Weekly Show

May 19th, 2018 – The BC Cider Festival!

hello

The BC Cider Festival Year 2.  The Cider makers pour at The Pipe Shop.

  

THE SHOW

 

Its Official..I’m a Certified Cider Head.

Happily, I don’t appear to be alone.

Lots of us are discovering that the sweet icky cider our parents consumed has disappeared. It’s been replaced by a growing army of cider makers..from around the World and best of all – right here in BC.

I had some catching up to do having missed the first BC Cider Festival.

I was delighted to find out that all of the participating ciders would be pouring at The Pipe Shop, foot of Lonsdale in North Vancouver.

 

The Pipe Shop

(The very shop that my Father,  HD “Pat” Mulligan worked in as WW2 was beginning)

I had a hunch that when they opened the main doors at 1:30 it was going to get crazy..and it did.

So, I started early as the tables were being set up and talked to as many Cideries as I could.

You can hear the room get louder and louder as first the staff worked the room, then the cider trade people tasted and finally when the  general public came in..I couldn’t even get near the tables and my work was done.

This was such a great  learning experience for me. My hope is that it’s the same for you.

There are so many great stories here. Ciders made from blends of apples, heritage apples planted and forgotten about over the years and apples discovered, grown and harvested in Vancouver’s East End.

Backyard apples made into first class Ciders.

I hope you  find your new  favourite cider in the next hour.  Cheers!!

Big thanks to Txotx Imports and Massey Wines.

 

Guests on this week’s  Cider festival Special include :

Txotx Imports  –  Sean Pisio    (Organizer)

BC Tree Fruits –  Nadine Harrison (asst. winemaker) Kelowna

Kate Pedersen – Left field Cider  (Logan Lake)

Naramata Cider Co – Miranda Halliday (co-owner)  Naramata

Ward’s Cider – Mike Anderson  (cidermaker)  Kelowna

Raven’s Moon – Quinn Ehrler     (owner and cellar rat)  Courtney

Nomad Cider – Brad Klammer    (Co-owner)  Summerland

Salt Spring Wild Cider   –   Mike Lachelt & Greda Lattey  (co-owners / cidermakers)  Salt Spring

Salt Spring Wild Tasting Room

Howling Moon Cider – Nik & Kate Durisek (owners / cidermakers) Oliver

Twisted Hills Cider – Kaylan Madeira (owner/cidermaker)  Cawston

Cedar Cider – Gabriel Jefferies (co-owner)  Hazelmere

Sea Cider – Kristen Needham  (founder / cidermaker)  Saanichton

Windfall Cider – Jeff Nairn (co-founder)  East Vancouver

Dominion Cider – Robin Cairns  (co-founder)  Summerland

The boys from Dominion Cider – (courtesy of Montecristo magazine)

Second Page   Samantha Chamberland   Courtney/Comox

…and the winners are:

  • Dry
    3rd Cedar Cider – Sprig
    2nd Nomad – Sparkling Sidra
    1st Twisted Hills – Pippens Fate
  • Medium
    3rd Second Page – Apple
    2nd Sea Cider – Bittersweet
    1st Salt Spring – Semi- Dry
  • Specialty
    3rd Salt Spring Wild – Bitter Orange Rosemary
    2nd Merridale – Mo Morrow
    1st Dominion – True at First Light
  • Fruit
    3rd Lonetree – Apple Peach
    2nd Merridale – Merri Berri
    1st Left Field – Joe Shack
  • HSB
    3rd Brickers – Sage, Peppercorn, Thyme
    2nd Lonetree – Ginger
    1st Saltspring Wild – Ginger Root

 

http://bcciderfest.ca/

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Unsworth pours new releases at Vij’s

Eric Monnin – Head Winemaker at Boutinot in The Rhone

(special guest The Wine Diva)

 

 

 

May 12th, 2018-Vintage 2017- Deane House Calgary & Savio Volpe

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Vintage 2017. Deane House Calgary & Savio Volpe (awards, house wine & Nicks)

 

The SHOW

 Vintage 2017.  New  releases.

 The invitation was just too good to pass up.

Be the first to sample some of the finest wines of the new vintage! Join Treve Ring and a panel of top BC winemakers from across the province to discuss the 2017 vintage, future predictions for BC winemaking, and enjoy the first taste of these outstanding wine.

 

Many of these wine events are  new release pours. To their credit Wine BC offer the media a really informative seminar and study of the wines,  components  and comments from their winemakers. Those of us invited can taste, study  growing season notes and ask any and all questions.  Then pass important information on to you..the wine fan. The bonus was that Treve Ring hosted the seminar and added her own comments and comments.

 

GUESTS:

Nikki Callaway – Winemaker at Quails Gate West Kelowna. Very likely her last pour as she’s heading to the Naramata Bench.

https://www.quailsgate.com

 

Nikki Callaway

Andy Gebert – Owner/Winemaker at St. Hubertus Estate Winery – East Kelowna.

www.st-hubertus.bc.ca

Matt Dumayne – Winemaker at Haywire, Narrative and Okanagan Crush Pad. Summerland.

Matt Dumayne Okanagan Crush Pad

 Mark Hopley – Winemaker at Hester Creek Golden Mile Bench  www.hestercreek.com

Mark Hopley Hester Creek

Michael Clark – Winemaker at Clos du Soleil Similkameen Valley  https://www.closdusoleil.ca 

Michael Clark Clos du Soleil

Yannick Treffot – representative for Roche Wines Naramata Bench  https://www.facebook.com/rochewines/

 

www.winebc.com

Deane House – Calgary (Sal Howell & Chef Jamie Harling)

 

Sal Howell. Chef Jamie Harling @DeaneHouse Calgary (Leah Hennel post media)

Best New Restaurants of 2016: Alberta

“If a restaurant conceived by acclaimed restaurateur Sal Howell, with a menu created by chef Jamie Harling, wasn’t anything less than superb, I would have been sorrowfully disappointed. Lucky, there isn’t much to nitpick about when it comes to dining at what is currently one of the most buzz worthy restaurants in Calgary.”

December 3, 2016, by Dan Clapson The Globe and Mail

 

Sal Howell has earned awards and accolades over the years with the iconic River Café on Princes Island in the Bow River.

“Canada’s Best 100 2017”

Right around the  bend where The Bow meets The Elbow (the confluence as locals like to say)

Is Deane House. Moved there many years ago.

It’s a series of gorgeously decorated rooms, each with its own distinct character and like River Café is a champion of seasonal, local and sustainable food.

Chef Jamie Harling connects daily with local farmers and ranchers and his own on-site gardens.

Both River Café and Deane House have a solid connection to the sustainable fishing boats on the Coast.

I was passing through Southern Alberta  and couldn’t miss the opportunity to talk to Sal and Jamie about Calgary, Deane House and what their Summer looks like.

www.DeaneHouse.com

 

Savio Volpe  –  (Paul Grunberg. Chef Mark Perrier. Miguel Quezada)

 

Osteria Savio Volpe is a wildly success Italian Restaurant in Vancouver. There are three stories here.

     Osteria Savio Volpe Limited Edition Barbera D’Asti Wine Collaboration
     “One hundred cases of a custom Italian import available exclusively at Fraserhood neighbourhood bistro.”

A collaboration between Piedmont’s Cantina del Pino and Vancouver’s Osteria Savio Volpe, has now culminated  in a custom Barbera D’Asti  being sold by the bottle, exclusively at the Fraserhood restaurant.

The Barbera D’Asti costs $72 per bottle, and will be available until supplies last only at Osteria Savio                Volpe. Having tasted the wine..I can tell you it’s “delish” absolutely “delish”.

   GM Miguel Quezada takes us through the story.

 

Co-Owner Chef Mark Perrier makes sense of how Savio Volpe evolved into the #14 restaurant in Canada.

It’s his menu and his concept.  Well Done Chef.

And finally the best story yet!

The ownership team at Savio has just bought Nick’s Spaghetti House. One of the oldest (1955) and most iconic restaurants in Vancouver. First they  confirmed  that Nick Felicella wasn’t being pushed out but rather retiring.

They also had to make a decision..is it another Savio Volpe or a rebranding of Nick’s?

Rebranding was the only way to go.

The rest of the story unfolds on the show.

www.saviovolpe.com

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Unsworth pours at Vij’s

BC Cider festival – 16 cider makers on one show

 

May 5th, 2018-Okanagan Falls

hello

OK Falls Welcomes The Wine World

 

THE SHOW

 

Every Spring the wine regions of BC show up on the West Coast.

This week it’s Okanagan Falls.  The wineries of the region share Skaha Lake – just south of Penticton.

OK Falls – Noble Ridge and John Schreiner

Just a head’s UP They throw a great Summer event called Party in the Park  July 6th in Kenyon Park (on the beach)

Starts at 5PM.  What a night!!

 

Winemakers and Principals pouring and taking us through the wines include:

Evan Saunders – Winemaker at Blasted Church https://blastedchurch.com

Christie Mavety – Family Member/Owner  www.bluemountainwinery.com

Gerry Thygesen – Owner –Winemaker  Skaha/Krase Legz  https://www.krazelegz.com

Alison Moyes – Winemaker  Liquidity Wines https://www.liquiditywines.com

Janice Stevens-Meyer  – Co-Owner Meyer Family Vineyards https://www.mfvwines.com

Daniel Bibby – Co-Owner Nighthawk Vineyards  https://www.nighthawkvineyards.com

Jim & Leslie D ‘Andrea – Owners Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery www.nobleridge.com

Lauren Skinner – Family member Painted Rock Estate Winery www.paintedrock.ca

Julie Rennie – Co-Owner Pentage Winery https://pentage.com

Larry Gerelus – Co-Owner Stag’s Hollow Winery https://stagshollowwinery.com

Alan Dickinson – Owner/Winemaker Synchromesh Wines www.synchromeshwines.ca

Roland Kruger – Owner/General Manager  Wild Goose Vineyard https://wildgoosewinery.com

Back row

  1. Evan Saunders, wine maker, Blasted Church
  2. Jim D’Andrea, Proprietor, Noble Ridge
  3. Ian MacDonald, Proprietor, Liquidity

2 back row

  1. Larry Gerelus, Proprietor, Stag’s Hollow
  2. Linda Pruegger, Proprietor, Stag’s Hollow
  3. Roland Kruger, Proprietor,  Wild Goose
  4. Janice Stevens, Proprietor, Meyer Family Vineyards
  5. Julie Rennie, Proprietor, Pentage

3 back row

  1. Dan Schell – Agent (Nobel Ridge)
  2. Michael Garrett, Agent (Pentage)
  3. Alison Moyes,  winemaker Liquidity
  4. Barb Mills, Agent (Liquidity)
  5. Leslie D;Andrea, Proprietor,  Noble Ridge
  6. Lauren Skinner, Director of Sales, Painted Rock

Front row

  1. Tysha Pope, Crescent Hill Winery
  2. Carson Pope, Crescent Hill Winery
  3. Terry David Mulligan
  4. Daniel Bibby, Proprietor, Nighthawk Vineyards
  5. Christie Mavety, Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars

 

https://www.ofwa.ca

Events Archive | OFWA – Okanagan Falls Winery Associations

Okanagan Falls Wineries Map & Wine Tour Guide | OFWA

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

Savio Volpe – New wine, Top 15 in Canada and a new Nicks Spaghetti House

Vintage 2017 – Clos du Soleil, Hester Creek, Roche, Haywire, St Hubertus, Quails Gate

Sal Howell – Deane House. Calgary

 

 

 

 

 

July 28th, 2018 – Naramata Bench Spring Releases!

hello

 

NEW SPRING RELEASES FROM THE NARAMATA BENCH:

  

THE SHOW

 

SPRING!

 

Renewal. Bud Break. Real warmth in the day. Sunrise at 6am.

AND new releases from BC’s wineries.  Perhaps, the very best time of the year.

We spent almost 5 glorious years on the Naramata Bench.

It was everything we had hoped it would be. A mix of farms, food, wineries and really fine people.

Now, when they make their annual Spring Wine Release trip into Vancouver and Victoria  it feels like old home week.

 

Tailgate Party

I have the wonderful job of sitting down and getting re-acquainted with familiar faces and new wines.

For you wine fans  joining us, it’s a chance to perhaps,  find your wine of the year or at the very least your Spring/Summer.

 

Our guests this week include:

Val Tait  – Winemaker and GM at Bench 1775  www.bench1775.com

Senka Tennant – Co-Owner &  Winemaker at TerraVista www.terravistavineyards.com

Dominic McCosker – Winemaker at La Frenz www.lafrenzwinery.com

Riley Hollenbach – Winemaker at Red Rooster www.lafrenzwinery.com

Kathy Malone – Winemaker at Hillside www.hillsidewinery.ca

Matt Mikulic – Winemaker at Three Sisters  www.3sisterswinery.com/Wines

Bob Ferguson – Co-Owner & Winemaker at Kettle Valley  www.kettlevalleywinery.com/

Del Halliday – co-owner and winemaker at Elephant Island www.elephantislandwine.com

Gavin Miller – co-owner and winemaker at Upper Bench  www.upperbench.ca

Lindsay O’Rourke – Co-owner and Winemaker at Tightrope  www.tightropewinery.ca

 

www.naramatabench.com/our-wineries

http://www.winesofcanada.com/naramata.html

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

 

www.tastingroomradio.com

 

 

 

 

 

April 21st, 2018- Top Drop Vancouver !

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Full Natural Wines  with Lock & Worth &  Bella, Top Drop 2018 and The Okanagan Wine Initiative

 

THE SHOW

 

Matthew SherLOCK and Ross HackWORTH.  Lock and Worth. 

Jay Drysdale and Bella…

 Want to get a sense of BC’s wine future?  Matt and Jay will be a the very front, leading the movement.

Honest, single vineyard wines of time and place – priced for everyday consumption.

Mathew Sherlock

 We strongly believe that one should be able to drink high quality, single vineyard (non-commodity), small production wines that are priced reasonably from British Columbia. We plan to be around 20 years from now, not by becoming a large company but by creating a sustainable business within our community. For us part of that means making wines that always over deliver

 Sherlock and Hayworth farm organically and work the vineyards by hand whenever possible. They use native yeasts for fermentations, limited sulfur, and a gentle touch that avoids punch downs or pumping over or racking during élevage. The wines are bottled without fining or filtration.

Up the road at Bella, is a winery owned by Jay Drysdale and his wife, Wendy Rose. Bella only makes sparkling wines and only works with Chardonnay and Gamay Noir.

Bella ’s annual production is 2000 cases, split between a vineyard series and a natural series. Each wine in the vineyard series highlights a single grape, from a single vineyard, and single vintage. Dry-farmed and organic vineyards from Kelowna to Kamloops supply the fruit. The natural series uses the same vineyards, plus Bella’s four-acre estate vineyard.

The vineyard series wines are made using the traditional Champagne method, with commercial yeasts and sugar added to the wine to trigger a second fermentation. Jay and Wendy make the natural series wines by pressing whole cluster grapes and allowing wild yeast fermentation to begin in neutral barrels.

No additives, allowing fermentation to finish in the bottle.  This process is called méthode ancestral and Bella is the first winery in western Canada to use it.

Jay and Wendy

 

The natural process causes some of the bottles to be cloudy.  As Jay has said “Yes, they’re cloudy. Get over it”

Here’s a quote from a go-to wine human Kurtis Kolt in the Georgia Straight

Natural wine.  It’s wine made with minimal intervention. This means organic (and sometimes biodynamic) farming (without the use of pesticides and such), naturally occurring ferments with wild yeasts in the cellar, and winemaking without fining, filtration, or manipulation.

 

Kurtis Kolt –  Top Drop 2018

Kurtis Kolt

Wonderful and Unique two-day festival brings together international wineries, craft breweries, cideries, gastronomy & more. At Roundhouse Mews in Yaletown.

On May 17th and 18th 2018, Top Drop Vancouver returns, with a continued focus on sustainably-farmed, handcrafted wines offering a distinct sense of place, without heavy-handed winemaking trickery to get in the way.

Roundhouse

They believe in the importance in farming one’s own fruit and/or being constantly engaged with grape-growers to ensure sustainability and a high standard of viticultural practices. They believe in wines that reflect their vintage, and wines that aren’t suffocated by vinicultural trickery. They believe in winemaking decisions that are made by a winemaker, and not by a board of directors or marketing team. They believe in those who take chances. They believe these kinds of wines, honest wines of integrity, need a time and place to have their story told.

They also believe craft beer, cider, along with authentic and sustainable produce, dairy, meat, and seafood are part of the same conversation, which is why they ’re proud to showcase some of the very best in those areas.

An Astonishing gathering of wine professionals.  Check out all the guests and details at

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/top-drop-vancouver-2018-main-event-tickets-44277154160

 

Christine Coletta Member of Okanagan Wine Initiative (Haywire)

 

Tdm & Christine Coletta

Even after doing the interview I’m still not quite sure what the role of this 7 member group will be. The thing is, they’re capable of doing just about anything they set their minds to.

The story broke just before we went to air and I made a cold call to Christine Coletta from Okanagan Crush Pad to try and get the essence of the story.

Here’s the press release:

Seven leading BC wineries: 50th Parallel Estate Winery, Culmina Family Estate Winery, Haywire Wines, Liquidity Wines, Painted Rock Estate Winery, Poplar Grove Winery, and Summerhill Pyramid Winery, have formed a partnership, The Okanagan Wine Initiative.

The association groups together seven Okanagan wineries to share resources and collaborate on varying projects internationally, across Canada, and in their home market, British Columbia. The members share a common passion to drive one-another to excel and adopt best business practices and to help elevate the identity of the Okanagan as a premium wine producing region and superb wine tourism destination.

I do know one thing..this group..these thinkers and doers..will make things happen and this week may be the start of BC taking its expanded place in the World of Wine.

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

The Naramata Bench Wineries pour new releases in Victoria.

The Okanagan Falls Wineries pour new releases in Vancouver.

 

 

Supreme Court Decision- Interview with Tony Stewart, Owner of Quails Gate Winery

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Gerard Comeau bought beer and booze in Quebec – where it’s much cheaper and drove it back to New Brunswick.

He was charged by the RCMP with illegal movement of liquor.

Went all the way to the supreme court.

Wineries maintained that the 1928 Prohibition Law being quoted was “unconstitutional” as written.

I called it naked greed.

The decision came down today..supporting the law and the government.

Here’s an interview with Tony Stewart the CEO and owner of Quails Gate Winery in the Okanagan.

He was right in the middle of this case and has a unique perspective.

We appreciate his time.

 
MEDIA RELEASE

April 19, 2018

Wine industry disappointed with Supreme Court ruling
KELOWNA, April 19, 2018 – The British Columbia Wine Institute and its members today expressed disappointment with the Supreme Court of Canada’s ruling on Her Majesty the Queen v. Gerard Comeau. The case challenged restrictions on interprovincial trade, an issue the BCWI and the Canadian Vintners Association (CVA) has been working on for over a decade.

 

This morning at 9:45 a.m. (EST) the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled on Her Majesty the Queen v. Gerard Comeau. The ruling states the following: Section 121 does not impose absolute free trade across Canada.

 

“The Court’s ruling today is disappointing for the BC wine industry.” Said Miles Prodan President & CEO of the BCWI. “We will continue our work both directly and through the CVA with the federal / provincial / territorial governments’ Alcoholic Beverages Working Group, industry, governments and the provinces to remove the barriers and allow winery direct shipping to customers across Canada.”

 

“We respect the Court’s ruling but are disappointed at this missed opportunity to remove interprovincial trade restrictions,” said Dan Paszkowski, President & CEO of the CVA. “Removing restrictions would have opened the door to allowing consumers to order wine for direct delivery to their home from any Canadian winery located in any province. We call that Direct-to-Consumer, it is something nine out of 10 Canadians believe should be permitted, and we now eagerly await the provinces making this choice available to their citizens.”

 

In October 2012, Gerard Comeau of New Brunswick purchased beer and spirits in Quebec and drove back to New Brunswick. He was charged with possessing liquor purchased from outside the province in quantities that exceeded the province’s prescribed limit, an offence under section 134 of the New Brunswick Liquor Control Act. The trial judge held that section 134(b) of the Liquor Control Act constitutes a trade barrier (violating section 121 of the Constitution Act, 1867) and dismissed the charge against Mr. Comeau. The case subsequently made its way to the Supreme Court.

 

“It’s important to recognize that interprovincial trade barriers affect a range of industries, including wine.” Says Paszkowski.

 

Unfair interprovincial trade barriers have impeded Canada’s wine industry growth and prevented consumers from purchasing the Canadian wines of their choice.

 

“This morning’s ruling is disappointing for our industry. Every wine producing nation in the world has direct sales within its own country” said Tony Stewart, Proprietor & CEO of Quails’ Gate Winery. “Canada needs to correct this so that we can start to create a level playing field with the rest of the world.”

 

Canada’s wine industry had seen the ruling as a way to open the doors to direct-to-consumer wine purchases across the country, something consumers believe should be done.

 

Direct-to-Consumer would lead to important growth for the country’s highest value agricultural industry. Indeed, free interprovincial trade would positively impact the economy across the country. Industry research shows that for every $1.00 spent on Canadian wine in Canada, $3.42 in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is generated across the country.

April 14th, 2018-The Artisans of Vancouver Island & The Gulf Islands

hello

13 guests for The Annual “Locals Only 3.0″The Artisans of Vancouver Island & The Gulf Islands.

 

THE SHOW

 

It was an afternoon exploring the diversity & creativity of our coastal producers.

Through the interviews below we get to meet the farmers, fermenters and distillers that define our cool climate coastal appellation.

 

Event photos by @socialtyvr

 

This is Locals Only 3.0 – 2018

No fancy marketing campaigns or graphic trickery.  Just an opportunity to taste clean honest products from the producers who are defining our cool climate coastal appellation. 

  • Speak with the producers who were natural before it was fashionable
  • Learn more about distilling while speaking with a Master
  • Meet and taste with the people who planted the vines and then made the wine


Locals Only is about keeping it real, real honest and really local.

 

Organic estate farming , clean winemaking , neutral barrels & vessels, amphora, orange wines, concrete, spontaneous ferments, dry farming + way more. Discover the next destination you just have to check out.

Off Shore craft makers.

 

Guests include:

 Massey Wines –  Louise Fedyk.  Co-Organizer of event  http://www.masseywines.com/

 Mike Rathjen – Rathjen Cellars  https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgo92Vuntu8/

Mike Nierychlo –  Emandare Vineyards  http://www.emandarevineyard.com/    

Dave Brimacombe – Wayward Distillery (Unruly Gin/Vodka) https://www.instagram.com/p/BgpPVn3Hw0U/

Jason MacIsaac – Sheringham Distillery  https://www.sheringhamdistillery.com/

Andy Johnson  – Averill Creek  https://www.averillcreek.ca/

Loretta Zanatta – Zanatta Vineyards https://zanatta.ca/

Chris Turyk – Unsworth  https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgr0mocH0rh/

Bailey Williamson – Blue Grouse https://www.bluegrouse.ca/Home

Dan Dragert – Kutatas Vineyards ( Koo Tah Tass) You’re on your own. Well worth The Search.

Brenda Hetman-Layne – 40 Knots  https://www.instagram.com/p/BgkFfRknXdL/   

Marilyn Venturi –   Venturi-Schulze Vineyards  https://www.instagram.com/p/BgraOj7nK_o/

Julia Powell – Alderlea Vineyards  https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgtz5m0HCrX/

 


@averillcreek
@unsworthvineyards
@alderleavineyards
@vswine
@bluegrousewines

 

  

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

 Bella – Jay Drysdale goes full frontal bubble. (All natural)

Lock and Worth – Matt Sherlock finds balance between Nichol and  Lock & Worth (All natural)

Naramata Bench Pours in Victoria. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 7th, 2018 – Jann Arden Returns to the Tasting Room!

hello

Jann Arden returns To The Tasting Room.

(joined by  Ricasoli, La Crema, Giant Head and Gurvinder Bhatia)

 

THE SHOW

Gurvinder Bhatia   (Quench magazine)

  

 

Gurvinder Bhatia

 

The first two interviews took place at this year’s VanWineFest.

After 2 One hour specials,  I grabbed my  recorder and sought out journalist Gurvinder Bhatia and  Winemaker Craig McAllister,  at La Crema.

Gurvinder is well known in wine circles. As a judge, educator and reviewer.

Wine Editor for Quench Magazine, columnist for The Edmonton Journal and  for Global TV (Edmonton). He’s currently the wine buyer for  UnWined in Edmonton.  He specializes in Italian wines.

Because of his legal background and the fact he lives in Alberta, I thought we could talk about wines and BC’s  wines banned in Alberta.

http://quench.me/

 

Craig McAllister – Winemaker at Le Crema (Sonoma)

A New-Zealand native, Craig McAllister spent his first 20 years in Christchurch, New Zealand, then lived in London for six years. He has travelled extensively throughout the world. He found himself drawn not just to the wine industry, but to the wine lifestyle due to his love of cooking, traveling and being outdoors. This led him to Lincoln University in New Zealand, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in viticulture and enology.

Craig McAllister La Crema

 

 

Craig’s deep passion for winemaking has taken him all over the world, from New Zealand to Australia, Chile and Cyprus. Craig first joined the La Crema team in 2007 as the Harvest Enologist.

After gaining additional experience abroad, he joined the La Crema team full-time in 2009.

He has been a steward of La Crema’s Monterey program and worked extensively on the Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. He also helped to further develop La Crema’s esteemed collection of single vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. He was promoted to head winemaker in 2017.

https://www.lacrema.com

 

 

Francesco Ricasoli  – (Barone Ricasoli)

Francesco Ricasoli

The name Ricasoli has been associated to wine since 1141, when Brolio Castle was acquired by the Ricasoli family.

 

Bettino Ricasoli (1809 – 1880) was the promoter of the most famous Italian wine in the world today: Chianti.

Today it is the largest domaine in the Chianti Classico area: Castello di Brolio, where Baron Bettino Ricasoli came with the Chianti formula in 1872, is surrounded by 1,200 hectares in the towns of Gaiole and Castelnuovo Berardenga.

Since 1993 Francesco Ricasoli  is the 32nd  family member to lead  the family winery. Second oldest in the World and oldest in Italy.

We welcome the charming Francesco to Tasting Room Radio.

 

https://ricasoli.com/en

 

Jann Arden – Feeding My Mother: Comfort and Laughter in the Kitchen as my Mother Lives With Memory Loss.

“Jann Arden is one of the most honest and talented women I’ve ever met, and her love for her mother is so rich.” —Chef Lynn Crawford

Even though Jann and I have known each other for 30 years it didn’t make the book any easier to read.

The pain of watching her Mother fade away commands each and every page of this cookbook and then you turn the page and it’s

a recipe for split pea soup.

We talk about dealing with the slow loss of her Mother and “Candy Grams for Mongo”

That’s exactly what a Jann Arden concert is like..crazy fun one moment and heart wrenching  the next.

As each day steals more and more of her Mother’s  memory, it’s her  kitchen  and the food in it that connects  Jann and her Mother.

Amazing book.

Fascinating performer.

Wonderful friend.

www.jannarden.com

https://penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/562454/feeding-my-mother#9780735273924

 

John Glavina – Owner of Giant Head Winery  (Summerland)

 

John was born in Montreal in 1960. His father, an immigrant from Malta, was a computer technician with Honeywell. In 1985 the family moved to Vancouver where John  graduated from SFU with a  degree in computer science, with a minor in business.

John Glavina

He met his wife Jinny Lee at SFU and together they had a dream  of owning a farm.

Finally in 2002, the couple and their two children moved to the Okanagan and bought an apple orchard near Summerland.  After a couple of years farming apples Jinny Lee  admitted grapes would be better.

They grow Pinot Noir, Merlot, Gewürztraminer and – for blending with the latter – about 100 vines of Riesling. Both took viticulture courses but John leaves much of the viticulture up to Jenny Lee.

First they were strictly growers but then came their  2014  vintage. It was the first one they sold.

 

My pal Herschel Miedzygorski  invited me to attend the release of the latest Giant Head wines..at Tap and Barrel right next door to the Convention Centre. It was John’s birthday and a new release pour. The room was jumping.

John was  proud of his Canyonview Chardonnay, his 2016 Merlot, a  2016 Pinot Noir, a Rose made from Merlot and his 2016 Blanc De Blanc,  made from his Pinot.

 

 

 

 

 

I couldn’t get anywhere near Jenny Lee with my microphone as she was being congratulated by a large group of friends all night long.

 

www.giantheadwinery.com

 

 

Stories we are working on:

  • IVSA Pour in Victoria
  • BC Cider Festival. North Vancouver
  • Locals Only – Granville Island
  • Naramata Bench Pours on the Coast
  • Spring releases from OK Falls
  • Matt Sherlock (Lock and Worth/Nichol Vineyards) and Jay Drysdale (Bella) Natural Wines and New Directions

 

 

 

March 31st, 2018 – Parksville Uncorked!

hello

 

Untapped and  Uncorked in Parksville – with special guests!!

 

THE SHOW

 

A truckload of fun. Heading for the 10th annual Parksville on Vancouver Island.

Half of the weekend takes place at the Beach Club Resort and the other half at Tigh Na Mara.

https://www.beachclubbc.com

www.tigh-na-mara.com

10th Annual Parksville Uncorked Wine, Food & Beer Festival

Join us for the 10th Annual Parksville Uncorked : Sip savour, mix and mingle while sampling some of BC’s best:

– The craft brewers, Cider makers  and Spirits gathered at Untapped at The Beach Club Resort on the Thursday
– The Wine Tasting signature gala event, Swirl was  at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre on the Friday.

 

– Orofino and Dirty Laundry winemakers dinners on the Saturday at both resorts.
– and the whole weekend ended, as it should, at  Bubbles & Brunch at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre on the closing  Sunday.

Feature interviews with:

John Weber – Orofino Winery. Owner and Winemaker  (Similkameen Valley)

Mason Spink – Dirty Laundry. Winemaker.   (Summerland)

Joseph Luckhurst –  Business Manager/Leader  Road 13  (Golden Mile Bench Oliver)

Chef Eric Edwards – Executive Chef  (Tigh Na Mara)

 

Also quick chats with:

Chris Silvestri –  Category 12 Brewing  (Victoria)

Dave Paul – Brew master and Owner at Love Shack Libations ( Qualicum)

Love Shack

Dave Woodward – Head Brewer  Mount Arrowsmith Brewing  (Parksville)

Carmen Parry  Dominion Cider  (Summerland)

 

www.dominioncider.com

www.dirtylaundry.ca

www.road13vineyards.com

www.orofinovineyards.com

www.tigh-na-mara.com

www.beachclubbc.com

www.arrowsmithbrewing.com

www.category12beer.com

www.visitparksvillequalicumbeach.com/things-to-do-parksville-uncorked

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

  • IVSA Pour in Victoria
  • BC Cider Festival. North Vancouver
  • Locals Only – Granville Island
  • John Glavina – Giant Head Wines
  • Craig McAllister – Winemaker at La Crema Russian River
  • Gurvinder Bhatia – Edmonton Wine Expert at VanWineFest
  • Naramata Bench Pours on the Coast
  • Spring releases from OK Falls
  • Matt Sherlock (Lock and Worth/Nichol Vineyards) and Jay Drysdale (Bella) Natural Wines and New Directions

March 24th, 2018- Oaxaca City, Mexico!

hello

Heading to The Home of true Mexican Cooking in Oaxaca with Susana Trilling.

 

The SHOW

 

Cheers and welcome to Year 10 of Tasting Room Radio.

You can find the Podcast on iTunes, Airs at 11am Pacific every Saturday at Roundhouse Radio 983 Vancouver.

Alex Chen – Canadian Culinary Championships – Gold Medal Winner

 

Chef Alex Chen wins GoldWe start in Vancouver at the Boulevard Restaurant at The Sutton Place Hotel with Gold Medal Winning Chef Alex Chen.

He’ll be answering the question – How did he do it?  How did he beat the very best chefs in Canada in the Canadian Culinary Championships.

He’s a totally engaging and passionate guest, very much like his cooking.

Alex  was one of 11 chefs who won Gold Medal Plates regional competitions held across the country in 2017 to earn the right to compete in the national championships, which began with a Mystery Wine pairing event on Friday night and continued Saturday with a Black Box competition that allowed chefs just one hour to prepare a dish using seven mystery ingredients.

The two events culminated in Saturday night’s grand finale, where Chen prepared the same signature Parfait of Wild BC Shellfish, ‘Chowder’, Northern Divine Caviar and Bull Kelp ‘Brioche’ — paired with Sea Star Estate Farm and Vineyards’ 2016 Ortega from Pender Island, BC — that earned him top spot at the Gold Medal Plates regional competition in Victoria, BC last October.

Please meet our first guest Chef Alex Chen.  Pure Gold!

www.boulevardvancouver.ca

/blvdyvr on Facebook / @blvdyvr on Twitter and Instagram.

 

Susana Trilling – Seasons of my Heart  –  Oaxaca, Mexico

 

SusanaTrillingOaxaca (Wha-haka) is the home of traditional Mexican cooking. It’s also the epicenter of Mescal and Mole Sauces.

How lucky was I to find a place to sit in the shade in a small courtyard and see her sign right in front of me?

Surely,  here was a perfect guest for the show. A chef and author who discovered the historic centre of true Mexican cooking and never left. Teaching and advocating as she went.

 

 

Check out just a small part of Susana’s personal history.

 

Susana Trilling is a chef, teacher, caterer, author, TV hostess, food consultant and director of Seasons of My Heart Cooking School and Sazon de Mi Corazon S.A. de C.V., producing gourmet Mexican products.

She owned 2 NYC restaurants, a restaurant in Fremantle, Western Australia and has lived in Oaxaca since 1988, where her two sons were born and raised on her ranch outside of the city.

She wrote My Search for the Seventh Mole and Seasons of My Heart; A Culinary Journey through Oaxaca, Mexico to accompany her 13 part PBS series, that ran for 6 years.

 

A renowned authority on Oaxacan cuisine, Susana has filmed and hosted numerous TV programs in addition to her own series including: Two Hot Tamales, MexicoOne Plate at a Time with Rick Bayless A Cooks Tour with Chef Anthony Bourdain, Andrew Zimmern’s  Bizarre FoodsThe Diary of a Foodie, and Jeff Corwin’s series Extreme Cuisine.

 

. She was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Oaxacan International Food and Wine Festival in 2002 and in 2012 was presented with the Espiga de Oro Award for her work promoting Oaxacan cuisine internationally. She has been featured at many Food and Wine and Cacao Festivals and been a celebrity chef at CIA San Antonio’s annual Paella Challenge.

Susana’s company, Sazon de mi Corazon, SA de CV produces the Seasons of My Heart line of gourmet Mexican food products available internationally in both retail and food service presentations.

She is a member of Slow Food, IACP, The Mexican Mycology Association and is currently promoting her newest book, titled  FromMilpa Seed to Salsa, written in collaboration with CEDICAM and others about rural Mixtecan farmers in Oaxaca, their system of growing organically and sustainably and the recipes that result.

 

mole!

 

 

 

Please enjoy this mid-afternoon chat with Susana Trilling. If you get a chance please Google her complete history. It’s fascinating.

 

http://seasonsofmyheart.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oaxaca City is quite simply an amazing city, full of sensational food, extremely friendly people and fantastic history! Go VISIT!

 

Paola ManriquezManager of La Contra  Mexican Wine Store in Oaxaca

 Paola was nervous that her English wasn’t good enough for radio.

I was concerned that I would butcher every label pronunciation.

Somehow we managed to pull it off.

Paola Manriquez

 

We won’t ever see a lot of Mexican wines in Canada. A basic fact of life there is that Tequila has the inside political track and the Government’s attention. Not surprisingly, the Mexican government makes it almost impossible to export or even carry their wines back home with you.

It’s a damn shame because their wines are getting so much better as young winemakers learn their craft in the USA and then return to bring change to the wines back home.

I was delighted to find La Contra open for business and selling only small independent local and regional wines with Ensenada and the Guadalupe Valley leading the way.

 

There are La Contra stores opening across Mexico, so keep an eye out.

 

Calle Gomez Farías 212-B
Colonia Centro C. P. 68000
Oaxaca, Oax.

 

 

Tel. 01 951 5152335 o 5157977
Cel. 9515471082

[email protected]
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[email protected]

Alison Moyes  – Winemaker.  Liquidity Wines (OK Falls)  Wins Gold at Chardonnay du Monde

Liquidity Wines estate-grown 2016 Chardonnay Reserve has been listed as the number one wine in the Top 10 Chardonnays to receive Gold medals at the recent 2018 Chardonnay du Monde Awards.

Alison Moyes

The Awards recognize the world’s best Chardonnays as evaluated by a panel comprised of 300 international experts. This year, 679 wines from 39 countries were tasted by the judges.

Liquidity’s award-winning 2016 Chardonnay Reserve features layered aromas of toasted almond, pear and peach with a subtle whisper of allspice. Complex yet well-balanced, the wine captures flavours of lime zest, pineapple, lemon curd and intense minerality, and leaves a lingering finish on the palate. The wine will be available for purchase in April to Liquidity’s Equity Tasting Club members, followed by Club Liquidity members ($42, plus tax); it will also be available in the winery tasting room in July (while supplies last).

Liquiditywines.com.

Originally from Southern Ontario, Alison moved to Halifax  to attend Dalhousie University and pursue an interest in science, studying Microbiology. During this time, she had the opportunity to work at some of Halifax’s finest restaurants. As her palate developed, she began to consider a career in winemaking and acquired a degree in Oenology & Viticulture from Brock University.

Following several seasons working in the Niagara region, the Okanagan beckoned. Alison brings experience from two top wineries in the Okanagan, having worked under Pascal Madevon at Osoyoos Larose and as Winemaker for Stoneboat Vineyards for five years.

The big surprise is that although she obviously can craft a world class Chardonnay, Alison at heart is a 100% Pinot Head.

When the Chard runs out,  as it certainly will, I urge you to taste the Pinot Noirs.

And the Viognier and Pinot Gris.  OK… just try everything!

www.liquiditywines.com

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Parksville Unplugged and Untapped

IVSA Pour in Victoria

John Weber  (Orofino)

Joe Luckhurst (Road 13)

BC Cider Festival. North Vancouver

Locals Only – Granville Island

John Glavina – Giant Head Wines

Craig McAllister – Winemaker at La Crema Russian River

Gurvinder Bhatia – Edmonton Wine Expert ay VanWineFest

Naramata Bench Pours on the Coast

Spring releases from OK Falls