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It’s part three of our 2014 Tour of New Zealand.

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THE SHOW

in March of 2014 Tasting Room Radio was invited to tour New Zealand and closely examine the sustainability programs in effect.

Part One – we started in Auckland and then moved off shore to Weiheke Island\
Then off to Napier and Hawkes Bay.
Part Two – because there are so many stories in and around Hawkes Bay we started there and then found our way to Nelson on the South Island and a chance to exchange stories and history with the local Maori.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Part Three (this show) starts in Marlborough..World Famous for its Sauvignon Blanc and now Pinot Noir.
SPY VALLEY – so named because There’s a large satellite monitoring centre sharing land with the wineries.
Spy Valley are described as the epitome of New Zealand sustainable wines.
YEALANDS – You want Character, you want baby goats? How about a visit to one. Of NZ most successful organic wineries Yealands.

Named after the character owner Pete Yealands.
SERESIN –
Michael Seresin is one of those rare people who has managed to make a name for himself in two quite distinct fields: filmmaking and wine.
His first career was as a cinematographer: born in Wellington, at the foot of New Zealand’s north Island, he left New Zealand in 1966 to forge a successful career in the movies, which he continues to this day.

He’s famous for the nine films he’s made with British director Allan Parker, as well as working with Alfonso Cuaron on the third Harry Potter film, The Prisoner of Azkabhan.
Seresin began his Marlborough winery in 1992, and this estate is far from being a vanity project, or a plaything for a wealthy retiree. Seresin is a serious player in Marlborough, and quite early on he decided he wanted to go against the grain and farm organically. He’s now working with biodynamics, too, for part of his vineyard management.
 

BRANCOTT and STONELEIGH. 

Two of the biggest wineries in all of NZ and totally committed to sustainability.

Sauv Blancs, Chardonneys, Pinot Noir Rose and Pinot Noir..all between $16/$20.

Brancott is releasing a flight of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris at 9% alcohol.

Jamie Marfell is Winemaker and Patrick Materman is Chief Winemker.

 
 
STAETELANDT –  Dorien Vermaas  Co-Founder
While Ruud is hands on in the winery, Dorien has had her finger on the pulse of the marketing / sales of Staete Landt Wines since the beginning. Her background as a marketing manager in larger companies and her love for wine has certainly given her the edge when it comes to understanding this intricate side of the business.

 
 
 
 
 
Her bright and bubbly personality are a true asset to the company.  Along with Ruud, her philosophy is to produce wines of character and integrity – words that sum up her attitude to all she has done for Staete Landt Wines 
Charlie Halliday – Viticulturist
As a youngster, Marlborough born Charlie earned pocket money working in the very first vineyards to appear on the landscape of the region. Little did he know back then, that the wine industry would become his passion and viticulture would be his career. Initially he was helping out Ruud in the development of the vineyard – as a contract worker. But it didn’t take him long to realise that Staete Landt was on to something special. When offered the chance to take on the viticultural responsibilities he jumped at it.

 
 
 
 
 
 

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

• Jason Priestley
• Adam Cohen
• Cowichan Valley

 

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What a great line up!

Canucks GM Jim Benning. New Coach Willie Desjardin, VP Laurence Gilman, Dan Hamhuis and former Canuck and co-founder of the event Willie Mitchell.
Special Guest Noah Morantz,  Canucks Autism Network. All at the West Coast Fishing Club. 

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 The SHOW  

It’s the 9^th annual CAN Fishing for Kids tournament at the West Coast Fishing Club. Haida Gwaii.
First prize $200,000.  

This is a very personal event as Paolo Aquilini, the owner of the Canucks has an autistic  son  Christian,  who joined us on this trip. (He had the 4^th or 5^th best salmon on the first day)

Paolo could not believe many years ago  that there was no support or recognition for Autism in BC and he  kept pushing the boundaries until the Government & Health Community decided to get on board and do something.
The Fishing For Kids West Coast Fishing Club Tournament has
been a driving force behind the growth and development
of the Canucks Autism Network (CAN) since 2009. The
remarkable funds raised at this premier charity event have
enabled them  to introduce new programs, welcome new
families, and offer our adapted programs to even more
communities throughout British Columbia.

 
 
 
Canucks Autism Network has expanded in many ways
since the organization’s inception in 2008 and the Fishing
for Kids Tournament continues to propel CAN down this
exciting road of growth. This top-notch fishing tournament
has not only supported them  in their  mission to provide high
quality programming, it has made our dream of building a
CAN training hub an achievable goal.
It is difficult to put into words the significance of the Fishing
For Kids Tournament and the incredible impact it has had
on so many lives. They strongly believe in the work that they
do and are immeasurably grateful to the event participants,
organizers, and sponsors for their part in enriching the lives
of families affected by autism in BC.
 

Big Thanks to ALL at West Coast Fishing Club..(a big cut above.)
 
 
 
 
Courtney Hatfield
Tom Cochrane,  Ken Greer and road crew
Rosewood Hotel.
David Hawksworth
Doug Olive/Rob Giroux  Ritchie Bros Auctioneers.
Brian Legge/Terry Cowan  WCFC
Chef Shaun Snelling WCFC
Chris Brumwell  Canucks

• westcoastfishingclub.com
• canucksautism.ca
• www.canucks.nhl.com  
• tomcochrane.com
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Stories we are working on:

 
 

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The Wine Diva says The Endless Summer can be stretched with very special wines..R U a Believer??
John Schreiner, The Dean of Canada’s Wine writers releases the 5^th edition of Okanagan Wine Tour Guide. Jonathan Maltus makes 100 Pt wines in St Emilion plus Rock and Roll Wines at World’s End in Napa. Chef Ned Bell checks in from Alberta from the Chefs for Oceans tour.

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 THE SHOW

 The Wine Diva  

Daenna van Mulligen, The Wine Diva  maintains that Summer can be extended with the help of finely crafted wines. I simply have no argument to throw out against that kind of brilliance. Thus..we open the show with the Endless Summer wine list..(have a nice extended summer)

• Bella Sparkling Gamay Noir Rose, Okanagan Valley BC $23.90,
• Haywire ‘Baby Bub’, Okanagan Valley BC $14.00
• Gonzalez Byass ‘Tio Pepe’ Extra Dry Palomino Fino Sherry, Jerez Spain $21.99
• Castillo de Monseran Garnacha, Carinena Spain $9.99
• Cantina Breganze Prosecco DOC ‘Extra Dry’, Veneto Italy $21.99
• 50th Parallel Estate Winery Riesling, Okanagan Valley, BC $18.00
• La Stella ‘Vivace’ Pinot Grigio, Okanagan Valley $25.00
• Galil Mountain Rose, Upper Galilee Israel $17.99
• ‘Cherry Tart’ by Cherry Pie, Pinot Noir, Monterey/Sonoma/Santa Barbara California $29.99
• Sperling Vineyards ‘The Market White’, Okanagan Valley BC N/A Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Pinot Blanc, Okanagan Valley BC $18.00
• Babich Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough New Zealand $19.99
• Oak Bay Gamay Noir, Okanagan Valley BC $16.00 William Fevre Petit Chablis, Chablis France $26.99
• Louis Bernard Cotes du Rhone Blanc, Rhone Valley France $15.99 Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis 1er Cru Montmain, Burgundy France $39.99
• Ruffino Chianti DOCG, Tuscany Italy $15.99
• Quails’ Gate Rose, Okanagan Valley BC $15.9  

www.winediva.ca [divider] John Schreiner John Schreiner is Canada’s most prolific writer of books on wine. Since his first book in 1984, The World of Canadian Wine, he has written 15, including multiple editions of The Wineries of British Columba, British Columbia Wine Country and John Schreiner’s Okanagan Wine Tour Guide. He has just released the 5^th edition of John Schreiner’s Okanagan Wine Tour Guide and it was time to get caught up with The Man!! http://johnschreiner.blogspot.ca/

 
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Jonathan Maltus  

 
Winemaker Jonathan Maltus is the first Englishman in Bordeaux to win a perfect score from the influential critic Robert Parker. His label is Chateau Teyssier.
The amazing Le Dome wines come from these vineyards. He also has a crazy good winery in Napa called World’s End, featuring wines called     Against the Wind If 6 was 9 Wave Length Good Times. Bad Times Crossfire Jonathan Maltus is often referred to, variously, as a “cult winemaker” or “garagiste,” a kind of renegade Bordeaux winemaker who produces so-called “vins de garage,’ or “garage wine.
Jonathan is a natural story teller. I think you’re going to like his tales.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_Teyssier www.maltus.com
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Chef Ned Bell has been riding his road bike  across Canada from St John’s Newfoundland since Canada Day. The tour is called Chefs for Oceans.

Chef Bell’s goal for the future of sustainable seafood is to create a movement which, within in the next 10 years, allows every Canadian to easily and readily access sustainable seafood for themselves and their families. The hope is that as the sustainable seafood movement continues to grow, environmentally responsible procedures will become firmly rooted as standard methods in future generations.
Also at the forefront of Chef Bell’s journey is the goal to institute and raise awareness for National Sustainable Seafood Day, a day which spotlights the necessity of healthy oceans, lakes and rivers for the futures of both human beings and the environment.
As the father of two sons, Fin 15 and Max 4, Chef Bell is dedicated to inspiring Canadians to become part of the solution for healthier oceans for today’s children and generations to come.
Ned works his way through Alberta this next week then starts the final leg Sept 5 in Banff, then through Golden, Revelstoke, Kelowna, Merritt, Hope, Langley and finally Friday Sept 12^th back in Vancouver. For donations and to check out the tour go to  http://chefsforoceans.com

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

The Canucks enjoy year 9 of the Canucks Autism Network’s Fishing for Kids. (Next Week) Jim Benning, Lawrence Gilman, Willie Desjardin Dan Hamhuis, Paolo Aquilini Willie Mitchell. Third and final special from our New Zealand wine tour. Jason Priestley            

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Check out the Line-Up.
Rick Hansen, Anthony Gismondi and The Dirt Farmers.  (They’re not a band..they’re Dirt Farmers.) 

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THE SHOW    

In 1973, at the age of 15, Rick Hansen’s life changed forever. He was involved in an accident that paralyzed him from the waist down. Coming to terms with his new life, he found inspiration from teachers, coaches and family, and set new goals from new dreams. Rick went on to become one of Canada’s most decorated Paralympic athletes.
In March 1985, Rick set off from Vancouver to wheel 40,000 kilometres through 34 countries on the Man In Motion World Tour to prove the potential of people with disabilities. His 26-month journey inspired an entire nation to believe anything is possible and moved thousands to make a difference.
After the Tour, he established the Rick Hansen Foundation to find a cure for spinal cord injuries and create more accessible communities.
Since 1988, the Foundation has leveraged the $26 million raised during the Tour into $280 million in investments towards spinal cord research, accessibility projects and quality of life initiatives.

I had the honour of being in the right place at the right time and minutely assisted Rick in living his dream.
We’ve always stayed in touch and when Rick asked if I’d like to go Sturgeon fishing on the Frazer River in BC I said YES!!
Rick is working tirelessly to preserve what was once a dying breed of fish.
Rick Hansen founded the FRSCS in 1997 in response to the declining population of the prehistoric white sturgeon – a species that had survived virtually unchanged for 65 million years.
The Society has built an award-winning monitoring and assessment program.
Check out the photos..The first sturgeon we caught was 6’5” and the second was 8’, over 300 lbs and perhaps 90 years old.
All caught,  tagged and released, of course.

My thanks to our guide for the day Yves Bisson from BC Sportfishing Group
 
https://www.rickhansen.com
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
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Anthony Gismondi
 
Anthony Gismondi
He’s one of the leading authorities on wine in Canada and The World.
He has been writing on wine since 1983 and has been the weekly wine columnist for the Vancouver Sun since 1989. His reviews are widely read across the country and throughout the international wine community.
He is an executive editor with responsibilities for international wines at Wine Access – Canada’s Essential Guide to Wine and Food, as well as a consultant to Air Canada where he assists in the selection of in-flight wines served system-wide by Canada’s largest airline.
A writer, broadcaster and speaker, in 2002 he launched a comprehensive wine website www.gismondionwine.com that contains a large and growing database of wines and stories chronicling his work and adventures in the world of wine.
He’s the co-host of The Best of Food and Wine.
And because he’s co-head judge (along with David Lawrason) of this year’s Wine Align National Wine Awards of Canada he’s the perfect guy to have guest on TRR.
We’ll talk about the Wine Awards and especially his list of the top 20 rated wines in BC. (find out who the #1 winery is)
 I saved the last question in this two parter to ask about The odious Wine Laws of Canada
Here’s Tony’s response:
“I think we’ve got a country full of greedy politicians. We’ve got a country full of greedy monopoly directors. These people think of themselves first and they’ve consistently done it now for the last 10 years since we’ve been trying to change  these laws.”
“I think it’s outrageous that people in Ontario  cannot buy BC wine but we can buy theirs because we’ve allowed it”
 www.gismondionwine.com
www.winealign.com
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The Dirt Farmers 2014 
 
Kurtis Kolt
Wine expert Kurtis Kolt organized the annual Dirt Farmers pour in Vancouver.
It’s his way of saluting the people who work the field, harvest the crops and craft very high quality wines.
Our guests are:
Rhys Pender – Little Farm   Similkameen Valley  www.littlefarmwinery.ca

 
 
 
 
 
John Weber – Orofino  Similkameen Valley  www.orofinovineyards.com

 
 
 
 
Ty Harlton – TH Wines  Summerland  http://thwines.com/

 

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

• Chef Ned Bell on the Road..heading home.
• Our third and final special from New Zealand
• John Schreiner’s new book. Okanagan Wine Tour Guide