Tasting Room Radio

The return of  VanWineFest Part One… THE SHOW After  a series  of historic events far more important than a wine gathering, we welcomed the 43rd annual Vancouver Wine Festival back into our lives. The pandemic required a different gathering this year. Smaller crowds,  masks not mandatory but fully encouraged. Fewer wineries and participants made for a calmer and quieter convention center. We liked it. Many of the participants who were scheduled to attend and pour last year returned with some wines a year older and lots of new fresh wines from 2021. There was an unmistakable joy in the room. Joy, for having survived the pandemic.   Joy, to seeing friends and exchanging stories about the past two years. It was a beauty.  People shook hands. They hugged! Almost like the life we used to know. So… let’s celebrate with the first of two specials at this year’s VanWineFest from the floor of the Vancouver Convention Centre.. Many thanks to Harbour Air for getting me there and back. Also Meriha Beaton – Milk Creative. John De Vries, FMFM  and Corey Wood. Here’s the line up! We have sit down interviews with   Harry Hertscheg – Executive Director VanWineFest  www.vanwinefest.ca  Lynzee Schatz – Winemaker at TIME Family Wines (Penticton) www.timewines.ca Ross Baker – Winemaker at LA FRENZ (Naramata)  www.lafrenzwinery.ca Dan Irving – Bread and Butter Wine (Napa) www.breadandbutterwines.com Mike Raffan – General Manager Township 7 (Naramata) www.township7.com Howard Soon – Chief Winemaker  Vanessa Vineyards (Similkameen) www.vanessavineyard.com Taylor Whelan – Winemaker Cedar Creek (East Kelowna) www.cedarcreek.bc.ca Mark Kuspira – Soft Crush Imports (Calgary) www.crushimports.com     STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON * VanWineFest Part Two * Tony Holler – Poplar Grove * Mark De Vere – Robert Mondavi Wine * Ray Signorello – Signorello Wine * Scorched Earth * Bartier Bros. * Township 7 * Hillside  Estate * Napa/SF * Thanksgiving Wines    

This week – a vertical pour from Clos Du Soleil and 3 new releases from Hester Creek THE SHOW   The invitation was just too good to pass up. Michael Clark,  Winemaker and GM of Clos du Soleil Winery  in the Similkameen Valley was coming to Chambar Restaurant in Vancouver to pour two verticals of his wines. Best of all, he brought his Similkameen neighbour,  Master of Wine and co-owner of Little Farm Winery, Rhys Pender. First tasting was with Capella, their flagship white wine. A classic blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. The grapes are hand-harvested, de-stemmed and lightly crushed, then cold-soaked for several hours prior to pressing. The wine is fermented entirely in barrel (500L French oak puncheons), with the majority of the fermentations being spontaneous with wild yeast. In some years a portion of the barrels are allowed to go through wild malolactic fermentation as well. The wine is then aged on the lees for 9 months, with occasional lees stirring. Only the best lots are then blended for inclusion in Capella. The wine is filtered prior to bottling, but otherwise entirely unmanipulated. Capella has truly earned a place in my wine world as one of my go-to favourites. That’s what happens when  wine becomes a treat for yourself and others. We tasted 2006/2009/2012/2017/2019/2021 The other vertical tasting was with their red icon Bordeaux blend Signature. Signature is their flagship blend of red Bordeaux varieties, with most vintages including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Each variety and vineyard block is harvested separately, by hand, at optimal maturity and then gravity-fed to concrete tanks, where it is spontaneously fermented with indigenous yeast. After a moderate post-fermentation maceration the wine is pressed in a basket press, and then aged for approximately 16 months in 100% French oak barrels, where it undergoes spontaneous malolactic fermentation. A rigorous barrel-selection process is used to determine the final blend. The resulting wine is bottled entirely unfined and unfiltered. We tasted 2007/2009/2010/2013/2016/2017/2019.  The Clos Du Soleil vineyards are primarily located on the upper bench of the southern Similkameen Valley, which has an arid, hot, desert-like climate, with rocky, mineral-rich soils that produce truly distinctive wines of ripe fruit character, fresh acidity, herbal notes and striking minerality. Rhys Pender is the perfect co-host for this tasting as he has always tried to convince BC wine fans to cellar their special whites and enjoy them years later. Rhys has also taken part in these same varietal pours back home in Cawston with Michael and  brings with him the history of the wines and the vineyards. @Clos du Soleil Winery @rhys@wineplus.ca www.closdusoleil.ca  Our Second guest is Winemaker Mark Hopley of Hester Creek (Golden Mile) A wonderful winemaker,  Mark Hopley would like all of us to know about three new releases. 2021 Ti Amo Prosecco inspired, its primarily Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer and Semillon. $21.99 This clean sparkling wine bursts with fragrant honeysuckle and orchard blossom notes. The inviting palate shows light Okanagan pear and candied citrus, with a light touch of sweetness. A perfect sparkling wine for entertaining,  brunch or desserts. At this price, its perfect for larger gatherings, weddings and receptions. 2019 Old Vine Brut $34.99 Made from rare Old Vine Pinot Blanc vines on the historic Golden Mile Bench Vineyard (Thank you Joe Busnardo) This second vintage displays  light honey hued tones with fine, active beads. Bright lemon, brioche and ginger aromas. A fresh and inviting palate invites the joy of lemon zest and fresh bisc...

812 Wines.  20 Platinum. We present  5 of the very best 2021 BC Lt. Gov Winners. THE SHOW  The press release said.. “A panel of judges from Canada and the US tasted more than 800 wines, and awarded gold, silver, and platinum medals to 90 British Columbian wineries” I know most of these judges. They cannot be fooled or influenced. They take great pride in getting the winners right. 12 of the 14 judges have been guests on Tasting Room Radio. I pay attention to what they have to say. On and off the air. Congratulations to all the wineries and to Tim Pawsey – Winner of the Harry McWatters Award. There simply wasn’t time to talk to all 20 Platinum winners but we were able to stalk and corner…     Wine of the Year winner David Patterson – GM & Winemaker of Tantalus 2018 Old Vines Riesling (East Kelowna)   Grant Stanley – Winemaker at Spearhead Winery. . (East Kelowna) 3 Platinum Pinot Noirs   Lorin Inglis – GM at ENRICO Winery (Cowichan Valley) 2020 Shining Armour Pinot Gris   Jeff Hundertmark – Head Winemaker Mt Boucherie  (West Kelowna) 2020 Original Vine Semillon/2018 Reserve Syrah   Gaurev Maan – Maan Farms Estate Winery – 2020 Raspberry Table Wine (Frazer Valley)   Elan Morris – GM OK Wine Festivals. (Kelowna) Here is the complete 2021 Platinum List – Congratulations All. * Arrowleaf Cellars – 2019 Riesling * Burrowing Owl Estate Winery – 2019 Syrah * CedarCreek Estate Winery – 2020 Platinum Home Block Rosé * Chain Reaction Winery – 2019 Tailwind Pinot Gris * ENRICO WINERY – 2020 Shining Armour Pinot Gris * Inniskillin Okanagan Estate Winery – 2018 Estate Riesling Icewine * Kismet Estate Winery – 2018 Cabernet Franc Reserve * Liquidity Wines – 2020 Rosé * Maan Farms Estate Winery – 2020 Raspberry Table Wine * Mission Hill Family Estate – 2019 Terroir Collection Vista’s Edge Cabernet Franc * Mission Hill Family Estate – 2019 Perpetua * Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery – 2020 Original Vines Sémillon * Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery – 2018 Reserve Syrah * Silhouette Estate Winery – N/V Boyd Classic Cuveé * Silkscarf Winery – 2017 Syrah-Viognier * SpearHead Winery – 2019 Pinot Noir Saddle Block * SpearHead Winery – 2019 Pinot Noir Cuveé * SpearHead Winery – 2019 Pinot Noir Golden Retreat * Tantalus Vineyards – 2018 Chardonnay * Three Sisters Winery – 2019 Rebecca The full list of medal winners can be found on the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society website. Tantalus.ca Enricowinery.com Spearhead.ca mtboucherie.com maanfarms.com thewinefestivals.com     STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON: Hester Creek Bartier Brothers Victoria Wine festival Clos de Soleil Vertical Pour Township 7 Orofino          

The Return of Top Drop / 2022 “The one wine tasting  of the year you shouldn’t miss”   THE SHOW  Like all other events in our day-to-day lives, there was no Top Drop during the pandemic. However, Top Drop wine fans are a very loyal bunch and I never thought for a minute that there might never be another Top Drop. Why the loyalty? “The one wine tasting  of the year you shouldn’t miss” Western Living Magazine    Kurtis Kolt and his partners have dedicated themselves to finding and inviting wineries that display a sense of place and craft. A great many are organic and all farm sustainably. Some are large but many are small and finding them is like finding a prize. The participants are so thoroughly vetted, that it makes the invited list feel like an all-star game. The two-day event took place May 10 & 11 in the very comfortable surroundings at The Roundhouse in Yaletown. 40 local and  international wineries pouring! As usual, I couldn’t get to everyone in the room. But I did stalk and talk to : Bella Wines – Jay Drysdale (Naramata Bench) A stellar sparkling wine house focused on single-vineyard expressions. Especially Gamay. Creek & Gully Cider – Annelise Simonsen and Alyssa Hubert (Naramata Bench) A family farm, 65 acres of Organic Apples. They seek and fully welcome apples deemed “undesirable” Ciders are proudly unfined, unfiltered, and ambiently fermented in the bottle and can. We also talk about saving Okanagan orchards. Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards – Gordon Fitzpatrick. (Summerland) Focused on traditional method sparkling wine. From 40 acres of vines separated into 12 smaller blocks.   Hedges Family Estate –  Christophe Hedges (Red Mountain. Washington)  Farmers first, winemakers second, the Hedges Family were pioneers of the modern Washington Wine Industry. Christophe leads the next generation. Lightning Rock Winery – Jordan Kubek Winemaker (Summerland) Creating electric, joyous and juicy wines. Jordan and Tyler desire to express each vineyard in the glass. Martin’s Lane Winery – Shane Munn Winemaker (East Kelowna) Pinot and Riesling only. Vineyards are farmed and certified organic. Gravity-fed winery. Outstanding wines and winery. Okanagan Crush Pad – Darryl Brooker New CEO and Matt Dumayne.  Winemaker. (Summerland) What a success story is Okanagan Crush Pad. Creating their own wines Haywire, Narrative, and Free Form. Concrete tanks, native yeasts, and no messing with the wines. New plantings deserve your attention. Orofino – John and Virginia Weber. Winemaker & Co-owners (Similkameen Valley) Minimal intervention in the solar-powered, strawbale winery. Premium wines that John described as “gulpable”. From beautiful Rieslings to knockout Syrah plus  outstanding vineyards in a spectacular valley. It all adds up to Orofino! Terravista Vineyards – Nadine Allander Winemaker (Naramata Bench) Producers of small-lot specialty white wines including Spanish varietals: Albarino and Verdejo plus French beauties Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier.  A tribute to the vineyards and those who planted them. Ursa Major Winery – Rajen Toor Owner/Principal. (South Okanagan. Black Sage Bench) Organically farmed vineyards on prime land. Working with many varietals but especially Bordeaux grapes to see if they can showcase a different side of the grape.  Much buzz about this winery. Owen Knowlton – Stable House Award-winning  Award winning Wine Sommelier and Director. Pouring Wines of Bordeaux   Kurtis Kolt – Co-Founder of Top Drop Vancouver and Wine Educator   www.bellawines.ca www.creekandgully.com www.fitzwine.com

  Making Award Winning Wines at “The Fort” THE SHOW       Just how well is Fort Berens Winery doing this year? #3 – Top 10 Small Wineries in Canada #6 – Top 10 BC Wineries #8 – Top 25 Wineries in Canada 1 Platinum Medal and 94 Points for their 2020 Pinot Noir 3 Gold Medals and 92 Points for the 2019 Merlot Reserve  and small lots  2021 Gruner Veltliner 2 Silver Medals and 90 points for the 2019 Cab Franc Reserve and 2021 Pinot Gris.   Lillooet is a new and emerging wine region in BC’s growing wine industry. Fort Berens is the first winery in Lillooet and features close to 40 planted acres of vineyards. I guess you can tell that we’ve been keeping an eye on the winery and region as Co-founder Rolf de Bruin joins us for his 6th visit. As soon as The Nationals were announced Rolf was ready to talk about the 2021 Spring and Summer releases. These were the Heat Dome Summer wines, with the highest temperature ever recorded in June. Followed by wildfires in the area.   Rolf also told us the tale of how winemaker Alessandro  (Alex) Nel made his way from making wines in  South Africa to Fort Berens in Lillooet.   Here are the wines we taste and talk about: 2021 Riesling $21.99 2021 Pinot Gris $21.99 2021 Chardonnay $22.99 2021 Rose $21.99 2021 Small Lot Dry Riesling $24.99 (new) 2021 Small Lot Gruner Veltliner $24.99 (new) The ultimate goal of Rolf and his team is to be 100% Lillooet VQA.  The 100% Lillooet wines above are Chardonnay, Rose, Small Lot Dry Riesling, and Small Lot Gruner. They are open daily for tastings and the Kitchen at Fort Berens is also open daily.  Check out their Wine Club and Newsletter   www.fortberens.ca   2021 Vintage Previews from: Dwight Sick – Winemaker and GM at Seven Stones Winery in the Similkameen Valley www.sevenstones.ca Galen Barnhart – Monte Creek  Winery  in Kamloops /Thompson www.montecreekranch.com   STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:   Bartier Brothers Hester Creek Benjamin Bridge – Nova Scotia Victoria Wine Festival Township 7    

A Haltwhistle Cheese & Wine pairing with  Unsworth Wines :   a feature special   THE SHOW  This weeks guests: Kirsten Thorarinson and Cory Spencer – co-founders of Haltwhistle Cheese Karen Newington – Tasting Room Manager Unsworth Vineyards  As the Sales & Operations Manager, Kirsten makes sure that the farm runs efficiently. She frequently delivers cheese to mongers and chefs and is often manning their stand at Vancouver Island farmers’ markets.   Cory is the cheesemaker. He oversees he entire process from caring for the animals to aging the cheese. He also looks after their herd. “Treat yourself to a taste of Europe in your own backyard. Here at their  family farm in the Cowichan Valley, they make all their  raw-milk cheeses by hand–using the same Old-World methods as European farmstead cheese makers. Their artisanal cheese pair well with wine, honey and good company.”  I know almost nothing about cheese. Apparently I’m not the only one Here are three questions Kirsten and Cory have been asked at Saturday markets. “is your Gouda processed cheese?” “what are your cheese curds made from?” “do you milk your goats?” The whole idea of putting Haltwhistle and Unsworth together was to answer the questions about pairing. What do you pair with Feta? It helps that Karen Newington is not only the Tasting Room Manager at Unsworth, she also worked at Haltwhistle for 4 years. Here  are the cheeses:  Fromage Frais – Fromage Frais is a rich and spreadable cheese made from pasteurized cow’s milk. It has a somewhat tangy flavour and distinct buttery notes, thanks to its high butterfat content. This decadent cheese pairs well with bread or crackers. Tadwick – This traditional English-style cheddar is one of our best-selling cow’s milk cheeses. Made from unpasteurized milk, Tadwick is mild yet flavourful when young (3-7 months). The longer it matures (8-12 months), the more it develops its signature sharp flavour and pleasant tang.   Thombury – This rustic farmer’s cheese is made from unpasteurized cow’s milk. It has an earthy and milky flavour and is based on the Tomme-style cheeses made in the French Alps. To develop its natural rind, Thombury is carefully tended to for 3 to 6 months.   Tomme de Vallée – Our signature cheese and one of our best-sellers. This natural-rind cheese is inspired by the traditional Tomme-style cheeses from the French Alps. It is made from unpasteurized goat’s milk and gently aged for 3 to 6 months, giving this rustic farmer’s cheese an earthy and rich flavour.   Feta – This traditional Greek cheese has a firm and crumbly texture. It is made from unpasteurized goat’s milk and aged in brine (a salty solution) for 2 to 3 months, which lends the cheese a slightly salty and tangy flavour. The Unsworth wines being paired and poured are: 2021 Rosé with Fromage Frais $26.90 2020 Gamay Pinot Noir with Tadwick $26.90 2020 Chardonnay with Thombury $30.90 2020 Pinot Noir with Tomme de Vallée $38.90 2020 Saison Vineyard Pinot Gris with Feta $25.99   Do your own taste test. It’s a ton of fun! www.haltwhistlecheese.com www.unsworthvineyards.com       STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON   Bartier Brothers Township 7 Hester Creek Victoria Wine Festival  

The Summer of 2022 has been one big wine festival in the Cowichan Valley. June was wine passport month. Now comes the August 4th  Wine Festival Launch Party. BECAUSE  August is Wine Month in the Cowichan Valley!! The kick-off took place on the superb beachfront lawn at Brentwood College, Mill Bay. With the help and support of Corey Wood and Jill Nessel, I was able to taste with  and talk to: Dan Wright – Unsworth Vineyards  https://www.unsworthvineyards.com/     Lorin Inglis – Enrico Winery  https://www.enricowinery.com/ Bailey Williamson – Blue Grouse Winery  https://bluegrouse.ca/ Xavier Bonilla – Cherry Point Estate https://www.cherrypointestatewines.com/ (Xavier Bonilla – Cherry Point) Garrett Deol – Deol Winery  https://www.deolestatewinery.com/ Zac Brown – Alderlea Vineyards https://www.alderlea.ca/ Mike Nierychlo – Emandare Vineyard https://www.emandarevineyard.com/ Christiaan DeBeer – Zanatta Winery https://zanatta.ca/ CowichanWineries.com Tourismcowichan.com photos by: Corey Wood &  Stephanie Cragg STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:  Township 7 Haltwhistle Cheese and Unsworth – a pairing Fort Berens Bartier Brothers    

The return of  VanWineFest Part One… THE SHOW After a year of events far more important than a wine gathering, we welcome the 43rd annual Vancouver Wine Festival back into our lives. The pandemic required a different gathering this year. Smaller crowds masks not mandatory but encouraged. Fewer wineries and participants made for a calmer and quieter convention center. We liked it. Many of the participants who were scheduled to attend and pour last year returned with some wines a year older and lots of new fresh wines from 2021. There was an unmistakable joy in the room. For having survived the pandemic and come out the other side.  To see friends and exchange stories about the past two years. It was a beauty.  People shook hands. They hugged! Almost like the life we used to know. So… let’s celebrate with the first of two specials at this year’s VanWineFest from the floor of the Vancouver Convention Centre.. Many thanks to Harbour Air for getting me there and back. Also Meriha Beaton – Milk Creative. Here’s the line up! We have sit down interviews with   Harry Hertscheg – Executive Director VanWineFest  www.vanwinefest.ca  Lynzee Schatz – Winemaker at TIME Family Wines (Penticton) www.timewines.ca Ross Baker – Winemaker at LA FRENZ (Naramata)  www.lafrenzwinery.ca Dan Irving – Bread and Butter Wine (Napa) www.breadandbutterwines.com Mike Raffan – General Manager Township 7 (Naramata) www.township7.com Howard Soon – Chief Winemaker  Vanessa Vineyards (Similkameen) www.vanessavineyard.com Taylor Whelan – Winemaker Cedar Creek (East Kelowna) www.cedarcreek.bc.ca Mark Kuspira – Soft Crush Imports (Calgary) www.crushimports.com   STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON * VanWineFest Part Two * Tony Holler – Poplar Grove * Mark De Vere – Robert Mondavi Wine * Ray Signorello – Signorello Wine * Our Sponsor Special * Jason Parkes Customs * Hillside Winery * Moon Curser Wines * Unsworth Wines * Clos du Soleil * Scorched Earth    

Tasting Cowichan-New Fairview Cellars-Quails Gate Expands   THE SHOW  Tasting the Cowichan It’s a two-part interview with several of the wineries of the Cowichan Valley. Taste Your Way Through The Cowichan Valley runs June 1-30 and: Wine Festival Month Launch Party – on the Grand Lawn  Brentwood College Aug 4th (7-10 pm) Ticket info and details are on this Page and  CowichanWineries.com Bringing the news and pours on Zoom  are:  Lorin Inglis – GM Enrico Winery  enricowinery.com Jim Moody – Owner Zanatta Winery   zanatta.ca Dan Wright – Winemaker Unsworth  unsworthvineyards.com Bailey Williamson – Winemaker Blue Grouse  bluegrouse.ca Tony Stewart – CEO Quails Gate Estate Winery (West Kelowna) The news came as a wonderful surprise to many.   Two beloved BC wine families have come together,  with an eye and considerable heart on the future. The Stewart Family at Quails Gate (N. Okanagan) has leased 30 acres of Black Sage Road vineyards from Julie and Lanny Martiniuk at Stoneboat. (South Okanagan) After replanting and pollination, just think of the wonderful wines that will appear on our shelves in about 4-5 years.. I love the fact that two iconic BC wine families have enough trust and respect to make this partnership work. Tony Stewart explains the details.  Truly hope there’s more of these kinds of stories. While I had Tony’s attention,  I asked about new releases from Quails Gate.   Fairview Cellars – Danielle and Dermott Hutton  New Co-owners (Golden Mile) Fairview Cellars was the home and consuming passion of  Bill Eggert. A legendary winemaker who at one point in his life, was teaching winemaking at the valley college. Fair to say, he kept some of his secrets to himself. Several years ago Bill let it be known that he was looking for new owners so he could move on to the next chapter of his life.. It took considerable time but he found them in Danielle and Dermott Hutton. Danielle became the GM and Dermott learned how to get along with a tractor and farm vineyards. Now the vineyard has changed hands. Good hands. Bill simply would not sell his beloved vineyards to just anyone. We’ll talk to Bill Eggert down the road but right now it’s the Hutton Show. They’ll explain how it all came together and then walk me through the new releases.   Sending love to the great tasting room manager – Mindy Ward. STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON * 2022 Vancouver Wine Festival (Two-Part) * Pinot  Blind Tasting * Sponsors Special * 2021 Vintage Wine Review    

The Return of Top Drop / 2022   THE SHOW  Like all other events in our day-to-day lives, there was no Top Drop during the pandemic. However, Top Drop wine fans are a very loyal bunch and I never thought for a minute that there might never be another Top Drop. Why the loyalty? “The one wine tasting  of the year you shouldn’t miss” Western Living Magazine    Kurtis Kolt and his partners have dedicated themselves to finding and inviting wineries that display a sense of place and craft. A great many are organic and all farm sustainably. Some are large but many are small and finding them is like finding a prize. The participants are so thoroughly vetted, that it makes the invited list feel like an all-star game. The two-day event took place May 10 & 11 in the very comfortable surroundings at The Roundhouse in Yaletown. 40 international wineries pouring! As usual, I couldn’t get to everyone in the room. But I did stalk and talk to : Bella Wines – Jay Drysdale (Naramata Bench) A stellar sparkling wine house focused on single-vineyard expressions. Especially Gamay. Creek & Gully Cider – Annelise Simonsen and Alyssa Hubert (Naramata Bench) A family farm, 65 acres of Organic Apples. They use apples deemed “undesirable” Ciders are proudly unfined, unfiltered, and ambiently fermented in the bottle and can. We also talk about saving Okanagan orchards. Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards – Gordon Fitzpatrick. (Summerland) Focused on traditional method sparkling wine. From 40 acres of vines separated into 12 smaller blocks.   Hedges Family Estate –  Christophe Hedges (Red Mountain. Washington)  Farmers first, winemakers second, the Hedges Family were pioneers of the modern Washington Wine Industry. Christophe leads the next generation. Lightning Rock Winery – Jordan Kubek Winemaker (Summerland) Creating electric, juicy wines. Jordan and Tyler desire to express each vineyard in the glass. Martin’s Lane Winery – Shane Munn Winemaker (East Kelowna) Pinot and Riesling only. Vineyards are farmed and certified organic. Gravity-fed winery. Outstanding wines and winery. Okanagan Crush Pad – Darryl Brooker New CEO and Matt Dumayne.  Winemaker. (Summerland) What a success story is Okanagan Crush Pad. Creating their own wines Haywire, Narrative, and Free Form. Concrete tanks, native yeasts, and no messing with the wines. Orofino – John and Virginia Weber. Winemaker & Co-owners (Similkameen Valley) Minimal intervention in the solar-powered, strawbale winery. Premium wines that John described as “gulp able”. From beautiful Rieslings to knockout Syrah plus  Outstanding vineyards in a spectacular valley. It all adds up to Orofino! Terravista Vineyards – Nadine Allander Winemaker (Naramata Bench) Producers of small-lot specialty white wines including Spanish varietals: Albarino and Verdejo plus French beauties Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier.  A tribute to the vineyards and those who planted them. Ursa Major Winery – Rajen Toor Owner/Principal. (South Okanagan. Black Sage Bench) Organically farmed vineyards on prime land. Working with many varietals but especially Bordeaux grapes to see if they can showcase a different side of the grape.  Much buzz about this winery. Owen Knowlton – Stable House Award-winning Wine Director. Pouring Wines of Bordeaux   Kurtis Kolt – Co-Founder of Top Drop Vancouver and Wine Educator   www.bellawines.ca www.creekandgully.com www.fitzwine.com www.hedgesfamilyestate.com www.lightningrockwinery.com

Tasting Room Radio is Presented by Harbour Air THE SHOW Sara Park and  Cam Duke,  the co-founders of Coastal Craft Beverages in Victoria always throw a great pour. As in previous years, they head for the 8th-floor skyline suites at the top of Parkside Hotel in downtown Victoria. They work exclusively with producers who are independent and family-owned. Artisans who focus on sustainability and care for the Planet and its people. Best of all, they partnered with Vintage West Wine and Spirits. Owners of an amazing portfolio. “I have a real passion for working with local, BC, Craft Producers and helping them grow their businesses. We have some of the most talented Winemakers, Distillers, Craft Brewers & Cidermakers in North America – right here! I’ve met and worked with incredibly knowledgeable and passionate people in this business. I feel very lucky to do what I do, and work on the west coast.”  Sara Park. “Working with like-minded, passionate people who take such incredible pride in their workmanship and crafts is a privilege to be a part of. I’m excited to continue growing these relationships and contribute to each of their success stories.”  Cameron Duke Meet the Makers   Provincial Spirits –Jesse Bannister Founder, Owner Winemaker’s Cut –Michal Mosny, Winemaker and Owner Sheringham Distillery and Lumette –Jason MacIsaac, Master Distiller, and Owner Junction Cider –Cody Brown (Owner), Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards –Gordon Fitzpatrick, Owner/VP Blue Grouse –Michael Abbott (Vineyard Manager) Tightrope Winery –Lyndsay O’Rourke, Owner/Winemaker Vintage West Wine & Spirits –Matt Thirlwell (Partner)   STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON Top Drop 2022 VanWineFest Cowichan Wine Month Sponsor Love in

“ TOP DROP: THE ONE WINE TASTING OF THE YEAR YOU SHOULDN’T MISS.” – WESTERN LIVING MAGAZINE THE SHOW     This weeks guest is Kurtis Kolt co-founder of  Top Drop. The co-founder of Top Drop,  dubbed “the nerdiest, most awesome wine festival in Canada.” Received the ‘Sommelier of the Year’ award at the 2010 Vancouver International Wine Festival. Kurtis has run the wine program for a couple evenings at James Beard House, had bylines in local and international publications, such as Decanter and Maclean’s, plus I occasionally sit in on tasting panels at Wine & Spirits Magazine on semi-regular visits New York. KK has various certifications and credits through London’s Wine & Spirit Education Trust, the Court of Master Sommeliers & the Winemaking Program at UC Davis. On May 10th and 11th, Top Drop Vancouver returns, with a continued focus on sustainably-farmed, handcrafted wines offering a distinct sense of place, without heavy-handed winemaking trickery to get in the way. Top Drop is now  in its seventh year. . Over  two days, Top Drop offers Vancouver’s wine professionals and enthusiasts unique events and opportunities. As Top Drop’s flagship experience, The Main Event is a walk-around, grazing-style tasting where attendees can enjoy sips and stories from the principals of 40 participating international wineries. The Main Event will take place from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 10 and 11, at Yaletown’s Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews). A full list of event participants follows, and can be found at TopDrop.ca.   Tickets are  $125 until they’re sold out, and available online at TopDrop.ca. Event proceeds go to the BC Hospitality foundation, an organization providing financial support to individuals from the hospitality industry facing a major medical crisis. Top Drop’s  annual grand tasting features dozens of international, terroir-focused wineries and the people behind the wines. Kurtis  will  be talking about the wines that are starred ***   Aldegheri, Valpolicella, Italy      w/ Jane Glees, Export Director Anselmi, Soave, Veneto, Italy    w/ Lisa Anselmi, Family Proprietor ***Ashes & Diamonds, Napa Valley, California, USA   w/ Kashy Khaledi, Proprietor + Owner Averill Creek Vineyard, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada   w/ Brent Rowland, Winemaker ***Azienda Agricola Bruna Grimaldi , Piedmont, Italy     w/ Martina Fiorino, Family Proprietor + Sales Manager ***Bella Wines, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada       w/ Jay Drysdale,

Chain Reaction Wines (Naramata)   & Stillhead Distillery (Duncan) THE SHOW I “discovered” Chain Reaction Winery through a conversation with DJ Kearney. When DJ asks the question “have you heard of..?” I am totally locked in. DJ is a senior wine educator and an opinion you want to pay attention to. Her recommendation sent me looking for the owners Joel and Linda Chamaschuk. Originally from BC’s lower mainland, they were both cyclists,  tech workers and big wine fans. One thing led to another. Okanagan bike competitions, seeking new wines and a dream to one day own a winery. Finally they  bought a great small orchard on the Naramata Bench and in 2019 they planted Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cab Franc. Riesling followed in 2020. They now have three vintages to their name. Both 2019 and 2020 were done as “custom crushes” with winemaker Dwight Sick at Moraine Winery. Their 2021 wines were the first to be made at their new winery facility. Again with the invaluable  leadership of Dwight Sick. Their 2021 Pinot Gris won a Lt Governor Platinum Award. For a new comer,  a rare victory. They’ve added a Blanc de Noir and a traditional method sparkling rose – both made from Pinot Noir. Best of all, they’re finally making wines from their estate vineyard. Chain Reaction Wines coming this year include 2021 Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sparkling Rose and next Spring their first Cab Franc Chain Reaction 2019 Pinot Gris[2651] Chain Reaction 2020 Pinot Noir They’ve opened a tasting room  to the public. Just know, they’re making everything in small batch productions. As soon as you taste these delicious wines,  this piece of information  becomes important. They will go quickly. Think about joining their wine club. We welcome Joel and Linda because dreams DO come true. www.chainreactionwine.com Stillhead Distillery (Duncan) – Brennan Colebank  Owner Operator & Distiller New whiskies and spirits from Vancouver Island. Stillhead Distillery Inc. opened its doors in October of 2017, founded by the Colebank family, husband and wife team Erica and Brennan, along with parents Christal and Ron. Brennan Colebank graduated from UNBC with a Bachelor of Computer Science degree.. After working almost 15 years in the tech industry, Brennan left his job to pursue his dream career blending the two things he loved most; chemistry and whisky! Four years later, the Stillhead team has grown from a family of 4 to a team of 9, with each year showing more potential and room to grow. Stillhead’s vision is to reflect  the essence of island living in their  brand and all of their spirits. By adding distinct Vancouver Island ingredients to their products, they’ve provided a way to showcase and express the spirit of this wonderful area they call home, in every bottle. I tasted my way through 6 small sample bottles of Stillhead Several “old” releases… Rye Whisky – Small Cask Finish.  Nose. rye bread and malt Palate. Allspice, toast, coconut and leather. B-Word – Bourbon Style – Nose. sweet clover, brown sugar  Palate. toasted marshmallow, lemon grass. spice. Cinnamon And several New Releases… Rye-tila the Hun Nose. Dried figs, new cowhide, Irish butter Palate. roasted wheat, closer, toasted pine nuts Smokin Wheat – Nose. Cigar box, fruit preserves, damp embers  Palate. Peat reek, malted milk  incense Rye Whisky – Maple Syrup Cask  Nose. Fresh cinnamon toast, maple fudge  Palate. candied ginger, toast with butter, apple pie spice

  THE HEART OF WINE COUNTRY – PART TWO The Show It was the first wine gathering of 2022 and the first in two years for many in the room. (The room was the gorgeous Terminal City Club on West Hastings in Vancouver) This week, its part two of our interviews with winemakers, agents  and principals. All representing the Okanagan Falls and Skaha Lake Wineries Assn. Here’s the Line -up:  Play Estate Winery  (Skaha Hills) – Gianluca Miceli and the one & only Paul Watkin.(Seacove Group) They brought over the Play Estate 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon.  French Oak Barrel aged for 16 months. 14%. Lean and totally engaging. Well done Stephanie Breyers,  Winemaker. Noble Ridge (Okanagan Falls) – Benoit Gauthier Winemaker N/V  The Fizzy One (a pre-release). A beautiful blend of 62% Kerner and 38% Pinot Gris. “it’s for Wine Club Members but for you a tease and a treat”  Hey! Join the club. Stag’s Hollow (Okanagan Falls)  – Erin Korpisto GM.  2021 Dolcetto – Wild mix of ripe cherry, plums, rose on the nose plus  spice and dark chocolate. Winemaker Keira Le Franc speaks Italian through wine and  I understand what she’s saying. Pentage (Skaha Lake) – Ian Jamieson (artwine) 2015 Pentage – The Flagship Red. 35% Cab/29 Merlot & 12 Merlot Ripasso/ 10 Cab Franc/10 Petit Verdot/  4 Malbec Considering the entire process this wine goes through, partially dried skins then more merlot added – for 8 months, it is totally worth your time and dough to find it and enjoy Winemaker/Owner Paul Gardner’s craft. Bravo!  Wild Goose (Okanagan Falls)  Leslie Matheson (Marketing Manager) 2021 Autumn Gold – A well crafted blend of Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc and little bit of Chardonnay. www.wildgoosewinery.ca www.stagshollowwinery.com www.pentage.com www.nobleridge.com www.playwinery.com www.theheartofwinecountry.ca   STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON: Our 2022 Sponsor special Top Drop 2022 VanWine Fest 2022 Coastal Craft – Meet the Makers (Victoria) Stillhead Distilling – Duncan Chain Reaction Wines – Naramata Bench. Davin de Kergomeaux – Spirits in the Dark                                  

First pour of BC Wines In Vancouver –  OK Falls/Skaha Lake (Part One)     THE SHOW   It was quite a gathering. For the first time in over two years BC wines were being poured in Vancouver to a roomful of media, trade, and later in the day wine fans. 13 wineries from The Heart of Wine Country – OK Falls and Skaha Lake Winery Association. The setting was the wonderful Terminal City Club on West Hastings. People reconnected. They shook hands, hugged, and laughed. I set up my recorder and microphone off in a corner, arranged some guest chairs, and sought out Dana Lee Harris. She and her work partner Karen Madsen had extended an invitation to interview all the principals pouring their wines in the room. When a tasting like this opens the front doors, a guy like me needs a “wrangler”. Someone with the smarts and leadership to find the next interview guest and walk them over to me, with an eye on the clock. That invaluable person was Dana Harris. (Dana Lee Consulting)  Barney Bentall once called an event like that – a goat rodeo.  Everyone talking, tasting, and enjoying a room filled with wine choices. There was just enough time to talk to all 13 wineries and get back to the Harbour Air Terminal by the Convention Centre for the last flight to Maple Bay. What a day! The wines were handsome and memorable.  So were the guests. The Heart of Wine Country Part One will feature  Rob Hammersley –  Black Market Wine Co (co-founder) 2020 Pinot Blanc Barrel Aged Evan Saunders – Blasted Church Vineyards (winemaker) 2018 Small Blessings Cabernet Sauvignon (100%) Mario Rodi – Bonamici Cellars and President of OKF/Skaha Winery Assn. (co-founder) Belviagio –  (Cab. Cab Franc. Merlot. Syrah. Sangiovese) Tysha Pope – Crescent Hill Winery 2018 Chardonnay OAKanagan Girl Terry Meyer-Stone – Mayhem Wines (co-founder) 2021 small-lot Sauvignon Blanc (6 months French oak/13% New)     JAK Meyer – Meyer Family Vineyards (co-founder) 2020 Pinot Noir (blend of 7 vineyards. Neutral French oak 8 months) (JAK Meyer – tdm – Janice Stevens) Dakota Bibby – Nighthawk Wines.  (Winemaker) 2019 Merlot (aged in French oak 18 months) www.blackmarketwine.ca www.blastedchurch.com www.bonamicicellars.com www.crescenthillwinery.com www.mayhemwines.com www.mfvwine.ca www.nighthawkvineyards.com     STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON * Okanagan Falls Part Two * Top Drop 2022 * Ned Bell – Naramata Inn * Van Wine Fest * Cowichan Valley Wine Fests