Tasting Room Radio

HONOURING WINE EVENTS THAT DISAPPEARED THIS YEAR:    Hello all: We started April by showcasing the wine events that would have happened in early 2020 except for the fact that the Earth was fighting a pandemic. First was event was  –  Locals Only.  Vancouver Islands  best showcase of  distillers, winemakers, brewers and cider makers. Then Okanagan Falls &  Skaha Lake Wine Assn  pour in Vancouver. They were shut down. So we went back to 2019 and talked to the very same wineries. When people could shake hands and stand next to one another. This week its Top Drop Vancouver/Victoria. Top Drop is simply one of the best small wine festivals anywhere. They ask of applicants to be sustainable, honour the fruit, don’t mess with the winemaking and be true to the land.     It’s become an astounding collection of “must taste” wineries. We go back to years 4 and 5 to relive the interviews. To salute BC Wine Month, we have collected only interviews with BC wineries.   Our guests are: Kurtis Kolt – co-organizer and wine educator  http://www.kurtiskolt.com/ DJ Kearney – wine educator and speaker. Judge  https://winebc.com/dj-kearney/ David Patterson – Winemaker and GM Tantalushttps://tantalus.ca/pages/people Paul Pender – Winemaker at Tawse. Niagarahttps://www.tawsewinery.ca/our-team/ Rhys Pender – Master of Wine. Cofounder of Little Farm Wines. Educator. Judge https://littlefarmwinery.ca/?page_id=140 Christine Coletta – Okanagan Crush Pad . Co-Owner, wine Leader and Influencer https://okanagancrushpad.com/ Grant Biggs – Kitsch Wines. No longer winemaker but both he & winery worth following. https://www.kitschwines.ca/  https://ca.linkedin.com/in/grant-biggs-6214a6114 Tyler Knight – Co-Founder of Lightning Rock https://www.lightningrockwinery.com/ Larry Gerelus – co-founder of Stags Hollow https://www.stagshollowwinery.com/ Michael Schindler – co-founder A Sunday in August https://www.asundayinaugust.com/ Dan Wright – Winemaker at Unsworth.  https://www.unsworthvineyards.com/ https://topdrop.ca/       STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:   Mescal Master in Oaxaca swirl and untapped in Parksville Unsworth. The Hatch. Orofino. Row Fourteen Restaurant at Klipper’s. Road 13 Winery Ned Bell –  back on The Bench catching up with Ann Sperling        

The 9th annual Okanagan Falls Spring Releases  in Vancouver (Over a dozen  winery interviews and lots of new releases)  The SHOW For 9 Years the Okanagan Falls Winery Assn has gathered in Vancouver to pour their Spring Releases NOT THIS YEAR  – Because of the Pandemic,  2020 has become  a dark period in our World We wanted to support our friends in the wine world so this is a repeat of last years pour with two new Wineries’s added Black Market and Echo Bay. The group is now called The Okanagan Falls/Skaha Lake Winery Association. THE HEART OF WINE COUNTRY. Last year we found them at The Terminal City Club on Hastings. A grand heritage building. Funds raised go to BC Hospitality Foundation. From the northern tip of Skaha Lake to the hills above Vaseux Lake the Okanagan Falls wine region in the South Okanagan was blessed with the land that the  ice age left behind. When  the huge glacier came through and formed the valley, it managed to created  pools and hollows. Each one today has become its own growing terroir. A combination of silt and rock. Each vineyard can have a completely different expression of wine. Best of all, the days are hot and bright and the nights are cool. Possibly the best growing combination that nature can provide. In 2018, the B.C. Wine Authority gave Okanagan Falls their own sub-region designation.  Followed by The Skaha Bench.   We welcome back – Leslie D’Andrea – Owner of Noble Ridge & Chair of Assn (theheartofwinecountry.ca) Blasted Church – John Bayley Vineyard Manager (blastedchurch.com) Crescent Hill – Tysha  Pope – Family member (crescenthillwinery.com) Liquidity –  Ruth Hanbury President (Liquiditywines.com) Wild Goose – Leslie Matheson  marketing manager (winegoosewinery.com) Pentage – Julie Rennie  co-owner  (Pentage.com) Bonamici Cellars – Mario Rodi  owner/partner (bonamiccicellars.com) Noble Ridge – Jim D’Andrea Owner/Chair  (nobleridge.com) Stag’s Hollow – Linda Pruegger  Owner (stagshollowwinery.com) BC Hospitality Foundation – Dana Lee Harris Exec Director (bchospitalityfoundation.com) Meyer Family – Chris Carson  winemaker/viticulturist (MFVwines.com) Nighthawk – Christy Bibby  co-owner  (nighthawkvineyards.com) Black Market  – Rob Hammersley   Owner (blackmarketwine.ca) Echo Bay – Kelsey Rufiange. Winemaker. (echobayvineyard.ca) WWW.THEHEARTOFWINECOUNTRY.CA     STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON: Mescal Master in Oaxaca swirl and untapped in Parksville TopDrop Vancouver & Victoria Unsworth. The Hatch. Orofino. Row Fourteen Restaurant at Klipper’s. Road 13 Winery Ned Bell –  back on The Bench catching up with Ann Sperling        

LOCALS ONLY – 13 Artisans from Vancouver Island and The Gulf Islands.   We live in CRAZY times.  The COVID19 Virus has shut all wine events down, including The Locals Only gathering which was hoping to take place March 23.  In order to support these wineries in this demanding time, over the next couple of weeks we’ll be replaying last year’s coverage of Top Drop, Locals Only and OK Falls Spring pour in Vancouver. We also ask you to consider ordering wines, cider &  spirits from the businesses  below and also please consider supporting your local markets, food trucks  and restaurants.  Tough times my friends. Lets help each other out.  13 guests for The Annual “Locals Only 3.0″The Artisans of Vancouver Island & The Gulf Islands.   THE SHOW    It was an afternoon exploring the diversity & creativity of our coastal producers. Through the interviews below we get to meet the farmers, fermenters and distillers that define our cool climate coastal appellation.     This is Locals Only 3.0  No fancy marketing campaigns or graphic trickery.  Just an opportunity to taste clean honest products from the producers who are defining our cool climate coastal appellation.  * Speak with the producers who were natural before it was fashionable * Learn more about distilling while speaking with a Master * Meet and taste with the people who planted the vines and then made the wine Locals Only is about keeping it real, real honest and really local.   Organic estate farming , clean winemaking , neutral barrels & vessels, amphora, orange wines, concrete, spontaneous ferments, dry farming + way more. Discover the next destination you just have to check out. Off Shore craft makers.   Guests include:  Massey Wines –  Louise Fedyk.  Co-Organizer of event  http://www.masseywines.com/  Mike Rathjen – Rathjen Cellars  https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgo92Vuntu8/ Mike Nierychlo –  Emandare Vineyards  http://www.emandarevineyard.com/     Dave Brimacombe – Wayward Distillery (Unruly Gin/Vodka) https://www.instagram.com/p/BgpPVn3Hw0U/ Jason MacIsaac – Sheringham Distillery  https://www.sheringhamdistillery.com/ Andy Johnson  – Averill Creek  https://www.averillcreek.ca/ Loretta Zanatta – Zanatta Vineyards https://zanatta.ca/ Chris Turyk – Unsworth  https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgr0mocH0rh/ Bailey Williamson – Blue Grouse https://www.bluegrouse.ca/Home Dan Dragert – Kutatas Vineyards ( Koo Tah Tass) You’re on your own. Well worth The Search. Brenda Hetman-Layne – 40 Knots  https://www.instagram.com/p/BgkFfRknXdL/    Marilyn Venturi –   Venturi-Schulze Vineyards  https://www.instagram.com/p/BgraOj7nK_o/ Julia Powell – Alderlea Vineyards  https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgtz5m0HCrX/   @averillcreek @unsworthvineyards @alderleavineyards @vswine @bluegrousewines

Impact of COVID19 on the Food and Wine Industry Welcome. We hope this finds  you  all well and safe. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed all of our lives. Imagine what effect its had on the food and wine businesses we know and love. I reached out to as many owners and winemakers as I could find in a single day in the hope that their answers could become your answers. The basic questions were: How are you doing and how is your business handling this crisis? How can we, the consumer help sustain your business? Suggestions?  Ideas? Are you open and if so, under what restrictions?  This will be the first of several specials  I hope to do over the next couple of weeks.  I would like to thank the guests below for stepping forward to offer insight, suggestions and support! One thought stood out from this collective thinking.  They are talking to the food and wine fan yes BUT they’re also strongly talking to the businesses involved. If you have a restaurant or winery please have a listen to these guests..perhaps some of their ideas will start to become a new direction for you.  Please check out the links at the bottom of the page –  Today’s guests are:  Chef Robert Belcham – President of the Chef’s Table Society of BC  (Vancouver) Exec Chef Mark Filatow – Waterfront Wines and Wine Bar (Kelowna) Sandra Oldfield – Founder Elysian Projects  (South Okanagan) Miles Prodan – President and CEO of BC Wine Institute (Kelowna) John Skinner – Founder of Painted Rock Winery and member of Okanagan Wine Imitative (OK Falls) James Iranzad – Partner in Gooseneck Hospitality (Wildebeest, Bufala, Lucky Taco, Bells & Whistles) (Vancouver) Tim Meeks – Food and Wine Fan and  Senior Nurse   (Seattle) Jean-Benoit Deslauriers – Head Winemaker Benjamin Bridge – (Gaspereau Valley Nova Scotia) Michael Bartier – Founder/Winemaker Bartier Brothers Wines (South Okanagan)   https://breakingbreadnow.com/ https://winebc.com/ https://chefstablesociety.com/ https://bchospitalityfoundation.com/ https://waterfrontrestaurant.ca/ https://elysianprojects.com/ https://www.bartierbros.com/ http://www.gooseneck.ca/ https://www.paintedrock.ca/ https://www.benjaminbridge.com/ STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON: Virus Crisis – Part Two Revisiting projects that have been cancelled because of Virus. OK Falls pours in Vancouver Locals Only in Vancouver Top Drop – Victoria Also Swirl and untapped in Parksville Mexico’s  Senior Mescal Master Sosima Olivera Stay well

  VANWINEFEST  – A Look Back The SHOW The 42nd Vancouver International Wine Festival has come and gone. I’m told it was a huge success. It was the first festival I had missed in 12 years of TRR. Thing is,  I was in Oaxaca Mexico visiting family and getting closer to the story of Mescal. Several weeks from now we’ll bring you the conversation we had with one of Mexico’s  very best Female Mescal Masters Sosima Olivera… Instead of doing 30-40 interviews at VanWineFest,  I ended up doing just one. But what a one. This week’s edition of Tasting Room Radio looks back at some of the highlights and serious talking points from the 42nd VanWineFest.     Our Guests are:  Christine Coletta – Okanagan Crush Pad. A real Key Wine Influencer. Maker of Freeform. Haywire. Narrative. The Bub. What started as a Crush Pad has become a true farming leader in the Okanagan. She was founding executive director of the BC Wine Institute, creator of the VQA and co-founder of Wines of Canada. Christine’s most  recent honour was being named One of Wine’s Most Inspiring People for 2020 by Wine Industry Advisor. Rather than ask CC about what she tasted at VanWineFest, I thought it best to get an overview of where we are as a wine region and where we’re headed. One place we’re headed is Europe. Christine and friends  have been pouring in Europe for years now and they’re starting to notice. Enjoy!! www.okanagancrushpad.com Harry Hertscheg – Executive Director Vancouver Wine Festival. It’s Harry’s show.  He spends his entire year leading a great creative team. If anyone can give us a wrap up of the entire festival is Harry. If you find yourself looking at sold out signs when you got to get tickets every year..Harry has the key to making sure that doesn’t happen again. www.vanwinefest.ca Michelle Bouffard   Sommelier. Educator. Journalist. Founder of Tasting Climate Change One of the very busiest and committed participants at VanWineFest was Michelle. She hosted panels and discussions on Climate Change and Wine. Packaging, transport, extremes in temperature, water usage, tips for consumers  to buy wine with a lower carbon footprint. This conversation was so engaging, the complete interview will be a podcast on Mulligan Stew Podcasts in several weeks. Details at  www.mulliganstew.ca Michelle also has recommendations on Canadian and French wines she tasted. https://www.tastingclimatechange.com/en/ Bernard Duseigneur – Domaine Duseigneur . Family member  and Manager. Domaine Duseigneur was founded by Jean Duseigneur in 1967. In those formative years, Domaine Duseigneur was in rough condition and needed extensive work in the cellar and more importantly, in their vineyards. In 1992, his son Frederic along with his brother Bernard took over managing their Southern Rhone property.   They changed their vineyard management techniques starting with the 2004 vintage and became certified biodynamique three years later. They are also a member of Biodyvin, the International Bio-dynamic Vine growing Syndicate. in 2007, they brought in Philippe 

THE THIRD ANNUAL BC CIDER FEST… BIGGER AND BETTER!   The third annual BC Cider Week. This week long craft cider celebration saw many cider events, tastings and festivities throughout British Columbia with tasting events from Kelowna to Vancouver Island, including tap takeovers, cider pairing meals, and much more throughout the week. The highlight for me and many others is the final event. The gathering of up to 40 Cideries at The Pipe Shop foot of Lonsdale in North Vancouver. It’s one of the buildings my father Pat worked in during WW2. The first interview had to be with Shawn Pisio, who co-founded the B.C. Cider Festival three years ago. Just how popular is this event? It sells out within minutes. Cider is going through the very same revolution that craft beers did 10-15 years ago. The opportunity to grow more cider apples in B.C. is unlimited, but BC is already home to many excellent craft cideries. One of the cideries we interviewed was Twin Island Cider on Pender Island. They were voted most popular Cidery at this event. Finally, for those of you who still think that ciders are not for you because they’re too sweet or something…FORGET ABOUT IT.. It’s a whole new world out in the orchard. Enjoy!!!! Our guests are: Shawn Pisio – Txotx/ Co-Founder Russ Johnson – Owner/Cidermaker Truck 59 Kelowna Sydney Bottomley – Asst Cidermaker Broken Ladder Kelowna Nick Farrer – Founder The Bricker Cider Co Sechelt Mike Lachelt – Co-owner/Cidermaker Salt Spring Wild SS Island Mathew Vasilev Co-Owner Twin Island Cider Pender Island David Schneider – Persephone Brewing Gibson’s BC Kathleen van der Ree – Northyards Cider – Squamish Mike Petkau – Nomad Handcrafted Cider – Summerland Glenn Ennis – Owner Geo Cider Co – Squamish Lynn Colliar – Geo Cider Squamish Jeff Nairn – Co-Founder Windfall East Van   http://bcciderfest.ca/ Photos by Linda C STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:  

TOP DROP / FIRST TIME IN VICTORIA The press release came in loud and clear. For the very first time Top Drop was coming to Victoria. Frankly, that’s all I needed to know. I’ve been happily covering this small wildly successful wine gathering for Six Years but Top Drop in Victoria is a whole other event. Why? Because Victoria is a great wine town. TOP DROP is Vancouver based so they needed a Victoria Host. Turns out the Vessel crew have been watching this independent, craft wine festival seed and grow in Vancouver, and spread to Calgary in 2018. This was their year to launch it in Victoria for ONE DAY . Top Drop is an opportunity to celebrate authenticity in farming, terroir and wine, with winery principals from around the globe. Mirroring Top Drop Vancouver and Calgary’s flagship experience, the public event is a walk around, grazing-style tasting where attendees enjoy sips and stories from the principals of international and local wineries. There has never before been a wine tasting of this scope and caliber in Victoria. For me and TRR, the voice and face of Top Drop has always been Kurtis Kolt. Wine educator and Wine writer for the Georgia Straight. Because of the foul weather, Kurtis and his partners were delayed in Vancouver and could not attend while I was there. Once again Kurtis Kolt and his partner Jeff Curry and a sensational team have convinced some of the very best winemakers to pour at Top Drop. What they have in common is craft and care! In Kurtis’ column in the Georgia Straight he said this: “Each year, our process begins the same. Our team casts out a wide net to British Columbia-based importers and wineries, asking for winery applications to participate in the event. First and foremost, Top Drop wineries must fit with our general philosophy: that wines, indeed, express terroir or offer a sense of place. Whether we’re talking vines grown in mineral-rich soils or under cool-climate growing conditions bringing bright acidity or in sun-drenched regions offering generous, opulent fruit and so on, we want those elements to be notable in the glass and for them to have arrived there authentically, rather than via heavy-handed additions in the winery. Sustainable farming is also key. There is a high priority on those who employ these methods while farming their own fruit or who work with growers who fit the mold.” Winemaking Guests in Victoria: (Check them out – Winners All!!) Ross Borland Managing Partner/Vessel Liquor Victoria www.vesselliquor.com Mitch Renaud Asst manager Vessel Liquor Victoria www.vesselliquor.com Rhys Pender (MW) Little Farm/Similkameen Valley http://www.littlefarmwinery.ca/ Angus Thomson Urlar/ Gladstone NZ http://www.urlar.co.nz/ Kelsey Rufiange – Echo Bay/OK Falls www.echobayvineyard.ca Grant Biggs – Kitsch wines/Kelowna www.kitschwines.ca Tyler Knight = Lightening Rock/Summerland

VANWINEFEST  – ALL STAR ARCHIVES THE SHOW  We’ve been happily  covering the annual Vancouver International Wine Festival for 12 years. This year the events start Feb 22 with the Bacchanalia Gala and Auction  and ends with the Vintners Brunch March 1. This one hour special will feature some of the highlight interviews from years past. In the grand tasting room, we set up a large round table, fill it with a forest of microphones  and invite as many winemakers and principals as possible over the course of one afternoon.  Once you set it in motion, it’s always a fantastic blur. We’ll go  as far back  as 2010 an feature a conversation  with  Anthony von Mandl introducing us to Marchesi Piero Antinori . Two visionary giants surrounded by rivers of people walking around us. Special. We end the hour  with two very special people. Gina Gallo – Gallo Family And her husband Jean Charles Boisset..Raymond. Boisset Collection Here’s the complete line-up filled with winemakers, owners and friends. Rarely do all these wine educators and experts get together like this.  Enjoy! Seg 1 Harry Hertscheg – Exec Director VanwineFest Chris Gaze – founding artistic director  Bard on the beach  2017 Kurtis Kolt – educator. Georgia straight wine column.  2016 (Italy) DJ Kearney – Wine educator – consultant – judge Deanna van Mulligen –  wine diva.. writer..judge – Rhys Pender – Master of wine  -cofounder of Little Farm Similkameen Anthony von Mandl  owner/founder Mission Hill  2010 Marchesi Piero  Antinori – Antinori  Italy Segment 2 DJ Kearney  2017 Harry McWatters – Time..McWatters. Evolve.   co-founder of wine in Canada.  2017 Ray Signorello – losing his Napa winery buildings  To fire  2018 Seg 3 Ann Sperling – 2017 (Canada) Daenna van Mulligen – The Wine Diva Howard  Soon –  still at Sandhill and about to get Order of Canada Sandra Oldfield – still at Tinhorn Creek Jon Bonne – Keynote – new California  wine  2019 Charles Smith – Walla Walla . Before he became CHARLES SMITH   2014 Seg 4 Gina Gallo – Family member and leader  2019 Her Husband Jean Charles Boisset   – winemaker & visionary.    Raymond.  Boisset Collection.  Buena Vista  family vineyards  in Burgundy STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON: Top Drop Victoria Untapped Parksville A day with a Mescal Master in Oaxaca. Locals Only 2020 Cider Festival OK Falls 2020 releases.

15th Victoria Whisky Festival    THE SHOW Each year, every January  the Victoria Whisky Festival attracts distilleries, and the people who love them, from every corner of the globe. Distillers, distillery managers and brand ambassadors from over 50 distilleries travelled  to Victoria from Scotland, Ireland, England, Canada, United States, Japan, Taiwan, India and France. Collectively they presented over 200 whiskies,  showing a broad range of styles, flavour profiles and whisky philosophies. The tenth annual Canadian Whisky Awards gala  recognized the best whiskies in the country. Distillers from across Canada were  in attendance seeking the recognition of major awards including Best Single Malt Whisky, Best Blended Whisky, Blender of the Year, Best New Whisky, Whisky of the Year and others. In 2019, BC Distilleries had their strongest showing yet with major awards going to Vancouver Island’s Shelter Point Distillery for Innovation and de Vine Winery and Distillery for Best Whisky Spirit as well as a number of medals awarded. Cheers! Rob Carpenter – (Scotch Malt Whisky Society-Holyrood Distillery UK)  In Jan 2018 inspectors from the B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch raided Scotch Malt Whisky Society Partner Bars in B.C., with 242 bottles of SMWS whisky being seized from Fets Whisky Kitchen.  Rob Carpenter (co-founder of the Canadian branch of the SMWS), together with one of Fets’ owners and a lawyer, presented a tasting of some beautiful single cask Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottlings interspersed with an account of what happened, the legal issues, and the current situation, including the impact on BC whisky, wine, and beer enthusiasts and what can be done going forward.  Rob is very connected on both sides of the Atlantic and he wants whisky fans to know about #freeourwhisky – a movement to focus on government bureaucracy when it comes to whisky. The man speaks the truth and exposes our liquor bullies. #free our whisky  Chris Thompson  (NA Brand Ambassador Forty Creek Whisky) Chris Thompson joined the company in 2010 and has been sharing the Forty Creek story ever since, introducing a variety of limited edition whiskies to an enthusiastic North American whisky community. www.camparigroup.com  Davin de Kergommeaux   (Author. Whisky Educator.  Head Judge) Davin de Kergommeaux, Chairman of the judges for the Canadian Whisky Awards and author of Canadian Whisky: The New Portable Expert has been sharing his enthusiasm for Canadian Whisky with the world for two decades . His third book The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries, will be published in spring of 2020.  www.canadianwhisky.org      Ken Winchester  – (Founder/Master Distiller deVine Spirits-Saanich) Ken Winchester creates award-winning whiskies while keeping watch over the distillery’s vintage German copper pot still, Brünhilde. Demand for their Glen Saanich was so great the distillery held a lottery to determine who would  take one home.  At deVine, they grow their own grain, malt locally, and mash, ferment, distill and age on their property in Saanich, just outside Victoria. www.devinevineyards.ca  Leon Webb  – (The pride of Aviemore. Distiller Shelter Point Campbell River) Hailing from Aviemore in Scotland, Leon Webb made waves as Victoria Distillers Master Distiller before joining Shelter Point in September of 2017. He is a driving force behind their range of whisky expressions including their newest, a peated expression called Smoke Point. https://shelterpoint.ca/   Beth Havers – (Glenfiddich Canada) Struan Grant Ralph – (Glenfiddich Global Ambassador)

OSCARS AND WINE -JANE FERRARI ON HELPING AUSTRALIA THE SHOW  Oscar picks and pairs Gary Cogill and Hayley Hamilton Cogill (Cogill Wine & Film. A perfect pairing) Please meet my pals Gary Cogill who’s a respected Dallas film reviewer/interviewer and Hayley is a much respected Dallas Sommelier and blogger/podcaster.   They both now live in Hawaii and work together on Cogill Wine & Film. A perfect pairing. https://art19.com/shows/cogill-wine-and-film-a-perfect-pairing Find Gary @garycogill You can also find all things Hayley at her website www.redwinewithbreakfast.com On instagram  @dallasuncorked   They can both be found at Lahaina Galleries in the shops at Mauna Lani on the Big Island. Gary is gallery director.  http://www.lahainagalleries.com/ My suggestion was:  Let’s choose your Oscar Winners and pair them with the perfect wines. Gary and I exchange opinions on: best film the acting categories and best director. Hayley pairs with wines from Adelsheim in the Willamette Valley, Dana Estates/Vaso Cellars in Napa, ZD Wines in Napa.  Gary helps with your Oscar pool and Hayley suggests wines to seek and serve. What’s not to like?   Jane Ferrari – Independent Consultant & Voice of Yalumba                               (Barossa Valley Australia) I find it almost impossible to try and explain what has happened to the people of Australia, the wildlife, the wineries and the land itself. Wildfires have destroyed  many regions, towns and lives and it’s not done yet. One of my favourite humans  is Jane Ferrari – who was for years the voice of Yalumba Wines. She was/is a natural storyteller and that’s what she did all over the World.  Jane would tell all of us stories about Yalumba, Barossa and Australia. Who better to call and talk to? My most important question to Jane was – How can we Help? Jane more than fills two segments of the show but she followed up by sending  three links that take you directly to those on the front lines. Hi Terry – this is the Instagram site that shows specific food and wine bushfire affected folk across the country   https://www.instagram.com/morethanagooddrop/   Hi Terry – this is the excellent summary of the bushfire affected areas  nationally, put together by young consultant Trish Barry Cheers Jane  http://www.mastermindconsulting.com.au/musings/morethanagooddrop/  Hi Terry – this is Max Allen – excellent Oz wine journo – on what we can do long term to support the fire affected areas  https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/food-and-wine/wineries-calling-after-the-fires-it-s-your-shout-20200115-p53rmv   There you go folks…support is only a click away.   Please pass the Tasting Room links above to those who could support and help.   and Thank You, Jane Ferrari!   STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON   VanWineFest Victoria Whisky Fest Colin Linden – Nashville A Mescal Master – Oaxaca Sheringham Gins        

Coverage of the 5th Annual Garagiste North – Kelowna THE SHOW  What is a garagiste? (gar-ah-jeest)?   It started out in France (of course) where it was a derogatory phrase for those avante garde and crazy mavericks making wine in their garage and outside the highly regulated system. Gradually and grudgingly came the acknowledgement that something really interesting was happening with these small case lot artisan wines, and a movement was born. Garagiste North  brings together the small guys. Wines produced from 100% Canadian grapes and under 2000 cases total production annually.   We’ve been covering this gathering of small BC producers from the beginning. We like the people, the wines and the no BS approach to farming, creating and selling. This year Sperling Vineyards was once again  the site for a gathering of the Garagiste.  Many of the favourites are returning, but with the growth of the wine industry we are excited to see new small wineries popping up. The likes of Lightning Rock, Scorched Earth and Burnt Timer all seem to have a theme!  Added to this year’s event will be a wine pairing of Sperling Vineyards and cheese, music by Glendale Avenue,  food truck service from CrAsian, a cool booth by Taste Advisor and a pop up wine store by Fairview Cellars.     This event gives you an insight into the passion, commitment, craziness and excellence that is the hallmark of a small producer.  We love that for many this is their first time showing off their wines to the public. Others have been attending for awhile, carefully crafting their wines and growing their business and reputation. Others have grown up and graduated. Former Garagiste are: Daydreamer Synchromesh Sage Hills Tight Rope Bella Wines River Stone Roche Wines Kitsch Wines Forbidden Fruit Marichel Deep Roots Van Westen Kraze Legs vinAmite   This year’s Garagiste guests are :  Schell Wines – Jennifer Schell Mayhem Wines – Terry Meyer Stone Dames Wines – Mireille Sauve Sperling Vineyards –  Ann Sperling Rigor and Whimsy – Costa Gavaris Nagging Doubt – Rob  Westbury Birch Block Vineyard – Sarah and Murray Bancroft Anthony Buchanan Wines – Anthony Buchanan Red Bird Estate – Remi Cardinal Giant head – John Glavina BC Wine Studio – Mark Simpson Scorched Earth – Anita and Peter Pasdernick  Enjoy the stories and histories!  STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON: Prepping for VanWineFest Victoria Whisky Fest Jane Ferrari and Australian Fires Locals Only Orofino & Row Fourteen in Similkameen 30 Years of BCVQA                                

The 5th Pinot Noir Celebration in Kelowna    THE SHOW The 2019 BC Pinot Noir Celebration brings together BC’s top 35 Pinot Noir producers for an unforgettable festival-style tasting experience. The event kicked off with a reception and keynote address by Madeline Puckette, certified sommelier and author of New York Times Bestseller, Wine Folly: The Essential Guide to Wine. To put this gathering in proper perspective, here’s an overview from writer/judge Kurtis Kolt: My big take-away is how local Pinot Noir reflects its terroir of origin, rather than its producers trying to emulate other iconic Pinot regions around the world, from Burgundy in France to the Russian River Valley in California. No matter which B.C. region it hailed from, each one had a freshness and purity of fruit, along with juicy acidity—a common trait in B.C. wine. I was quite impressed that compared to other reds—from Bordeaux-inspired blends to Syrah—the B.C. Pinot Noirs were all tasty and approachable, whether we were looking at current, more fruit-forward releases, or bottlings as far back as a 2006 from Averill Creek on Vancouver Island. It had started to exhibit those more savoury, tertiary notes like sarsaparilla and sun-dried tomato, but still had great structure and was buoyant on the palate.  Kurtis, who guests on this special,  makes the comment that Pinot Noir is the one wine that can be grown from coast-to-coast in Canada. All 35 wineries pouring at the event were accepted through a high profile sommelier tasting panel.  They were determined to be the best of the best. Our owner/winemaker guests are:  Jak Meyer – Meyer Family Vineyards/Organizer Grant Biggs – Kitsch/ Organizer David Paterson – Tantalus/ Organizer Jason Parkes – The Hatch Madeline Puckette – Keynote speech and Wine Folly Author Grant Stanley – Spearhead Ben Bryant – Mission Hill Jenn and Kent Molgat – The View Chris Carson – Meyer Family and Carson Dan Wright – Unsworth Paul Pender – Tawse and Hidden Bench Rhys Pender – Master of Wine and Panelist Kurtis Kolt – Wine Educator and Panelist Paul M Bruner – owner of Blue Grouse Andy Johnson – Owner of Averill Creek Tyler Knight – Co-owner of Lightning Rock http://www.bcpinotnoir.ca https://winebc.com/   STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON: The 2019 Garagiste  at Sperling Vineyards The 2020 Victoria Whisky Festival Food, Wine &  A Mescal Master in Oaxaca Field Blends – Are we in or out          

Winter White Wines – If they exist, what are they?  THE SHOW It was a comment about a year ago. Almost blew by me. A winemaker used the phrase “I’m making Winter Whites”. I’m sorry – what?   “A Winter White – what is that? Well,  it’s a white wine that has enough texture and mouth feel to pair with Winter roasts, stews, soups, root vegetables etc. OK..what whites have that ability?” That’s where the whole idea got started.  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 we could get our hands on. Our guests include: Chris Rielly – 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 – Georgia Straight Wine Writer http://www.kurtiskolt.com/ 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 https://thehatchwines.com/  Valeria Tait – GM and Winemaker at Bench 1775  https://www.bench1775.com/ Kathy Malone – Winemaker at Hillside https://www.hillsidewinery.ca/ If you join us for the hour you will indeed find out that Winter Whites do exist and we’ll tell you which wines to look for. Here’s Chris Rielly’s List 2016 Clos du Soleil Capella Sauvignon Blanc/Semillion 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 Aus Here’s Ben’s List:   Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson d’Arenberg The Hermit Crab Viognier Marsanne (McLaren Vale, Australia) $23 Everything Wine Guigal 2016 Cotes du Rhone white (Cotes du Rhone, France) $29 Everything Wine 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) The Winemakers have lots of suggestions. FYI – One name that pops up three times is Ava from Le Vieux Pin. STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON: 2020 VanWineFest A day with Master Mescal Maker Sosima Olivera in  Oaxaca Searching for the 7th Mole We welcome  Row Fourteen And Orofino in The Similkameen  

Kurtis Kolt: Wines of the Year & We Remember Harry McWatters  THE SHOW  Kurtis Kolt  – The Dude Kurtis is a sommelier, a consultant, educator and the fine wine writer for the Georgia Straight “The Bottle” Column. Along with partner Jeff Curry,  Kurtis is also the co-founder of Top Drop, a premier small wine festival with BIG guests. KK has a really good grasp of the wine World.  He studies Local, Regional, National and International wines. Travels the World, walking the vineyards..tasting the cellars. Thus, Kurtis is the perfect end of the year – start of the year guest. We’re talking about The Top 6 best wines of his year. The most memorable ones. The highlights of his trip to South Africa The rise of pop-up wine bars in Vancouver A quick look ahead to 2020 VanWinefest And a teaser about this year’s Top Drop in Calgary, Vancouver and perhaps Victoria. When Kurtis Kolt recommends wine it’s a good thing to focus on those wines.  It’s time To FOCUS!! * Natte Valleij Cinsault 2017, South Africa, $28-32, Private Wine Stores * Lighting Rock Viognier 2017, B.C., $25, LightningRockWinery.com * Tiberio Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo 2018, $23.99, B.C. Liquor Stores * Mathieu & Camille Lapierre Morgon 2018, France, $46.00 * Tantalus Vineyards Blanc de Blancs 2016, B.C., $34.70, VQA Wine Stores * Kitsch Wines  Pinot Noir Rose  www.kurtiskolt.com  https://www.nelsontheseagull.com/ @kurtiskolt #kurtiskolt @georgiastraight #thebottle    Remembering Harry McWatters – Founder. Builder. Legend. May 23 1945 – July 23  2019 The December holidays gave me the opportunity to reflect on 2019 and the past decade. One face and voice stayed in my head and my heart. The great Harry McWatters. Harry was a major  force in the British Columbia and Canadian wine industry for more than 50 years.  In 1980, Harry became the founder of British Columbia’s first estate winery, Sumac Ridge and followed with See Ya Later Ranch. He was a pioneer in establishing the Okanagan Wine Festival Society.  In 1990, Harry chaired the new British Columbia Wine Institute.  He was the founding Chair of the British Columbia Wine Information Society, founding Chair of VQA of Canada spearheading national wine standards, founding Chair of the British Columbia Hospitality Foundation, and a long term Director on the Canadian Vintners Association. Most recently, he was the President and CEO of ENCORE Vineyards. A member of the Order of British Columbia, inductee to the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame, two-time Jubilee Medal winner. the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree, and the recipient of the Vancouver Wine Festival Spirited Industry Professional Award. He was the Marketer of the Year for North America.. As impressive as that amazing record is,  the lasting legacy of Harry McWatters will be his character. Ready to help, available for advice, a mentor for 50 years and a wonderful friend and father. His laughter will never leave my soul. I discovered this interview with Harry just as he was launching his Time label.  We met at the  wonderful Local Lounge and Grill in Summerland.  A room he was familiar with as he helped launch the restaurant. Harry and I covered a lot of ground but what I really liked about this chat was his honesty and drive. Here’s to you Harry. The history of the Okanagan will now be written by your children, your friends and students.   http://www.winesofcanada.com/harryMcwatters.html   STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:  Van Wine Fest Mescal Tasting in Oaxaca Mexico With  Sosima Olivera

The Wine Diva/Daenna van Mulligen.  Top Wines under/over $20.00  THE SHOW  Daenna van Mulligen is The Wine Diva. Daenna is a Sommelier, wine judge, writes for Taste, Monte Cristo, Vitis etc. http://WineDiva.ca & http://WineScores.ca | Based in Vancouver and constantly travelling the wine world …. Daenna tastes over 2000 wines throughout the year and reviews many of them for her website and various publications. All of the wines we’ll talk  about on this episode can be found  tasted and rated at www.winediva.ca and www.winescores.ca There are many more to be found there.(For your convenience we’ve added the wines we talked about below, as well) Daenna loves her lists.  As long as I’ve know her she’s been making sensational wine lists. * Top 100 (under $20 and 89 points or better) * Top 50   (Over $20 and 91 points or better) * Bubbles  Aye – Here we GO. Under $20/ 89 points or over Cantina Tollo ‘Colle Secco Rubi’ Montepulciano D’Abruzzo Italy $17.99 Bodega Valparaiso ‘Finca El Encinal’ Roble, Ribera del Duero, Spain $19.00   Famille Perrin Cotes du Rhone Reserve, Rhone Valley, France $17.99 Barone di Valforte Pecorino, Abbruzzo, Italy $19.99 Paul Mas Grenache Noir, Pays d’Oc France $12.99 Jose Maria da Fonseca ‘Periquite’ Reserva, Setubal Penninsula, Portugal $16.99 Kono Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand $16.99 Cellars Baronia Flor d’Englora Garnacha, Montsant, Spain $17.00 Cellars Baronia Flor d’Englora Roure Garnacha, Montsant, Spain $18.00 M. Chapoutier ‘Bila Haut’ Rouge, Cotes du Roussillon Villages, Roussillon, France $16.99 Bodegas Franco-Espanolas ‘Bordon’ Crianza, Rioja, Spain $19.00 Tender Hope Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley, BC $20.00 Cirro Pinot Gris, Marlborough New Zealand $19.99 Boutinot ‘Sun & Air’ Cinsault, Western Cape South Africa $15.00 Harper’s Trail ‘Pioneer Block’ Thadd Springs Vineyard Riesling, Thompson Valley, BC $20.00 Liquidity Wines Estate Pinot Gris, Okanagan Falls, BC N/A El Petit Bonhomme Blanco, Rueda Spain $14.00 Monte Creek Ranch Winery Riesling, British Columbia N/A Spearhead Riesling, Okanagan Valley BC $20.00 Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards ‘The Unwinder Ehrenfelser’, Okanagan Valley, BC N/A Lunessence Winery & Vineyard ‘Quartet White’, Okanagan Valley BC N/A Sperling Vineyards Pinot Noir Rose, Okanagan Valley BC N/A Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Pinot Blanc, Okanagan Valley BC $20.00 Babylon’s Peak ‘Front Row’ Shiraz, Mourvedre, Viognier, South Africa $12.99 San Valentino Montepulcinano d’Abruzzo, Italy $12.50 Fort Berens Estate Winery Chardonnay, British Columbia $19.00 Road 13 ‘Chip Off the Old Block’ Chenin Blanc, Golden Mile Bench, Okanagan Valley BC ACuma Organic Torrontes, Argentina $12.79 Top 50  –  Over $20/91 Points or better. Moon Curser Touriga Nacional, Okanagan Valley BC N/A Noble Ridge ‘Noble Knights’ Powers Vintage Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley, BC $40.00 Stag’s Hollow Pinot Noir, Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard, Okanagan Valley BC N/A Rust Wine Co. Merlot, Golden Mile Bench, Okanagan Valley, BC N/A Cellars Baronia Clos d’Englora AV14, Montsant, Spain $55.00 Meyer Family Vineyards ‘McLean Creek Road’ Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley BC $35.00 Liquidity Wines Reserve Pinot Noir, Okanagan Falls, BC N/A