May 23rd, 2026- Naramata pour in Vancouver Part 2 & update on Kascadia story!

May 23, 2026 0:27:34

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Wonderful response for last weeks Naramata pour in Vancouver Part One.

If the feedback is any indication, they are going to have a banner year.

Our last two guests from the Naramata Bench Vancouver Spring Wines pour are

Matt Mikulic – President and Winemaker – Three Sisters Winery

Matthew and his wife Rebecca both have three sisters…thus the name of the winery and wines.

Matthew, Rebecca and family

No huffing and puffing about vineyards and clones – just really well grown and balanced, approachable wines.

That’s part of the reason why they are so popular. Their wines are as nice as they are!

3sisterswinery.ca

Hayley Fisher – Kettle Valley Wines

The oldest single owner winery on Naramata Bench in their 35^th year. Legendary wines.

kettlevalley.com

naramatabench.com

Kettle Valley Vineyards

VJ Gandhi – Kascadia Wine Merchants.

Kascadia Wine Merchants is the first wine club and online shop in the U.S. to offer wines from Canada, the United States, and Mexico—a curated celebration of North American terroir, culture, and connection.

VJ Gandhi

Founded by VJ Gandhi, a passionate wine merchant and proud Asian-Canadian entrepreneur, Kascadia was born from a desire to share the wines that shaped her sense of place and belonging. After moving to California in 2014, VJ saw the need for something different in the U.S. wine space—something slower, more intentional. Something that invites people to gather, unplug, and taste what truly matters.

This is, I believe, the third time we’ve talked to VJ.

She lives outside of San Francisco and passionately offers and sells Canadian wines to US customers.

We’ll take honest over polished.
Small producers over mass production.
Character over perfection.

Kascadia’s portfolio has continued to expand with wines from:

Ontario

Quebec

Nova Scotia

California

Washington

Oregon

Guadalupe Valley, Mexico

BC Wines available include:

Meyer Family

Poplar Grove

Q&A Red and White

Spearhead

Painted Rock

Clos Du Soleil

This interview deals with just getting caught up on her amazing story. Kascadia is making waves on both sides of the border.

I’m wondering why and by what standards?

Congratulations to VJ.

kascadiawinemerchants.com

Stories We’re Working On:

Quails Gate

Bartier Brothers

Township 7

Little Engine

Painted Rock

May 16th, 2026- Naramata Bench Pours Spring Wines

May 16, 2026 0:32:44

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Naramata Bench Pours Spring Wines in Vancouver. (Part One)

For almost 20 years the wineries of the Naramata Bench above Penticton have

showcased their Spring releases for the food and wine trade and general public in Vancouver.

The 2026 gathering was May 7 at the Vancouver Community College near Gastown.

16 Naramata Bench Wineries came to pour – they were…

Bench 1775 Winery, Black Widow Winery, Deep Roots Winery,

Four Shadows Vineyard & Winery, Hillside Winery, Howling Bluff Estate Winery,

Joie Farm Winery, Kettle Valley Winery, Little Engine Wines,

Modesta Winery, Moraine Estate Winery, Poplar Grove Winery,

Red Rooster Winery, Roche Wines, Terravista Vineyards,

Three Sisters Winery, Tightrope Winery, Township 7 Vineyard

Naramata Bench has a well-earned reputation within Canadian wine circles, from fellow growers and wine fans.

Laughing Stock just won Wine (2023 Syrah) and Winery of the Year at the annual Okanagan Spring Wine Festival in Kelowna.

The Bench collectively won close to 10 other awards.

This is part one of a two part feature on the Bench wineries I was able to sit down with and ask some questions.

Part One includes:

Kathy Malone – Hillside Estate

Cameron Laverock – Red Rooster

Wilbert Borren Four Shadows-

Penelope Roche – Roche Wines

Mark Morrison – Modesta Wines

Roche Winery

James Lancaster – Black Widow

Lyndsay O’Rourke – Tightrope Winery

fourshadowsvineyard.com

hillsidewinery.ca

Hillside Winery

Redroosterwinery.com

Tightropewinery.ca

Tightrope Winery entryway and sign

Rterroir.ca

Blackwidowwinery.com

modestawinery.ca

naramatabench.com

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Naramata Part Two

Clos du Soleil

Bartier Brothers

Quails Gate

Township 7

Little Engine

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November 2nd, 2024 – Wine releases from the Naramata Bench

November 3, 2024 0:54:37

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THE SHOW

This week we reconnect with the wineries of the Naramata Bench.

Like many others in the BC wine community, The Naramata Bench was also hit with heartbreaking losses of their prime vineyards due to a killer Winter deep freeze.

Even as they pour the wines this year, we’re still talking about the growing season last year and how each and all with survive.

The pouring and presenting of Spring wine releases is an annual traditional event. Talking about failed bud breaks, the loss of complete vineyards and the big question – what to do next?

Many changes coming to BC Wine farming.

What to plant? Where to plant? How to survive the crisis?

New Varietals, new Blends and new owners/makers/farmers.

As tough as the next couple of years may be, none of that showed itself in the first of the year pour at Vancouver Community College on West Pender.

The Bench is a very tight community. Even though they are all hyper-competitive, when it comes to showcasing their individual wines The Naramations pull together as a team. Impressive, to say the least.

One thing to keep in mind – there a many wines available from BC wineries. Some pull from past vintages and many have wines stockpiled.

Here are the guests for Part One – talking Spring Wines and Vineyard Survival!!