Episode Notes
“Wine unplugged.
It’s the unfiltered, untamed, unphotoshopped version of what we know wine to be.
Hand picked, no additives, little or no sulphites”
It flies against the status quo. Challenges what people think is good wine”
Madeline Puckette /Wine Folly
Wines that are natural, biodynamic, organic.
It’s the most interesting trend in wine and cider making since 2018.
It’s the passion of Matt Cooke.
Matt Cooke
In 2016, Matt moved to Victoria and joined the management team at OLO Restaurant, where he quickly took over the bar and then wine programs. The food at OLO screamed natural, which inspired him to create a largely natural wine list, which over his nearly 5 years there, grew to become arguably the most natural list in Victoria.
Matt’s passion was really in finding new and exciting wines/regions/varietals to pair up with the food and encourage OLO guests to try. Then in fall 2021,he became the Food & Beverage General Manager at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
It was a major career shift, from a 40-seat farm-to-table high-end restaurant to a 7000-person arena, but he loved it. Over the course of several hockey seasons now, Matt has become confident in his role, but missed the aspect of educating people on wine, and missed his connection to the wine world. Which is where the idea for Barnyard came from.
In the Fall of 2022, Matt started reaching out to his contacts from his buying days at OLO and suggested this gathering. The response was immediate and highly supportive.
So here we are in 2025. There’s a lively buzz in the room, and this is the “trade” portion of the fair. Lots of passionate conversations at the pouring tables.
The evening consumer event was like a party.
The guests in Part Two are
Matt Cooke with a reminder of what this festival and social movement is all about.
Bree McKeage
Bree McKeage – Winemaker/Viticulturist/Co-Owner of Bella Wines. (Naramata Bench & Similkameen)
Rajen Singh – winemaker and co-owner of Ursa Major (Okanagan)
Bella was one of the “natural” leaders in BC wine, led by owners Jay Drysdale and Wendy Rose.
Bree Mckeage Rajen Singh
They sold to Bree, who is equally passionate about low-intervention winemaking and holistic farming.
Bella is in good hands.
Bree poured
Rajen poured
Sebastian poured
Sebastian Hotte
Pouring:
La Cuvee/Imperial/Ill Lustros (the Imperial is a star. Spending 50 months in barrel.
(Creating Sparkling wines since 1850, my friends)
Meyer Family Wines (New releases and Awards)
Mayhem Wines (New releases)
Evolve Sparkling House (very new releases)
Tantalus (crafted in BC?)
Hillside – (special releases)
Similkameen Special with Little Farm and Orofino
Fall Reds
The Spitter – maybe
