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August 6th, 2022- Anthony Gismondi & The National Wine Awards of Canada – 2022

August 5, 2022 Tasting Room Radio 00:39:36

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The National Wine Awards of Canada – 2022

With Co-Founder Anthony Gismondi.

 

THE SHOW:

 

 Our guest is the highly respected wine writer, reviewer, and industry leader Anthony Gismondi.

Anthony Gismondi

Anthony Gismondi is a Canadian wine journalist and one of North America’s most influential wine voices. His twice-weekly column in The Vancouver Sun, which he has written since 1989, is read across Canada through Postmedia Network, reaching close to 10 million readers.

His comprehensive wine review website www.gismondionwine.com, one of the first such sites on the internet, features over 30,000 tasting notes, added daily. It is an important resource for trade and consumers in Canada and 114 other countries.

Anthony hosts BC Food & Wine Radio Show the longest-running, weekly wine and food show on Canadian radio for 25 years. The one-hour show is broadcast on 20 radio stations across British Columbia and is available everywhere as a podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, and more.

Gismondi is the co-founder of the annual National Wine Awards of Canada, the largest and broadest competition for Canadian Wine since its inception 21 years ago. Anthony continues to run the annual event as co-chair. He is also the editor of the Canada wine section in the world’s best-selling wine book Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book. In addition, Anthony is a much sought-after moderator and consultant.

He will occasionally post as ‘The Spitter”

NWAC2022_icon

The 21st running of the National Wine Awards of Canada wrapped up on June 23 in Niagara.  After much deliberation and number checking,  the results rolled out on July 15th, starting with Sparkling Wines. 

The rest of the category results were rolled out throughout the rest of July, with the final Platinum, Best Performing Small Winery, and Winery of the Year announcements coming at the end of the month.  (We’ve included links to all the results below)

Co-Head Judges Anthony Gismondi and David Lawrason

The 2022 National Wine Awards of Canada were founded by David Lawrason and Anthony Gismondi, ‘The Nationals’ are the largest and most respected Canadian wine competition.

In 2022, 24 judges tasted 1,890 entries from more than 250 wineries. Canadian wine is indeed gathering acclaim internationally, but ‘The Nationals’ is the most important peer competition local wineries can enter. With nearly every producer of note in the country competing, making it to the top ten of any category list is special. Getting on the annual list of the Top 25 Wineries in Canada is one of the most sought accolades in the business.

nwac22_judgesadmin

Judges and Admin Staff of the National Wine Awards of Canada

The entries came from eight provinces. British Columbia had the highest representation with 137 wineries entered, Ontario came second with 87, followed by wineries from Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.

The wines were all served blind (producer, origin, and price were not revealed) but identified and organized into flights by grape variety or style. The top medalists were tasted in multiple rounds by many different judges.

The judges only tasted a limited quantity of wines each day so their palates could stay fresh and focused, and the wines were served in high-quality glasses at just the right temperature. All this was to ensure that each wine was treated with the respect it deserves.

Finally, after an exhilarating series of announcements on July 29 WineAlign were thrilled to conclude their results with Canada’s Winery of the Year, the Top 25 Wineries in Canada, the Top 10 B.C. Wineries and the Top 10 Ontario Wineries.

 

Congratulations to all the winners of the 2022 National Wine Awards of Canada!

 

FINAL RESULTS:


https://www.winealign.com/awards/2022/07/29/2022-nwac-results/

 

Medal Winners by Category:

Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon
Chardonnay
Cider
Gamay
Icewine & Late Harvest
Mead, Fruit Wine & Fortified
Merlot
Orange Wines (extended skin contact)
Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio
Pinot Noir
Red Blends
Red Single Varieties – Others
Riesling
Rosé
Sauvignon Blanc
Sparkling
Syrah
White Single Varieties – Others
White Blends

www.gismondionwine.com

https:/ww.winealign.com/awards

https://twitter.com/bcfwradio?lang=en

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Hester Creek – includes new sparkling

Bartier Brothers

Fort Berens

HaltWhistle Cheese pairing with Unsworth – Cowichan

Cowichan Wine Month – kick off at Brentwood

 

 

 

EP 216 | A conversation with Cheech and Chong

July 29, 2022 Mulligan Stew Podcast

hello

“Comedy is the ultimate truth. Jazz is hitting the notes that no one else would hit, and comedy is saying words that no one else would say.” ~ Tommy Chong

“Marijuana was a new phenomenon when we started. Now it’s for everyone – doctors, lawyers, presidents.” ~ Cheech Marin

I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. Again.

While I was doing rock radio in Vancouver, Richard Marin and Tommy Chong were creating comedy stand-up in a strip club. Between the strippers’ sets,  they would take the stage and riff for 10 minutes.  Tommys’ family owned the club so they could work the stage as much as they liked.

Things got funny.

One night I was walking through Bacedas..a swanky 5 room club downtown and there in the comedy room were Cheech and Tommy gathering up camera gear from around the stage.

Me – “whaddya doing guys?”

Cheech  – “we’re recording all the bits we do  and whatever gets the most  laughs, we’re turning it  into a pitch for a stoner movie”

Years later “Up in Smoke”  was a blockbuster, made for chump change and they were off and running.

As Tommy says in the interview – we got so successful we broke up.

Cheech headed into films and tv work – Tommy did one-nighters and scratched out a living.   Tommy then famously got busted for manufacturing glass bongs.  He turned his 9 months in jail into a book and a documentary.

 It wasn’t until they sat down and talked things through that Cheech and Chong returned to tours and work and fame.

I found this interview hiding in an old file. If I happen to get my hands on the rest of the interviews, I’ll let you know.

This was in Vancouver at the Opus Hotel during their reunion tour. First time back on stage in Vancouver in many years.

Survivors. Going bigger and better than “the man” ever thought they would.

Enjoy –

JULY 30 2022-SUMMER SPIRITS with Davin De Kergommeaux

July 28, 2022 Tasting Room Radio 01:03:53

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SUMMER SPIRITS with Davin De Kergommeaux

Proudly Sponsored by Harbour Air

THE SHOW

 My spirits education began and ended with the same bottle of  Lemon Gin.

My brother and I were the youngest members of the Kamloops Rube Band.

All the other band members were college-age or dads.

 

Denis and I tried to keep up with “the boys” when we did parades or road trips.

As much as we liked the first taste of lemon gin, we HATED ourselves the morning after.

For me, it only took one bottle and I never went back to spirits. That is until I met Davin de Kergommeaux at the Canadian Whisky Championships in Victoria.

Davin has been an author and whisky reviewer/judge for over two decades.

Davin De Kergommeaux

His books Canadian Whisky The Portable Expert, The New Portable Expert, and The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries are invaluable to those of you seeking support and deep information on whisky and spirits.

www.canadianwhisky.org

So.  When I decided to do a Summer Spirits special – Davin was a natural co-host.

I asked two things of him:

Please recommend spirit makers who are also storytellers

and…   stop me when I get stupid.

He was great on the first ask and on the second request,  Davin almost gave up on me.

 

Davin’s recommendations were:

Caitlin Quinn – Head Distiller at Eau Claire Distillery, Turner Valley, Alberta.

Negroni. Old Fashion. Rupert’s Whisky Sassafras.

www.eauclairedistillery.ca

Caitlin Quinn – Eau Claire

 

Jake Clark –  Consumer Engagement Manager  Strait and Narrow – Custom Handcrafted Gins/Pacific Coast Cocktails

Grapefruit Rosemary/Pear Rhubarb/Peach Elderflower/Lemon Lavender  (Makers of 1908 Gin)

www.straitandnarrow.com

 

Bob Baxter – President & Co-founder Yukon Brewing Company

Spiked Seltzers –  Cherry and Lime/Pineapple Ginger/Raspberry/Basil/Mango Hibiscus and a great Lemon Lavender Radler (German Shandy)

www.yukonbeer.com

Bryce Parsons – Master Distiller  Last Best Brewing. Calgary.

The man who created 52 different gins in one year.

Last Best Afterglow Gin & Soda – Savage Love  Tom Collins – Fortunella Citrus Iced Tea

 

www.lastbestbrewing.com

 

Colin McDougall – Corby’s Spirits Portfolio Consultant.

JP Wiser’s 18-year-old Whisky and Lot 40 Dark Oak 100% Rye Whisky

The man is a storyteller. Enjoy the tales.

www.corby.ca

 

Thank you Davin De Kergommeaux, Letittia King, Rob Roycroft and Heather Gillespie at Yukon Brewing.

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

Fort Berens – Releases and Awards

Aug 4 Cowichan pour at Brentwood School

Wine Align – National Wine Awards

Township 7 New Wines

HaltWhistle Cowichan Cheese and Unsworth Pairing Session

Hester Creek – Foating down The Creek

 

 

EP 215 | Courtney Barnett Documentary- Anonymous Club

July 22, 2022 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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Our guest Danny Cohen is a Melbourne-based director who has filmed and photographed some of the most interesting and influential figures in contemporary music.

Shot on vivid 16mm film over a three-year period, ANONYMOUS CLUB chronicles notoriously shy, Melbourne-based musician Courtney Barnett’s ups and downs on the world tour for her album Tell Me How You Really Feel. Featuring Barnett’s unguarded narration from her audio diary, recorded on a dictaphone provided by filmmaker Danny Cohen, the film delivers frank and unprecedented insight into Barnett’s creative process, the sacrifices and inner conflicts set in motion by fame, and the sometimes dark backdrop to her whimsical, relatable poetic compositions.

Based for much of her adult life in Melbourne, Courtney Barnett first found critical acclaim with 2013’s The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas, and broke into the mainstream in 2015 with her debut album, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit. Garnering a coveted Best New Artist Grammy nomination and numerous other accolades, the album stands as a generational classic.

Barnett is also a powerhouse live act, playing slots at festivals including Coachella, Bonnaroo, Governor’s Ball, Primavera, and Lollapalooza. In 2021, she released Things Take Time, Take Time, a remarkable artistic step forward.

Anonymous Club opens across Canada over the next several weeks.

July 23rd, 2022- The Wonderful Wines of OZ

July 22, 2022 Tasting Room Radio 00:41:38

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The Wonderful Wines of OZ

 We start with Tim Dolan, the Senior Winemaker at  Peter Lehmann Wines in the Barossa Valley.

 

Tim Dolan

Tim Dolan is the third generation of his family to make wine in the Barossa, following his father Nigel and grandfather Bryan – two of the most influential winemakers of their respective eras.

Tim worked for pocket money after school in just about every part of the winery, from crushing to cleaning. With a degree in Oenology from The University of Adelaide, in the five years that followed Tim set out to amass as much international experience as possible working vintages in eight different regions across the USA, Italy, Canada, and  Australia. He spent several chilling vintages in Niagara but was impressed with Canadian wines.

In 2011 Tim joined the Peter Lehmann team under the stewardship of then Chief Winemaker, Andrew Wigan. Since that time he has proven himself to be a talented and highly competent winemaker brimming with passion and ideas. Tim is now the Sr Winemaker at Peter Lehmann.

Peter Lehmann

It didn’t go unnoticed that one of his winemaking team at Peter Lehmann is Brooke Blair,  who spent many years winemaking in Canada. Most of it with Jackson – Triggs in the South Okanagan.  She was often a guest in the first years of Tasting Room Radio, I hope to follow that info up and reconnect with Brooke.

Tim Dolan brings two solid wines to the show.

The Barossan Shiraz and The Barossan Chardonnay.  Both will go great with your Summer BBQ.

The Barossan Shiraz:  Best with an Angus beef burger – extra cheese, dill pickle, and a side of crunchy chips.

the barossan 2019 Shiraz

The Barossan Chardonnay:  Perfectly paired with BBQed chicken or Salmon, or pair it with a coconut and turmeric fish curry. This Chardonnay was made specifically for Canadian Wine Fans.

These wines are well made, balanced, and best of all – affordable!! Both under $20

the barossan 2021 chardonnay

www.peterlehmannwines.com

 

Back to Australia

We’re staying with Australian wines and winemakers for the last segment of this week’s TRR.

An interview from the archives from a  busy Top Drop gathering several years ago.

Behind  the Australian pouring, table were Wines of Australia ambassador Mark Davidson, Brendan Keys (BK Wines/Handmade Wines), and  Matt Fowles (Ladies who shoot their Lunch & Are you Game?)

Mark Davidson

www.wineaustralia.com

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

The Cheese and Wine special

Fort Berens

Township 7

Aug 4 pour in Mill Bay

 

EP 214 | Interview with directors of Documentary Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen. A Journey – A song

July 16, 2022 Mulligan Stew Podcast

hello

It’s not just a story of the life of Leonard Cohen.  It follows the life of his song Hallelujah.

Leonard wrote 130-150 verses for the song. Took him years and years.

Then when he released it on the album  Various Positions, his label in the USA,  Columbia Records, refused to release it.  It never got played and was almost forgotten…until John Cale recorded it for the tribute album I’m Your Fan and it began a life of its own. The songs passed from Dylan to Cale, to Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, kdlang to the Shrek Soundtrack. Now, it’s legendary. However, with Fame comes The Lame. Various singers have crushed the life out of Hallelujah in TV Talent shows.Some crediting the song to Buckley without knowing that Cohen lived it and wrote it.

Hallelujah started as a spiritual journey and ended, with various Leonard rewrites,  to become a secular and sexy anthem.

Post Shrek, Hallelujah took Leonard Cohen to audiences all over the World. It’s a heartfelt film that captures the brilliance of Leonard Cohen and the song.

The film was released Friday in the USA and in Toronto/Montreal  and I’ve heard it opens across Canada very shortly.

This is smashing filmmaking and epic storytelling.

The directors are Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine and they were my guests on Saturday’s Stew

https://www.sonyclassics.com/film/hallelujah/

 

EP 213 | Music Festival Season 2022 pt2

July 10, 2022 Mulligan Stew Podcast

hello

Welcome to the 2022 Summer Music Festivals. Part Two
We’ve kept Edmonton, Calgary, and the next event the Vancouver Folk Festival in the mix.
Added this week is HUFF  the Halifax Urban Folk Festival. Its artistic director is a classic Canadian troublemaker, Mike Campbell.
The same Mike who co-hosted Mike and Mike for
MuchMusic.

Mike Campbell

Then curated the rise of a great music room  The Carleton in Halifax. It just won the best small live room in Canada.

Like its leader,  the HUFF is wonderfully different.
Enjoy!!
Here we go…
When the pandemic hit at the beginning of 2019 anything that qualified as a gathering took the brunt of the hit.
Restaurants, concerts, sports, schools, music tours, group travel, etc!
Festivals of all descriptions were immediately shut down and artists went home and stayed home.
So, here we are two years later and this summer the music festivals have been fully booked by artists who can’t wait to get on the road and on stage. To be met by audiences and music fans who truly missed the live music experience.
We’ll touch on four music festivals but they do represent all festivals, big and small.  Please find one near you and support the festival and the artists.
Each web link below has info on the performers, their schedules, and ticket sales.
Our guests are
Terry Wickham – Producer,  Edmonton Folk Music Festival Aug 4-7
www.edmontonfolkfest.org
Kerry Clarke — Artistic Director Calgary Folk Fest  Prince’s Island Park July 21-24
www.calgaryfolkfest.com
Debbie Salmonsen – Artistic Director Vancouver Folk Fest – Jericho Beach July 15-17
www.vancouverfolkfest.com
www.thefestival.bc.ca
Mike Campbell. Artistic Director HUFF.  Halifax
End of August and early September.
The Carleton.ca
Amazing lineups and special events.  The info is here in the Podcast and on the website – Enjoy!

Mike Campbell

July 9th, 2022, Two of the Best in the West –  New releases from  Ann Sperling (Sperling) & Michael Clark (Clos du Soleil)

July 9, 2022 Tasting Room Radio 01:05:09

hello

Two of the Best in the West –  New releases from  Ann Sperling (Sperling) & Michael Clark (Clos du Soleil)

It’s a slippery slope to call anyone “Best”. It’s like saying blue is the best color. Totally subjective.

However, tasting is believing. The wines from Sperling and Clos du Soleil are consistently beautifully constructed and always memorable.

Best of all,  their wines are organically grown through regenerative farming.

“Committed to grasslands, permanent cover crops, biodiversity, and farming that benefits the environment instead of degrading it.”

 

Ann Sperling – Winemaker,  Co-owner,  Family Member. Sperling Vineyards (East Kelowna)

TDM and Ann

Ann’s family has been farming their land for 135 years.

These are not just fine wines she’s producing, they’re grown and made to honour those who came before her.

You may notice when I ask Ann about her two Pet Nat releases her voice goes up an octave and she leans into the words. One of the strongest elements in all her wines is passion.

 

Ann brings these new releases..

2021 Pinot Noir Rose  $25 (215 cases 11.5%)

Planted in 2008 – 3 pinot clones 282. 777. 114

Stainless Steel Barrels – on lees for 4 months. Wonderful texture.

 

2021 Vision series – Ruby Pet Nat 85% old vines Marechal Foch  $32– 15% Pinot Noir ( 189 cases-12%)

2021 Speritz Pet Nat $32 (9% – 135 cases)

Thirds of Perle d’Csaba – Bacchus and Chardonnay. Dry. Pet Nat and Pizza!!

Again…9% alcohol!!

2021 Pinot Blanc $22 (10.1%- 112 cases ) Stainless Steel cellared.  BONE Dry.

 

Planted in 1980..deep roots bring forth flavors of tropical fruit and quince.

From the Heritage Series  “honoring the decisions of the past in the location of the vineyard and varietals planted”

It’s all about Ann’s family history.  She passionately explains!

 

2016 Old Vines Riesling ($35 – 11.5% 200 cases)

“Made in the vineyard” Meaning,  light hands on the vines and fruit. It is what it is”

It is grown in limestone and calcium – the flagship wine. 2 years in bottle before release.

And again.. honoring the past.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021  Natural Amber Pinot Gris ($35 – 915 cases)

“it’s not the vessel,  it’s the grape”

Notes and flavors of guava and tea.

Bone dry. Can cellar for 5-7 years.

Pairs well with strong and savory food.

And friends.

Thank you Ann.

www.sperlingvineyards.com

 

Michael Clark – Winemaker, GM, and Co-Owner of Clos du Soleil (Keremeos. Similkameen Valley)

Michael Clark

 A winery that proudly makes wines of substance.

The wines are shaped through organics & biodynamics,  combined with low intervention winemaking.

Michael’s wines reflect their terroir and letting the fruit shine.  It’s “hands-off” winemaking.

Clos du Soleil wines are always beautifully balanced.  Your nose and mouth will know.

Michael proudly tells us the stories behind  his Spring/Summer 2021 releases, which includes the iconic 2019 Signature (Bordeaux inspired)

(all prices retail)

2021  Pinot Gris Winemakers Series. Whispered Secret Vineyard (23.90 – 750 cases. 13.3%)

Crushed right after harvest. Pressed the whole cluster and fermented in stainless steel barrels, tanks, and French Oak Puncheons.

Aged on lees for 3 months.  That’s it. More hands-off winemaking.

Orange, pear, green apple, nice stony minerality. Beautiful long finish.

2021 Rose $26.90  (404 cases – 12%)

Perfect pairing with salmon, and roasted chicken. Great picnic wine.

A careful blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Malbec.  These two wines co-fermented

together.

Aged on lees for four months. carefully handled.

2021  Fume Blanc  ($23.90 -745 cases – 12.7%)

Organically farmed. A beautiful blend of 61% Sauvignon Blanc and 39% Semillon. The nose is lemons, and grapefruit and the palate is guava, citrus, floral and light oak.

Cellared separately then blended into an aromatic experience. Fine Fume my friends.

BBQ chicken, salmon, oysters, soft cheese, or by itself.

 

2021  Pinot Blanc  Winemaker’s Series.  Middle Bench Vineyard. ($24.90 – 13.3% – 410 cases)

“This is a wine that speaks of Similkameen Summertime.”

Stainless steel front to back.  Fresh fruit, peach, pear, sweet apple, etc

Grilled fish, pasta with olive oil, and fresh summer vegetables.

Hello corn season!

 

2019 Signature  ($54.90 – 13.9 – 453 cases) 

42% Merlot – 31% Cabernet Sauvignon – 13% Malbec – 10% Cab Franc – 4% Petit Verdot .

Aromas of blackberries and raspberries, sagebrush..   and mint.  On the palate dark fruit, cassis, mint, and ripe blackberry.

Aged 16 months in 100%  carefully selected French Oak Barrels. Only the barrels showing the greatest complexity, depth, and elegance are selected for the Signature Blend.

 

Thank You Michael (and team)

www.closdusoleil.ca

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

Fort Berens

Cowichan Wine Month

(Brentwood Kick off Aug 4)

An August Holiday…

 

 

EP 212 | Music Festival Season 2022

July 2, 2022 Mulligan Stew Podcast

hello

When the pandemic hit at the beginning of 2019 anything that qualified as a gathering took the brunt of the hit.

Restaurants, concerts, sports, schools, music tours, group travel, etc!

Festivals of all descriptions were immediately shut down and artists went home and stayed home.

So, here we are two years later and this summer the music festivals have been fully booked by artists who can’t wait to get on the road and on stage. To be met by audiences and music fans who truly missed the live music experience.

We’ll touch on four music festivals but they do represent all festivals, big and small.  Please find one near you and support the festival and the artists.

Each web link below has info on the performers, their schedules, and ticket sales.

 

Our guests are

Terry Wickham – Producer,  Edmonton Folk Music Festival Aug 4-7

www.edmontonfolkfest.org

Kerry Clarke — Artistic Director Calgary Folk Fest  Prince’s Island Park July 21-24

www.calgaryfolkfest.com

Doug Cox – Artistic Director Vancouver Island Music Festival – Courtney, BC  July 8-10

www.islandmusicfest.com

Debbie Salmonsen – Artistic Director Vancouver Folk Fest – Jericho Beach July 15-17

www.vancouverfolkfest.com

www.thefestival.bc.ca

Amazing lineups and special events.  The info is here in the Podcast and on the website – Enjoy!

July 2nd, 2022- Checking in with The Neighbourhood!!

June 30, 2022 Audio FIle, Tasting Room Radio 01:16:07

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Checking in with The Neighbourhood!!

 

THE SHOW

 Tasting Room Radio has been celebrating Canadian wine and food for 15 years.

We could not have stayed the course and grown without  the support of our segment sponsors

Thus, each year we make a point of making a feature fuss about our neighbors.

Thing is, we’d be doing feature stories on them anyway because they’re all winners.

When we decided to have a sponsor for each segment we had one bottom line

“if we have to talk about someone for a year,  let’s make sure we like them!  As great people and as singular artisans”!

 We are honored to welcome our in show  neighbors into the feature spotlight (in the order in which they became available)

Jason Parkes Customs – Jason Parkes  (Founder) and Develyn Barker (Dreamer and Doer)  West Kelowna, BC

Jason Parkes and crew

Their story just keeps on growing.

Came on board as The Hatch Winery. Well named, as they released well-crafted and accessible wines but they also “hatched” a series of new labels,  all heading in different wonderful directions.

The Hatch, Gobsmacked Series, Hobo Series.

Then came Black Swift, Crown and Thieves, The Hatching Post, Truck 59 Cider House, and SmokeShow BBQ plus  wines such as  Screaming Frenzy, 14 house beers, The Angel Share rooftop restaurant, The Broken Hearts Club speakeasy (house band is Proper Man, also home to Hangover Church, etc)

They have created their own JPC Wine Trail – a 5-hour adventure you will talk about and might even remember.

…And the wines? Bigger and better every season!  Beautifully crafted and pushing the boundaries – much like the people who make them!

JPC is one of the great success stories in BC wine. Best of all, they did it their way!  Rock on!

(there is no known photo of Jason Parkes but he did send this message “wine is just yeast poop”

www.jpcfanclub.com

www.crownthieves.com

www.thehatchwines.com

Unsworth Vineyards – Dan Wright (Winemaker) Christle Pope (Manager) Karen Newington (Tasting Room Manager)  Cowichan Valley, Van Island

Mere minutes from our home in Mill Bay, it’s also top of mind when we think, “it’s time for wine and dine”

The Turyk Family has created a beautiful destination is perhaps the most gorgeous small farming valley in the area.

Dan Wright

The bonus is , the wines are outstanding and the restaurant is hugely popular.

They have just received a Silver Medal and  91 points for their 2019 Pinot Noir from Decanter Magazine. A first for Vancouver Island winemaking.

The new owners have their own family roots deep into the history of Napa and Sonoma. One of the first decisions was to let the Unsworth team carry on making better and better wines and the second was to start production on a new vineyard outside Duncan.

The future looks very bright for Unsworth Vineyards – so we have much to talk about!

www.unsworthvineyards.com

Moon Curser Vineyards – Beata and Chris Tolley (Owners/Founders) Osoyoos, BC

At the very bottom of the Okanagan Valley is Osoyoos. It’s right up against the US border and surrounded by some of the very best vineyards in Canada.

One of them is Moon Curser. It’s the winemaking passion of Beata and Chris Tolley. It’s also their home.

Well, it was,  until they just had to move off-site to get a break from the daily weight of farming. It’s a hard road,  no whining is allowed.

Chris Tolley

In wine circles, they’re famous for the amazing varietals they make – several are the only ones being made in Canada.

However, what they do make are wines judged to be as good as anything in Canada.  That’s how they were named The WineAlign  Best Small Winery in Canada in 2019.

We’ll be talking Arneis, Viognier, Roussanne Marsanne, Carmenere, Dolcetto, Malbec, Syrah, Contraband Syrah, Border Vines, Tannat, Tempranillo and Touriga National.

Beata Tolley

There’s more. Next time we’ll talk about their bubble program featuring Eclipse, Moonlit and their Heist Rose.

Four of those wines can only be found through their wine club. Giddy Up!

www.mooncurser.com

Hillside Estate Winery  – Kathy Malone  (Senior Winemaker)  – Executive Chef Evan Robertson (The Bistro at Hillside)  Naramata Bench, BC

Kathy Malone

Classy!  

That describes Kathy and Evan, and the rest of the team at Hillside and especially Hillside Estate itself.

A much-honored winery with an atmosphere that comes from being one of the first three wineries in the area and always being a benchmark for Naramata Wines.

Hillside made a commitment years ago to only use grapes farmed on the Naramata Bench.

This conversation was important. To get caught up with Kathy’s latest releases, growing conditions in 2021, and then what dishes Chef Evan recommends from his menu to pair with each wine.

We talk  Cab Franc, Gewurztraminer, Muscat Ottonel, Viognier, Syrah,   Merlot – Hidden Valley Vineyard

From the kitchen,  Evan teases us with Tomato Capresse, Panzanella Salad, House-made fresh pasta, Gnocchi, 50oz Northern Gold Beef Tomahawk.

www.hillsidewinery.ca

 

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Clos du Soleil

Fort Berens

Bill Jones  Shroom Master

Orofino

Sperling Vineyards