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This special starts back in Vancouver with a quick chat with Sebastian LeGoff, Service and Wine Director at Cactus Club Cafes. Until April 30 – a dollar from every desert goes to Make-A-Wish. We just wanted to remind you as the days are flying by. And then…it’s off to Argentina and an All-Star line-up. Steven Spurrier, DJ Kearney, Paul Hobbs and  Bruce Schoenfeld 

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Spectacular Argentina

THE SHOW When we last left our media bus it was leaving Patagonia and head for the airport and a flight to Mendoza. The Crown Jewel of Argentina. The first voice you hear will be that of our Host. Magdalena Pesce from Wines of Argentina. www.winesofargentina.org She reminds us of Canada’s place in the World of Wine. Almost 10% of all Argentine wine sales happen here. We LIKE this wine, this place and these people. Then it’s off to three character people and three wonderful wineries Jose Manuel Ortega – O Fournier. http://www.ofournier.com/ Candid, forthright, direct, focused, unreserved: all these describe both him and his wines. All based in one of the most striking wineries anywhere. Roberto Timms – Deumayen Wines  http://www.bodegasdeumayen.com.ar/

Where to begin. Three high profile businessmen including Roberto  created this new winery. They then created a label called Trez, named after the partners initials. Trez makes  a reserve Malbec that picked up  92 Points from Rob. Parkers website. Deumayen is pronounced Dayo-Mahgen. They also release a Petit Trez and distribute a Tokaj from Hungary. [divider] Pablo Cuneo – Ruca Malen


Ruca Malén’s dream began in 1998, when Jean Pierre Thibaud left the chairmanship of Bodegas Chandon in Argentina after 10 years of service. He met Jacques Louis de Montalembert who had also forged an outstanding career in the winemaking industry in his hometown, Burgundy and both men soon discovered that they shared the same dream: to start their own winery in Mendoza. The result was Ruca Malén; a winemaker’s paradise at the foot of the Andes range. Bodega Ruca Malén can be defined by three key words: style, elegance and distinction. The Director pf the winery and lead enologist is our guest.. Pablo Cuneo www.bodegarucamalen.com     Nadia Fournier – Montreal Journalist Guide du Vin.  French version of Wine Align

There were four wine journalists on this trip. Nadia arrived from Montreal and brought with her a bright, fresh approach to wine writing. This interview happened in the back on a taxi. Thus the various noises and rumbles. Salute!! https://twitter.com/NadiaFournier     [divider] Three of the judges.  DJ Kearney – Judge and Wine Expert. Vancouver.   Wine Educator, straight shooter, friend.

Deej gives us a overview of Canada’s relationship with Argentina’s wines. https://www.internationalsommelier.com/services/dj_kearney   Steven Spurrier – Consultant Editor Decanter Magazine

Famous the World over for being the man who created the Paris Tasting of 1976 between the wines of France and the wines of California. When the Yanks walked away with the top prizes it signaled to the rest of the wine world that indeed you can make great wines in places OTHER than France. The film Bottleshock is loosely based – very loosely – on this moment in time. Mr Spurrier was judging on behalf of Decanter magazine.  www.decanter.com   Bruce Schoenfeld – Wine and Spirits Editor  Travel and Leisure Magazine. Over 1 Million readers follow Bruce’s writing.

There’s a lot of opinion and information in this interview. A wonderful overview of Argentina and its wines. http://www.travelandleisure.com/       [divider] And finally… Paul Hobbs – Vina Cobos /  Paul Hobbs Wines. http://www.paulhobbsimports.com/

Paul Hobbs was already well on his way to being one of California’s top wines when he accepted an invitation to visit Chile and Argentina. In Paul’s words “ Over the twenty years that I have been working in South America, I have had the thrill of helping spark an Argentine winemaking revolution that has brought worldwide attention and prestige to the region. As a consultant, I have seen this trailblazing spirit take root in other South American countries, resulting in improved quality and the emergence of a variety of new and intriguing winemaking ventures.”   And that’s where we leave this Argentine Special part 2.  I’m thinking there may be even more interviews hidden within all we did while there. When I find those stories..I’ll pass them along.   My thanks to Wines of Argentina, Dana Lee and Monica Ralphs in Canada for their support.   
http://www.winesofargentina.org/noticias/ver/2014/02/22/argentina-wine-awards-2014-el-jurado-selecciono-los-mejores-vinos-argentinos/

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

The wineries of Okanagan Falls pour through Vancouver. Bill Jones and the Deerholme Foraging Book Wines for Spring from Daenna van Mulligen – The Wine Diva        

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Confused over BC wine laws? Join the Club.
We talk to lawyer Mark Hicken. John Clerides and The Wine Diva.
We talk to one of the finest creative  chefs in the World.  Ferran Adrian from Spain’s El Bulli.
I’m joined at Barbara Jo’s Books to Cooks by Chefs Vikram Vij and Quang Dang.
We talk to Chris Turyk of Cowichan Valley’s  Unsworth Vineyards.
James Cambridge from the Frazer Valleys Backyard Vineyards
Daniel Bontorin from The Okanagan’s only Rose specialty house  Seven Directions
And as a very special guest – Matt “Blue Buck” Sekeres from TEAM 1040 Vancouver.

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THE SHOW

Matt  Sekeres hosts  the mid-day show on Vancouver’s Team 1040. As such, he’s opinionated, influential and entertaining.

We talk sports of course but also his Mom, the most memorable single broadcasting  day he could remember, also  wine and the fact that he’s a flat out Blue Buck beer man  through and through.
www.team1040.ca
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Yes, the wine laws are slowly changing in British Columbia but so is the weather. Actually the weather is waaaay ahead.
Some of the dumbest bureaucrats in Canada are controlling most  of the aspects of food, wine, beer, spirits and lifestyle in BC.
For example..one of the changes involved wine available at grocery stores..except they can’t be within 1 km of an existing licence. Which means only two stores qualify. Nice going. What a gong show.
CBC radio gathered a panel and listeners last week to talk about all the elements in play here.
I went backstage and talked to
Daenna van Mulligen – The Wine Diva  www.winediva.ca
 

Mark Hicken – Vintage Law Group and Modernise Wine  BC   www.vintagelaw.com  
John Clerides – Marquis Wine Cellar. Also Modernise Wine BC   www.marquis-wines.com
www.modernizewine.ca
 
 
If you’re looking for clarify amid the confusion please join us.
[divider]
On a recent Sunday morning I attended a book-signing with Ferran Adrià, of elBulli, widely regarded as the world’s best restaurant until its closure in 2011.  We were gathered to  celebrate his new collection of books: elBulli 2005-2011: A Journey Inside the Creative Process of the World’s Greatest Chef. 
Raw Interview Here:


The chef is  credited with revolutionizing the culinary landscape and widely lauded as one of the most inventive gastronomic pioneers of the 21st century was in  North America to promote his new cookbook.
The Cala Montjoi restaurant in northern Spain snagged the title of world’s best restaurant five times by editors and experts at Restaurant magazine, and at its height received more than two million reservation requests a year for 8,000 available seats.
ElBulli shuttered in 2011, a legend in culinary mythology.
 
When I walked into Barbara Jo’s Books to Cooks in Kitsilano Ferran was in a great conversation with chefs  Vikram Vij and Quang Dang.
I just turned on the recorder and had at it.
Questions and answers had to be translated from Spanish to English and back again but the message did get through.
For those of us who never tasted the man’s culinary genius..this may be as close as we get.
FYI – I recorded his talk to the room..at just over an hour. You can listen to this exclusive audio. Please  find it posted on our website.
www.elbulli.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferran_Adri%C3%A0
 
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Three very entertaining guests finish off the show.
Chris Turyk, Brand Ambassador for Cowichan Valley winery – Unsworth!! The maker of one of the best Rose in Canada.

They’re growing by leaps and bounds..and it’s important to stay in touch with this  fine new winery.
HOW they got so good so quickly is a story that I’ll be following.
[divider]
Speaking of Rose…

Jason Priestley

 
6-7  years ago Jason Priestley and myself shot Year One of our wine show  Hollywood and Vines TV in the South Okanagan.
We made it a priority to visit Le Vieux Pin. We had been charmed by the GM Tony Buree and by their wines.
The highlight was meeting winemakers James Cambridge and Daniel Bontorin who poured us a Rose of such class, we knew the Okanagan had “arrived”.

Years later I decided to find out where James and Daniel had gotten to.
James is the winemaker at Backyard Vineyards in the Frazer valley. www.backyardvineyards.ca
 
 

…and Daniel has his own label – Seven Directions – based at Volcanic Hills in West Kelowna.  www.sevendirectionswine.ca
Daniel’s only making one style of wine – ROSE.  And you have to watch for it..because there’s less than 100 cases this year.
So. Two winemakers to keep an eye on..watch for their work. It’s the future in a glass.
 

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NEXT WEEK

  
Part Two of our Argentina Tour.
We’ll travel and talk to the winemakers in Patagonia and Mendoza. Then finish at the Argentine Wine Awards with
Steve Spurrier, Paul Hobbs, DJ Kearney and many many more.
 
 
 

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The British Open takes place this weekend. Our first guest is golfing legend Dick Zokol, Director of Golf Operations at BC’s Predator Ridge. Right in the middle of BC wine country Daenna van Mulligen – The Wine Diva – has part 2 of her Summer BBQ wines. Jim Cuddy (Jim Cuddy band/Blue Rodeo) returns to the show. Talking his wild summer and Ontario wines. Spencer Massey the man behind the wonderful wines of Clos du Soleil And we finish with the one and only Vikram Vij..we find the celebrated West Coast chef..working the streets in front of his new food truck.

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THE SHOW

Dick Zokol It’s the weekend of the British Open and we wanted a golfer to kick off the show. Not just any golfer. We loved the idea of asking Dick Zokol.  Canadian golfing legend and director of Golf at BC’s Predator Ridge..located in BC’s wine country.

Yes, we talk golf, the Brit Open and even Tiger’s game. Oh yeah..we do talk local wines. http://www.predatorridge.com/
 
 
 
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Are you looking for new wine? Are you looking for wines that have been tasted by The Wine Diva and approved for pairing with anything you BBQ this Summer? Its Part Two of her latest list and As always, Daenna van Mulligen brings The Wine Diva with her. 
Daenna Van Mulligen

 
21. Frescobaldi ‘Pietraregia dell’Ammiraglia’ Riserva Morellino di Scansano Italy, 2008 – (BC – $27.99 )
22. Fuse Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley California, 2009 – (BC – $39.99 )
23. Graham Beck ‘The Game Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Robertson South Africa, 2009 – (BC – $19.99 )
24. Maggio Family Vineyards Petite Sirah, Lodi California, 2009 – (BC – $18.99 )
25. Masi Campofiorin Rosso del Veronese, Veneto Italy, 2008 – (BC – $19.99 )
26. Nederburg ‘Winemaster’s Reserve’ Shiraz, Western Cape South Africa, 2009 – (BC – $12.99 )
27. Quails’ Gate Merlot, Okanagan Valley, 2009 – (BC – $24.99 ; Winery – $24.99 )
28. Rodney Strong ‘Knotty Vines’ Zinfandel, Northern Sonoma California, 2009 – (AB – $16.00 + price will vary; BC – $23.99 ; ON – $22.95 ; Yukon – $25.90 )
29. Roodeberg Western Cape South Africa, 2010 – (BC – $11.99 )
30. Sandhill Cabernet~Merlot, Okanagan Valley BC, 2009 – (BC – $19.99 )
31. Santa Rita Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley Chile, 2008 – (BC – $15.99 ; AB – $12.00 + price will vary; ON – $13.95 ; Widely Available – $13.00 to $16 across Canada)
32. Secco~Bertani Ripasso Valpolicella Valpantena, Veneto Italy, 2009 – (BC – $21.99 )
33. Skulls Shiraz, South Australia, 2008 – (BC – $19.99 )
34. Tenuta Guado Al Tasso ‘Il Bruciato’ DOC Bolgheri, Tuscany Italy, 2008 – (Quebec – $27.95 ; AB – $20.00 + price will vary; BC – $34.99 )
35. Terra Andina Carmenere~Syrah, Central Valle Chile, 2010 – (BC Private Wine Stores – $9.00 + price will vary; AB – $7.00 + price will vary)
36. Terre degli Svevi ‘Re Manfredi’ Aglianico del Vulture DOC Basiliicata Italy, 2007 – (BC – $19.99 )
37. The Grinder Pinotage, Western Cape South Africa, 2010 – (BC – $14.99 )
38. Tolaini Al Passo, Tuscany Italy, 2007 – (BC – $29.99 )
39. Tscharke Barossa Gold Shiraz, Barossa Valley Australia, 2010 – (BC – $19.99 )
40. Wine Men of Gotham Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia, 2008 – (BC Private Wine Stores – $13.99 )
41. Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz~Cabernet, Robe Mount Benson Australia, 2009 – (BC Private Wine Stores – $37.00 + price will vary; ON – $34.95 )
www.winediva.ca
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Jim Cuddy Love that Jim Cuddy. Musician. Singer/Songwriter, Father, Hockey Player and wine drinker and collector. Blue Rodeo has just been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. They’re touring the summer away. And so is The Jim Cuddy Band, Jim’s side project. (They’re at Interstellar Rodeo next weekend) As I said at the beginning. Love that Jim Cuddy. Love his music and Love talking to him. Enjoy!! www.bluerodeo.com www.jimcuddy.com

 
 
 
 
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Clos du Soleil is a small artisan winery and estate vineyard on the South Similkameen Valley Upper Bench, one of the newest, most exciting emerging appellations in Canadian wine.

 
They produce premium quality wines in a Bordeaux style ! The Clos du Soleil team includes celebrated Canadian winemaker Ann Sperling and vineyard manager Jean-Felix Boulais, who have a passion for sustainable viticulture using both organic and biodynamic practices. Since its first yield in 2006, the limited-quantity Clos du Soleil wines continue to debut with startling accolades.
During his tasting and pouring visit to Vancouver we had a chance to sit and get the whole story from Team Leader Spencer massey. www.closdusoleil.ca
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Vikram Vij and his street cart … and finally Vikram Vij works the streets of Vancouver.

Vikram Vij with truck

 
 
He’s one of the most successful culinary personalities in Canada and yet he’s working the front of house at his new food truck on Georgia Street. Wait till you hear the man work the streets. The truck is called Vij’s Railway Express. It features the food you find in India’s bustling railway Stations.  Each week, it’ll be the food of another destination. One week Bombay, another Delhi and another might be Calcutta!! Sounds like fun right?
 
 

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