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James Nevison returns with the 10^th edition of Had A Glass/Top 100 wines Under $20
Daenna van Mulligen/The Wine Diva has last minute Wine Gifts..
Yew Chef Ned Bell wins Chef of the Year from his peers.
Hawksworth chef du cuisine Kristian Eligh takes the Golden Medal Plates Competition  in Victoria .

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THE SHOW

 James Nevison/Had a Glass 2015  Top 100 wines under $20  

James Nevison’s annual,  easy to read  guide for everyday wine is back for its 10^th year, with the top 100 wallet-friendly wines for the year ahead.
James will find you the very best value for money across white, pink, red, sparkling and fortified wines.
$10 wines that taste like they’re $30, and $20 bottles that will knock your socks off! Each wine has a full page review, and its label and barcode are included for easy reference at the liquor store. And, for the first time this year, the book contains delicious recipes for wine cocktails. Also included:
• How to taste wine (as opposed to simply drink wine!): James’s patented Four Step Process
• How to buy wine: advice on how to seek out value in the liquor store.
• Food and Wine: pairings covering all the major food groups
 • The Splurge: for life’s moments that trump the bottom line!
With Had a Glass 2015 in hand, you’re guaranteed to find great tasting wines that are also great value.

 
 
 
 
 
 
www.hadaglass.com
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Chef Ned Bell/  Executive Chef Yew Seafood and Bar Four Seasons Vancouver.
 Chef Ned Bell has been named Chef of the Year at the 27th Annual Pinnacle Awards. The awards are presented by publications Foodservice and Hospitality and Hotelier magazines.

Ned earned the award for his “profound impact on how chefs and Canadian consumers perceive seafood.” In a follow up feature in the December 2014 issue of Foodservice and Hospitality, Bell is described as a “connector.” More specifically, he is a “curious, self-confident, sociable and energetic person with a special gift of bringing people together” all in the name of enjoying great food and good conversation in a way that looks after the environment.
 
Bell’s advocacy against overfishing and tireless promotion of identifying and sourcing sustainable seafood is in play every day in his role as Executive Chef at YEW seafood + bar, one of the city’s hottest tables, and Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver. Bell led the property to become Canada’s first luxury hotel to be 100 percent Ocean Wise certified.
 
The athletic and outgoing chef took his commitment to the next level in 2014 when he founded Chefs for Oceans, a grassroots movement designed to raise awareness for the importance of sourcing, serving and eating sustainable seafood. From July through September, Bell hopped on his bike and rode more than 8,700 kilometres (5,400 miles) from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Vancouver, British Columbia on a 72-day journey that included 24 special events with like-minded chefs and supporters across the country.

TRR welcomes back to the show – our pal Ned Bell.
http://www.fourseasons.com/vancouver/dining/lounges/yew_bar/
www.chefsforoceans.com
http://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/yew-seafood-bar-four-seasons-hotel-vancouver-executive-chef-ned-bell-wins-chef-year-foodservice-hospitality-magazines-annual-pinnacle-awards/
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Daenna Van Mulligen/The Wine Diva – Great Wine Gifts

As Daenna says at www.winediva.ca
Who needs more stuff?
There are no concerns about getting the wrong size or if the recipient even has room for another chachka…
A great bottle of wine will always be appreciated. It’s consumable and the rest recyclable.
Give the gift of wine!  
 
 
Painted Rock Cabernet Sauvignon, Okanagan Valley $40.00

2. Luis Segundo Correas ‘Valle Las Acequias’ Malbec Oak, Mendoza Argentina $22.99
3. Taylor Fladgate Fine White Port, Douro Portugal $21.99
4. Fonseca Porto Bin No. 27 Reserve, Douro Portugal $24.99
5. Serafino Shiraz, McLaren Vale Australia $28.00
6. Laurenz und Sophie ‘Singing’ Gruner Veltliner, Austria $21.99
7. Masi Campofiorin Rosso del Veronese IGT, Veneto Italy $19.99
8. Laughing Stock ‘Portfolio’ Okanagan Valley BC $45.00
9. Caymus Vineyards ’40th Anniversary’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley California $72.00
10. Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Reserve Brut Okanagan Valley BC $40.00
11. Tommasi Viticoltori ‘Le Prunee’ Merlot Della Venezie, Veneto Italy $19.99
12. Cave de Rasteau ‘La Domeliere’ Rasteau, Rhone Valley France $21.99
13. Jean-Claude Boisset Bourgogne Pinot Noir ‘Les Ursulines’, France $24.99
14. Maison des Bulliats Gamay Regnie Grand Cru, Beaujolais France $21.99
15. Quails’ Gate Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley $24.99
16. Bodega Beronia Reserva, Rioja Spain $24.99
17. Perrier~Jouet ‘Belle Epoque’ Brut Champagne, France $199.99
18. William Fevre ‘Champs Royaux’, Chablis France $31.99
19. Chateau de Sancerre ‘Sancerre’ Loire Valley, France $29.99
20. Barone di Valforte Montepulciano d’Abbruzzo, Italy $19.99
21. Gonzalez Byass ‘Noe’ VORS Aged 30 Years Pedro Ximenez, Jerez Spain $39.99
22. Antinori ‘Peppoli’, DOCG Chianti Classico, Tuscany Italy $24.99
23. Negretti DOC Nebbiolo d’Alba, La Morra Piedmont Italy $39.99
24. JoieFarm ‘A Noble Blend’, Okanagan Valley BC $24.00
25. Tormaresca ‘Trentangeli’ Castel del Monte, Puglia Italy $19.99
26. Yalumba ‘Patchwork’ Shiraz, Barossa Valley, South Australia $25.99
27. Philippe Cambie ‘Les Halos de Jupiter’ Cotes du Rhone, France $23.99
28. Stefano Farina ‘La Ginestra’ Chianti, Tuscany Italy $19.99
29. Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis 1er Cru Montmain, Burgundy France $39.99
30. Longview ‘Yakka’ Shiraz, Adelaide Hills Australia $30.00
31. Marchesi de Frescobaldi ‘Tenuta di Castiglioni’ Toscana Italy $26.99
32. Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Reserve Pinot Noir, Okangan Valley BC $36.00
33. Clos du Soleil ‘Signature’, British Columbia $40.00
34. Rocland Estate ‘Chocolate Box – Dark Chocolate’ Shiraz, Barossa Valley Australia $24.99

www.winediva.ca
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Kristian Eligh.  Chef du Cuisine Hawksworth in Vancouver.  

Hawksworth Restaurant’s Chef de Cuisine Kristian Eligh proved his culinary prowess , taking home the gold award at the Victoria 2014 Gold Medal Plates competition held at the Victoria Convention Centre. Chef Eligh went head to head with eight of the province’s finest chefs at the prestigious culinary competition and will now go on to compete at the Canadian Culinary Championships, the Gold Medal Plates Finale, in Kelowna on February 6 and 7, 2015.
Chef Eligh wowed the judges and a crowd of hundreds with his dish of confit pork neck, granny smith apple, puffed avonlea cheddar, mâche paired with Meyer Family Vineyards 2012 Tribute Series Chardonnay ‘Kelly Hrudey’ Old Main Road Vineyard.
Ultimately, Chef Kristian Eligh’s dish was simple but vivid with a great wine match, which gave him an edge over his competitors.
Proceeds from Gold Medal Plates go to the Canadian Olympic Foundation, supporting programs that further Canadian high-performance athletes’ pursuit of excellence on the world stage – programs such as Own The Podium and COC’s Athlete Excellence Fund.
Each dish was judged out of 100 points, based on visual presentation (20%), texture (20%), taste (30%), wine compatibility (10%), originality (10%) and wow factor (10%).
Website: www.hawksworthrestaurant.com
http://myvancity.ca/2014/10/31/hawksworth-restaurants-chef-de-cuisine-kristian-eligh-wins-b-c-s-2014-gold-medal/
 

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Argentina in an Hour
New Zealand in an Hour
The Wine Diva has Bubbles for New Years
Jim Cuddy
Tom Cochrane
Bruce McCulloch
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Vikram Vij takes to the streets.   The Wine Diva brings a serious year end wine list,  her Top 50 wines over $20 and 90 points or better.
How does a family from New Jersey move to California  and become one of the best wine making families in Sonoma?   Chris Benziger guests.
Wine Expert Mireille Sauve from The Wine Umbrella brings great background on Languedoc wines!

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 THE SHOW

 Vikram Vij – 
Born in India, Vikram left home at the age of 20 to begin his culinary journey abroad. Vikram immigrated to Alberta in 1989 and started work at the Banff Springs Hotel.

A certified sommelier, Vikram opened his first restaurant, Vij’s, in Vancouver in 1994 to great success. A strict no-reservations policy has led to a nightly line-up outside the restaurant doors. New York  Times food writer Mark Bittman said Vij’s was “easily among the finest Indian restaurants in the world.”  He now operates three restaurants with more in the works  and a gourmet food truck in the Greater Vancouver area, and his line of packaged curries is available at grocery stores across the country. The author of two best-selling cookbooks, he won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2001 and is a judge on Food Network’s Top Chef Canada and Chopped Canada as well as CBC’s Recipe to Riches.  He’s one of the Dragon’s Den hosts.  Thing is we don’t have enough space for his awards..books, deals and press articles but we will say he was just awarded  Surrey’s Businessperson  of the Year.
It’s the Vij’s Railway Express food truck we’re interested in this week.. we find this culinary celebrity working Georgia street in front of his truck..not just shaking hands but WORKING THE STREETS..Hard core Vikram!
http://www.vijs.ca/
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 The Wine Diva  

Deanna van Mulligen loves her wines..She is after all The Wine Diva, with an incredibly popular website www.WineDiva.ca
She loves her wines and wine lists.
This week’s list is a beauty.  It’s the Wine Diva Best of 2014 Over $20.00 and 90 points or better.
She’s tasted well over a 1000 wines this year..these are the best of the bunch!!
 
 
WineDiva, Wine List – TOP 50 $20+ 2014
 Catena ‘High Mountain Vines’ Malbec, Mendoza Argentina $22.99

2. Frontaura ‘Nexus One’, Ribera Del Duero Spain $24.95
3. Plume Chardonnay, Napa Valley California $30.00
4. Vignetti Zabu ‘Il Passo’ Nerello Mascalese~Nero d’Avola, Sicily Italy $22.99
5. Tommasi Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico DOC, Veneto Italy $59.99
6. Black Sage Vineyard Zinfandel, Okanagan Valley BC $23.99
7. Poplar Grove Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley BC $35.00
8. Ferrari~Carano Fume Blanc, Sonoma County California $25.99
9. Cantina di Negrar Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Veneto Italy $39.99
10. Tenuta Dell’ Ornellaia LeVolte, Tuscany Italy $34.99
11. Laughing Stock ‘Portfolio’ Okanagan Valley BC $45.00
12. Painted Rock Syrah, Okanagan Valley BC $40.00
13. Caymus Vineyards ’40th Anniversary’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley California $72.00
14. Bodega Beronia Reserva, Rioja Spain $24.99
15. Moon Curser ‘Afraid of the Dark’, Okanagan Valley BC $22.00
16. Cassini Cellars ‘The Godfather’, Okanagan Valley BC N/A
17. Gonzalez Byass ‘Noe’ VORS Aged 30 Years Pedro Ximenez, Jerez Spain $39.99
18. Negretti DOC Nebbiolo d’Alba, La Morra Piedmont Italy $39.99
19. Benjamin Bridge Method Classique Brut Reserve, Gaspereau Valley, Nova Scotia $49.99
20. Wolf Blass ‘Gold Label’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley Australia $27.00
21. Marchesi de Frescobaldi ‘Tenuta di Castiglioni’ Toscana Italy $26.99
22. Black Cloud ‘Altostratus’ Pinot Noir, Okanagan Falls BC $35.00
23. Meyer Family Vineyards ‘Micro Cuvee’ Chardonnay, Naramata Bench, BC $65.00
24. Road 13 ‘Jackpot’ Viognier~Roussanne~Marsanne, Okanagan Valley BC $30.00
25. Belle Glos Pinot Noir ‘Las Alturas Vineyard’, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, Calif. $43.95
26. Haywire ‘Canyonview Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Okangan Valley $35.00
27. Sandhill ‘Small Lots Program’ Syrah, Phantom Creek Vineyard, Okanagan Valley BC $40.00

 www.winediva.ca
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Chris Benziger – Sonoma

Still in high school when the Benziger family moved from White Plains, Chris finished his senior year in wine country. He went on to earn a degree in marketing from the University of San Francisco while spending summers, weekends and every spare moment working at the winery. He officially joined the Benziger Family Winery in 1993 as a Brand Manager.
In addition to sales responsibilities, Chris also oversees the home ranch and its many farm related duties, i.e. shepherding the Benziger flock of sheep and cows, tending to the estate vegetable and fruit trees, and producing the Biodynamic preparations for all our vineyards. Chris feels that the only way to communicate the quality of the wines he promotes is by having the soil from the vineyard in which he’s endorsing under his nails. The best impression a winemaker can leave on his wines are his footprints in the vineyards.
 

 
 
 
Representing the other Benzigers..Mike, Joe, Kathy and  Bob ..we welcome back Chris Benziger..Shepherd and stand up guy!
http://www.benziger.com/
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Mirelle Sauve – Sommelier and co-founder of The Wine Umbrella
Perhaps one of the most overlooked wine regions in France is Languedoc.
Surprising considering it is the single biggest wine producing region in the world, being responsible for more than a third of France’s total wine production. As recently as 2001, the region produced more wine than the entire United States.
It hasn’t always been good times in Southern France..there was a enough wine surplus to create “Lakes of wine”
New producers and new wineries are changing the region..all for the better.
One of the best Langedoc experts is Mirelle Sauve from Vancouver’s Wine Umbrella.  

Mireille Sauve
The Wine Umbrella is a collection of professionals who leverage each other’s strengths to promote the enjoyment of great wines in Western Canada.
Mireille Sauvé leads the pack of pedigreed wine pros, her background being that of a Sommelier, wine writer and educator with an unstoppable thirst to bring delicious wines to the masses.
www.thewineumbrella.com

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 STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Ned Bell wins Chef of the year in Toronto
KRISTIAN ELIGH..Gold Medal Chef wins in BC.
The Wine Diva with last minute Wine Gifts

hello

 

The Pride of Newfoundland Alan Doyle kicks off the show.

Then stories on two remarkable Bordeaux blends from the South Okanagan..

The Iconic Osoyoos Larose and the newest blend  that wishes to be World Class –  One Faith.

Guests include  Mathieu Mercier, Harry McWatters, Bill Lui, Anne Vawter and Dick Cleave. 

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THE SHOW

 Alan Doyle is fully in the Family Business. That business is music.

That’s what The Doyle’s of Petty Harbour Nfld are known for.

We know Alan from his voice and songs from Great Big Sea and his  solo work.

Now comes Alan Doyle..the  Book!! It’s called Where I Belong.

It’s such a wonderful read..all about growing up in Petty Harbour where any new face stood out and there seemed to be no secrets in the community.

The Doyle’s had no furniture, beds, bathrooms, hot water BUT they had a Piano, which Alan promptly broke.

And running out of heating oil in the Winter was cause for a Out Of Oil Party.

We’ll talk about some of the characters who shaped his World and then  a wine story..a very expensive bottle that belonged to his friend Russell Crowe and Alan’s need for a glass or two.

http://alandoyle.ca/

Listen to Raw Interview here:

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Two Bordeaux Blends from the Okanagan  Osoyoos LaRose and the new One Faith

 

The invitation said One Faith – a new icon in the Okanagan Valley. A Bordeaux blend to stand alongside other greats.

The names involved are very impressive.

Bill Lui Winn Choi – a wealthy true wine fan..visited and studied all 5 Grand Cru Vineyards in France and was determined to find a vineyard in BC to replicate Bordeaux.

He found his vineyard and local knowledge in two legends Harry McWatters and  Viticulturalist Richard Cleave.

What was missing was a winemaker with the chops to make this blend..Bill Lui found Anne Vawler in Napa.

We’re talking to all four.

Just a note:   The Richard Cleave interview is from a year ago and deals briefly with the McWatters vineyard that he planted. Those vines are included in One Faith. We also talk about the Okanagan and its future. When it comes to BC vineyards – Dicks The Man!!

www.onefaithvineyards.com

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Its fair to say that one of the  single most popular Bordeaux blends out of BC is Osoyoos LaRose.

What began as a grand experiment has taken its place as one of the best in Canada.

The winemaker of record for many years was Pascal Madevon, a veteran French winemaker.

He brought charm and passion to the Okanagan and has moved on.

Our guest is his replacement Mathieu Mercier.

 

Mathieu was born in 1988 in Cognac to a family of cognac producers. He has degrees in viticulture and enology from two of Bordeaux’s leading universities.

 

He  spent some time in Chile where he worked for Don Melchor, the premium winery of Concha y Toro,”

Then he worked in Bordeaux for André Lurton at Château La Louvière and Château de Rochemorin.  Then to California where he worked in 2010 for Swanson Winery in Napa. He went back in 2012 making wine for Cain Vineyard and Winery in St. Helena.

 

We welcome Mathieu to BC and Tasting Room Radio.  www.osoyooslarose.com

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Looking for Holiday gifts..

The Wine Diva has a bag of lists…

Bruce McCulloch from Kids in the Hall

World Peace through soup