
Christa-Lee McWatters Bond Evolve Cellars
Leslie Fenn – Owner of R&B Brewing
Steve Richards – Exec Director Pacific Prawn Fishermen’s Association
Chef Robert Belcham – Campagnolo
DJ Kearney – New District.ca and Wine Educator

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Feature length interview with Chef Jeremiah Tower Legendary ground-breaking Chef. Subject of a new Documentary Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent
Produced by Anthony Bourdain.
Cider Special.
John Schreiner – His new book BC Icon

April 29th, 2017-Patio Wines

April 26, 2017 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 0:50:37

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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:

  •  Naramata Bench Wineries pour  new releases  on The Coast
  • Therapy
  • Hillside
  • La Frenz
  • Lake Breeze
  • Deep Roots
  • Upper Bench
  • Bench 1775
  • Terra Vista
  • The Cider Clans gather

 

 

April 22nd, 2017-Meet the Makers

April 19, 2017 Imported data, Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:50:41

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Meet the Makers – Gordon Fitzpatrick creates a stunning new winery plus  Sea Cider. Townsite Brewing. Blue Grouse. Stags Hollow. Sheringham Distillery.

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THE SHOW

 The dynamic Sara Park (Spark in Victoria)  organized Meet the Makers in Victoria. She wisely chose Nourish , a restaurant and café in a 1889 heritage house at 225 Quebec St.

Wines in the parlour, brewers and distillers upstairs in the bedrooms.  Fantastic location.

Gordon Fitzpatrick / Fitz Wine  (Peachland)

 

I started in the front room with Gordon Fitzpatrick..Son of Okanagan pioneer/politician  Senator Ross Fitzpatrick, who bought and created Cedar Creek Winery in 1986.

Fitzpatrick Family bought Greata Ranch which had been forgotten  for close to 30 years. Perfectly located 10 minutes South of Peachland and the Coquihalla connector.

Gordon joins Cedar Creek as president in 1996.  Cedar Creek wins Winery of the Year in Canada in 2002 & 2005.

2014, the family sells Cedar Creek to Anthony von Mandl (Mission Hill) but holds on to Greata Ranch.

Rebuilds everything on the property.

In 1994 they planted Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, both essential for making sparkling wines.

Intends to be an 8-10,000 case winery and a major bubble house in Canadian wine with room in the new cellar for 120,000 bottles of Fitz Brut and Fitz Brut Reserve. Traditional method Blanc de Blanc and Brut Rose`.

Fitzpatricks In the Vineyard. Father and Son

 

Gordon proudly pours Big Leap Chardonnay, Pink Mile Rose, Ehrenfelser, Gew and more. The family opened the doors to their new winery Easter weekend and what a destination its going to be…

 

complete with cellar tours of the sparkling program and a fine new restaurant led by acclaimed Chef, Tony DeLuca.

www.fitzwine.com

 

Mike Pepperdine – Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse  (Saanichton)

 BC Cider Week is fast approaching (April 28th) Sea Cider is planning on throwing the big party on the 30th.

Even though the cideries are all friends they’re all trying to outdo one another. Sea Cider is leading  the tasting with Wolf in the Woods, infused with hops and grand fir needles.

 

 

Cider is on the customer fast track these days..and Sea Cider is running with the leaders. Releases include Birds and the Bees, Wild English, Flagship, Perry, Pippins, Ruby Rose and many more.

www.seacider.ca

https://www.bcciderweek.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jason MacIsaac – co-owner Sheringham Distillery (Sooke)

Jason MacIsaac Sheringham Distillery

Small batch. Handmade spirits from  the town of Shirley..on the other side of Sooke.  ( Sheringham was shortened to Shirley so the name would fit on the  postage stamp.  Why not Sherry?)

The co-owners are Jason and Alayne MacIsaac.

The inspiration for Sheringham Distillery was found in an empty bottle. In 2003   Jason MacIsaac lived west of Sheringham Pt. in a cabin. There he unearthed a number of old glass moonshine bottles from the notorious Jordan River Hotel which was rumoured to have had a still operating in the cellar. With a “wild west” reputation, it was the nearest liquor establishment to Sheringham Pt. The hotel was built in 1935 at the river mouth  and in 1984 it burned to the ground.

Sheringham makes Akvavit, Seaside Gin, Vodka, William’s White etc

The website is filled with stories, history and of course spirits.

http://www.sheringhamdistillery.com/

Michelle  Zutz – Townsite Brewing (Powell  River)

 Michelle is a ball of fire..and a tonne of fun.

Townsite Brewing

I was fascinated by the Townsite website. They use three headings for their releases.

Legacy – These are year round beers.  Perfect Storm, Pow Town, Tin Hat, Zunga and  Zwarte Wheat. Heads up – The SunCoast Pale Ale is only available on The Sunshine Coast.

Hulks –  Unique single-batch projects.  Charleston, Cardena, YOGN 82, etc

Seasonals – From Sours to Saisons. Blackberry ales to Wet-Hopped IPA. There’s Lil Red,  Stouts and Belgians and speaking of Belgians

The Brewmaster at Townsite is Belgian through and through.

 

CÉDRIC DAUCHOT – Belgian Brewing Sensation Cédric graduated from L’institut Meurice in Brussels in 2004 with an Engineering degree in the science of Brewing. Head of Brewing operations for les 3 Brasseurs Canada from 2005 – 2010, he has  done it all, from Interbrew to Homebrew. Claim to fame: has two cases of Westvleteren 12 aging in his fathers cellar in Belgium.

http://townsitebrewing.com/

 

Bailey Williamson –  Winemaker Blue Grouse Winery (Cowichan Valley)

 

Blue Grouse Estate Winery

Bailey originally learned his winemaking skills at Road 13 on the Golden Mile. It’s served him well in the Cowichan Valley. His wines just keep getting better and more interesting.

Blue Grouse Estate wines Ortega, Pinot Gris, Siegerrebe, Pinot Noir etc.

Quill the second label. White/Red,  Reisling and Rose.

Their  2014 Quill Rose received a GOLD MEDAL at this year’s  Savor NW Wine Awards!

Baileys a gem..proud and passionate!!

http://www.bluegrouse.ca/

 

Dwight Sick – Winemaker at Stags Hollow.  Okanagan Falls

 There are so many of Dwight’s  wines to like at Stag’s Hollow.

Stags Hollow

This winery, which opened in 1996, has a portfolio of about two dozen wines including Grenache and a fine Merlot.

Also very collectable are the Renaissance Pinot Noir and Syrah.  Rose lovers will want to try the Syrah Grenache Rose

Some of the releases can approach $50.00 but if you keep digging you’ll find very affordable very good wines available.  I love the Tempranillo, the Albarino and Muscat Frizzante.

 

Recommended..

 

Sauvignon Blanc.  A beautiful blend of 80% stainless steel tanks and 20% new French oak.

The Heritage Block:  an outstanding Bordeaux blend. Aged  18 months in French and American oak.

Merlot, Cab Franc, Cab Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec.

Stags Hollow Riesling.   Lovely blend of grapes given two different treatments.  Some are left in Stainless Steel and some in large Hogshead barrels.  Then are combined into something very special.

https://stagshollowwinery.com

 

Chef Quang Dang –  West Restaurant
Executive Chef Quang Dang knows a few things about foraging. When he’s not in the kitchen, he’s likely to be found on a farm or a boat and following Mother Nature’s lead for what’s in season – from hazelnuts to spot prawns.  Quang’s passion for all things local is at the heart of  West Restaurants’ philosophy.

Chef Quang Dang began his culinary career at West, where he worked as junior sous chef. Over the next five years, while honing his technique in some of Vancouver’s finest kitchens, Quang quickly established himself as an advocate of sustainability and a champion of West Coast cuisine, a role that he continues to undertake in defining his approach to modern cookery.

Raised in Calgary, Alberta with family roots that stretch back to Scotland and the orchards and rice fields of Vietnam.  Quang went on to compete in a number of international food competitions such as the Bocuse D’Or in Lyon France, the National Chaîne des Rôtisseurs in Winnipeg and as a Canadian representative at the European Seafood Exposition in Brussels.

Quang returned ‘home’ to West as Executive Chef in September 2011. “Every day brings a new adventure,” he says, “defined by the seasons and the extraordinary ingredients available to us in Vancouver. It is my privilege to work alongside one of the finest culinary and service brigades in the country.”

 

Love talking to Q… a pure delight.

 

http://www.westrestaurant.com/

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Okanagan Falls pours in Vancouver.

And so does The Naramata Bench.

April 15th, 2017 -Star Chefs. Naramata Bench. Garagiste: Small Producers in Vancouver.

April 14, 2017 Imported data, Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 0:50:40

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Flourish Gala at Vancouver Community College with Chefs Angus An and Clement Chan. Plus  winemakers from Tightrope, Elephant Island and Kettle Valley from the Naramata Bench and Garagiste North The Small Producers Wine Festival comes to Vancouver next  Saturday. They guest today!!

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THE SHOW

 Flourish  Gala  in March was the annual fundraiser for the community college.

Many of Canada’s chefs have be trained at VCC and this was an opportunity to showcase those students and Alumni.

We started with two of Vancouver’s best young chefs..

Chef Angus An – Trained at UBC, then  began his culinary career in NYC, Montreal and London.

Chef Angus An

 

 

Since returning to Vancouver in 2006 he has opened and received highest accolades with Gastropod (one of 200 best restaurants in the World – Zagat), Maenam, Fat Mao, Longtail Kitchen And Freebird Chicken Shack.

 

 

 

 

 

www.maenam.ca

www.chefangusan.com/bio

Chef Clement Chan

Clement was born and raised in Vancouver. He attended  culinary school at Vancouver Community College and was recognized early on as a rising star, winning provincial awards, representing Canada in the World Culinary Olympics, named National Chef of the Year and appeared on Food Network shows; Top Chef Canada and Eat St.

Chef Clement Chan

He has worked at a number of notable restaurants in the city, including local favourites such as Hapa Izakaya, Chambar and Blue Water Cafe. These days you can find him on his award winning Le Tigre food truck or  busy working at his new restaurant Torafuku.

 

http://torafuku.ca/members/clement-chan-executive-chef/

 

 

 

 

Pouring wines to pair with the food at the Gala were the wineries of the Naramata Bench   

www.naramatabench.com

 Three winemakers made the long drive down to the coast to bring the story behind their wines.

Miranda Halliday – Elephant Island

 

The Hallidays – Elephant Island

Elephant Island began as a family haven, a place of summer picnics, orchard adventures and magical holidays on the Naramata Bench. Today the elephant has grown into a 6,000 case winery driven to craft wines of character. Wines that sing with the unconventional voice of vanguard fruit. Wines that are balanced by a reverence for traditional winemaking practices. Wines that are rooted and inspired by family history.

Having lived on the Bench for 5 years I can tell you that their tasting room is quite possibly the single busiest in the Okanagan.

They make amazing wines and bubble from fruit..a skill very few in Canada can duplicate.

Now they’re crafting  regular wines and have started making cider.

Highly recommend Pink Elephant, The Little King and “Told you so” Viognier.

Much to talk about with co-owner Miranda Halliday.

 

https://www.elephantislandwine.com/

 Bob Ferguson –  Kettle Valley Winery

Bob and Tim from Kettle Valley

Along with partner Tim Watts – Kettle Valley  has been one of the best stories in all of BC wines.

They started making their first wines in an apartment in downtown Penticton.

Sneaking bins of fruit upstairs in the elevator and crushing grapes in the living room and storing them in the closets.

Crazy right?

But that’s how much they wanted to make wines.

As they  finish off their 25th year, as the oldest single-owner winery on the Naramata Bench, they  still remain dedicated to making and sharing great wines from BC grapes.  Their family’s commitment is as strong as ever to farming full flavoured grapes and to winemaking that brings out the best of those flavours and subtleties.

Check out Bob’s latest stories and wines.

 

http://www.kettlevalleywinery.com/

Lyndsay O’Rourke – Tightrope Winery

Tightrope Winery: A journey of balance, skill and experience, one step at a time.

Tightrope Winery is a small family run vineyard on the Naramata Bench, BC. The owners are Graham and Lyndsay O’Rourke.  Both studied winemaking at Lincoln University in NZ.  They use their education and experience to grow and make small batches of high quality wine. All of the grapes that go into their wines are sourced from select vineyards on the Naramata Bench.

The journey of bringing grapes to the bottle is a tightrope walk of variables from vineyard management, to winemaking, to the weather and even balancing the cheque book.

Tightrope was named Small Winery of Distinction at the 2015 Northwest Wine Summit Awards.

All eight entries won.

They placed seventh in small wineries in Canada and among the top 10 wineries in B.C. in the 2015 WineAlign of Canada competition.

https://www.tightropewinery.ca/

Garagiste North – The Small Producers Wine Festival

One of my favourite gatherings..actually there’s three this year.

Parksville (Parksville Museum – outdoors)  July 29th, Penticton Aug 27th and next Saturday  April 22nd in Vancouver at Arts Works Gallery.  255 Smythe.

 

Join them  for a gathering of the small case lot, artisan wine producers at Art Works gallery in Vancouver. Meet the winemakers face to face.  For once, you get to ask all those questions you’ve been meaning to ask.  You will have the opportunity to purchase wine from these hard to find producers right at the event as Marquis Wine Cellars brings you their pop up store.

Partial proceeds go to the Garagiste North Wine Studies Scholarship..

So..this week a teaser on what you can expect next week!!

We talk to:

Mireille Sauve  wine expert and winemaker for Dames Wines.

Daniel Bontorin – Seven Directions   Daniel makes only Rose`

 

Penelope Roche. – Grew up in Bordeaux. Next door neighbour was Haut Brion. Kids at school called her The Princess because she lived in a Chateau.

Husband Dylan grew up in exotic North Vancouver.  Next door neighbour was a guy named Spike.

Guess who I chose  to talk to?

This was the small winery that turned me on to the possibilities of this movement and these farmers.

http://www.rterroir.ca/

 

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

Okanagan Falls pours in Vancouver

Naramata Bench Pours in Victoria

 

April 8th, 2017 Hawksworth & The New Releases

April 7, 2017 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:50:40

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David Hawksworth and his vision for Nightingale.

Looking for a great new wine?  We present the IVSA 2017 new releases.

 

David Hawksworth

 Chef David Hawksworth realized his culinary vision at his first  restaurant, in the very heart of downtown Vancouver. At Hawksworth Restaurant, which opened in 2011, he has created the ideal setting to deliver compelling contemporary Canadian cuisine; a demonstration of his European-trained technical ability, deep appreciation for local ingredients and an absolute insistence on only the very best quality.

Winner of 2012 and 2013 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards Restaurant of the Year and Chef of the Year and for four consecutive years, Best Upscale Dining, as well as enRoute magazine’s top three Best New Restaurants, and Maclean’s magazine Restaurant of the Year; Hawksworth has anchored himself at the helm of the Vancouver – and Canadian – dining scene.

A native Vancouverite who spent a decade honing his talents in Europe working in Michelin-starred kitchens such as Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, L’Escargot and The Square, David Hawksworth soon emerged as one of Canada’s leading culinary talents upon his return in summer 2000. In 2008 David became the youngest chef inductee in to the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame.

Now he has  opened  his next restaurant..Nightingale, a casual room with seriously great  food and service.  Check out the pizza.

Nightingale

It’s in a heritage building on West Hastings. Right around the corner from the iconic Marine Building.

 Just announced –  – Find your seat at the Chef’s Table at Nightingale.  Join family, friends or co-workers for a social sharing menu created Georgia Straight Chef of the Year, Phil Scarfone. Bookings are available for groups of up to 18 people with menus starting from $45 per guest. To reserve email [email protected]

I talked to David just as the restaurant was opening.   David explains everything.

www.hawknightingale.com

 BC’s Agents and Reps pour the new wines and spirits

 

 IVSA (The Import Vintners & Spirits Association) work very hard to keep all of us up-to-date on what’s new in the wine and  spirits new releases.

I made sure I had fresh batteries in my recorder..found the Delta Ocean Pointe in Victoria and worked the room.

Couldn’t talk to everyone..the room as busy with lots of seekers but here’s who I was able to get the microphone in front of..

Lionel King – Partner in Bonvida Importers and Distributors   www.bonvidawines.com

Benjamin Phillip – Stile Brands   (Vancouver Island Account Exec)  www.stilebrands.com

Jaime Cowan – Partner  Landmark Selections  www.landmarkselections.com

Teresa Chiesa– Christopher Stewart Wines Vancouver Island Rep.  www.christopherstewart.com

Dan Volway – Edrington Americas   Brand Ambassador / Whiskey  www.edrington.com

Eugene Chae –  Cobees.  Korean Soju   www.cobeesliquor.com

Here’s hoping you discover  your favourite wine or spirits for 2017!

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Flourish at Vancouver Community College

Elephant Island

Tightrope

Kettle Valley

Former student Chef Clement Chan – ToraFuku/Le Tigre

Former student Angus An – Maenam, Fat Mao

Meet the Makers  in Victoria

Sheringham Distillery

Townsite Brewing

Blue Grouse

Stags Hollow

Sea Cider

Fitz

Sara Park

 

5th annual Okanagan Falls  Spring releases in Vancouver

Blasted Church

Blue Mountain

Cresent Hill

Kraze Legz

Meyer Family

Nighthawk

Noble Ridge

Painted Rock

Pentage

Synchromesh

Wild Goose

Naramata Bench pours Spring Releases

April 1st, 2017 – Domenica Fiore/Olio Novello!

March 31, 2017 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:50:42

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It was such a great afternoon..Frank Giustra poured this year’s  version of Dominica Fiore the best Olive Oil in the World, John Skinner founder of Painted Rock pours this year’s  releases  AND  it all took place at Umberto Menghi’s  smashing new restaurant Giardino.

Plus Jim Cuddy and Colin Cripps from Blue Rodeo join Moray Tawse to explain how the new wines The Cuddy by Tawse came to be. All three stories are different.

The best part is all three are storytellers…

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THE SHOW

 Frank Giustra – Domenica Fiore Olio Reserva Olive Oil

John Skinner – Founder of Painted Rock Wines

Umberto Menghi –  Owner of Giardino

 Movie financer and master mind behind some of the most outstanding mining transactions in Latin America, Frank Giustra, Canadian born banker joined Mexican Billionaire Carlos Slim and President Bill Clinton to fight poverty in the region.

Frank Giustra

Rather than attempt to list all of Franks business credits..May I suggest you just Google his name?

Now. About Frank and his Olive Oil..

Frank Giustra always carries several bottles in his luggage whenever he travels.

 

tdm and Frank Giustra

 

It has only been five years since Frank bought his first olive tree in Umbria, Italy. At the time, he knew nothing about olive oil and was buying it at Safeway like everyone else.

But Domenica Fiore Olio Reserva, named after his mother, has received the highest score of more than 700 entries from 22 countries at the inaugural New York International Olive Oil Competition. Actually he’s won it multiple times.

He has always loved food, but now he is obsessed!

 

Domenica Fiore Olio Reserva

Domenica Fiore Olio Reserva extra virgin olive oil ($34.95 for 500 ml) is encased in stainless steel bottles, and vacuum sealed with nitrogen to preserve antioxidants and polyphenols. Each bottle is labeled with a hand-written lot number

Domenica Fiore Olio Reserva

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frank asked his friends John Skinner from Painted Rock and Umberto Menghi from Giardino to partner with him to launch this year’s Olio. I wish you could have been there because it was such fun but we did interviews with all three so you could join us.

John Skinner  was a stockbroker in Vancouver for more than 25 years, during which time he became an avid wine enthusiast. John and his wife Trish dreamed of having their own vineyard after spending time exploring wineries in the South of France with their family.

John Skinner

 

 

In 2004, recognizing that the quality of wines in this region was improving dramatically and driven by both his passion for wine and his desire to create a legacy business for his family, he purchased the land in south Penticton known locally as “The Blackhawk.” Perched high on a bench on the east side of Skaha Lake south of Penticton, backing up against the famed climbing bluffs.

He planted in 2005 and 2006 and now has roughly 25 acres under vine, all of it Bordeaux reds or Syrah except for a block of Chardonnay.

On the advice of consultants, he has planted multiple clones of every variety, giving his winemaker good blending options. John was confident that this terroir and its site influences presented “a unique opportunity to create exceptional wines” and that he had “both the opportunity and the obligation to do this property justice.” John and Trish’s vision was and remains to grow exceptional grapes in their estate vineyard to produce ultra-premium wines that reflect the perfect marriage of new world fruit and old world processes, employing the best modern technologies and expertise, while respecting old world traditions. Most satisfying of all is that the whole family has been involved.

 

Umberto Menghi is already a legendary figure in Vancouver and he’s not done yet!!

umberto menghi

Born in Pontedera, Tuscany, Umberto was sixteen years old when he enrolled in a hotel school in Rome, beginning a life-long commitment to food and the world of great restaurants. After more training in London and Paris, he moved to Canada in 1967, and headed west in 1969. In Vancouver he noted the absence of authentic Italian cooking and determined to do something about it.

In 1973, from a yellow house on the fringe of downtown Vancouver, Umberto started a restaurant revolution with his fresh, authoritative food.

His latest may be his greatest.   Giardino..just steps from his starting point back in 1973.

 

 

 

http://www.umberto.com/

www.paintedrock.ca

www.domenicafiore.com

 

 

Moray Tawse

Jim Cuddy

Colin Cripps   The Cuddy by Tawse Winery

 

Jim Cuddy

Three friends combine their talents to make a new wine label in Niagara – The Cuddy!!  

 

I’ve long known  that Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo & The Jim Cuddy band) will talk wine at the drop of a hat. He’s been a welcome guest on Tasting Room Radio many times.

He has a great cellar at home in Toronto and when he’s on the road,  between shows he goes shopping for wines – especially in Alberta – and loads up the luggage space with selected releases and rare wines.

During the year you can find him playing one-off gigs at wineries all over the country.

Jim is the guy responsible for the amazing talent that graces the stages of The Canadian Culinary Championships. The Gold Medal Plates.

He’s then invited to join the organizers for journeys to South Africa, Italy, France, Spain. So you can see he’s truly a “wine guy”

So,  given the opportunity to create wines with his name on the label who better to partner with than perennial  Winery of the Year Winner Moray Tawse at Tawse, Niagara.

The third member of the winemaking/blending team was guitarist Colin Cripps (Blue Rodeo). The Crippler really knows his wines and especially his blends.

 

They gathered at Tawse and went over tasting notes on the Chardonnay and then had what Jim called “ a chemistry lesson” when blending the red.

moray tawse

They made a 1000 cases of each and they’ve been released to welcoming reviews.

And how do we in the West get our hands on The Cuddy by Tawse?  Moray explains.

 

https://www.tawsewinery.ca/

http://www.jimcuddy.com/introducing-cuddy-by-tawse-wines/

https://twitter.com/colincripps

 

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

Miranda Halliday  Elephant Island

Bob Ferguson – Kettle Valley

Lindsey O’Rourke – Tightrope

Angus An – Maenam/Fat Mao

Clement Chan – ToraFuku

IVSA Tasting in Victoria.

Meet the Makers

Okanagan Falls Spring Pour

Naramata Bench Pours on the Coast

Garagiste North – Vancouver

New Zealand pours in Vancouver

Top Drop  Spring 2017