Audio

January 30th, 2021 – Christa-Lee McWatters (Time) – Christine Coletta (Narrative) – Jay Drysdale (Bella) 

January 29, 2021 Tasting Room Radio 01:02:20

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Christa-Lee McWatters (Time) – Christine Coletta (Narrative) – Jay Drysdale (Bella) 

 

THE SHOW

 

Three BC wine leaders in the Okanagan and  releases you’re going to want to find,  try and buy.

 

Christa-Lee McWatters – GM of  5 Vines Cellars. (TIME Winery/Kitchen . Evolve. McWatters Collection)

Christa-Lee McWatters

TIME-CabFranc2018-TechSheet   TIME-CabSauv2018-TechSheet

Being the daughter of Harry McWatters, British Columbia wine pioneer, Christa-Lee has had a rich understanding and love for BC wine since birth. She was involved in planting vineyards with her father and sister Darrien on the Black Sage Bench in the early 1990s.

Since 2000, Christa-Lee held key roles in sales, marketing, and hospitality for several successful Okanagan wineries, until stepping in as director of marketing and sales for her family’s enterprise ENCORE Vineyards in 2014.

After her father’s passing in 2019, Christa-lee assumed the position as CEO until the parent company was purchased by Five Vines Cellars. Christa-Lee continues to manage the three wine labels and downtown winery in Penticton but still finds time to give back to her industry through the British Columbia Wine Institute, Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive Winery Association, Canadian Vintner’s Association, the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society, BC Hospitality Foundation and Les Dames d’Escoffier, BC Chapter.

Getting caught up with CL includes 2021 releases from TIME Winery.

The Whites.

2018  Brut  Method Cuvee Clos  (34.99)

It engages with notes of toast and lime and a wonderful tiny bubble texture in the mouth invites you to let it linger around your tongue.  Love this.

TIME Brut

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018 Meritage White  (25.00) – An perfect equal split between Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. I  found melon and mandarin on the nose but the texture had such a lovely tropical fruit entry that lead to a nice texture and finish.

A true barrel-aged  Winter White that can only get better with cellaring for a couple of years.

The Reds

2017  Fourth Dimension (35.00)  When you blend well made Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc many things can happen. They can end up fighting each other for dominance or with the careful blending exhibited in this blend the varietals reward with Cherry and Raspberry on the nose and cracked black pepper and spice. Long slow finish.  Again. Let it Linger.

“Time is the Fourth Dimension”   Al Einstein

 

2018 Syrah (39.99) Greeted by bold ripe blackberry and hints of mint on the nose.  Rich flavors of fresh black currant and ripe plum cracked black pepper and a taste of cinnamon on the way out. This could be your next favorite red. Cellaring for a couple of years will reward big time.

 

2018 Cabernet Sauvignon  (39.99) Everything you want and expect in a classic Cab. Cassis, blackberry, vanilla, pepper!  Boom. This well structured big red wine compliments beautifully with BBQ  and engaging pasta.  I’d advise to get it while you can.  If you find this one – buy it.

 

2018 Cabernet Franc (34.99)  So good it just takes four  words – Find-Buy-Taste – Repeat.  If you need more words,  how about this –  aromas of raspberries, ripe cherry, and pepper on the nose,  taste includes, plum, black fruit, with soft tannins and finish. Think  pairing food with the same bang. Love this Cab Franc. I knew I would because the guy who planted it – Harry McWatters – was crazy for good Cab Franc. Just like me.

 https://www.fivevinescellars.com/Wines/TIME-Winery

Christine Coletta Co-Founder of Okanagan Crush Pad  and Narrative Wine

Christine Coletta

Everyone in B.C.’s food & wine industry knows Christine Coletta.

Innovator, community champion, visionary, land steward— She is an ongoing force.

Christine, or CC as she is known by many, has earned awards and accolades throughout her illustrious career. She was named  One of Wine’s Most Inspiring People for 2020 by Wine Industry Advisor.

Christine is one of the founding members of the BC Wine Institute and the BC VQA program, and she has helped to mentor a number of professionals in the food and wine industries over the last 30 years.

 

Through her crush work at Okanagan Crush Pad, she has also been involved in the start of a number of new wineries in BC.

Her guidance, support, and mentorship have landed her the nickname, “Godmother of BC Wine.”

 

Okanagan Crush Pad is the home for

Haywire Wines

Free Form

Bizou and Yukon

And  

Narrative

Today CC brings the 2021 releases from Narrative.

Is it a floor wax or a shampoo?

Is it a Rose?  Well, it is and it isn’t. It’s a….

 

2019 Viognier/Syrah except it’s 80% Viognier and 20% Syrah

(spice, pepper, raspberries, and strawberries. Lots of rich  texture)

 

Viognier I was impressed by this release a while back and had to ask CC about it.

Slow fermented in concrete.  Yummy!

 

2018 Syrah Viognier.  Its quite a process to get this wine just right.  Syrah co-fermented with Viognier in clay amphora. On skins for 90 days. Some of the Syrah is in concrete which brings out the spice and texture. It’s crazy good.

 

2016 Syrah (organic)  Grown in the South Okanagan  Spends lots of time in concrete. Its soft in the mouth with notes of white pepper.

There’s a surprising lift in the mouth mid-palette. Not the usual dark chocolate.

THIS is a Syrah you want to find and it’s one of Narrative’s Winter Reds. Best of all its been in bottle for 2 extra years.

 

Check out the Okanagan Crush Pad website for information on Virtual Tastings, Special 6 packs and an opportunity to join a panel of tasters.

https://okanagancrushpad.com/

  

Jay Drysdale –  Bella Wines (Naramata Bench)

“I moved to the Okanagan in 2004 and quickly fell in love with everything related to the BC wine industry.  I see a world class wine region in BC and understand we are still in our infancy, comparatively speaking.  This is our “wild west” era and we should enjoy this time of exploration, trial and error.”

Jay Drysdale and Wendy Rose

“In the ten short years I have been watching, and involved with, the B.C. wine industry, quality has increased and our voice is getting louder and stronger.  I’m honored to be a part of this growing and evolving community.”  Jay Drysdale

Jay Drysdale is a geekmeister.

He will talk about Gamay and bubble for hours and when you think of Jay and his love Wendy Rose you have to think of Bubble because that’s what they do. As many releases as you can taste in a day. As many clones as you need to know..

Bella makes and releases

The Vineyard Series  – specific vineyards. Many in small batches

Pet Nat

Trad Nat

Bella Reserve

 

In order to give Jay room to expand his storytelling we’ve given  him  two segments and we go over multiple wines each with their own story, terroir, season and results.

Trust me on this – they are one of the most interesting wineries and couples in BC wine. Every bottle, every release has a surprise in it. If its not the nose it’s the taste or the colour in the bottle. If you happen to ask Jay about say,  one of his Gamay Rose,  sit down and  get comfortable because your Jay Jam is about to begin.

 

Fabulous wines and totally unique to BC.  Start with the 2019 Mariani Vineyards Clone 509 and stash a bottle of Pet Nat.

 

www.bellawines.ca

 

STORIES WE ARE WORKING ON:

Summerhill

Clos du Soleil Whites

Church and State

Tightrope

Hester Creek

 

 

 

 

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EP 141 | k.d.lang from the Archives

January 29, 2021 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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From the Archives – k.d. lang

Is it possible there are music fans who do not know who K.D. is?

k.d. Lang was born in the town of Consort, Alta. Kathryn Dawn grew up listening to the wild variety of music being played by CKUA Radio. She released her debut album in Canada in the early 1980s. Won the most promising female artist Juno in 1985 (which we talk about) In 1986, k.d. broke into the American country music scene with Angel with a Lariat. The following year, she had her first country hit, a duet with Roy Orbison.   Then came a wonderful change in direction and a huge pop  hit in 1992 with “Constant Craving.” Since then, she has recorded numerous albums, including her 2002 collaboration with Tony Bennett, A Wonderful World.

She won Grammys for Crying (89)  Absolute Torch and Twang (90) Miss Chatelaine (94) and Wonderful World with Tony Bennett (2004)

k.d. was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2013.  We talked just as her  2016 collaboration album case/lang/veirs was released.

Enjoy!

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January 23rd, 2021 – JOHN SKINNER PAINTED ROCK/DAVIN de KERGOMMEAUX WHISKY UPDATE  

January 23, 2021 Tasting Room Radio, Uncategorized 00:51:41

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JOHN SKINNER PAINTED ROCK/DAVIN de KERGOMMEAUX WHISKY UPDATE

 

THE SHOW

 John Skinner – Co-founder of Painted Rock

John Skinner

 

In a normal year, Wine Align hosts their annual National Wine Awards. 2020 was not a normal year.

Their team decided to put together a “Guide to Canada’s Best Wines”

At Painted Rock they had already sold out their Chardonnay, Rose and Cabernet Sauvignon.

So, they submitted their Merlot,  Syrah, Cab Franc and Red Icon.

They were all judged Top Ten and the 2017 Red Icon was judged the Top Red Wine. A blend that 3 of the judges gave 5 stars for value.

And the 2017 Red Icon was the only Canadian Wine that made the 2020 Wines of the Year in Decanter Magazine.

Painted Rock

All of these awards are remarkable considering that in August of 2020  the winery was in danger of being overrun and burned to the ground by another summer firestorm.

Spotter planes and fire fighting helicopter crews and front line firefighters on the ground saved Painted Rock and their neighbours. John sent them away with boxes of wine. The firefighters then sold the wine at auction to support the local  foodbank.

Fires around Painted Rock

One more thing.  Just weeks ago John was skiing Whistler hard, the way he’s always done and at top speed he collided with a skier who crossed his run without looking. Whistler first responders located him, attended to his condition and got him off the mountain and to a hospital.  Thanks to them and his friends, he’s recovering nicely.

 It was that kind of year.

Let’s get caught up with John Skinner and Painted Rock!

www.paintedrock.ca

Davin de Kergommeaux  – Whisky Update

Davin de Kergommeaux

Its been a while since Davin and I hooked up.

Likely the release of his latest book The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries!

I know that the Canadian Whisky Awards would normally happen in the next little while in Victoria. Again, this is not a normal time. For 2021 it will be late February.

Getting caught up with Canada’s Whisky expert involves scanning the websites of over 200 distilleries and then trying to pin the man down.  He’s busy with on line  Zoom tastings  and book events  etc.

Davin is keen to talk about the burgeoning micro distillery scene, coast to coast.

Reviews on Wayward (Krupnik), Shelter Point (The Collective) (Ripple Rock).

The new Odd Society 5 year barrel program.

We finish with his recommendations for best New Whisky  in Canada and three whiskies to taste before “your lights go out”

Davin is the world’s leading authority on Canadian whisky, and has been called “Canada’s unofficial whisky ambassador” as well as being named one of the most influential Canadians in Food and Drink by The Globe and Mail in 2016.

He is a former contributing editor to Whisky Magazine, and has contributed to or co-authored eight other books about whisky, spirits, and cocktails. He now writes full-time, and is regularly featured in many websites and publications, including Whisky Advocate.

Davin De Kergommeaux is the founder and chairperson of the prestigious Canadian Whisky Awards and publishes comprehensive tasting notes on his website.

www.canadianwhisky.org

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Bella Bubble – Jay Drysdale brings the goods.

Haywire releases

Enrico Winery – in the Cowichan

The new Black Swift Winery

 

EP 140 | Sam Pollard MLK / FBI

January 23, 2021 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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MLK/FBI is an essential expose of the surveillance and harassment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

 Rev King was called by the FBI  “the most dangerous” Black person in America” The expose was undertaken by J. Edgar Hoover and the U.S. government.  The film is based on newly discovered and declassified files, as well as revelatory restored footage. The documentary explores the government’s history of targeting Black activists. Directed by Emmy® Award-winner and Oscar®-nominee Sam Pollard, MLK/FBI recounts a tragic story with searing connections to our current moment.  Remarkably, this story from the mid-60’s civil rights conflict has relevance in our headlines today.

Subscribe to the MulliganStew podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify

January 16th, 2021 -PROTECTING THE NARAMATA BENCH/AMPERSAND DISTILLERY  

January 15, 2021 Tasting Room Radio 00:53:06

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PROTECTING THE NARAMATA BENCH/AMPERSAND DISTILLERY

 

THE SHOW

Tasting Room Radio was created in a studio barn on the Naramata Bench in 2007.

We were attracted by the space, the people and the farming community.  Since we moved back to the Coast in 2011 we’ve become aware how The Bench has grown. In some cases, not in a good way.

The good news is the food/restaurant  possibilities have become much better,  sustainable farming has become the norm.

The wines have truly become better and better.  Some World Class. Accommodation has improved and grown with the area.

With success comes some serious challenges. Wine fans from all over dream of living part of the year in wine country.  No problem unless building that housing could seriously affect the whole of Naramata Bench.

Let’s face it. From April to October the Okanagan Valley can be swarmed with visitors. The Naramata Bench and its single road on a busy day can be challenging for the wine fan and the farmer.

Now comes “the development” on Spiller Road. Just at that S shaped “crash corner” at Red Rooster. High on that hill a housing community is taking shape and it threatens the locals and their vineyards.

The Bench

A Penticton petition calling to “preserve and protect” Penticton’s Naramata Bench has gathered close to 15,000 signatures . The 121 acre site located beside the local land fill boasts  324 single and multi-residential housing units.

Some residents aren’t impressed.

“Allowing the Naramata Bench to be developed beyond the current agricultural density would forever change the look and feel of the area. It would take away from the destination as a sought after recreational area, affect wildlife, the natural abundance and ultimately affect all of the businesses in the area in a negative way,” reads the petition started by Josie Tyabji on Change.org.

We thought it was time to share this conflict with you, the wine fan.

We have interviews with :

Lindsay O’Rourke  Co-Founder of Tightrope Winery.

Lindsay ORourke. Tightrope

Gjoa  Taylor & John Bilodeau from Gjoa Vineyards

Gjoa Taylor. John Bilodeau

Duncan McCowan  President of Hillside Estate Winery and Bistro

Duncan McCowan Hillside

Chef Ned Bell  Naramata Inn. (recorded before Christmas but gives a sense of how special  Naramata Town and area are)

https://naramatainn.com/

www.tightropewinery,ca

https://www.gjoasvineyard.com/

https://www.hillsidewinery.ca/

www.preservenaramatabench.com

 

BUT FIRST:

We start this weeks Tasting Room Radio with a revisit to the sparkling Ampersand Distillery in Duncan, Vancouver Island.

Jessica. Jeremy. Stephen. Ramona Schacht Ampersand

Jessica Schacht is the co-founder of Ampersand, along with her husband Jeremy, along with Jeremys parents Stephen and Ramona.

In 2007 the same summer that Meg and I moved to Naramata, Stephen and Ramona moved to the Cowichan Valley to start a vegetable farm. Jeremy perhaps  didn’t see it as a farm “per se” but as another classroom  to extend his education in chemical process engineering.  A distillery was born. They created all the equipment themselves and called the passion project Ampersand.

How well did they learn?

Ampersand Gin was voted Best BC Distilled Gin 2016-2018

Per Se Vodka was voted Best BC Distilled  Vodka 2016-2019

And Per Se won World’s Best Varietal at the 2020 World Vodka Awards.

 Very happy to welcome back to TRR – Jessica and Ampersand.

http://www.ampersanddistilling.com/

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 Davin de Kergommeaux – Whisky/Spirits Update

Shelter Point

Eau Claire Distillery

Sheringham Distillery

 

 

 

 

EP 139 | MLK / Art Bergmann

January 15, 2021 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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What a Time.

Covid19. Political Balance of Power

Friday was the Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Monday is/was Martin Luther King Day in America.

At the same time, punk pioneer Art Bergmann discovers he’s an inductee for The Order of Canada.

 

This week on the Mulligan Stew Podcast we celebrate both.

 

Sam Pollard is a well-respected editor and film director. He’s been part of Spike Lee’s films having edited Mo Better Blues, Clockers, etc.

When he read that the FBI files on Martin Luther King Jr were being unsealed he realized he had the subject of his next documentary.

While Dr. King was talking and walking for civil rights in the USA the FBI, lead by J Edgar Hoover, was spying on Dr. King. They were looking for any information that would discredit his legacy. As Dr. King won the Nobel Peace Prize he was being labeled “the most dangerous negro in America” by the FBI.

It’s possible his verbal opposition to the Viet Nam War may have led directly to his assassination.

To recognize Dr. Kings Birthday and National Day we’ve included just a couple of minutes of Sam Pollard’s commentary. The complete interview will be posted next week.

Art Bergmann is a Canadian punk pioneer. His bands and songs were pointed, angry, and loud.

But what he was railing against were First Nations rights, aboriginal education, and health. Police misconduct. Politics. Organized Religion. Governments of all stripe.

As the Order of Canada press release noted “for his indelible contributions to the Canadian punk music scene and for his thought-provoking discourse on social, gender and racial inequalities”

Art hasn’t slowed down either.

His new album Late Stage Empire Dementia is about to be released. We’ll play two tracks plus Bound for Vegas.

Ladies and Gents, we are thrilled to present – Art Bergmann.  Order of Canada Inductee.

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January 9th, 2021- David Hawksworth and Liam Mayclem

January 9, 2021 Tasting Room Radio 00:57:55

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David Hawksworth –THE COOKBOOK

Liam Mayclem – The Foodie Chap. SF

 THE SHOW

David Hawksworth – Hawksworth The CookBook

It’s a beauty this one.

Everyone seems to need something different from new cookbooks.

Photos, recipes, stories about the author, and how recipes came to be.

How easy or difficult. How well researched.

There seems to be many potholes that cookbooks fall into.

This is not one of those books because David Hawksworth is not one of those chefs.

 

“On opening a new cookbook, I get in the passing lane and speed to the recipes. But when I cracked open Hawksworth The Cookbook by David Hawksworth and Stephanie Noel I stayed in the slow lane, captivated by Hawksworth’s story interspersed through the book.”  Mia Stainsby Van Sun

As a leader in contemporary Canadian cuisine, Chef Hawksworth’s restaurants, Hawksworth and Nightingale, have been fixtures of Vancouver’s dining scene for the past 10 years, aweing diners with the intricate, beautiful, and refined dishes that have become synonymous with his name. In this book, he shares for the first time the artfully developed recipes that have brought him unparalleled success over the years, and challenges readers to recreate these dishes for an unforgettable dining experience.

 

“I have been a fan of Chef David Hawksworth’s precise French school-style, and Pacific Northwest ingredient-driven cuisine for over 20 years. This book is an incredible tool, full of secrets and techniques, for all cooks to up their game—at home and at work. Well played.” —CHEF DAVID MCMILLAN, JOE BEEF RESTAURANT GROUP

Hawksworth is a celebration of Chef Hawksworth’s career to date, with recipes ranging from his time training in London with Michelin-starred chefs, to Ouest, the first restaurant where he served as head chef, to opening his own fine-dining restaurant.

The book’s simpler and more casual recipes reflect the family-style dishes served at Nightingale and the casual fare of Bel Café (a downtown lunchtime go-to destination). The recipes included require varying levels of skill and time commitments. Casual foodies and adventurous cooks alike will find new culinary pleasures with Chef Hawksworth as their guide.

Winner of 2012 and 2013 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards Restaurant of the Year and Chef of the Year and for four consecutive years, Best Upscale Dining, as well as enRoute magazine’s top three Best New Restaurants, and Maclean’s magazine Restaurant of the Year; Hawksworth has anchored himself at the helm of the Vancouver – and Canadian – dining scene.

This interview takes you through David’s beginnings, how little he knew about cooking when he got to London, the lessons learned from Michelin starred chefs, and how he lived his dream once back on the West Coast.

There’s the great story about Willie Mitchell (then a Canuck) and his wife dining at West with the new owners of the Hotel Georgia, a building David had always admired and dreamt about making it his home base. His life changed that night.

We welcome back a chef, a friend, and fishing partner David Hawksworth.

https://hawksworthrestaurant.com/

 Liam Mayclem – The Foodie Chap. San Francisco.

Liam Mayclem

Liam has been on Tasting Room Radio many times. We met when we both did movie junkets together in LA and NY.

In between films and interviews, we talked about food and wine then movies.

Emmy Award-winning radio & TV personality,  Liam is best known as the host of EYE ON THE BAY on CBS 5 and as “The Foodie Chap” celebrating San Francisco Bay Area culinary stars daily on #1 KCBS Radio.

Annually, Liam hosts the main stage at EAT DRINK SF – a gathering for SF food fans.  He also hosts the culinary stage at BOTTLE ROCK NAPA VALLEY. This year he made sushi with Chef Morimoto and Snoop Dog, tasted fried chicken made by Flava Flav, and enjoyed nitrus cocktails concocted by Chef Dominique Crenn.

He’s also the first call made when a charity event needs a host or auctioneer. He’s a very busy guy our Liam.

I wanted to get caught up on how San Francisco’s wineries, restaurants, and citizens are handling the Covid 19 Pandemic.

I also wanted to get caught up on how Liam was doing and what he was doing.

Did I mention he’s a very busy guy?

 

https://www.radio.com/kcbsradio/authors/liam-mayclem

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Ampersand Distilling

New BC releases

Virtual tastings in Portugal and Barossa Valley

 

 

 

 

EP 138 | Chef David Hawksworth

January 9, 2021 Mulligan Stew Podcast

hello

Chef David Hawksworth has released his first cookbook.  Hawksworth. The CookBook

Yes, it has incredible recipes but the stories of places and kitchens, victories, and defeats run throughout the pages.

It’s a great read. It was/is an amazing life.

David grew up on Canada’s West Coast but hit the road teaching himself how to cook (never a good move)

In London, David worked for the legendary Marco Pierre White (who trained Gordon Ramsay,   Mario Batali, and Shannon Bennett).  After nine years in London, Hawksworth decided if he wanted to see 40 and realize the dream of his own restaurant he would have to return to Vancouver.

Finally in 2011, after many many months of planning, David opened Hawksworth. It was an immediate hit and named restaurant of the year in 2012 by Maclean’s magazine, and consistently ranked as one of the best in the country. David and his team also opened  Nightingale in 2016 in Coal Harbour, and two Bel Café locations, plus a catering arm.

This podcast has a lot of his life story included but keep in mind, he’s still writing new chapters.

This interview and book are not really about that he’s doing all these amazing things, it’s about HOW he did it – WHY he did it – and answers the question – at what price?

He was very well served by adding Chef Stephanie Noel and Journalist Jacob Richler to his team. Well done you two.

At one point we talk about chefs and cookbooks that influenced him. Then we talk about all the future chefs who will be influenced by this book. We welcome  David Hawksworth and his first cookbook.  HAWKSWORTH. The Cookbook

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/568438/hawksworth-by-chef-david-hawksworth-with-chef-stephanie-noel-and-jacob-richler-foreword-by-chef-philip-howard/9780525610090

EP 137 | A dozen interview guests who all made the CKUA Top 100

January 2, 2021 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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There are a few times over the path of a year that shows create themselves.

This is one of those shows and it was perfect for the podcast.

Our guests leave us with  comments about how their songs got written and how albums got made.  How they survived Covid19 lockdowns, the loss of stages and tour dates, the JOY of staying home and rediscovering family life.  Statements were taken from various interviews over a wild and dark 2020.

These were many of the albums that listeners repeatedly told us got them  through a lost and lonely year.

Every one of these artists made the CKUA Radio Top 100 album list and one of them – Frazey Ford – was the #1 album of the year. (most spins over the year)

https://ckua.com/read/top-100-albums-of-2020/

Frazey Ford (Vancouver)

Margo Price (Nashville)

William Prince (Winnipeg)

Ron Sexsmith (outside Toronto)

Roy Forbes  (North Vancouver)

Andy Shauf (Toronto)

Mike Plume (Edmonton)

Corb Lund (rural Alberta)

Nathaniel Rateliff (Denver, I think)

Bahamas  (Halifax)

Elvis Costello (Vancouver Island)

Tami Neilson (Auckland NZ) 

 

Happy New Year – all of Y’ALL

Winter Whites! Tasting Room Radio- January 1st, 2021

December 31, 2020 Tasting Room Radio 00:56:23

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Winter White Wines –  A Winter What?

THE SHOW

It was a comment about a year ago.  A winemaker used the phrase “I’m making Winter Whites”.

“A Winter White – what is that?”

Well,  it’s a white wine that has enough texture and mouthfeel to pair with Winter roasts, stews, soups, root vegetables etc.

 

 

 

This hour is dedicated to focusing in on white wines than can carry their weight through the Winter.

I sought out winemakers and wine experts who could explain Winter Whites and then recommend wines that we could get our hands on!

Most of us switch from summer whites to increasingly heavier reds when the Winter cool and wet sets in. Fair enough. They go well with stews, soups, confit, Cassoulet and oven birds.

A Winter White has to have weight, texture and the ability to pair with all those dishes.

Fat Chards come to mind, Chablis, some Pinot Gris and Chenins, specifically Vouvrays

Rieslings from Alsace, Soave from Italy, Mondavi Fume. White blends from Chateauneuf-du-Pape

2 Bench White from Tinhorn  Creek.(Semillion,Chard, Sauv Blanc, Viognier and Muscat)

Ava from Le Vieux Pin

Yalumba Y Series Viognier.   I could go on.

Please don’t forget to include Bubble, Rosé and Roussanne

Our guests include:

Chris Reilly – Head Sommelier at (David Hawksworth’s)  Nightingale Restaurant in Vancouver

https://hawknightingale.com/

 

Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson – Drinks Editor Winnipeg Free Press https://www.winealign.com/profile/43820-Ben-MacPhee-Sigurdson

Kurtis Kolt – Wine Educator,  Wine Writer.  Judge. http://www.kurtiskolt.com/

Kurtis-Kolt

Rhys Pender – Master of Wine  https://www.mastersofwine.org/en/meet-the-masters/profile/index.cfm/id/dfb8a043-5e4b-e211-a20600155d6d822c

Michaela Morris – Wine writer and judge  https://michaelamorris.ca/

Jason Parkes – Winemaker The Hatch, etc.   https://thehatchwines.com/ 

Jason Parkes – The Hatch

Valeria Tait –Gold Hill Winery and 2House  www.goldhillwinery.com

Valeria Tait – 2House and Gold Hill

Kathy Malone – Winemaker at Hillside https://www.hillsidewinery.ca/

Kathy Malone

 

 

Chris Reilly-Head Sommelier at Nightingale

 

Here’s Chris Reilly’s List:

2016 Clos du Soleil Capella Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon Similkameen Valley

2013 Haywire Vintage Bubb Okanagan Valley

2016 Gustave Lorentz Pinot Gris Alsace France

2016 Pietradolce Carricante Etna Bianco Sicily Italy

2017 Yalumba “Y” Series Viognier South Australia Australia

Here’s Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson’s List :

 

d’Arenberg

The Hermit Crab Viognier Marsanne (McLaren Vale, Australia)

$23

Guigal

2016 Cotes du Rhone white (Cotes du Rhone, France)

$29

60% Viognier, 15% Roussanne, 10% Marsanne, 8 % Clairette, 5% Bourboulenc, 2% Grenache blanc.

Torres

2017 Esmerelda (Catalunya, Spain)

$16.99 BCLDB

Moscatel and Gewurztraminer, spice and stone/tropical fruit with a hint of sweetness.

Testalonga Baby Bandito

“Keep on Punching” Chenin Blanc (Swartland, South Africa)

FYI

The Winemakers have lots of suggestions.  – One name that pops up 3  times is Ava from Le Vieux Pin.

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Zoom tasting at Yalumba

Fonseca Zoomathon from Portugal

Taylor Fladgate – Zoom from Portugal

Doin’ The Douce in North Vancouver.  Douce Diner

David Hawksworth – The Cookbook (Next week)

Liam Mayclem – Conditions in SF and Napa

Heading back to Ampersand

Creek and Gully Cider