Weekly Show

October 5th 2013

hello

Tasting Room Radio B_BANNER2


Niagra Wine Festival
 
It’s the 62 annual Niagara Grape and Wine festival.
Food. Wine. New Friends.
 [divider]

THE SHOW

 

Downtown St. Catharines

Downtown St. Catharines


The Niagara Wine Festival — or Grape and Wine  as its been called — is back for its 62 year.
Over the years its kept growing  until it now takes over most of wine country..not just downtown St  Catharines.
I was invited by Executive Director Kimberley Hundertmark to host a wine panel called East vs West.
I discovered they weren’t talking about BC vs Ontario but regions within Niagara.
As it turns out the panel never took place but I did get to Introduce The Spoons at the Friday night concert (that’s was fun) and then drove around Niagara and stopped into wineries for a taste and chat.
This episode of TRR  is all about Niagara and the people who make it special.
What a sensational destination.
The wines just keep getting better and better..some are World Class.
As a BC based wine fan, I wanted to know about several important things.
How’s Niagara doing 2013?
Are they now shipping wine to consumers across Canada?
Now that Ontario wines are welcome in BC, which wines are available?
And How Much do they like the Alberta customer ? (they like Alberta..)
 

Guests include


Allan Schmidt – President of Vineland / Chair of The Wine Council of Ontario  www.winecouncilofontario.ca www.vineland.com
Charlie Pillitteri – CEO/President Pillitteri Estate Winery  www.pillitteri.com
Curtis Fielding – President of Fielding Wines. Grape grower of the year 2012/13  www.fieldingwines.com
Sportscaster Bob McGown – CEO Stoney Ridge Estate Winery.   Partner in Mike Weir Wines www.stoneyridge.com
Rob Power – Winemaker at Creekside Estate Winery.  Matt Loney Sales and marketing Creekside www.creeksidewine.com
Gillian Tinsley – Estate Sommelier.  Martin Werner – Winemaker at Ravine Vineyard  www.RavineVineyard.com  
Deborah Pratt – Winery Public Relations  Great Estates Niagara. (Inniskillin Jackson-Triggs. Clos Jordanne) www.greatestestatesniagara.com
 

[divider]

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Nicolette Novak – The Good Earth Food and Wine Company.
Merridale Cider launches their Spirits Line  on Vancouver Island.
Denis Cotter – One of the world’s greatest Vegetarian Chefs comes to Hastings House Salt Spring Island .
 
 

September 28th 2013

hello

Tasting Room Radio B_BANNER2


The Wine Diva visits Painted Rock and hands us 6 wines to watch
Makini Howell. The vegan queen of Seattle
Hester Creek rocks the Golden Mile
Susane Balbo
Hester Creek Two
 

[divider]

The Show

The Wine Diva has two stories this week.
wn
First is about the remarkable destination known as Painted Rock.
Painted Rock
Combining award winning wines and a profile that strides across the
landscape with ease.
John Skinner opens his winery and BOOM..he’s holding two Lieutenant Govern
awards.

john Skinner

john Skinner


Talk about making your presence felt.
Finally after two years of planning John has opened his new tasting room and
event center just South of Penticton, overlooking Skaha Lake.
If you can’t get there not to worry.
Daenna van Mulligan – The Wine Diva – will take us through the two wines
they poured at their opening.
Chardonnay and Syrah!
The Daenna has a half a dozen wines she’s been reviewing and we pass those
on to you. Enjoy!

  • Upper Bench Estate Winery Merlot
  • Mt. Boucherie Family Estate Summit Reserve Blaufrankish
  • J.G. Carrion Cristallino “Jaume Serra” Brut Nature Reserva Cava
  • Bodegas Ateca ‘Garnacha de Fuego
  • Howling Bluff Sauvignon Blanc~Semillon
  • TIME Estate Winery White Meritage

[divider]
Makini Howell 
Makini Howell at Plum
www.plumbistro.com Plum Bistro,
Seattle’s wildly popular vegan restaurant, is known for its delicious and
innovative vegan recipes using local ingredients. Now there a cookbook to go
with the restaurants. Sure to please both vegans and meat-eaters, Plum:
Gratifying Vegan Dishes features Plum’s flavorful, comforting dishes for
brunch, soups, salads, entrées, desserts, and more. Makini Howell’s book
features 60 recipes, including Pesto Plum Pizza, Good Old-Fashioned French
Toast, Barbecue Oyster-Mushroom Sliders, Fresh Blueberry Shortcake, homemade vegan pasta, and more.
Plum.  The Book
Makini Howell has been passionate about creating a chic dining experience
that appeals to vegans, foodies, and omnivores alike since her days of
living in New York City. In 2005 she moved back home to Seattle with the
goals of redirecting her family’s restaurant business and creating a new
perception of veganism. Makini is focused on using organic and non-GMO
seasonal produce and herbs from family-owned farms in combinations that are
both comforting and unexpected. As an entrepreneur she has developed a
sustainable business model using what the earth provides to supply
wholesome, nourishing food.
Couldn’t wait to ask Makini why many vegans are opinionated and such a pain.
She agreed.
[divider]
Hester Creek  
Hailing from the Niagara region, it seems natural that Rob Summers figures
large in the Canadian wine industry After acquiring an Honours Degree in
Food Science (BSc, Hons) from the University of Guelph he worked at
Hillebrand Estates, Henry of Pelham, Cave Spring Cellars, and Peller
Estates. While at Peller, Rob directed VQA winemaking for two vintages in
the Okanagan where he saw the vast potential that the south Okanagan Valley
held, and was inspired to relocate his family to Osoyoos He joined the team
at Hester Creek Estate Winery in 2006 and his signature winemaking style has
since gained accolades from his fellow winemakers and seasoned wine experts
alike.
Rob Summers and Mark Sheridan   Hester Creek
Born and raised in the Barossa Valley in Australia, and after earning a
Bachelor of Agriculture Science at Adelaide University, Mark Sheridan went
on to work for some of Australia’s largest wine producers. Mark was
attracted to BC, as he saw the Okanagan as the world’s next wine frontier,
so in 1999, he moved to Canada to be director of vineyard operations for
Vincor Canada. He was recognized for his talents and called “a rising star
in a young industry”.
Now, as Hester Creek’s general manager, Mark oversees all aspects of the
winery’s business, from viticulture through to the finished wines and then
into the marketplace
While tasting and talking about their new Fall releases we also talked about
wine shipping laws, the growing season and The Okanagan today.
[divider]
Susana Balbo
Susana Balbo  Argentina
In a country dominated by male winemakers, Susana Balbo stands out not only
for her gender, but for her incredible skill and experience. She has been
making wine since she earned her enology degree in 1981, and she has
probably produced a wider variety of wines than any other winemaker in
Argentina. Susana was the first Argentine winemaker to be hired as a
consultant to make wine outside of Argentina. She has made wine in
Australia, California, Chile, France, Italy, South Africa, and Spain, and
she spends a month each year in a different wine region of the world
studying with local winemakers and growers. After twenty years of producing wines for others, Susana decided it was time
to apply her education and experience to her own wines and put her name right on the bottle.
Susana strives for balance in her wines, with layers of complexity coming from the individually fermented varietals. She wants
people who drink her wines to feel that every sip from the glass is as
exciting as the first.
www.dominiodelplata.com.ar
[divider]

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

The 62 Annual Niagara Food and Wine festival
Bob McGown
Ron Power
Nicolette Novak
Charlie Pilliterri

September 21st, 2013

hello

Tasting Room Radio B_BANNER2
Tasting Room Radio will be heard at 3pm Saturday for the Vancouver folks on TEAM 1410 . 
The Wine Diva has two dozen wines for the Season. Falling in Love with Autumn Wines We travel to Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island for their wine festival. Sean Heather – One of the most interesting restaurateurs in Vancouver enters the Hall of Fame.


 
[divider]
THE SHOW
300x310xwine,P20diva,P204.png.pagespeed.ic.SaIdA6Pg5n

Daenna Van Mulligen


Daenna van Mulligen returns as The Wine Diva. Falling in Love With Autumn Wines. It’s that change of season ..heading fully into Fall. Most of us start looking for more “involved” Wines..switching from the bright and light of summer to bigger reds and more complex whites. The Diva brings it… If you miss info..it’s always listed here and on her website.

  1.  Peter Lehmann ‘Portrait’ Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia
  2.  Castiglion Del Bosco Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Tuscany Italy
  3. Allegrini Palazzo della Torre, Veronese, Veneto Italy
  4. Antinori ‘Peppoli’, DOCG Chianti Classico, Tuscany Italy
  5. Montebuena ‘Cuvee KPF’ D.O. Rioja, Spain
  6. Plume Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley California
  7. Brazin Old Vine Zin, Lodi California
  8. Tinhorn Creek Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley BC
  9. Quails’ Gate Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley BC
  10. Howling Bluff ‘Summa Quies” Pinot Noir Reserve, Okanagan Valley BC
  11. Altos Las Hormigas, Malbec Classico, Mendoza Argentina BC:
  12. Delas Cotes-Du-Ventoux, Rhone Valley, France
  13. Bartier~Scholefield ‘BS’ Red Table Wine, Okanagan Valley BC Winery
  14. Campo di Sasso Insoglio del Cinghiale, Bibona Tuscany Italy
  15. Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley BC
  16. Evans & Tate ‘Metricup Road’ Shiraz, Margaret River Australia BC
  17. Belle Glos Pinot Noir ‘Clark & Telephone Vineyard’, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara, Calif.
  18. Mer Soleil ‘Gold’ Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands
  19. Kettle Valley Viognier, Okanagan Valley BC Winery
  20. La Vieille Ferme Rouge Cotes~du~Ventoux, Rhone Valley France
  21. Sebastiani Chardonnay, Sonoma County
  22. Penfolds ‘Thomas Hyland’ Shiraz, Adelaide Australia
  23. Whitehaven Pinot Noir, Marlborough New Zealand
  24. Stoneboat Vineyards Pinotage, Okanagan Valley  

www.winediva.ca [divider] Cowichan Valley Wine Festival We’re off to Vancouver Island and the annual Cowichan Fall Wine Festival. Just south of Duncan lies the most beautiful farmland and forests.  The ocean view helps as well! Cow Bay A breathtaking drive over the Malahat Highway or a picturesque ferry ride brings you to the southern end of Cowichan Valley and the communities of Shawnigan Lake, Mill Bay, Duncan and Cobble Hill. Sheltered by a ridge of high mountains to the west and warmed by the Strait of Georgia to the east, the valley has long been called by local First Nations people ‘The Warm Land’. Indeed the region boasts the highest average temperature in Canada, which creates ideal growing conditions for almost any crop. Approximately a quarter of Vancouver Island’s cultivated land is found in the valley and it’s a local tradition to sell products fresh off the farm. Keep an eye out for vineyards with Tasting Room Open signs, where you can sample aromatic wines that are nurtured by rich soil and the climatic combination of warmth and moisture. Local winemakers work with vinifera favourites such as Pinot Gris, Ortega, and Pinot Noir, along with lesser-known varietals carefully matched to the maritime climate. Keep an eye & ear out for Blattner Wines. Valentin Blattner is a grape breeder living on the edge of the Jura Mountains in Switzerland. As a young man he had a vision to breed new grape varieties for a changing world, vines that would not require the usual spraying for fungal diseases that most popular grapes need. Of course these new vines needed to produce wines that were both unique yet reminiscent of traditional wine flavours. Today in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, British Columbia, Ontario and the Canadian Maritime Provinces the dream has been realized. After many years of field trials of the vines and wines, there are finally critically acclaimed wines being released from the Blattner Selections. Cowichan valley My hosts were Linda and Mark Holford of Rocky Creek Wines.
 
 

Linda and Mark Holford

Linda and Mark Holford


They asked me to host a panel at the winery which I gladly accepted. Rocky Creek Winery Guests on the panel included: Treve Ring Sommelier. Writer. Consultant. Editor. Outspoken and opinionated. Perfect!! Troy Townsin Author (Wine Feast: Eat. Drink & Discover BC Wine) and Host of Time for Wine on CBC Victoria. Great Overview! Chris Turyk The new voice and face of Unsworth Vineyards. Doesn’t look like a dirt farmer.
 
 
 
Unsworth Mark Holford President. Owner of Rocky Creek Winery. And this is his second job!! Bailey Williamson Winemaker at Blue Grouse. Learned his craft with Michael Bartier at Road 13. Wants to make great bubble. Tereza Roux Wine Director at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort. Flight Delayed by Fog. Was Missed. Other guests included: Tim Turyk and Daniel Gosman Owner and Winemaker at Unsworth Vineyards. 

 
[divider]
 
This episode of Tasting Room Radio concludes with long overdue interview with Sean Heather. Sean Heather Sean arrived in Vancouver from Ireland with the intention of earning enough money to finance a trip to Berkeley, where he hoped to work with Alice Waters. He soon realized that the only way to beat the grind of the restaurant business would be to work for himself. He partnered with his sister Roisin and  soon to be wife Erin. Then he opened the Irish Heather in 1997. He worked behind the bar five nights a week, pouring pints for his regulars, while his wife served tables and his sister worked weekends. Next came Shebeen Whisky House, which opened in 2000, and then the Salty Tongue Café in 2003. After opening Salt to rave reviews in 2006, Sean’s business world grew in leaps and bounds. Next came Fetch, a coffee kiosk in the old B.C. Electric building at Carrall and Hastings streets, opened in 2009; Judas Goat, a Spanish-style tapas bar next door to Salt, as well as Chinatown coffee shop Everything Café and the Pennsylvania Hotel bakery, all opened in 2010. There’s also Penn Bakeshop, Bitter and his latest project Rainer Provisions. He has opened and operated highly successful destinations on some of the toughest streets and alleys on the West Coast. Plus…he quietly supports local charities including The Portland Hotel Society, The Rainer Hotel and Beauty Night Society. And That’s why he’s being included into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame and a very welcome guest on Tasting Room Radio. http://www.bcrhof.ca/ www.scoutmagazine.ca Gluttony‎ http://www.shophhg.ca/pages/about-us
 
 
 


[divider]

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

The 62nd annual Niagara Wine Festival

September 14th 2013

hello

 
Tasting Room Radio B_BANNER2
This week: 14 BC wineries pour their latest releases and the Dean of Canadian Wine Writers John Schreiner ..shares his tasting notes.
Okanagan Crush Pad


[divider]

THE SHOW

It’s the annual Colour BC VQA Fall Release Tasting at the Vancouver Convention Centre
Take a BC wine journey through the growing wine regions of British Columbia!
The largest annual tasting of BC VQA wines in Vancouver, this event hosted 75 BC wineries, showcasing more than 300 BC VQA wines.
We are so pleased to present the talented people behind the wines. We hope you have fun as you discover their new fall releases.
There was ONE other question that I asked most of the people below.
ARE YOU CURRENTLY SHIPPING YOUR WINES TO THE REST OF CANADA?
Some very surprising comments came back my way.
For years many of these same wineries were in denial.
Either ducked or wouldn’t answer the question
NOT ANY MORE!!
[divider]
The new BC wines pour their latest in Vancouver.
The Bartier Boys
Michael Bartier Bartier Bros/Okanagan Crush Pad. Perhaps the busiest winemaker in BC
Ian Sutherland Poplar Grove/Monster Vineyards Between Poplar Grove and Monster.. .enough wine for everyone!
Kelowna Vineyards
Jay Drysdale – Bella Ah bella.. Bella!!! Bella!!!!!!! Love that Bubble
Richard DeSilva – Misconduct Pair his wines with Chef Abul Adame and its Heaven
Randy Picton – Nk Mip The one and only Winemaker Nk Mip has had. Solid and very talented.
Randy Picton Nk Mip
Graydon Ratzlaff – Recline Ridge Amazed how good their pours were.
Adrian Cassini – Cassini Cellars Built a beautiful winery south of Oliver. To showcase his award wining wines.
Mike Raffan – Township 7 T7 in two locations. Naramata bench and just outside Vancouver.
BC Vineyards
Bill Eggert – Fairview Cellars Troublemaker who makes complex, thoughtfull wines.
Ezra CipesSummerhill One of the most popular wine destinations anywhere.
Ezra Cipes. 2nd from left
James Cambridge – Backyard Vineyards James brings his talents from Le Vieux Pin. It’s all good
Marty Farrell – Clos du Soleil Great circle of friends, working together. Ace in the Hole? Winemaker Ann Sperling
Helene Pannekoek – Fort Berens in Lillooet. One of the new wine regions in BC. Amazing Reisling.
Nirmal and Pinki Gidda – Mt Boucherie They own over 300 acres. Half the room has sought their grapes and its Pinki’s first interview
John Schreiner – Author. The Dean of Canadian Wine Writers. He reveals his tasting notes on several wines.
John Schreiner


[divider]

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Sean Heather. First question, which do you have more of Children or Restaurants.
The man behind Irish Heather, Salt tasting Rooms, Judas Goat. Shebeen, Salty Tongue etc.
One of which he sold this week.
The Cowichan Valley Wineries throw a party
Niagara presents its 62 annual Fall Wine Festival
Balbo Argentina

Tasting Room Radio BC Sept 7th 2013

hello

Tasting Room Radio B_BANNER2
As September begins to take over our lives..certain things start to come into view.
One is harvest.
The second is a run of Wine Festivals, of all shapes and sizes.
Three food and wine festivals are profiled on this week’s TRR.
Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island
The 62th annual Niagara Food and Wine Festival
The 33rd Okanagan Fall Wine Festival.
Interviews with all three organizing groups and a feature interview with Winemaker JM Bouchard at Road 13 on the Golden Mile. South Okanagan.


[divider]

THE SHOW

Rocky Creek WineryWe start in the Cowichan Valley with Linda Holford from Rocky Creek Winery.
Linda has  invited me to host a discussion at Rocky Creek  on Saturday Sept 14th with three local winemakers from Rocky Creek, Blue Grouse and Unsworth plus wine experts Treve Ring, Tereza Roux from Clayoquot Wilderness Resort and Troy Townsin from CBC Victoria’s Time for Wine.
We’ll focus on two questions
What is The Grape for Vancouver and the Gulf Islands?
Cowichan Valley in the Fall
And for the island wineries..what do you want to be when you grow up??
Linda fills us in on their events Sept 7-15
I also was able to find a panellist,  Troy Townsin..just to get a reaction to the questions I’m asking and the general lay of the wine land.
He joins us from Kelowna.
www.wines.cowichan.net
http://www.rockycreekwinery.ca/
Then we’re off to  Ontario  for the 62th annual Niagara Wine Festival.  Sept 14-29
They too have asked me to host a discussion.  This time about East vs West. On Sunday Sept 22nd
Kimberly Hundermark  -  Niagara
It’s not about BC vs Ontario, it’s about West Niagara vs Eastern Niagara. It’s shaping up to be quite an event.
It pits competing wineries..competing families and competing regions in a winner take all format.
Joining us on the show are Barry Katzman, co-chair of the festival and president of Mike Weir wines and Stoney Ridge winery and Kimberly Hundermark the Festivals Executive Director.
www.niagarawinefestival.com
 
Okanagan Crush Padand the last wine festival featured is the 33rd annual Okanagan Fall Wine Festival
Blair Baldwin Festival founder and Ellen Walker Mathews from Thompson Okanagan Tourist Assn take us through the ever expanding schedule of events that shape BC’s premier festival.October 4-14
Then its straight south to the Similkameen Valley to George Hansen Owner/Winemaker at Seven Stones to find out what’s being planned down there.
www.thewinefestivals.com/events
 
JM Bouchard  Road 13
We finish this episode of Tasting Room on The Golden Mile..just south of Oliver, BC.
JM Bouchard has firmly established himself as the winemaker of record at Road 13.
He’s driven, stubborn and dedicated to making the already fine wines of Road 13 even better.
We run through the growing portfolio, the events of the Fall and where he’s taking the wine program in the future.
www.road13vineyards.com


[divider]

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Wine festival specials  in
Cowichan Valley
Niagara
Okanagan
The new BC wines pour their latest in Vancouver.