hello

DJ Kearney –wine educator and expert – presents The Advent Wine Calendar

Two reports from The Wine Diva and Samantha Rahn (Araxi) on  Cornucopia,  this weekend’s Whistler Wine Festival.

Savio Volpe celebrates EnRoute Award and raises $ for Italian Earthquake Communities.

Jean Claude Mas on the wines of Domaines Paul Mas.  

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

THE SHOW

Paul Grunberg  –  Co-Owner of Savio Volpe (and  l’Abattoir) 

Paul Grunberg

We start this week’s Tasting Room Radio with Paul Grunberg Co-Owner of Savio Volpe, the wildly successful Italian Restaurant in The Frazer Hood Vancouver.

From the some of the same team that created L ‘Abattoir in Gastown.

They have just been awarded a Top 10 placing in the 2016 Air Canada EnRoute Magazine Best New Restaurants in Canada.

Savio has also decided  next Tuesday Nov 15^th  to raise funds for devastated towns in Italy from the recent Earthquakes by serving a special pasta dish on the night.

AND they celebrate being open and very busy for one full year.

Paul graciously fills us in on everything that’s going on.

www.saviovolpe.com

DJ Kearney – Wine Director at New District  

DJ Kearney

– New District, an innovative B.C.-based online wine marketplace, has released a limited number of their wildly successful Wine Advent Calendars for the 2016 holiday season. Boasting 25 diverse bottles, wrapped and numbered for each day in December leading up to Christmas, the curated pack includes bottles valued up to $100 each. All Wine Advent Calendars purchased by November 20 are guaranteed to be delivered by December 1.

Last year, the Wine Advent Calendar sold out in only five days. Each bottle is hand-picked by New District’s Wine Director, and one of B.C.’s top wine authorities, DJ Kearney – ensuring that each package contains a unique wine experience. Beautifully wrapped in tissue, the 25 bottles come nestled in an elegant wooden case. Beginning December 1, New District will release a daily video (newdistrict.ca) unveiling that day’s wine selection.

By the time we get this story on the air, this amazingly successful wine calendar may be sold out..I believe that much  of the popularity is because the wines are chosen by our highly respected guest DJ Kearney.

update: The Advent calendar is sold out…  BUT if you call 604 229-3663 , they can create custom wine advent calendars, more info at the website…. Have fun!

 The info and number can also be found at

www.newdistrict.ca

Deanna van Mulligen – The Wine Diva

Samantha Rahn – Wine Director at Araxi Whistler

Samantha Rahn

Cornucopia is the True North of food & drink festivals
This  weekend and next , Cornucopia celebrates 20 years

Cornucopia shines a light on the chefs, vintners, brewers and distillers of BC.  We’re talking grapes, hops, the fruits of the sea and the soil.
Winery dinners, grand tastings, culinary demonstrations and events, industry gatherings – including the brand new Cornucopia Wine Summit.
An 11 day festival of food + drink, Cornucopia brings together the wild and the refined, and puts the art of eating and drinking centre stage.

The Wine Diva

Both Daenna and Samantha will be extremely busy over the next 10 days. Both are hosting seminars and tastings.

If you are at all a wine fan you’re going to like  this segment.

whistlercornucopia.com

winediva.ca

winescores.ca

Jean-Claude  Mas  – Domaines Paul Mas /  Langedoc
In 2015, Drinks International ranked the world’s 50 most recognized wine brands. Domaines Paul Mas was 16th, between Chateau Haut-Brion and Chateau Mouton Rothschild.  Its Arrogant Frog label, launched in 2005 in Australia, now sells more than five million bottles around the world.

Jean Claude Mas

Jean-Claude Mas was born in a winemaking environment in the Languedoc, in Pézenas. At the age of 3, during the harvest, he escaped from his mother and ran 2.5 km to meet his grandfather in the cellar! This was a moment that he never forgot, when his interest and passion for wine were born!

At school and later at university, he studied economics and advertisement, and wine became a hobby. No matter where he lived, he was always involved in the wine: in the North of France, he created a wine club, then in England,  he set up a small import company for organic wines, then in Miami he worked in the consulate to develop the import and distribution of French food & wine products.

In his professional life, he devoted the first 3 years of his career to his second passion :  Race Car Driving , but very soon, he came back to his first love : the Family Winery.

Jean-Claude

Jean-Claude Mas is often described as a pioneer from the New Languedoc, belonging to the New wave of French wines, one of those on a mission to give Languedoc his former glory back in a region where wine production goes back to more than 2000 years.

Surprisingly, Jean-Claude leads an Old World winemaking juggernaut but thinks and sells  like a New World Winemaker. Brilliant!!

www.paulmas.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Nk Mip named Canadian Winery of the Year.

Chief Clarence Louie and Winemaker Randy Picton.

The Wine Diva – Daenna van Mulligen

hello

It’s the return of Australia’s First Families of Wine!!

10 iconic wineries who shaped Australian wines. Yalumba / Henschke / d’Arenberg / Tahbilk / McWilliams / De Bortoli / Tyrrel’s / Brown Brothers / Howard Park / Wakefield

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

THE SHOW

 Australia’s First Families of Wine

Wakefield Wines

10 multi-generational wine families unlocked rare and revered wines from their private cellars to showcase Australia’s rich wine heritage, modern diversity, and the celebrated wine stories that have become the foundation for future generations. Get a sneak preview of a limited number of wines that are being released from each winery at BC Liquor Stores.

Through these exclusive interviews, you will have the rare chance to meet the people behind the wines. Family members from each winery will share wines that provide a glimpse into the past, present and future of Australia’s most iconic winemaking families.

And they are all great storytellers..with outstanding stories to tell.

De Bortoli Wines

Their message is all about the farms and rich soils that they work, the quality of the wines they craft and the pride they have in their  history and how it has shaped who they are and what they  stand for.

Together, they are the custodians of over 5000 hectares of land that includes some of Australia’s most iconic vineyards, creating premium quality wines that proudly bear their  names.

Australia’s First Families:

(and the years they first planted)  

Australia’s First Families of Wine

• Yalumba (1849) – Robert Hill Smith  www.yalumba.com
  •             Tyrrell’s Wines (1858) – Bruce Tyrrell  https://www.tyrrells.com.au
  •             Tahbilk (1860) – Alister Purbrick  www.tahbilk.com.au
  •             Henschke (1868) – Stephen Henschke  https://henschke.com.au
  •             McWilliam’s Wines (1877) – Scott McWilliam  www.mcwilliamswine.com
  •             Brown Brothers (1885) – Ross Brown  www.brownbrothers.com.au
  •             d’Arenberg (1912) – Chester Osborn  www.darenberg.com.au
  •             De Bortoli Wines (1928) – Darren DeBortoli  www.debortoli.com.au
  •             Taylors (1969) & Wakefield – Justin Taylor  www.wakefieldwines.com
  •             Howard Park (1986) – Jeff  and Amy Burch   https://www.burchfamilywines.com.au 

www.australiasfirstfamiliesofwine.com.au 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

DJ Kearney – New District Advent Wine Calendar

Whistler’s Cornucopia

Nk Mip wins Winery of the Year

Fall Wines

Jean Claude Mas – Paul Mas Wines

hello

It’s the annual  gathering of Locals Only..wine, spirit and cider makers from Vancouver Island  and the Gulf Islands.

And then one of BC’s best winemakers Michael Bartier/Bartier Bros!! 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

THE SHOW    

It’s a one-of-a-kind  tasting event featuring the makers and proprietors themselves.  All from either Vancouver island or The Gulf Islands.

Vancouver is an important market for these artisans and what better way to get our attention than to set up a tasting event at Edible Canada at the Granville market.

Even though the room was jammed with friends and fans.. we all got a chance to  taste our way through their coastal appellation and discover the diversity of their  exciting and dynamic small farms.

Each artisan has a story to tell..

David Gouge from Sea Star about life on Pender Island and how he’s raised his profile in Vancouver’s best restaurants. www.seastarvineyards.ca

Sea Star Vineyards

Jim Moody from Vancouver Island’s oldest  commercial winery  Zanatta   www.zanatta.ca

Zanatta

Alayne MacIsaac – making the very cool Sheringham Spirits with husband Jason  just outside of Shirley. (see explains) http://www.sheringhamdistillery.com/

Sheringham Distillery

Paul Troop who is part of coastal  winemaking history at  Salt Spring Vineyards.  Talking  Blattners.  http://www.saltspringvineyards.com/

Keara White – Assistant Cider Maker at Tod Creek Craft Cider.  Small batch. No water. No sugar. www.todcreekcider.com

Brenda Hetman-Craig  Owner of 40 knots Winery in Comox  www.40knotswinery.com

Comox Valey

Michael Bartier – Bartier Brothers Wines

Bartier Bros

Yes, there are actual Bartier Bros..it’s not a marketing ploy.

They grew up in the Okanagan but Don headed for the oil business in Alberta..but always kept his hand and his land in the mix.

Brother Michael  grew up in the Okanagan Valley.  After receiving a degree from the University of Victoria and working in wine sales on Vancouver Island for a few years, he and his wife Jodi returned home to the Okanagan. While looking for a “real job”, Michael accepted casual work in a winery cellar. And, since he’s still in the cellar, you could say he hasn’t found a real job yet.

Through on-the-job training, university extension, and distance learning at Washington State University and University of California Davis, Michael worked his way into a winemaking position.

Michael Bartier  quickly made a name for himself: first as a maker of white wines, earning two Canadian White Wine of the Year titles within three years, and then as a maker of red wines with several consecutive Lieutenant Governor’s awards for his red wines.

Michael enjoyed stints at Hawthorne Mountain Vineyards, Township 7, Okanagan Crush Pad  and Road 13, among others. Currently, he acts as consulting winemaker to what is surely the most coveted client list in North America among consulting winemakers.

Michael’s winemaking philosophy is simple:

1. Plant the correct grapes on the correct site.
2. Farm these well, thinking of the vineyard as a 200-year project.
3. Take the good fruit into the cellar, and make sure the vineyard characters, not the winemaker’s manipulations, make it to the glass.
4. Don’t try to copy Napa, or Bordeaux, or Burgundy; make Okanagan wine. These places make beautiful wines, but they’re different from what the Okanagan gives, and they don’t have the privilege of working with Okanagan grapes.

TRR presents a winemaker you want to consider following..Michael Bartier!!

http://www.bartierbros.com/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

hello

Can food be funny?  Yup! If the chef is Colin Mochrie from Who’s Line Is It Anyway?

We visit two Okanagan wineries and talk to Joe Luckhurst at Road 13 and then David Paterson from Tantalus.

We finish with Marcelo Papa..star winemaker at Marques de Casa Concha in Chile

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

THE SHOW

David Paterson – Winemaker and GM at Tantalus

Tantalus is situated on the eastern slopes of the Okanagan Valley, overlooking the shores of Lake Okanagan and Kelowna.

Originally known as Pioneer Vineyards, the site was first planted to table grapes in 1927 and today is known as the oldest continuously producing vineyard in British Columbia

David Paterson is a Kiwi and a Canadian, having been born in Vancouver. He received his winemaking degree from Lincoln University NZ & following time spent working in the local NZ industry he travelled the wine world gaining experience at premium wineries in Oregon, France & Australia.

He landed at Tantalus in 2009 and with seven successful vintages under his belt with the winery he took on the role of GM as well in 2016. Prior to joining Tantalus, David was working with celebrated South Australian producer Henschke Cellars. 

As such he got to work the vineyards at the world famous Hill of Grace.  Riesling has always been the leader at Tantalus however, through  David’s guidance Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Blanc de Noir have caught our attention.

We found each other between crushes..

www.tantalus.ca 

Joseph Luckhurst  – GM at Road 13.

Joseph is the next Luckhurst working The Golden Mile in the South Okanagan.

His parents Mick and Pam gave their lives and their passion to get this winery to liftoff.

They’ve now handed off the reins to Joseph and he’s done a great job  keeping Road 13 popular and productive.

They have always placed in the Top 10 wineries.  This year they were awarded third best in all of Canada at the WineAlign National Wine Awards.

This is how they did it…

Platinum:
2014 Syrah Mourvedre
Silver:
2012 5th Element
2012 Jackpot Syrah
2014 GSM
2012 Sparkling Chenin Blanc
2014 Syrah Malbec
Bronze: 
2014 Roussanne
2015 Chip off the Old Block Chenin Blanc

So,  you can see they touch all the bases.

Joe also reveals next year’s plans and that they have a new winemaker on board… Jeff Del Nin from Church and State.

www.road13vineyards.com

Colin Mochrie –  Actor, Comic, Zoodle maker. (Who’s line is it Anyway?)

Colin Mochrie

Colin comes back to Vancouver at least one a year to raise funds for  the Colin Mochrie Scholarship Fund at VTSL’s theatre school, the Improv Comedy Institute. Established in 2014, the scholarship provides assistance to people wishing to study improv but are unable to do so because of financial barriers

Founded in 1980 Vancouver TheatreSports League is Vancouver’s #1 improv comedy company and a well-respected international leader in the art form. In addition to Colin Mochrie, alumni include improv super-star Ryan Stiles(also from Whose Line Is It Anyway), actresses Ellie Harvie (Stargate SG-1, New Addams Family) Nancy Robertson (Corner Gas) and Veena Sood (The X-Files, Supernatural).

And just like last time Colin leaves us with a recipe from his state-of-the-art kitchen thingy.

Colin also brings stories of working stages such as The Kennedy Centre, where he took his pants off – for  a laugh!

Now.  Where did I put that Zoodle Recipe??

•  2 medium zucchini
• 2 Tablespoons (30ml) olive oil, divided
• 1/2 pound (225g) peeled and de-veined shrimp or what ever protein you prefer
• 3 large cloves garlic, minced or crushed
• 1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced thin
• 3 green onions, sliced
• 1 large egg
•  2 cups (480ml) bean sprouts
• 1/3 cup (80ml) roasted peanuts
• Few lime wedges for serving (optional)

for the sauce:

• 2 Tablespoons (30ml) rice vinegar or distilled white vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons (30ml) fish sauce or to taste
• 3 Tablespoons (45ml) ketchup
• 1 teaspoon (5ml) packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or 1 small red chili, sliced
• 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce, or to taste

Directions:

1. Make the sauce: In a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients (vinegar, fish sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, chili garlic sauce), then set aside.
2. Cut the zucchini into noodles or long pasta by using a spiralizer..
3. Heat a large pan on medium high heat. Add 1 Tablespoon olive oil (reserve the other half for later). Then add zucchini noodles and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the zucchini noodles are tender. Don’t overcook the noodles. The zucchini noodles should be slightly crunchy with a tender bite. 
4. Let the noodles rest for about 3 minutes to allow as much moisture as possible to release. Remove the noodles from the pan and drain the excess water.
5. Carefully wipe the same pan to remove the excess water, and then re-heat the pan on medium high heat. Add the remaining olive oil and garlic. Cook the garlic until soft and translucent, about 30 seconds. Add the shrimp and cook until shrimp is tender and cooked through, about 3 minutes.
6. Add the bell peppers and green onions. Cook for about 1-2 minutes or until tender. Add the egg and stir in with the vegetable until the egg is cooked.
7. Add the zucchini noodles back into the same pan, then add the sauce. Cook for about 1 more minutes or until the zucchini noodles are heated through. Then stir in the bean sprouts.
8. Serve the warm zucchini pad thai noodles with roasted peanuts, cilantro, and lime wedges.

www.colinmochrie.com

Marcelo Papa  – Winemaker at Marques de Casa Concha & Concha Y Toro , Chile

marcelo-papa

For the past 10 years, Marcelo Papa has been responsible for crafting some of Chile’s best known and most popular wines – Concha y Toro’s immensely successful and internationally acclaimed

Casillero del Diablo range.  Educated at Catholic  University in Santiago. He was subsequently recruited by Kendall–Jackson, where he spent the next five years before joining Concha y Toro in 1998. In 1999, a year after working on his first vintage of Casillero del Diablo wines, Papa was given the additional assignment of working on Concha y Toro’s prestigious Marques de Casa Concha wines, and named chief winemaker of Concha y Toro’s Puente Alto cellar.  Under his direction, Marques de Casa Concha wines have earned some of the most vaunted accolades in Chilean winemaking.

The 2002 edition of the Chilean Wine Guide hailed Papa’s Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon as “Best Wine of its Class,” while in the U.S. Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast magazines each named it among their “Top 100 Wines of 2002.” Wine Spectator then went on to recognize Papa’s Marques de Casa Concha Merlot as one of its “Top 100 Wines of 2003.”  In 2005 Papa captured Chile’s highest honor, when the Chilean Wine Guide distinguished him as its “Winemaker of the Year,” with a special tribute to his remarkable work on the Casillero del Diablo range, referencing Papa’s capacity to “create exceptional wines that are widely available in the marketplace, yet achieve extraordinary levels of quality in spite of large production levels.”

We taste and talk our way through the following wines:

Marques de casa Concha 2014 Chardonnay from the Limari Valley.  Around $20

Marques de Casa Concha Carmenere  2014 from the Cachapoal Valley. Around $22.00

Marques de Casa Concha  Cabernet Sauvignon  2014.   From the Maipo Valley.   Also around $22.00

http://www.conchaytoro.com/descubre-vinos/enologo/marcelo-papa-en/

http://www.conchaytoro.com/?lang=en_us

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Kettle Valley

Charles Smith hits the jackpot

Fall wines

Ben Glaetzer

What are they drinking in Alberta?

hello

Ten BC wineries in one hour.

ALL pouring their new Fall wines for YOU.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

THE SHOW

Colour is the semi-annual showcase for Fall releases of BC Wines.

Each winery brings their very best..or at  least, the wines they want the
industry and consumers to be aware of.

We couldn’t talk to them all..there were far too many..so I made a wish list
and decided to stop at Ten wineries.

Made sure  there was enough time for each to tell their story and you get a
sense of who they are.

For this special, we’re talking to  either the winemaker or the owner..and
in some cases,  it’s both.

In order they are

Harry McWatters  (Time/McWatters)            One of the founding Fathers of
BC Wine and he hasn’t lost a step. Who better to talk about the growing
season and Okanagan Meritage?

Harry McWatters

http://www.encorevineyards.ca/

Jeff Harder –  (ExNihilo Vineyards)   Winner of Lieutenant Governor’s Award
of Excellence for his 2014 Pinot Noir.  As happy as he is, he can’t wait to
tell you about his other wines.

www.exnihilovineyards.com

Christa-Lee McWatters Bond –   (Evolve)

Christa-lee McWatters

From the land of four named people. Yes, Harry’s daughter has fully and
completely committed to the BC wine business.  Making popular wines and
helping to steer the future direction of the industry. At Colour she poured
Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Cab/Merlot, Teased White and two sparkling wines
called Effervescence. One white and one pink.

www. <http://www.evolvecellars.com> evolvecellars.com

Christine Coletta  (Okanagan Crush Pad/Haywire & Narrative)

Christine Coletta

Just celebrated  five years of winemaking..Christine poured her 2013
Canyonview Pinot Noir, 2014 Switchback Pinot Gris, 2015 Narrative Red.

Congratulations to OCPad for winning a Lieutenant Governor’s Award of
Excellence for 2014 Haywire  The Bub.

Over 500 wines entered ..only 12 winners.

https://okanagancrushpad.com/

Ezra Cipes  – (Summerhill)

Ezra Cipes

From the home of the Pyramid, Ezra proudly poured his Cipes Brut Rose, his
2015 Ehrenfelser & Riesling and 2013 Organic Merlot

https://www.summerhill.bc.ca

Kathy Malone  – (Hillside Winery)

Working with some of the oldest vines in the Okanagan, Kathy reminds all
that  since 2013 they have only used Naramata Bench grapes.

Hillside poured a 2012 Cab Franc, 2013 Syrah & Merlot and snuck in a 2015
Muscat Ottonel.

http://hillsidewinery.ca/

Graham Pierce –  (Black Hills)

Graham Pierce

From the home of the hugely popular Bordeaux blend  Note Bene comes a beauty
2014 Viognier, 2014 Syrah, The Alias a well constructed blend of Riesling,
Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer.  Their second label Cellar Hand Red   2014
was a popular pour.  GP is a great guy..fine winemaker.

http://www.blackhillswinery.com/

Judy Kingston and Katie O’Dell  – (Serendipity)

Judy Kingston

Judy and her daughter are larger than life characters. Frankly, I believe
that’s exactly what BC wine needs..story tellers who make the wine come
alive through narrative.

Yes, they showcased  2015 Sauv Blanc, 2015 Rosé 2011 Merlot, Next Step 2012
but they added  a wonderful surprise,  a vertical of 13-14-15  Serendipity
Viognier

http://www.serendipitywinery.com/

Ann Sperling  –   (Sperling)

I found Ann Sperling driving in her truck in Niagara, heading for Southbrook
her organic and bio-dynamic winery.

Ann is a two region winemaker these days as she’s also watching over her
family  vineyard Sperling,  East of Kelowna.

Ann Sperling

Ann poured her Amber Gris – an Orange wine..made as wine used to be made
100’s of years ago.

Also a barrel-fermented Chardonnay, and her Market red and white. Made with
30 year old vines. Wild yeasts and ferments.

www. <http://www.sperlingvineyards.com> sperlingvineyards.com

Bruce Schmidt  – (Intersection)

Fresh from winning a 2016  Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Excellence for his
2013 Cab Franc..Bruce poured his heart out  in Vancouver.

Lots of choices for Bruce to pour..this year it was 2014 Riesling,2014
Viognier/Marsanne and the  wonderful 2013 Merlots Alluvia and Silica.

www.x <http://www.xwine.ca> wine.ca

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Jane Ferrari and Peter Gambetta from Yalumba

Chef Meets Truck – Star chefs hit the trucks

The Cuddy – Wines from Jim Cuddy and Moray Tawse

Joseph Luckhurst – Road 13

Colin Mochrie – Funny Food

David Paterson – Tantalus

hello

Last comments on the VanWineFest from Master wine expert Tony Aspler, Pascal Madevon at Culmina, Will Flatt pours Cannonball,  Christine Coletta at Okanagan Crush Pad , The Stag’s Hollow story and the guys behind the hugely successful Railtown Café.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

THE SHOW

Wine fest Follow Up

After spending two jammed packed hours interviewing winemakers and principals  at the 38^th Vancouver International Wine festival I took the opportunity to return the next day with my trusty hand held microphone and sought our people I’d missed..

In a very active and invigorating room I had a chance to slow down and talk to:

My buddy Will Flatt. He’s moved around quite a bit but every time he shows up he’s always pouring the  most interesting wines.

He’s currently representing Dream Wines.  The home of Screaming Eagle, Harlan, Peter Michael, Colgin Cellars etc.

Wicked Willie Flatt

This time he’s pouring Cannonball and from that label a sensational blended rose called Angels and Cowboys. Sonoma fruit..some Estate growing.

A field blend of Grenache, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Tempranillo.

Alexander Valley/Dry Creek area. WoW.

The  Cannonball Chardonnay – 70% Russian River. It’s a 50/50  Stainless Steele and new Oak.  Lovely..delicious wine.

Willy takes us through the reds as well.. Great start to the show.

www.drinkcannonball.com

www.dreamwines.ca

Tony Aspler – Master wine expert

Tony Aspler

We finally found Tony Aspler with a spare 5 minutes. He was surrounded by people who wanted his opinion on the 100’s of wines in the room.

They had to wait for a second because I only get to see Tony once every TEN YEARS.

Tony Aspler has been writing about wine for over 35 years.

He was the wine columnist for The Toronto Star for 21 years and has authored 15 books on wine and food, including The Wine Atlas of Canada, Vintage Canada, The Wine Lover’s Companion, The Wine Lover Cooks, Travels With My Corkscrew, and Tony Aspler’s Cellar Book. Tony’s latest book is The Five Minute Wine Book.

In December 2007, Tony was awarded the Order of Canada.

In 2012 Tony was the first Canadian to be inducted into the New York Media Wine Writers Hall of Fame. In that year Tony was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal.

Wine royalty my friends.

http://www.tonyaspler.com/

Christine Coletta – Haywire

Christine Colletta

I found Christine Coletta from Okanagan Crush pad surrounded by her peers as she was talking to a well-placed politician and there was a serious back and forth going on.

So, I started a conversation with Julian Scholefield about the wines he was pouring from Haywire and OCP, then just barged into Christine’s posse and fired off some questions about um- wine!

And a pinot planting above the winery that could be a World Class site.

We talked wine laws and heading to New York for a “natural” wine symposium.( She was invited by the organizers after they tasted  her “natural” wines.)

She’s there right Now.

www.haywirewinery.com

Pascal Madevon – Winemaker at Culmina

Pascal Madevon – Culmina

Turn the audio up a bit because Pascal’s French accent seems to get thicker when he talks about his vineyards.

That’s because he gets excited and speedy.

We all got to appreciate his winemaking skills as the winemaker and blender at Osoyoos Larose.

Now he’s working with Donald Triggs at Culmina.  What a pair. With so many winemaking skills between them it’s no wonder the wines are so good.

www.culmina.ca 

Stag’s Hollow/OK Falls  Larry Gerelus and Linda Pruegger

Established in 1995, Stag’s Hollow is a family-owned winery in Okanagan Falls. Stag’s Hollow includes two vineyards…the Estate Vineyard and Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard….that are within 2 kms of each other.

The team at Stag’s Hollow has researched and sought out grapes, both new and old, suited to the area soils and microclimate. Hands-on owners, Larry Gerelus & Linda Pruegger, along with Winemaker, Dwight Sick, believe their passion and involvement in every aspect of the vineyard and winemaking process has created wines that express the terroir of Stag’s Hollow Vineyard and their Grower Partner.

Linda and Larry – Stags Hollow

2013 Cachet No. 4 – David Lawrason  Wine Align – 90 points

2012 Syrah – Brad Royale  Wine Align – 92 points

2013 Tempranillo – David Lawrason , Wine Align – 91 points

Besides talking about all of their wines..we touch on Okanagan Falls and their plan to get the wine fans attention.

Many just drive through this region on their way “someplace else”.

Trust me..there’s more than Ice Cream in OK Falls.

http://stagshollowwinery.com/

www.ofwa.ca

Railtown Café and Catering / Dan Olson and Tyler Day

Railtown-Cafe

This is yet another edition of “walking the neighbourhood”

The broadcasting home of Tasting Room Radio is Roundhouse Radio at 714 Alexander St..5 blocks East of Gastown in Vancouver.

There are a growing number of great new restaurants taking over what had been decaying or empty spaces in the East End.

Not anymore.

The Mackenzie Room Just ask Luigi, Belgard Kitchen and the truly successful Railtown Café and Catering.

The true sign of success in the hospitality business is when people will wait for their food. The regulars brings books, laptops, newspapers etc..

You don’t ever wait long and the reward is just the best food..

Dan Olson  and Tyler Day are chefs and cop-partners.

Dan explains that when he was cooking in LA..he was watching people try to change the salads etc on the menu to fit their needs..

They decided to make the Railtown menu just like that..put all the ingredients in front of the customer and let them make up their menu.

The finishing touch is,  the culinary talents on display are  top notch. Like, really really good. With passion and focus!

Most of the food is taken out..people with busy lives..eating at their desks..but man it’s fun to just sit there and watch the human flow.

The buzz in the room is catchy..Feeling less than stellar?

Spend 20 minutes inside Railtown café..with a salad or killer pulled pork sandwich and the rest of your day will be a breeze.

Can you imagine how good the catering is?

And that is why the boys will announce on this show when and where the next TWO locations will open in Vancouver.

They are that popular.  Enjoy!!!

www.railtowncafe.ca

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

The one and only Jane Ferrari – Yalumba

DJ Kearney – Nedw District and Fall Wines

Daenna Van Mulligen – Rhone and Fall Wines

Chef Meets Truck

Rhone wines at Maenam