Tasting Room Radio

July 15th, 2023- Cowichan Valley Wine Fest & Chef Kristian Eligh/ Marilena, Victoria

July 15, 2023 Tasting Room Radio 0:57:11

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Cowichan Valley Wine Fest & Chef Kristian Eligh/Marilena, Victoria

THE SHOW

It’s Festival Season. In the Cowichan Valley. Wine, Music, Blues and Roots, Food, Fishing, Camping.

Cowichan | 10 reasons to visit the Cowichan Valley

The annual Cowichan Valley Wine Festival returns to its Month of August setting.

Its kicks off July 27  with Sunset Soirée from 6-9 PM on the gorgeous Campbell Commons at  Brentwood College School in Mill Bay.

13 wineries will be pouring some of their favourites plus some chosen especially for this event. Attending and tasting allow you to actually meet the maker of the wines. There’s nothing better than getting the real story of the wine. Expect high-end, new releases and a few surprises being poured.

This year the food program will be created by  Mensch Catering, so you know it will be very interesting.

Wineries pouring on the night will be Alderlea, Avril Creek,  Blue Grouse, Cherry Point, Damali, Devino, Deol,  Emandare, Enrico, Rocky Creek, Unsworth, Venturi Schultze and  Zanatta!

August in the Cowichan Valley  Aug 1 – 31.    Twelve wineries.

Wine Passport.  

Your map and tasting glass are your ticket to all 12 participating Cowichan Valley Wineries.

Everyone who purchases a ticket is automatically entered into draws. 

(Accommodations, wine, tours,  transportation and gift baskets.)

Details at www.cowichanwineries.com

 

Our guests are:

Alderlea – Julie Powell co-owner/co-winemaker

Blue Grouse – Bailey Williamson  Head Winemaker

Enrico Winery – Lorin Inglis  General Manager and Pres Cowichan Wineries Society.

Bailey Williamson (Blue Grouse)

(Jim Moody from Zanatta had tech issues and we will do a follow up)

www.cowichanwineries.com

www.alderlea.ca

www.bluegrouse.ca

www.enricowinery.com

@zanattawinery

 

Chef Kristian Eligh – Marilena Café and Raw Bar.  Victoria

Chef Kristian Eligh

It felt like the longest opening of a new restaurant I’ve seen in many years.

3-4 years ago I knew that Kristian and his family were moving back to Victoria with a plan to create a singular restaurant.

Then came years of COVID and post Covid.

Finally the day has arrived and Marilena Café and Raw Bar  was just launched.

Kristian is a chefs chef.

New Vancouver Island restaurant Marilena to open in Victoria, BC on June 28 | Eat North

Kristian is a chef’s chef.

From Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry, to culinary director of Hawksworth Restaurant and now

Top Table Group Executive Chef.

The Top Table Group includes Blue Water Café, Eliza, Cin Cin, Araxi, Il Caminetto, Bar Oso.  Quite a line up and it doesn’t include their two New York City restaurants.

Marilena is two rooms in one. They’ve been described as “pockets of ambience”.

The Raw Bar, led by Chef Clark Park. The Café is the turf of one of the best managers Aaron Matsuzaki.

New Vancouver Island restaurant Marilena to open in Victoria, BC on June 28 | Eat North

The wine directory is large. It’s overseen by the brilliant Shane Taylor.

This is a destination, my friends…

Go to www.marilenacafe.com and check out the dazzling menu and wine list.

The café is a blend of Japanese-inspired small plates, Italian salads and large sharing plates of whole fish, lobster and  48 hr Beef Shortrib.

Cocktails on tap and a list of variables called lively, adventurous and sophisticated.

Pouring select Vancouver Island Wines. One from Basque Country and Aquilini   Cab/Merlot Family Blend from Red Mountain.

 

Marilena is now open. It was well worth the wait.

 

www.marilenacafe.com

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Fort Berens 

John Schreiner  Good Grog

The Sipster 2

Painted Rock

Meyer/Mayhem

Hester Creek

Etna/Pietradolce

 

 

July 8th, 2023 Michael Bartier – Tasting The BB portfolio and Rowan Stewart Cellared Chardonnay from Quails Gate

July 7, 2023 Audio FIle, Tasting Room Radio 1:01:18

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Michael Bartier – Tasting The Brothers  classic portfolio and Rowan Stewart Cellared Chardonnay from QG.

 

THE SHOW

Michael Bartier: Bartier Brothers  – GM. Co-Owner and Chief Winemaker (South Okanagan)

(Don and Michael Bartier)

For a guy who literally fell into the wine business many years ago, he has become,  through his own drive, will and talent,  one of the very best winemakers and visionaries in Canada.

Michael learned his craft as a tradesman at Hawthorne Mountain Vineyards, Township 7 and Road 13, among others. Currently, he acts as a  consulting winemaker and by his leadership, in and out of the bottle, he makes them even  better wineries.

Michael has been on Tasting Room Radio for many years now. He brings smarts, compassion and no BS.

Perhaps once a year we exchange questions and answers, insights and food fights.

This time we’re  talking about  the new releases of his classic wines,  and big things like Wieners and Wine Wednesdays, Burgers and Blues, and Bubbles and Brunch.

Plus one really fascinating addition to his resume. Partnering with Boutinot , the biggest negotiant in French winemaking. They love the wines that Michael makes and its now finding its way to many other countries in the wine world.

The wine is called Project B.  We have a very interesting chat about those wines and Michaels role in the process.

 www.bartierbrothers.com

 

The newest releases of some BB  classics:

  • Brut N/V
  • Chardonnay 2022
  • Semillon 2022
  • Rose 2022

 

  • Merlot 2021
  • Cabernet Franc 2021
  • Grenache Syrah 2021
  • The Orchard Row 2020  a field blend . Pinot Noir/Cab Franc/Merlot

The latest additions to portfolio:

  • Pinot Noir Rose 2022
  • Riesling Gruner Veltliner 2021
  • Pinot Noir 2021
  • The Goal 2021 Coming in August.
  • Piquette and Piquette Rose (in four pack cans)

Piquette - Bartier Bros. Vineyard & Winery | Oliver, BC

Rowan Stewart – Quails Gate Winemaker: New Developments

Even though Rowan’s title suggests new developments, he’s really with us this week to take us through cellaring Chardonnay in the Okanagan Valley.

Its always a very interesting experience when new Okanagan white wines are tasted  next to their previous vintages. The tasting takes on a  more serious tone when the wine being tasted is Quails Gate Chardonnay.

Thats because they have gained wine fame with their portfolio of cool climate Chardonnays.

Quails’ Gate are true wine pioneers in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia with more than sixty years of experience in viticulture. The Stewart family settled in the area in 1908. Five decades later, Dick Stewart started to grow grapes in 1961. The winery, Quails’ Gate was founded in 1989. Over the next two decades, the entire family became involved in making the company one of the leading producers of premium BC VQA wines.

Rowan is  the latest Stewart to commit to the family business.

Quails' Gate

Rowan Stewart

The vineyard and the climate are unique: the Okanagan experiences cooler temperatures yet high heat and long periods of sun exposure in the Summer, which provides the ability to grow a multitude of varietals. Due to its latitudinal location, the Okanagan has, more sunlight exposure than most regions in the world. West Kelowna in particular, also sits over an extinct volcano with soil rich in volcanic rock, clay, gravel and glacial till, providing minerals that give wines depth, strength and character.  Vessel Liquor,  Victoria.

Currently Quails Gate is doing a program of specialty tasting  for wine fans and right now it’s Chardonnay. The event is called  Right Place, Right Time.  Well made chardonnays age beautifully. Quails Gate are exploring how their chardonnays  will age. You can as well.

Changing in the bottle from freshness on the nose and palate to aged characteristics like spice and complexity.

Lots to talk about. Which is why Rowan and Quails Gate are guesting on the last two segments.

Here are the wines we tasted.

2013 Estate Chardonnay

2021 Estate Chardonnay 

2015 SFR Chardonnay  (Stewart Family Reserve )

2020 SFR Chardonnay 

www.quailsgate.com

 

Stories we are working on:

Painted Rock

Fort Berens

Meyer/Mayhem

Cowichan Wine festival

John Schreiner – Good Grog, the book.

The Sipster 2

 

 

Canada Day July 1st, 2023 Another “walk in the neighborhood”

July 1, 2023 Audio FIle, Tasting Room Radio 1:03:13

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For over 17 years we’ve had a feature on TRR called A walk in the neighbourhood.

We’ve made some fine friends along the way.

The “neighbourhood“ for Tasting Room Radio  are the segment sponsors of this weekly salute to the  craft of winemaking and culinary arts.

When we started the show we vowed  “if we are committed to talking  about someone for 52 weeks,  we better like them  and  admire what they do or it  just doesn’t work!”

In one hour, we’ll  talk about the wines they’ve released, the awards they’ve won and their plans  for the Summer and Fall.  Fresh new talk friends.

 

This year in the  neighborhood are:

 

Hillside Winery (Naramata)

Unsworth Vineyards (Cowichan – Vancouver island)

Moon Curser (Osoyoos)

Mt Boucherie  (West Kelowna)

Okanagan Wine Festivals (West Kelowna)

  

HILLSIDE ESTATE WINERY

GM and Winemaker Kathy Malone and Chef Evan Robertson

Kathy Malone

Kathy delightfully takes us through the new Hillside releases.

The 2022 Gewürztraminer, 2022 Pinot Gris and a wine club exclusive Below the Road Rose. Also the 2020 Pinot Noir,  2020 Merlot, 2018 Dickinson (single vineyard) Merlot.

They’re prepping for a Best of the Bench Dinner event July 18th

In our interview Chef Evan pairs each wine with items from his new menu at The Bistro at Hillside. It is….a beautiful thing!!

www.hillsidewinery.ca

 

UNSWORTH VINEYARDS

To quote Barney Bentall  “putting this band together is like a goat rodeo”.  

In our day to day life in Mill Bay our real neighbours are the Cowichan Wineries and the closest in heart and mind  is Unsworth. We drive by every morning on our way for a Cobble Hill walk.

 Representing Unsworth in our  neighbourhood special are:

Dan Wright -Winemaker,   Felix Egerer – Viticulturist,  Chef Dan Bain – Restaurant at Unsworth, Karen Newington – Hospitality and Tasting Room Manager.

 

“The Dans” bring really good food and wine pairings. Dan Bain has a new menu to walk us through as well.

Dan Wright and Felix take us through new releases and their growing season and a new vineyard we should all keep an eye on.

Dan Wright

2022 Pinot Gris, 2022 Rose, Charme de l’ile and CDL Rose,  a mention of the coming  2018 Cuvee de l’ile and a 2022 Saison Vineyard Pinot Noir.

I heard someone mention Mags.

Chef likes the new garden in place. Especially the tomatoes for their local legendary pizza on the patio.

(Chef Dan Bain)

Karen brings us tasting room hours, new summer music every Sunday, August wine passport and everyone had a comments about those new vineyards,  with the promise of increased availability of pinot noir and chardonnay. Dan Wright and I both swooned over the possibilities of the new Charmat Tank.

Here’s a local heads up!  If you’re in the Cowichan on a Monday or Tuesday check out the pizza on the patio between 12 noon and 6pm.  It’s just such a good for the soul  experience.

All-in-all the place is buzzing. Reservations highly rcommended.

www.unsworthvineyards.com

 

Moon Curser Vineyards

The 2019 Best Small Winery in Canada. (just thought I’d throw that in there)

A true family winery  Beata and Chris Tolley created Moon Curser 20 years ago and made it  one of the most interesting wineries in the Okanagan.

Moon Curser Vineyards uses unconventional grapes | Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly

 

Best of all, their wines reflect their character. Upbeat, strong and welcoming. Such great people.

On the Osoyoos East Bench, they grow and make an amazing range of singular wines. A portfolio measured in heartbeats.

2022 Heist Rose (Syrah driven. Neutral oak presents texture – in a rose)

2022 Dolcetto (loaded with notes of pomegranate and dark berries.  Can be cellared to 2030)

2021 Syrah  (Dark rich fruit. Black Current. Floral notes and juicy)

2021 Contraband Syrah  (dark ripe cherry with  earthy notes,  stewed berries, anise, black pepper. Cellar to 2033)

2021 Malbec  (single vineyard from east bench, spice, dark fruit, medium to full, mint, fig.  Cellar to 2030)

We also talked Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris and several others.

Highly recommend checking out their wine clubs. Members get first dibs on hard to find releases.

Fall releases include 2019 Tannat, 2021 Petit Verdot.

www.mooncurser.com

 

Mt Boucherie Estate Winery

Jeff Hundertmark came to the Okanagan from Niagara. That’s where we first met. After we had talked wine he asked about BC and how the Okanagan was doing. I raved about the land, the wines and  the people. A year later he and his love Kimberly  announced that they  were heading West.  Both  have become a strong part of their new home., the Okanagan.

Jeff worked jobs at several wineries until he found his destiny at Mt Boucherie in West Kelowna.

Jeff Hundertmark

Family owned, with a lot of acres planted to vines –  a LOT.

So much fruit,  that in advance of chatting with Jeff he kindly sent a spread sheet outlining talking points.

We talked about two of his three labels – Mt Boucherie and Modest Wines. Next time we’ll talk Rust Wine Co.

Interesting point. Even though Jeff has huge amounts of juice at his disposal, his approach reminds me of Garigiste!

Attention to detail. In everything he does.

Best of all, Jeff is matched step for step by the winery restaurant The Modest Butcher. (Dining with Reckless Abandon)

 

A partial list of everything we talked about:

Mt Boucherie

2018/2019/2020  Summit.  Classic Bordeaux Blend. Merlot driven but with increasing amounts of Malbec.

2020 Contessa – Top of the line release. Merlot/Syrah/Malbec. Only made in great growing years. Large format available.

2021 OV Semillon/2021 OV Chard/2021 Reserve Chard.

 

Modest Wines:

2022 Modest Graves Robber (Sem/Sauv Blanc)

2022 Modest Les Cinq Sink (merlot, Cab, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec. Saignee method using all 5 Bordeaux reds)

2022 Modest Wines Rose. ( Zweigelt, Pinot Noir, Gew. All grown together. A true Field Blend)

www.mtboucherie.com

 

Okanagan Wine Festivals   Kimberly Hundertmark.  GM

 

 

Kimberly brought her Niagara smarts to the Okanagan and slowly moved through the ranks until she too found her destiny.

(Kimberly Hundertmark)

As GM on the Okanagan Wine Fests. Kimberly immediately started revising the focus and formats and a noticeable uptick showed itself.

Kimberly gives us the immediate schedule of events between now and Fall Wine Fest (Oct 27-31 and Nov 1-5)

Three of the highlights include Silver Star Wine Fest and Rock the Lake Music Fest plus the Ambleside Music Festival.

www.thewinefestivals.com

 

Thank you all for your support and friendship.

 

STORIES WERE WORKING ON

Quails Gate

Painted Rock

Michael Bartier – Bartier Bros

Fort Berens

Meyer/Mayhem

Cowichan Wine Festival

John Schreiner – Good Grog, the book

The Sipster 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 24th, 2023: Wine of the year! Graham Pierce, Ned Bell and Lisa Ahier

June 24, 2023 Tasting Room Radio 0:57:08

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WINE OF THE YEAR: plus  Lisa Ahier (Sobo) Ned Bell (Seafood Fest) Graham Pierce (Ruby Blues)

 

THE SHOW

I was honored to be one of the judges for the 2023 Lt. Governor Wine Awards.

500 wines and 3 days later we compared quick comments of what surprised us.

Several times a judge said “that the winning wine was a Syrah from Naramata Bench and that a majority of Syrah awarded medals came from North of McIntyre Bluffs”

Traditionally the Syrah of the south Okanagan always swept the awards so the shift came as a surprise.

Was it  a single growing year, climate change effects,  a rebalancing of terroir or our own changing expectations?

We’ll talk Syrah, awards and portfolio  with Garron Elmes The President and Winemaker at Lake Breeze. Creator  of the Wine of the Year.  2020 Lake Breeze Syrah

 

Garron will also take us through Lake Breeze Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, 2019 Meritage. 

John Schreiner on wine: Lake Breeze scoops peers with 2015 wines

Garron Elmes

www.lakebreeze.ca

… and we’ll have that same Syrah discussion with Graham Pierce, winemaker at Ruby Blues also on the Naramata Bench.

Graham Pierce

 

Graham knows very well the Syrah of the Okanagan, having been the winemaker at Summerhill, Mt Boucherie, TIME,  Kitsch, Ruby Blues and for 10 years Black Hills Estate Winery.  The man knows his Syrah. Graham will also bring tales of his  Ruby Blues Reserve Syrah, Commune Gew, Pinot Gris, Forever Young Riesling.

www.rubyblueswinery.ca

We’ll finish this weeks Tasting Room Radio with two interviews we did for podcast and our YouTube Channel.

Chef Ned Bell  (Naramata Inn) who’s leading the charge up Mt Washington near  Courtney/Comox  Vancouver Island.  Its the annual BC Seafood Festival and it’s on right now  and ..finishes end of day Sunday.  The mountain is awash with chefs, farmers (land and sea), and seafood of every description.

Ned has all the details..  www.bcseafoodfestival.com

 

Ned Bell

Our wonderful last guest is Lisa Ahier… who created the food destination in Tofino called SoBo.  She brings with her, a second cookbook Together at SoBo.

Its just a fantastic read. It paints a picture of the kitchen, Sobo, Tofino, Ucluelet, the very talents friends in her life and local self sustaining food sources.

www.sobo.ca

Lisa Ahier/SoBo

 

You can still catch the video versions of Ned and Lisa on our terrydavidmulligan YouTube Channel and Podcast

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Bartier Bros

Fort Berens

Cowichan Wine Festival

Meyer/Mayhem Releases

The Neighbourhood Special

Featuring our sponsors:

Mt Boucherie

OK Wine Festivals

Unsworth

Hillside

Moon Curser

 

 

 

 

June 17th, 2023-CiderFest Part 2. Ones+ goes No/Low and Justin (Paso)

June 16, 2023 Tasting Room Radio 0:52:12

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THE SHOW

Good grief, it’s mid-June already!  The summer solstice is just around the corner and everyone in the world of wine is releasing new wines.

So, he asked. Why are you doing a feature on Cider and Non-Alcoholic Wines?

Because that’s what the wind kindly blew my way.  I’m a cider guy, fascinated by well-made low/no alcohols and a fan of Justin Wines. (And Paso Robles)

Last week we started featuring our interviews from the 4th annual BC Cider Festival and ran out of time and space to include the last two interviews.

Thus Part Two appears this week.

I felt that both of these guests deserved time to tell their stories. Just a little room to create a flourish or is it a fuss!

I can honestly say that Bruce McKinley is one of the planet’s more interesting people and he brings that character to every cider he makes at Valley Cider in Duncan.

Bruce McKinley – Founder and Ciderist  Valley Cider (Duncan)

The website says “Welcome to Simply Different”

Cider is fermented apple juice. All the flavour and joie de vivre nature can pack into a fruit, hosting a party for millions of super social yeast. After the sugar is consumed, the curtain comes down and the band packs up. Some extraordinary chemistry happens after this point depending on the care & creativity of the cidermaker, which is what you’re going to miss if the juice quality was low to begin with or if the cider is just being made as a cheap sugar delivery mechanism.

This is an unfortunate consequence of cider’s delayed & fairly recent reinvention as a valued craft product: the rise and domination of huge-scale low-cost commercial products, that unfortunately influence much of cider’s definition and public understanding. This need not be so. Cider can reflect the true heritage and at the same time continue evolving into modern ciders without being mired in unhealthy opportunism, as long as somebody cares enough to do it well. That is a craft.

What’s required is thoughtfulness, a commitment to crafting quality cider, some healthy delicious apples and a place to hang out and put it all together.

Check out the cider names –   

Bloo/Soda Love Potion/Faeriessense/Poiple/Piqabu

Pinko/Love Child /Bon Dry/Gingerella/Wait What?/Noir

After listening to our interview and Bruce’s thoughts on craft, don’t you really want to taste what he makes?

 

www.valleycider.com

 

Jennifer Turton-Molgat   President.  Wards Cider (Kelowna)

 

Great Granddaughter to George Ward who planted the original apple trees in 1918, Jennifer Turton-Molgat carries on the family’s apple-growing legacy. Under Jennifer’s direction, Wards Cider stands out as a fully authentic cidery. Everything from growing and harvesting their  traditional cider apples to pressing, fermenting and bottling the finished ciders is done at their 5th generation, family-owned orchard.

With her outgoing and creative style, Jennifer leads Wards daily operations and teams, including orchards, cellars, sales, marketing and guest services.

Since 2006 Jennifer Turton-Molgat has also proudly led both The View Winery and Wards Cider to success in her role as President. Jennifer’s vision and inspiration for the winery and cidery is drawn from her family’s passion for the land as pioneering Kelowna orchardists and agriculturists since 1922.

www.wardshardcider.com

 

(Tyler Harleton.  Ashley Wiles Marketing.  Chris Pagliocchini)

Chris Paliocchini – co-founder of ONES+  No/Low Wines and Bubble  (Summerland)

Chris  Paliocchini and Tyler Harleton grew up on family farms. Chris’ background led him to work in cherry and apple breeding in Summerland, while Tyler found his way back to the land through winemaking in the Okanagan (TH Wines)  Over the years (and glasses of wine) they realized there was a hole in the market for the non-drinker who was interested in a proper bottle of non-alcoholic wine. They landed on ONES+, a 1% wine made with BC Grapes with no added sugars or chemicals. They are proud to be making the Okanagan’s only non-alcoholic wine.

Two great sparkling wines from Ones+.

The 2021 Sparkling Rose, like champagne it arrives in your glass dry and features Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

The 2021 Sparkling Red reminds all of a great Lambrusco

I personally recommend seeking out the 2021 Pinot Noir and the sensational 2021 Cab Franc.

 

It’s a fact – No and Low appears to be the fastest-growing segment in the drinks industry.

A younger generation is seeking healthier choices in social, family and business gatherings.

Also moving well-being up the wish list.

Finally, the right people are making the right wines for the right reasons.

Check out One+   Highly Recommended.

 

www.drinkones.com

Joe Spellman  – Master Sommelier  speaking for Justin Wines (Paso Robles)

Started this week’s show in the Pipe Shop North Vancouver at the Cider Fest. We finish back in the same room with our last guest.

I met and interviewed Master Sommelier Joseph Spellman who was attending the 2023 VanWineFest on behalf of Justin Vineyards and Winery in Paso Robles, California. Joe has been a head sommelier, wine director and a star in Chicago’s dining scene. Capping it off with a great relationship with Chef Charlie Trotter. They’ve released three books together.

He’s a writer, consultant and educator on the geology, language and history of wine.

Many awards followed including Best Sommelier in the World. (French Wines and Spirits)

Founder Justin Baldwin planted his first vineyard back in 1981 with a mission to make world-class Bordeaux-style blends. Since then, Justin has  expanded both their knowledge of viticulture in this unique region as well as their  acreage.

They make a sensational Bordeaux Blend and the Cabernet Sauvignon is World Class.

Joe and I talk about Justin Vineyards and Wines  of course but also about the state of wine in California, the rising profile of Paso Robles and its wines and his impression of BC wines.

Wonderful man with stories to tell. A total pleasure.

 

www.justinwine.com

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

  • Bartier Brothers
  • Moon Curser
  • Hillside
  • Okanagan Wine Festivals
  • Unsworth
  • Mt. Boucherie
  • Ruby Blue
  • Meyer/Mayhem
  • Winery of the Year

Sept 16 2023- The 4th Annual BC Cider Festival / Part One

June 9, 2023 Tasting Room Radio 0:55:38

hello

Photo by Linda C

Before the end of December, generally, they experience their first thawing. Those which a month ago were sour, crabbed, and quite unpalatable to the civilized taste, such at least as were frozen while sound, let a warmer sun come to thaw them, for they are extremely sensitive to its rays, are found to be filled with a rich, sweet cider, better than any bottled cider that I know of, and with which I am better acquainted than with wine. All apples are good in this state, and your jaws are the cider-press.</>

Henry David Thoreau

 

NEXT WEEKEND – 

Apple Days at Sea Cider  Saanichton

5th annual Cider Harvest Festival at Merridale, Cobble Hill BC

 

Shawn and Kelly Pisio with Terry David Mulligan – Photo by Linda C

We’re back to the 4th Annual BC Cider Festival – at The Pipe Shop, foot of Lonsdale in North Vancouver, BC.

The BC Cider business continues to grow and create.

BC has always had a history of tree fruits.

The first thing planted seemed to have been apples and pears.

The first thing the wine industry wanted was the soil the fruit farmers were growing in and started cutting down  BC orchards.

Thankfully, educated minds began realizing there was value and heritage in that BC fruit.

Cider has continued to rise in popularity and when craft beer revealed their playbook, the cidermakers followed.

I believe there were some 45 ciders in attendance this year. Most are from BC but also Sweden and Spain.

Cidermakers are crazy, fun people. Hard workers.  Aware of the history and heritage of BC tree fruit. Very passionate about making better and better cider.

The Pipe Shop – Photo by Linda C

Every guest below is either the Creator of the festival,  Cidermaker or Owner of their Cidery.

Shawn and Kelly Pisio – Co-founders of BC Cider Festival

Kate Garthwaite – Left Field Cider (Logan Lake)

Christine Hardy – Riley’s  Cidery (Bowen)

Gerta Lattey – Salt Spring Cider (Salt Spring Island)

Clinton McDougall – Sunday Cider (Gibsons)

Mathew Vasilev  – Twin Island Cider  (Pender)

www.sundaycider.com

www.leftfieldcider.com

www.rileyscider.com

www.TwinIslandCider.com

www.bcciderfest.ca

Next Week – Part Two with

  • Bruce McKinlay – Valley Cider (Duncan)
  • Jennifer Molgat – Wards Cider
  • Shawn and Kelly Pisio – The Wrap-up

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Stratus  – Field Blend Rose (Ontario)

Niche – new releases

Solvero – Allison Moyes GM and Winemaker

Moon Curser  New Releases

Hester Creek   New Releases

 

June 3rd, 2023- Top Drop, The Hatch and The Okanagan Wine Fests Kick off!

June 3, 2023 Tasting Room Radio 00:56:49

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Okanagan Wine Fests, Top Drop Vancouver & Calgary Plus  Wednesday The Hatch Punks pour in Vancouver.

 

THE SHOW

Such a crazy week.  Between BC fires, the smoke and bud break, its nutty these days.

So. We come to Top Drop, The Hatch and The Okanagan Wine Fests Kick off.  All in one show .

Also:

Kimberly Hundertmark – GM Okanagan Wine Fests

Kimberly Hundertmark

The Okanagan Wine Festivals returns with a new look, feel and time .

For many years the Spring festival was held in May, this year its been moved to June  to celebrate the release of new vintages.

New GM Kimberly Hundertmark takes us through the reimagined Okanagan Spring Wine Festival which kicks off June 3 with a WINE Garden Party  at the Cove Lakeside Resort in West Kelowna.

 

Also, Friday June 9  the festival continues with a private reception to complete the BC Lt Governor’s Wine Awards by announcing the Wine of the Year at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre.

Then the doors open to host the Okanagan Spring Grand Tasting featuring wineries from Summerland, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Falls, Oliver and Osoyoos.

Kimberly brings all the background on the newly launched TASTE Passport.

 

On June  10/11 holders will explore the South Okanagan.

On June 11 the District Wine Village will offer the TASTE Passport in the Village. Speaking of taste..check out Ward’s Wine Country Kitchen.

 

Kimberly invites you to join her June 3rd to 11th to celebrate the craft of winemaking, get familiar with the wonderful communities of the Okanagan and perhaps find a new favourite.

Info and tickets through www.thewinefestivals.com

 

Top Drop 2023  (Vancouver and Calgary)

 

It is , quite simply, the best small wine festival each and every year. Organized,  in part, by wine educator Kurtis Kolt,  

Top Drop brings together a platform for terroir-influenced, handcrafted wines and the people behind them. They’re connected by a passion for sustainability and a very high standard of viticultural practices.

Kurtis Kolt

They believe in wines that are honest, wines of integrity and transparency. Top Drop is a time and place to gather,  celebrate and have their stories told.

Several of the Top Drop principal winemakers  found time to talk with us, just before the doors opened.

 

Guests include:

Severine Pinte – Le Vieuw Pin (South Okanagan)

Hannah Stuart – Lightfoot and Wolfville (Nova Scotia)

Kurtis Kolt – co-founder of Top Drop. Wine Educator

Kelsey Rufiange – Echo and Else Wines. (Okanagan Falls)

David Patterson – Tantalus Wines (East Kelowna)

All the winery details at www.topdrop.ca

Develyn  Barker – The Hatch/Jason Parkes Customs

The EVENT POSTER SAYS:

“from the punks who brought you The Hatch. Blackswift Vineyards. Crown & Thieves. Screaming Frenzy”

This Wednesday ( 5:30-9:00pm) at Mahony’s Tavern (False Creek) Vancouver.   You, lucky wine fans, can swill and buy some great Okanagan wines from The Punks.

Join us for “And Out Come The Wines,” a Jason Parkes Customs wine-tasting & library wines collecting event, taking place on June 7th from 5:30-9:00 pm at Mahoney’s Tavern in False Creek.

At this exclusive event, you’ll get to sample some of the most delicious wines from The Hatch, Black Swift Vineyards, and Crown & Thieves Wineries, poured by the bearded man himself, Jason Parkes. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn more about Jason Parkes Customs and our unique wines from the Okanagan Valley.

Dev takes us through what’s being poured and why some of these wines are years old and hugely drinkable.

www.thehatchwines.com

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Bartier Bros

Hillside

Moon Curser

Mt Boucherie

Unsworth

Ruby Blue

The Ones

Township 7

Wine of the year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE SHOW

 

Such a crazy week.  Between BC fires, the smoke and bud break, its nutty these days.

 

So. We come to Top Drop, The Hatch and The Okanagan Wine Fests Kick off.  All in one show .

Also

Kimberly Hundertmark – GM Okanagan Wine Fests

 

The Okanagan Wine Festivals returns with a new look, feel and time .

For many years the Spring festival was held in May, this year its been moved to June  to celebrate the release of new vintages.

New GM Kimberly Hundertmark takes us through the reimagined Okanagan Spring Wine Festival which kicks off June 3 with a WINE Garden Party  at the Cove Lakeside Resort in West Kelowna.

 

Also, Friday June 9  the festival continues with a private reception to complete the BC Lt Governor’s Wine Awards by announcing the Wine of the Year at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre.

Then the doors open to host the Okanagan Spring Grand Tasting featuring wineries from Summerland, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Falls, Oliver and Osoyoos.

Kimberly brings all the background on the newly launched TASTE Passport.

 

On June  10/11 holders will explore the South Okanagan.

On June 11 the District Wine Village will offer the TASTE Passport in the Village. Speaking of taste..check out Ward’s Wine Country Kitchen.

 

Kimberly invites you to join her June 3rd to 11th to celebrate the craft of winemaking, get familiar with the wonderful communities of the Okanagan and perhaps find a new favourite.

Info and tickets through www.thewinefestivals.com

 

 

Top Drop 2023  (Vancouver and Calgary)

 

 

It is , quite simply, the best small wine festival each and every year. Organized,  in part, by wine educator Kurtis Kolt,  Top Drop brings together a platform for terroir-influenced, handcrafted wines and the people behind them. They’re connected by a passion for sustainability and a very high standard of viticultural practices. They believe in wines that are honest, wines of integrity and transparency. Top Drop is a time and place to gather,  celebrate and have their stories told.

Several of the Top Drop principal winemakers  found time to talk with us, just before the doors opened.

 

Guests include

Severine Pinte – Le Vieuw Pin (South Okanagan)

Hannah Stuart – Lightfoot and Wolfville (Nova Scotia)

Kurtis Kolt – co-founder of Top Drop. Wine Educator

Kelsey Rufiange – Echo and Else Wines. (Okanagan Falls)

David Patterson – Tantalus Wines (East Kelowna)

 

 

All the winery details at www.topdrop.ca

 

 

 

Develyn  Barker – The Hatch/Jason Parkes Customs

 

The EVENT POSTER SAYS

“from the punks who brought you The Hatch. Blackswift Vineyards. Crown & Thieves. Screaming Frenzy”

 

This Wednesday ( 5:30-9:00pm) at Mahony’s Tavern (False Creek) Vancouver.   You, lucky wine fans, can swill and buy some great Okanagan wines from The Punks.

Join us for “And Out Come The Wines,” a Jason Parkes Customs wine-tasting & library wines collecting event, taking place on June 7th from 5:30-9:00 pm at Mahoney’s Tavern in False Creek.

At this exclusive event, you’ll get to sample some of the most delicious wines from The Hatch, Black Swift Vineyards, and Crown & Thieves Wineries, poured by the bearded man himself, Jason Parkes. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn more about Jason Parkes Customs and our unique wines from the Okanagan Valley.

 

Dev takes us through what’s being poured and why some of these wines are years old and hugely drinkable.

 

www.thehatchwines.com

 

 

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Bartier Bros

Hillside

Moon Curser

Mt Boucherie

Unsworth

Ruby Blue

The Ones

Township 7

Wine of the year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 27th, 2023- The 2023 Lt Governor’s Wine Awards – TerraLux Pour & Ned Bell does Shellfish Festival

May 27, 2023 Audio FIle, Tasting Room Radio 00:53:50

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THE SHOW

2023 Lt Governor’s Wine Awards. TerraLux Estate First Pours & Ned Bell on BC Shellfish Festival

 

 

Overview | Okanagan Wine Festivals

2023 BC Lt. Governor’s Wine Awards (Penticton)

The intense competition recognizes the top varietals produced in BC across 21 distinct categories and was held over 2 ½ days in early April at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre.

After 3 days of tasting and spitting we couldn’t wait to get out of the building for a burger and a beer.

All-star Somm Team

I setup my trusty microphone, recorder and talked to several of the judges about their thoughts on the competition.

Brad Royale, Rhys Pender, DJ Kearney, Kurtis Kolt, Emily Walker, Mathew Landry, Sid Cross, Tim Pawsey, etc.

 

Some very interesting comments along the way.

We also include comments from Kimberly  Hundertmark GM of Okanagan Wine festivals and event organizer Alana Dickson.

Kimberly Hundertmark

 

 

Next –  an invitation came from Jennifer Tocher at Terralux  Estate Winery to taste the new releases from a winery still being built. 

  1. 2019 Reserve Viognier – retail $35
  2. 2020 Reserve Chardonnay – retail $40
  3. 2018 Syrah – retail $35
  4. 2019 Meritage – retail $35
  5. 2019 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – retail $59

 

The tasting was moderated by BC’s Best Sommelier 2023 Kelcie Jones alongside Geoffrey Moss, MW and representing Terralux will be the Vineyard and General Manager Kevin Rossion.

Wine Issue Preview: 11 Questions With Kelcie Jones - Vancouver Magazine

Kelcie Jones

As for case production, they are currently sitting at about 3,000 cases per year and have planted a few additional acres over the past few years so this number will continue to grow. The new winery build in West Kelowna will comfortably handle 16,000 cases plus.

 

The winery is currently under construction with the production facility due to operate for Harvest 2024. The design of the winery pays tribute to the name “Terra” meaning earth and “Lux” meaning light. Gravity Fed winemaking facility.

Chef  Ambassador Ned Bell

And to close the show – Executive Chef Ned Bell once again joins the leadership team at the BC Shellfish Festival. This year at Mt Washington 

NED BELL

 

The 15th annual BC Seafood Festival returns with a new home atop Mount Washington from June 23 to 25, 2023. The three day festival boasts over twenty sea-foodie events with an all star line up of chefs. Attendees are invited to taste the bounty of the West Coast through a variety of events, happy hours, MasterClasses and friendly competitions.

 

Festival highlights are the elaborate Gala Dinner, Shucked! Canada’s largest oyster bar happy hour led by a World Champion Oyster Shucker, Kitchen Party with the Junior Culinary Team Canada, Clam it up! Happy hour and more. This year the Festival is led by Chef Ambassador Ned Bell. 

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

Top Drop Vancouver and Calgary

The Ones

Bartier Brothers

Moon Curser

Mt Boucherie

Unsworth

Cowichan Wine Festival

BC Cider festival

Hester Creek

Sipster’s Two

 

 

May 20th, 2023- The Third and final VanWineFest Feature – Masters and All-Stars!!

May 19, 2023 Audio FIle, Tasting Room Radio 00:50:36

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The Third and Final VanWineFest Feature – Masters and All-Stars!!

 

THE SHOW

Welcome to the third series of interviews from the 44th annual Vancouver Wine Festival.

One of the Wine World’s outstanding events.

 

These interviews mixed Masters of Wine/Master Sommeliers  with winemakers, owners &  founders! A field blend of Napa, Sonoma, Okanagan Valley and  Mendoza Argentina.

Guests include –

 

DJ Kearney – (co-host) Wine Director Terminal City Club. Wine Authority/Educator.

Mark de Vere – Master of Wine. Robert Mondavi Winery. Napa

Garron Elmes – Winemaker and President of Lake Breeze Naramata Bench

Ray Signorello – Owner. Signorello, Edge/Trim/S  Napa Valley

Ray Signorello

Ray Signorello

Ben Pon – Co-Owner Bodegas Salentein, Mendoza Arg.

Evan Goldstein – Keynote Speaker. Master Sommelier. Full Circle Wine Solutions. Master Sommelier for SF Giants.

 

Evan Goldstein

 

Harry Hertscheg – Executive Director of Vancouver Wine Festival.

 

Thank you to DJ Kearney for the brilliance and support. She’s the Wine Director at Terminal City Club and a leading wine educator & judge.

DJ Kearney

Thanks also to Ruby Gillett  Milk Creative Communications

 

STORIES WERE WORKING ON

 

Hillside Estate

Moon Curser

Mt Boucherie

Okanagan Wine Festivals

Unsworth Vineyards

Sipster’s Two

Noble Ridge

Bartier Brothers

Justin Vineyards – Napa

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 13th, 2023- The 44th annual Vancouver Wine Festival. Part 2

May 13, 2023 Audio FIle, Tasting Room Radio 00:47:07

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Winemakers from Aquilini/Beringer/Laughing Stock/Michael David/Nk’mip/Osoyoos LaRose/Vina Carmen/Santa Rita

 

THE SHOW

 

Welcome back to the 44th annual Vancouver Wine Festival.

Cutting through the clutter with world class wine smarts is our co-host DJ Kearney (Wine Director Terminal City Club. Speaker, writer, wine judge, noted authority)

dj kearney

This is our 17th year of covering this wildly successful wine gathering.

As always, we make a wish list of who we’d like to talk to and try to shape a tale of climate, regions, wines, winemakers and what’s ahead for an ever changing business. At some point the wish list gets thrown out and it’s a sprint to the finish line.

Exhausting but memorable.

This week’s guests are:

 Justin Hall – Winemaker Nk’Mip Cellars Osoyoos, BC

Michael Kullmann – Winemaker and GM Osoyoos LaRose Osoyoos, BC

Sandy Leier – Winemaker Laughing Stock Vineyards  Naramata Bench, BC

Sandy Leier

Sandy Leier

Ryan Rech – GM and Winemaker Beringer Vineyards  Napa Valley, Ca.

Tyler Tennyson – Consulting Winemaker Aquilini Wines Red Mountain, Washington

Dave Phillips – Co-owner and President Michael David Wines Lodi, Ca.

Oscar Salas – Winemaker  Santa Rita Maipo Valley/Limari Valley  Chile

Pablo Prieto – Winemaker Vina Carmen  Various Locations Chile

 

NEXT WEEK – PART THREE

DJ Kearney – Co-Host with the Most

Ray Signorello – Signorello, Edge, Trim  Napa/Alexander valley

Garron Elmes – Winemaker/Pres. Lake Breeze Naramata, BC

Ben Pon – Co-owner Salentein   Mendoza, Arg.

Joe Spellman – Master Sommelier  Justin Vineyards and Winery Paso Robles, Ca

Evan Goldstein – Keynote Speaker

Harry Hertscheg – Executive Director VanWineFest

Mark deVere – Master of Wine Robert Mondavi  Napa

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

Township 7

Lt Governors Awards

New Releases

Moon  Curser

Hillside

Unsworth

Mt Boucherie

Okanagan Wine festivals

Noble Ridge

Cowichan Valley Wine Festival