Tasting Room Radio

  The 2020 Cowichan Valley Wine Festival  Aug 1-31 In a normal year, just about now,  I’d get in the car and drive south on Vancouver Island to Cobble Hill and meet the Cowichan Winemakers on a Crush Pad. As we all know 2020 is not a normal year. A historic pandemic has a way of shutting everything down and threatening everyone’s health and life. How then to organize and pull off a wine festival? With the assistance and guidance of Tourism Cowichan, the 13 wineries of the Cowichan Valley invite you to Discover Cowichan Wine. This year the wine festival is taking place for the entire month of August. Due to Covid19, there will be no opening party however participants can purchase a ticket for $20 which gives them a festival glass to bring to each winery. Tasting fees are waived and if you get a stamp at each tasting on your passport you then qualify for a draw at the end of August for a case of Cowichan Wine. The wineries have been preparing to receive guests in a safe and healthy environment. Physical distancing, sanitized tastings plus safety for the guests and employees. There is so much to celebrate in The Cowichan.  A new Sub GI designation. Cowichan now can appear on all wine labels made with Valley fruit. And the recent purchase of Unsworth by Barbara Banke and Julia Jackson (Napa/Sonoma).   This is our first Zoom interview with the Cowichan Wineries. The audio and zoom video can be streamed on our website. I asked our winemaking guests to highlight two wines they’re pouring… Jill Nessel – Tourism Cowichan.GM Mike Nierychlo – Emandare Vineyard  (Rose and Pinot Noir) Brent Rowland – Averill Creek/Joue  (Joue White and Red) Paul Bruner – Blue Grouse.  The owner (Estate Pinot Gris and Quill Rose) Dan Wright – Unsworth Vineyards (Allegro and Rose) Paul Busnardo – Divino (Trebbiano and Everything red blend) Lorin Inglis – Enrico.GM  (Charme De Lile Sparkling and Tempest Ortega) Xavier Bonilla – Cherry Point (Pinot Noir and Siegerrebe) Chef and Author  Bill Jones – Deerholme Farm in The Cowichan.   A Question.  What goes best with Cowichan Wine?  Cowichan Food! And who better to add a food component to this special than Chef Bill Jones at Deerholme Farm. You know Bill from his dozen or so books..The Deerholme Foraging Book. The Deerholme Mushroom Book. Bill Jones is a passionate supporter of local food communities, a founding member of FarmFolk/CityFolk, SlowFood Vancouver Island, and was a key organizer of the BC Canadian Chefs Congress. If you’re heading to the festival, check out Bills  Thursday small dinners and special dinner Aug 15th (Mediterranean) & 22nd (Korean BBQ) Or sign up for the always sold out foraging classes in The Fall.   www.deerholme.com Cowichan Visitor Information visitorinfo@duncancc.bc.ca info@tourismcowichan.com   Tasting Room Radio Cowichan Wine Guests – www.emandarevineyard.com www.averillcreek.ca/ www.bluegrouse.ca www.unsworthvineyards.com www.DivinoWine.ca www.enricowinery.com www.cherrypointestatewines.com    STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON: Kathy Malone – New releases from Hillside Hester Creek checks in The BC Wine Lover’s Cookbook – Jenn Schell Chef Ned Bell – Naramata Inn Food Day Canada.

Rathjen Cellars. Jim Cuddy Wines. Moon Curser, The  Best Small Winery in Canada   THE SHOW In addition to planting their own vineyard in 2016, Mike Rathjen leases five other established vineyards on the Saanich Peninsula, all of which provided grapes to former wineries in the area. Mike is honoured to work with some of the oldest vineyards on Vancouver Island and he’s  excited with the quality of wine coming from these vines. Mike Rathjen moved to Vancouver Island in 2011 with a passion for wine, farming and food culture. Over the next five years he honed his winemaking skills in his basement (AKA the ‘Wine Bunker’) while building relationships in the local farming community. Together with his friend and business partner Colin Mann, Mike founded Rathjen Cellars in 2016 with a business model based off leased farmland and a focus on supporting the local food system. Rathjen Cellars source all of their fruit from six vineyards on the Saanich Peninsula and two vineyards in the Cowichan Valley.   I’ve always been impressed with the wines I’ve tasted from Mike and I think you will be too!  Tasting and talking about their Auxerrois, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir.  Yum. https://rathjencellars.com/ Jim Cuddy – Cuddy Wines by Tawse Paul Pender – Tawse Winemaker Jim Cuddy does not like Rosé ! But he basically likes everything else. As you know, Jim is the co-writer and co-singer with Blue Rodeo, The leader of the Jim Cuddy Band and recipient of The Order of Canada. When he decided to put his name on a wine bottle he was smart enough to partner with one of the very best names in Canadian wine. Tawse Wines. They’ve release a Chardonnay, Cab/Merlot and Sparkling Riesling. No Rosé . We talk about that and other wines. AND we also talk to his winemaker Paul Pender.   https://www.tawsewinery.ca/cuddy-by-tawse/ www.bluerodeo.com www.jimcuddy.com Chris Tolley – Co-Owner/Co-Winemaker Moon Curser Wines. Moon Curser won the 2019 Wine Align Best Small performing Winery in Canada. Moon Curser – Best Small Winery in Canada At the end of the competition, the winery walked away with several medals led by a Platinum for its remarkable ode to the Douro Valley, the 2017 Touriga Nacional. They followed that up with six gold medals for a 2015 Tannat, think Uruguay; 2018 Dolcetto, that’s Italy; a 2017 Malbec, that’s Argentina; a 2017 Tempranillo, a nod to Spain; a 2017 Petit Verdot a classic from Bordeaux; and one final gold for a 2017 Dead of Night, a blend of Syrah and Tannat.   “Well, you get the picture, this is one very different producer, and in many ways, a poster child for what we always hoped would be the kind of innovative, family estate winery that would grab the title of the Best Performing Small Winery in Canada. All that is left for you to do is try the wine and eventually visit the winery to experience what the Tolleys did when they first got into the business, something new and intriguing and most of all different....

Randy Ullom Winemaker (Kendall Jackson) & Graham Pierce  Winemaker(Kitsch)   THE SHOW  Randy Ullom – Master Winemaker and Senior VP                               Jackson Family Estates and Kendall-Jackson Wines.   I cannot think of another winemaker who has stayed with the same winery for 28 years. Randy oversees 12,800 acres of estate vineyards in cooler coastal California wine growing regions. One third each in North Coast, Monterey and Santa Barbara counties. “I look at all of the vineyards we own, and all of the individual lots of wines that we make, and the thousands of barrels we have sitting in our cellar and sometimes I think, you gotta be kidding me! After I’ve sufficiently recovered from my daily panic attack, I take off my coat, dig in my heels and take it one barrel at a time. It’s a rewarding job that I love.”   Hired by Jess Jackson in 1992 as Winemaker for some of their smaller and international vineyards, Randy was handed his most prestigious assignment in 1997 – Winemaster for Kendall-Jackson Winery. A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Randy became interested in wine during a three-year stay in Chile, while on sabbatical from college in the early 1970s. His stay inspired a cross-country trek through Chile’s vast wine-growing regions. On his return to the United States, he entered Ohio State University to study crop production with a specialty in Viticulture and Enology and received his degree in 1975. After six years as a vineyard manager and Winemaker in Ohio and upstate New York, Randy moved to California to become associate Winemaker at De Loach Vineyards in Sonoma County. He was promoted to Winemaker and Vice President in 1991. The wines produced during his tenure were consistent gold medal winners at wine competitions. Randy   looks like a Sheriff from Dodge City..Oversees the growing and creating of 5 Million cases of wine from 35 labels. (check their website below) His job includes  working with wines grown in Sonoma, Chile, Bordeaux, Australia and Italy.   TASTING TODAY:  Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay – https://www.kj.com/wine/vintners-reserve/chardonnay Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Sauvignon Blanc – https://www.kj.com/wine/vintners-reserve/sauvignon-blanc Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Pinot Gris – https://www.kj.com/wine/vintners-reserve/pinot-gris (Featured at Liquor Plus in July) Kendall-Jackson, Jackson Estate Hawkeye Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon – https://www.kj.com/wine/jackson-estate/hawkeye-mountain-cabernet-sauvignon (Will be featured at Everything Wine in July.) www.kj.com     Graham Pierce – GM and Winemaker at Kitsch If the name is familiar it’s because he has worked with and made wines at  Mt Boucherie, Time and for 10 years at Black Hills. Graham had the toughest job in the Okanagan. Following in the footsteps of winemaker Senka Tennant, the creator of one of Canada’s greatest blends Note Bene. Graham carried the torch for 10 years and created a brilliant blend in his own distinctive style.  He’s a pro. Now he’s going through much the same process at  Kitsch  #okanaganinaglass.  Winemaker Grant Biggs has moved on and Graham once again has the ability and talent to walk into the cellar and begin shaping his versions of Kitsch wines.   Graham walks us through: 2019  Pinot Gris 2019 Block Party (Riesling, P. Gris. Chard)

  Sandra Oldfield, Anthony Buchanan and the local  legend behind Orto Brigitte Raye! THE SHOW Sandra Oldfield joins the community of voices and talents who are regularly welcomed to Tasting Room Radio. I’ve missed talking to her and exchanging “shots over the bow”! Since Tinhorn Creek was sold she’s been busy as one winery after another was looking for her services. She and her husband Ken opened Elysian Projects to consult and mentor  new wineries and start ups looking for advice. We don’t have enough space for the awards she’s been presented with, however, include Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100. BC Restaurant Hall of Fame. She has always been a strong advocate for the wine and tourism industries from founding Oliver’s Festival of the Grape in 1997 to joining the board of the Tourism Industry Association of BC. She helped  lead the movement to create the sub-appellation  The Golden Mile. A Founder of the very popular #BCWineChat..  20 plus years  at Tinhorn Creek and organizer of the yearly Fortify Conference. And what I like most about Sandra is – when needed, she’s a gifted troublemaker. I’m hoping this is the first of many chats we’ll have. She’ll cover the state of BC wine right now, missed opportunities during COVID-19, what changes are coming in the future. For wine fans you’ll find this essential and for wineries – imperative! www.Elysianprojects.com #bcwinechat Anthony Buchanan – (Anthony Buchanan Wines and Desert Hills Winery)  When I’m asked to recommend winemakers to keep an eye on, one of my answers in the last couple of years has been Anthony Buchanan. The wines he poured at last year’s garagiste were some of  the very  best I tasted that day. His first classroom was at  Church And State in Saanich. Then the Okanagan with Professor Mike Bartier. Anthony Buchanan has dedicated his entire life to revealing beauty, first with people and now with wine. With two decades in hairdressing, his story appeared set in stone. However, on becoming an Opimian Society member, he fell hard for an extraordinary Pinot Noir, and a new path emerged. Now, Anthony Buchanan’s  winery offers focused low intervention Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Orange and sparkling wine from the Okanagan Valley. Highly recommended. Start with the fantastic Pinot Blanc Lawson (The best I’ve tasted in Canada) 2018  Trios Orange and 2018 Semillon 2018 Pinot Noir Ashlyn  Clone 777. Similkameen Valley. 2018 Syrah Whole Cluster Ferment  Black Sage Road.  Syrah Clone 99 and Viognier clone 642. Unfined. Unfiltered. Amazing bacon and spice flavours. 2918 Syrah “William Dean” FUBAR – crazy blend . Zweigelt, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Muscat. SNAFU –  Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc, Muscat, Viognier Rose – If you see it,  BUY IT!  The 2019 was made with Malbec and sold out like it was Christmas! The Viognier by itself is a keeper. The Wild Ferment Brut “Méthode Ancestrale” is like no other. FYI  Ashlyn and Lawson are the Buchanan kids. The next generation!! https://anthonybuchananwines.ca/ ORTO Artisan Pasta – Brigitte Raye,  Owner. Orto is now open – please check website below for times and conditions. If the name  Brigitte Raye doesn’t immediately connect with your memory bank please let me make an deposit. For me it starts at La Regalade in West Vancouver.  A Wonderful French Bistro with Brigitte front of house and Ex-Husband Alain in kitchen. After a shut down and a divorce,  the parents worked with their sons in various bistros. Son Kevin has been cooking at Langara Fishing Lodge in Haida Gwaii; and son Steve  joined his mom at  Orto Artisan Pasta in North Vancouver.

This is our first ever BC Field Blend Special. What is a field blend, who makes it and why don’t they put the words on the label? Over thirty different opinions in this one hour.   THE SHOW Breaking News: One week after our feature interview on Unsworth Vineyards in The Cowichan Valley it has been announced that the winery has been purchased by California wine royalty. Involved were The Turyk Family at Unsworth, Barbara Banke,  the widow of Jackson Family Wines founder Jess Jackson who is Chairman and Proprietor.  The Flagship winery is Kendall-Jackson. She has been involved in winery purchases in Oregon, France, Italy, Chile, Australia, South Africa and now Vancouver Island. And her daughter Julia,  who is very much involved in the Jackson Family team. This is a very important moment for The Cowichan and BC Wines. We have been studied and found to be worthy of high profile  investment. We start the show with a quick chat with last week’s guest Chris Turyk.   www.unsworthvineyards.com https://www.jacksonfamilywines.com/   A couple of years ago a gaggle of winemakers from Portugal came through Vancouver. Our interviews always ended up in the same place..their famous field blends. In the Duoro Valley they plant, grow, harvest and bottle 20-30-40 different varietals. All Together! It’s a true field blend. What’s in the field IS the blend. I was fascinated by the process and the final results. These wines were complex, elegant and surprisingly balanced. True Field Blends are still made in Germany and Australia. Over the course of a year, the questions I asked over 30 winemakers were.. What is your concept of a field blend? Do you make a field blend and what’s in it? If you do make a field blend..do you put the words on your label? If not, why not? The answers were passionate, surprising and highly opinionated. Most wines we drink today are made of grapes harvested from various vineyards throughout a province , state, or even country, fermented in separate lots, and then blended together into a finished wine. Field blends are single-vineyard wines whose grapes are grown, harvested, and vinified together—the blending is done in the vineyard, not in the winery. Field-blended vineyards are interplanted with multiple grape varieties—sometimes all red or all white, and sometimes both red and white—without apparent rhyme or reason. A zinfandel vine might be growing with carignan on one side and petite sirah on the other. The whole field is then picked at once. Timing is crucial and calls into play the winemaker’s skill and artistry. All of the grapes are fermented together. Some old World winemakers or growers may have no idea what the exact blend is. I don’t expect everyone is going to have the same interest as I do but the winemakers here all have a very strong opinion (all except my pal Dell Halliday who’s answer was “Meh”). The responses were really good and just kept getting better and better. Especially about the question Why do you not put the words Field Blend on your bottles? Are we, the consumer not trusting of the term? (Several winemakers here actually believe in field blends and some years have put the words on their labels Michael Schindler from A Sunday in August Grant Biggs from Kitsch (Block Party) Brent Rowland from Joue at Averill Creek Mike Nierychlo from Emandare)   Here’s the Guest List for the Field Blend Special (Yes, some were asked twice over the course of a Year)   Rhys Pender – Master of Wine Kurtis Kolt – Wine Writer and Judge. Co-Organizer of Top Drop in the West. Val Tait (Bench 1775) and Senka Tennant (TerraVista)

CELEBRATING OUR WINE PARTNERS –  PART TWO (Row 14 at Klippers and Unsworth)    THE SHOW  The Tour de 2020 was an idea that came as 2019 turned into 2020. “let’s go visit all the sponsors, taste and do interviews” I loved the idea. You can only do so much over the phone or Zoom. Nothing beats sitting down with your partners and friends to talk wine, foods and plans for the year. Then Corona Virus struck and everything changed. It’s still changed. However, the wine business kept on going..from shut down to drive through. Free delivery to on line tastings. So back to the phones we went. (except for Unsworth) It’s almost impossible to explain how much we appreciate those who support us. They have a lot of choices and we’re just happy they chose us. Last week we featured Jason Parkes and Grayson Riordan from The Hatch John Weber from Orofino Joseph Luckhurst  from Road 13 In the spotlight this week it’s Anne- Marie and Kevin Klippenstein  from Row 14 at Klippers Organic Acres and Untangled Cider  (Cawston, Similkameen Valley) And Derek Grey – co-partner and chef at Row 14 at Klippers (from Savio Volpe)   We’ve all heard the phrase “farm to table”.  Row 14 is the Real Deal. They  take produce that surrounds  Row 14  at Klippers Organics and cook it simply. The wood fire is the heart of the room. Diners waiting for their food  can watch it cooking on the open hearth.   As Kevin explains they use  olive oil from Salt Spring Island and balsamic vinegar from Verturi Schulze in the Cowichan, for example. They also gets their eggs and meats from local farmers in the Similkameen Valley. The region has some of the best produce in B.C.  Most of it organic . Its the perfect pairing. Similkameen wine and Similkameen produce all grown in the same soils. In the coming weeks we’ll tell you more about their untangled cider and The Suites at Klippers. The fine people  and everything they’re committed to are well worth your time to follow. Chef takes us through the absolute delight of having almost everything he needs right outside the kitchen doors.  Fresh. Organic. Cooked on an open fire. Perfect!!! The Similkameen Valley has officially run up the ”follow us” flag. http://www.klippersorganics.com/ Chris Turyk – Family Member, Marketing Director, Sommelier.  Unsworth Vineyards (Cowichan) Long time partners and one of the best success stories in BC Wine. They proudly showcase their Pinot Noir, Rose and bubble programs in addition to an ever expanding portfolio. Sweet tasting room and patio… throw in a lake just for fun and a restaurant that makes the best meals and  pizza for miles. Chris and I sat 6 feet apart and talked about “the new normal” and what the rest of the year may look like. They continue to release new wines and blends including Rose Charme Cuvee De L’ile Gamay Noir Symphony Red Blend Pinot Noir And that glorious Rose. And best of all we talk about the new Sub GI for the Cowichan.  Labels can now be site specific and its one more step for  this region in its quest to  become  of major interest to wine fans and investors. Just watch. www.unsworthvineyards.com STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON: Hillside The story behind Winemakers Cut Mt Boucherie Vanessa and Howard Soon Anthony Buchanan Noble Ridge Lock and Worth Nichol Vineyards Bartier Bros. Cedar Creek And much more    

Celebrating National Rosé Day and our wine partners    THE SHOW.    June 13 is National Rosé Day.  Celebrating all that’s  great about drinking Pink.  Who better to lead the celebration than Master of Wine  Elizabeth Gabay? Wine Master  and author Elizabeth Gabay joins us. She’s written a book called Rose!  Understanding The Pink Wine Revolution. Terry and Elizabeth  discuss her book and all that went into it. For example,  Elizabeth  tasted 10 Rosé a day. A total of 1500 over 6 months from across the globe. Hear everything you need to know about one of the world’s oldest known types of wine. June 13 is National  Rose Day –Rose was always considered the Ugly Duckling..Now  THE SWAN Emerges!! She knows what she talks about. Elizabeth is a Master of Wine who lives North of Nice! Provence is right around the corner. And in France, 30% of all wine consumed is Rose. One thing we do understand – there is no hotter wine right now than Rose. In Canada for example, Imported Rose sales grew by 116% between 2012-2016. Canadian production grew 9%. Rose winemaking has become complex, making it perfect for food pairing. Yes, you can find lots of light Summer Sippers..somebody is even making a stronger Rose..for all you fans who want ice in the glass. There are natural Rose in cement tanks, eggs and even terracotta amphorae. … and it’s NOT just a Summer drink anymore. Even though stores and restaurants back off after Thanksgiving..many wine fans (me included) carry on through the Winter..finding new ways to pair Rose and hearty winter meals. There’s Rose in Oak. Aged Rose. What colour Rose you choose is totally open for discussion. Many fully grown men (if there is such a thing) will not be caught with a “pink drink” I still find that bizarre. Elizabeth joins us  from her house in a small French village Saint- Martin- Vesubie “just North of Nice” You can find her at www.pink.wine Liquid Partnerships Tasting Room Radio has always been made up of Four Segments. In the beginning we decided to partner with four sponsors, one for each segment. We’ve made some great friends along the way. Okanagan Crush Pad, New District, Okanagan Falls Winery Association, Naramata Bench Wineries, CC Jentsch, Marquee Wine Cellars, Four Seasons Vancouver, Bench 1775, Cowboy Coffee and many more. We had planned to do a driving tour of our current sponsors..starting at Unsworth on Vancouver Island then taking the Crowsnest Pass to Cawston in the Similkameen Valley and visit Orofino and the new Row 14 Restaurant at Klippers organics. On to Road 13 on the Golden Mile and finally ending up at The Hatch on Mount Boucherie. As you well know, all plans were put on hold as the Pandemic swept the World. So, we’ve done our  best Plan B. A socially distanced one-on-one at Unsworth and then phone/zoom interviews with the rest of the sponsors.  Talking about the headlines, surviving the loss of customers, growing on line sales and free shipping. Drive through windows and on line tastings. New releases and future plans. We’re going to talk to all the sponsors –  alphabetically This week we start with: The Hatch –  Grayson Riordan (Prince of Tides)  and Jason Parkes. (Founder. Winemaker) Orofino – John Weber (Co-owner. Winemaker) Road 13 – Joseph Luckhurst. General Manager   www.thehatchwines.com www.orofinovineyards.com www.road13.com   NEXT WEEK: Row 14 and Unsworth   STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON Jennifer Schell – BC Wine lovers Cookbook Twin Island Cider

Winemaking Couples  –   Birch Block and 2House   THE SHOW  Block Party with Sarah and Murray Bancroft  (a series) This whole show is about new school and old school winemaking. Ian Sutherland and Valeria Tait have been a couple for years in the Okanagan but now have decided to make wine together. Finally.  After all those years. That’s the second half of TRR. We start with one of the newest, coolest couples to ever become winemakers and farmers. Just a couple of years ago Sarah and Murray Bancroft were living the life in Paris.   Murray is a trained chef but works in food and menu design/styling. Sarah is an editor and is skilled at crafting digital sites and campaigns. Now they’re farmers in Kaleden, just south of Penticton. Their winery is called Birch Block www.birchblockvineyard.com What we have in common is a love for a documentary called The Biggest Little Farm “The Biggest Little Farm is about a young couple who decide to leave their old lives behind and buy a farm. The movie especially points out how hard it is to keep a farm running and all of the hardships, sadness and anger they face, but also the happy, beautiful moments and the relationships they build.” https://www.biggestlittlefarmmovie.com/ I like these two and their story so much, we’re going to do a series of interviews..chronicling their growing season and the up and downs of being a new school winemaking team. Sarah says the series is called Block Party. Birch Block has released a Rose and a small lot chardonnay. The future sounds like Pinot Noir is in the plans. They have a guest house with French linen, Moroccan plates and Spanish hats. If the wines are as stylish as these two..you’ll want to get your hands on some. Valeria Tait and Ian Sutherland – Old School When Meg and I first moved to the Naramata Bench in 2007, the very first winemaking locals we became friends with were Ian Sutherland and Val Tait. Ian had founded Poplar Grove. A small vineyard with huge potential. Ian was a really good winemaker and always fun to be around. Val was a viticulturist. Basically hired to design vineyards and consult in the planting and growing.  Painted Rock, Poplar Grove, Bench 1775. Years went by. Ian sold Poplar Grove and headed for Panama. Valeria became GM and winemaker at Bench 1775 and joined Ian in the off season. They built a beautiful home in Panama. Now. FINALLY. They have decided to make wines together but not the same wine. For example, they’ll both make a Cab Franc but one will be Ian’s take and the other Val’s. Love that. The wines will be called 2House..with a second label called Charisma. They have a Tempranillo coming. Plus Bubble and  Semillon/Sauvignon. Val has agreed to become the winemaker at Gold Hill, the label that the farming Gill family has built. Her partner is those wines is the not yet 30 year old Navi Gill. Definitely new school. Navi joins us in the last  segment. Instagram: @2housewine https://www.goldhillwinery.com/ STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON     NEXT The Hatch Unsworth Row 14 at Klippers Organics Orofino Road 13

  David Farran Pres.  Eau Claire Distillery, Turner Valley & A Revisit to Tofino Food and Wine    THE SHOW  For years, a huge percentage of the grains that were grown by farmers in Alberta were shipped to The UK to make Scotch. 80% of all that Scotch was made with Alberta Barley. The distillers who did make spirits in Alberta , made  whisky in bulk. Then David Farran  left his management position at Big Rock Brewing and began the dream of starting Alberta’s  first ever craft distillery. Eau Claire was born in Turner Valley South of Calgary. David partnered with brewer and distiller Larry Kerwin in 2014 to launch the first micro distillery in Alberta,  Eau Claire Distillery. The spirit maker?  Caitlin Quinn, Glaswegian and very talented. Eau Claire can be found in beautiful Turner Valley..on Sunset Blvd.  Yup.  The old movie theatre and dance hall building built in 1929. I love the fact that they harvest with Percheron horse teams, trained by The Amish. The only people still harvesting by horse. Does it make for better spirits?  You tell me. Parlour Gin. Ploughman’s Rye, Cherry Gin, Saskatoon Honey Gin, Dill Pickle Vodka,  Three Point Vodka and Alberta’s first single malt whisky. Prickly Pear equinOx and many more. They open their Tasting Room first week in June. Local farmers. Local grains. “from farm to glass” www.eauclairedistillery.ca   Remembering The Tofino Food and Wine Festival  (2019) The Tofino Food and Wine fest was always one of the outstanding events on the calendar. Sure there were lots of other food and wine gatherings,  in ballrooms, basements and  convention centres. None of them could match holding a wine festival in a beautiful community garden and a RAINFOREST. It was organized by Kira Rogers and a wonderful team of volunteers. We covered the event as part of our Tofino food and craft special. Months later a press release arrived from Kira cancelling future events. “For the past 16 years, our experience in working with the British Columbia LCRB has been positive, constructive, helpful and supportive. In 2019, our 17th year producing this well-loved event, our experience was the opposite: obstructive, hostile, intimidating and rude. We felt like an opponent.”   Way to go LCRB.  While we wait for the possible return of this wonderful gathering, I thought I’d offer the interviews we did last year. Kira Rogers – organizer Sara Triggs – Culmina Sales and Marketing Manager  Culmina.ca Rob Hammersley – Owner Black Market Wines  BlackMarketwine.ca Chris Smith – Island rep for Way West Wines  waywestwines.com David Gouge – Owner Sea Star Wines. Pender Island  seastarvineyards.ca Paul Gardner –  Co-Owner Pentage    pentage.com STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON: Block Party at The Birth Block Vineyard – a series. Unsworth Orofino Row 14 at Klippers The Hatch Road 13 Valeria Tait and Ian Sutherland – 2Houses BC Wine Lovers Cookbook Ned Bell

OUR RESTAURANTS ARE OPEN – NOW WHAT?/ NUDE BEVERAGES- THE STORY/FORT BERENS THE SHOW First things first – we hope this finds you safe and well. I’m sure you heard that BC’s restaurants are being allowed to re-open.  Be forewarned – they won’t look or feel like what you’re used to.   (the BC Governments document here) Here are  the words that keep popping up under General Considerations: Consider Modify Eliminate Maintain Provide Create Manage Support Ensure Encourage …and for the restaurants..directions such as Remove, used multiple times Provide Consider Limit Encourage Here’s a link from Scout Magazine that breaks down the original document and gives you the info you need to know.  https://scoutmagazine.ca/2020/05/15/new-table-service-protocols-for-bc-restaurants/ Tasting Room Radio reached out to three leaders in the Food and Beverage industry to get their opinions and reactions. Andrew Morrison – Editor in Chief  www.ScoutMagazine.Ca Scott Ward – President/COO Brown’s Restaurant Group https://brownssocialhouse.com/ Ian Tostenson – President and CEO of BC Restaurant & Food Services Assn  https://www.bcrfa.com/about-us We‘ll keep going back to this story  as it unfolds. Julius Markarewicz  – Founder of Nude Beverages   The press release was one of many that day. It said something like “ Nude Beverages is shipping more product to Ontario because in their debut they: “SOLD OUT” Nude is Canada’s original sugar free Vodka Soda Brand. It all started in 2013 when Julius thought he saw a gap in the adult beverage market. Right then he  started his plan to launch an RTD (ready to drink) beverage. But first, he had to convince the BC Liquor Board to sell his discovery in their stores. Nude was sugar, sweetener, gluten and carb free. 48 hours before the window of opportunity was closed, he sat opposite their headquarters in a Starbucks and drank a lifetime of coffee and let the decision makers across the street know  that he was “right there:” if they had a questions. At the last minute they called and he/they were in. Nude sold 1Million cans in 2019 with a 30% market share. It’s been a blur every since.  They have now sold 44 Million cans across Canada and in a growing number of US States. Nude comes seven flavours now with more to follow.  Besides the original vodka soda, there’s gin soda, iced tea, tequila soda etc. Nude feels it’s important to give back to the community and are developing relationships with animal rescue groups as part of their company expansion plans with more charities and movements added every month. They have also committed to the covid relief efforts. https://nudebeverages.com/covid-relief-fund/ Julius will bring us up to speed with this two part interview. www.nudebeverages.com @nudebeverages Rolf de Bruin  – co-founder of Fort Berens Wines With his wife Heleen, they moved from Holland to BC, eventually choosing Lillooet to plant and grow their own dreams, in the form of a vineyard and winery. On a day-to-day basis, Rolf helps lead the Fort Berens team by example and by inspiration. He also manages the sales and marketing for the business. Eleven owners show great teamwork. Rolf takes us through tasting notes and price points of their new releases 2019 Pinot Gris – 10% barrel age.  Yummy! Apples, lemon, vanilla 2019 Riesling – blend of 3 vineyards. Classic honey- grass notes. Apple, pear ,citrus 2019 Rose – 5 clones all from estate. floral nose & strawberries in the mouth                       (828-667-777-115-47) 2018 Pinot Noir – from estate, Similkameen & West Kelowna.

The WHISKY SPECIAL, featuring Davin de Kergommeaux, Eau Claire & Shelter Point THE SHOW Davin De Kergommeaux – The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries “There is a movement stirring in Canada’s spirits world”   “There was a time, in the decades after Prohibition, when Canadian whisky was all the rage in America, when a bottle of Crown Royal sat on the bar cart of any serious imbiber. But by the time the renaissance in whiskey making and drinking began in the early 2000s, the Canadian product had long ago been dismissed as bland and bottom-shelf.”  (NY Times 2018)  Davin has been featured on Tasting Room Radio a number of times. He is the voice, face and author who best represents Canadian Whisky. Check out his bio…. DAVIN DE KERGOMMEAUX is an independent expert who has been writing, talking, and teaching about whisky in all its forms and flavours for two decades. He 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. De Kergommeaux is the founder and chairperson of the prestigious Canadian Whisky Awards and publishes comprehensive tasting notes on his website, www.canadianwhisky.org. Penguin Random House has released his landmark book The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries with co-author Blair Phillips. It begins: “There is a movement stirring in Canada’s spirits world” Davin de Kergommeaux is acknowledged as the man leading the movement. When I first met him I admitted right away that I had no history with his spirits world.  (Lemon gin does not count) So he became my teacher and I hope  through Tasting Room Radio he became yours as well. This book is a huge read. There are over 200 distilleries mentioned…  it may take you many months and many sips  to read the whole book but what a journey. Davin talks about tasting and discovering these fine craft Distilleries Eau Claire – Turner Valley, Ab Forty Creek – Grimsby. On Two Brewers – Whitehorse, Yukon Shelter Point – Campbell River, BC Rheault – Hearst,  On IronWorks – Lunenburg, NS Black Velvet – Lethbridge, Ab Dairy – Almonte, On Crown Royal And others… Two distilleries are featured in the last half of this week’s “Room”  Eau Claire Distillery  –  Turner Valley , Alberta – just south of Calgary. They were the first hand crafted whisky in Alberta.  Noted for old school horse farming, a wonderful single malt now in its third batch and their very popular Parlour Gin  . Our guest is Glaswegian  Caitlin Quinn, Master Distiller.  Shelter Point –  Campbell River, BC When we first started Tasting Room Radio  years ago  we heard about “this guy on Vancouver Island making whisky” That guy turned out to be owner/farmer  Patrick Evans.  He has 155  hectares to work with and a great team that includes Head Distiller Leon Webb and our guest Distillery Manager Jacob Weibe   FYI – when asked by officials,  they quickly turned their spirits into hand sanitizer for all of us to use.  It’s a  safeguard  against the virus. That commitment alone should solidify OUR commitment to tasting their whiskeys, Gin and  Vodka. www.canadianwhisky.org. https://eauclairedistillery.ca/ https://shelterpoint.ca/

Zooming with Jason and Naomi Priestley at Home    THE SHOW   Jason Priestley. Naomi Priestley  – At Home in North Hollywood, Ca.  I’ve been very happy to call them friends for a long time. Jason Priestley and I would see each other at auditions for TV and film roles in Vancouver. Then he headed for LA and the rest you know. We created and co hosted Hollywood and Vines TV. 3 years of shows from vineyards and kitchens in Italy, USA (California, Washington and Arizona), Mexico  and across Canada. He met Naomi while acting in London. Jay didn’t know it yet but he was “done, like dinner”. Naydog is a force… We had lots to get caught up on.  The kids, the USA and it’s pandemic and political crisis. Plus three wines. The Rose they were drinking and my two – both with stories attached. Winemakers Cut and “The Mulligan” from Berens and Hitchcock. Nay asks about returning to The Guadalupe Valley outside of Ensenada Mexico. It was just waking up to the possibilities of winemaking there when we visited over 10 years ago. Now it’s just exploded. We talk about the status of his current series Private Eyes, thoughts on shooting film and tv down  the road and how their  family, their  neighbours and fellow Californians are handling 2020.             Its casual but a lot of fun. It gets serious a couple of times because it’s a serious time we’re all living in.  Cheers.  Enjoy!!   Mark Wachtin and Mich Pambrun   (Storied Wines and Spirits) These two interviews were left over from our coverage of Swirl and Untapped in Parksville earlier this year. I like these guys and I really like their portfolio. They represent – check this out – (Vancouver Island) Rathjen, Unsworth, Wayward Distillation  (Okanagan) Anthony Buchanan Bella Lock and Worth Desert Hills Kitsch Nagging Doubt Nichol Vineyard Synchromesh Ursa Major Skaha Vineyards Scenic Road Cidery Tall Tale That is an impressive list of clients. You can tell these guys know their wines and winemakers. Mark Wachtin Founder – Storied Wines & Spirits It’s all about the people—conversations, stories and histories. Vancouver Island raised (free range) with a lifetime in hospitality, Mark’s drawn to smaller, family-run operations, sustainable farming and handcrafted production methods. Motivated by both the traditional and the new wave of producers, Mark has paired wine and food in world-class hotels, restaurants and eateries. Mark’s commitment is best expressed in his strong relationships with sommeliers, chefs, bartenders, servers and retail product consultants. Mich Pambrun North Island Sales & Marketing Representative Michel Pambrun, former DJ and hospitality pro from Manitoba, is an Internationally accredited sommelier. Michel celebrates natural, sustainable terroir-driven wines and their environments. His many distinctions include participation in multiple Gold Medal Plates events curating pairings and perhaps his finest harvest, the raising of  two incredible daughters. http://www.storiedwinesandspirits.com/ STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON: Fort Berens Davin de Kergommeaux (The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries) Nude Beverages.  On a big time roll

BC WINE MONTH 2 WITH RHYS PENDER & BREAKING BREAD/ HOSPITALITY HUSTLE   THE SHOW   April was BC Wine Month. Wine Master Rhys Pender (Little Farm Wines) set out to remind all wine fans why BC has such great wines and celebrate all of the choices we have. Part one took us from April 1 -15..with musical interludes via his ukulele. Now we present almost all of part two , including the Ukulele jam (We had TRR  edited and done, when his  last rant and his wrap up was released…a tad too late for this) Rhys rants us through cellaring BC wines, 2019 Vintages, bottle aged BC wines, Riesling, single vineyards, organics and Syrah ( a tricky wine to sell but maybe the best wine we grow) Rhys Pender MW is a wine educator, freelance wine writer, wine judge and consultant to the industry. Working in the wine trade since age 14, Rhys’ career has included experience in the vineyard, cellar, wine retail, education and hospitality – providing knowledge in all facets of the business. In 2010 Rhys became Canada’s youngest Master of Wine (MW) Rhys instructs the Okanagan WSET® and educational programs for Wine Plus+. Enjoy the rants..Rhys knows what he’s talking about. https://winebc.com/wine-bc-events/ https://www.mastersofwine.org/rhys-pender-mw https://littlefarmwinery.ca/ https://www.wineplus.ca/about/ Breaking Bread and Doing The Hospitality Hustle  All of us are going through these “strange days indeed”! Nobody more so than the men and women of the culinary, wine and hospitality industries. Tasting Room Radio knows a lot of these fine people having done interviews with them for over 12 years. Thing is, there are 1000’s who we haven’t met and they’re all out of a job and having to pay rent, feed themselves,  take care of families and of course, That’s why we’re doing feature stories and interview on events and social movements that have the potential to help. The first press release for Breaking Bread came in from at SMC Communications  March 13th VANCOUVER, BC (March 13, 2020) — Members of Vancouver’s hospitality community are uniting in solidarity to urge the public’s support of the local independent restaurant and service industry as well as those whose livelihoods rely on them, by offering myriad ways to show support during this unprecedented time of COVID-19. Comprising 23 local restaurants and counting, this newly formed collective wants to reassure the public that they remain committed to doing everything possible to ensure the health, safety and well being of their guests and staff. They will continue to implement all guidelines set out by such regulatory bodies as Vancouver Coastal Health, the World Health Organization and Centres for Disease Control.   You’ll happy to know that it was such a hit that Breaking Bread has gone National. THIS Press Release came in April 28th Founded on March 13, 2020 by hospitality communications agency SMC Communications, Breaking Bread was born out of a collective of 23 restaurants in the Greater Vancouver area that came together to urge public support in response to COVID-19. Since then, the website has expanded to more than 1,500 listings nationwide and is growing in new features and businesses by the day. For more information or to stay up to date on all the latest news, visit breakingbreadnow.com,

SOSIMA OLIVERA – OAXACA MESCAL MASTER & FUNDRAISING FOR BC HOSPITALITY    THE SHOW  Stay safe and well.  Please watch over each other and Be Kind.  We start with the headlines. During this pandemic restaurants and wineries have been shuttered. The hospitality business has been struck a dark blow.  Staff and employees of every description are now sheltered  at home, unable to work and watching their saving disappear. There’s bills to pay and families to feed. This week we spotlight the first of  two support movements. The HOPE Fund has been organized by the 44 wineries of  Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country! Following the closure of tasting rooms, Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country launches the HOPE Fund (Helping Our People Eat), which will support up to 200 family meals per week for members of the region’s hurting hospitality industry, who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19. In partnership with Oliver-based deli Oliver Eats Ltd., the fund will help them to produce fresh and frozen family meals that will help support those that are usually employed by wineries,  restaurants and other hospitality businesses in Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country (McIntyre Bluff to the Border) but are out of work due to the pandemic. The organization’s 44 member wineries range from some of the largest winemaking brands in the Okanogan Valley to small, independent family run estates. All are donating to this cause in a unified offering of support to the people that help make this area so special. One of our guests Derek Uhlemann, founder of Oliver Eats said: “From farm hands to dishwashers, cellar hands to servers, these people are the backbone of our region and it would be shockingly different if they weren’t around.  The pandemic is a shared hardship and we wanted to support our workers with nutritious, delicious family meals.” Guests are: Jennifer Busmann – Executive Director of Oliver/Osoyoos Wine Country https://www.oliverosoyoos.com/ Derek Uhlemann – Founder of Oliver Eats  https://olivereats.com/ Jeff van Geest – Executive Chef Miradoro Bistro at Tinhorn Creek https://www.tinhorn.com/Restaurant https://www.hellobc.com/   Sosima Olivera – Mezcal Master (Oaxaca) Mezcal FaneKantsini (@fanekantsini)  Mezcal FaneKantsini – Home | Facebook http://tlayudona.com.mx/ Our featured guest is Sosima Olivera. A Mescal Master in Oaxaca. Mezcal is the distant cousin of Tequila. For fans, the search for real mescal starts in the city of Oaxaca, Mexico  (wa-hawka) The tasting session with Sosima in Oaxaca was a Christmas present from our daughter Kate. Kates husband Pete was along for the tasting,

RHYS PENDER’S DRINK LOCAL SERIES & UNCORKED  IN PARKSVILLE    THE SHOW  April is BC Wine Month! Rhys Pender, Master of Wine, Wine Plus Education  and co-founder of Little Farm Winery in the Similkameen Valley decided to celebrate the wines of BC by starting an on line video series called Rhys Pender MW-Drink Local. Found at IGTV at Instagram. One feature a day for the whole month. Basically he sets up a camera in his kitchen and talks to wine fans  about “everything” Sperling Foch, Haywire Rose, Figaro, Little Farm Riesling, aging of BC wines, Niche Pinot Noir, wine regions and sub GI’s, Fort Berens, Tantalus Chardonnay, all The Benches, the price of BC wine, Culmina Rose, Joie Gamay,  and he also finds time to pick up his Ukulele and sing a song..one called drinking and cooking. I asked Rhys for permission to take the audio from his videos and make a special out of it. And that’s what starts this week’s TRR. These are the first dozen shows but Rhys is still doing a show every day..which means there’s more than a dozen more  to go. He usually gets around to posting them after dinner..around 7PM Instagram IGTV Drink Local –  Rhys Pender MW The Ukulele moments  are  the highlight of the year and my Life. https://www.instagram.com/rhyspendermw/?hl=en   Swirl and UnTapped.  Uncorked in Parksville It’s the annual  gathering of wine, cider makers, craft beer brewers and distillery artisans on Vancouver Island. This year it was craft beer etc at Beach Club Resort and the Wineries at Tigh-na-Mara. Obviously these interviews were done before the entire World shut down and stayed home. Because you can tell by the noise exactly when they opened the doors. Very popular events these. Pouring  guests this week are:  Terence Fitzgerald – COO and partner in Sheringham Distilling and his new venture Lumette Distilled non-alcoholic spirits.    Shirley, BC www.enjoylumette.com Dave Paul – Co-Owner. Brew master of Love Shack Libations Qualicum, BC www.loveshacklibations.com Michael Abbott – Raisin Rancher & Vineyard Manager Blue Grouse Estate Winery and Vineyard  Cowichan Valley www.bluegrouse.ca Lorin Inglis – Manager of Enrico Winery  Mill Bay, BC www.enricowinery.com Mark and Linda Holford – Owners of Rocky Creek Winery Cowichan Valley www.rockycreekwinery.ca Jack Eubank  – Co-Founder of Cliffside Brewing  Nanaimo. www.cliffsidebrewco.ca Chef Eric Edwards – Executive Chef Tigh-na-Mara   Seaside Resort. Parksville www.tigh-na-mara.com Dave Woodward – Mt Arrowsmith Brewing Parksville arrowsmithbrewing.com   https://www.parksville.ca/ https://tigh-na-mara.com/ https://www.beachclubbc.com/ https://www.tourismvi.ca/ STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON   Tasting with a Mescal Master in Oaxaca Mexico (Next) Ann Sperling – Sperling Vineyards Davin De Kergommeaux – The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distillers BC Spring Releases How to support  Artisans and Culinary Teams.