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We’re talking Rutherford Dust and the new Lake Sonoma label with wine partners Dan Zepponi (Napa) and Tony Stewart (Okanagan).

THE SHOW

 

Blue Rodeo have just released another album. In Our Nature is their 13^th studio release in 26 years. Recorded at Greg Keelor’s farm, its decidedly acoustic, in part because of Greg’s hearing loss. I made plans to meet Jim Cuddy – his writing and singing partner – in the lobby of the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver as Jim was touring and playing as part of the annual Gold Medal Plates Culinary Competition.
We talked about the new music and  the addition of guitarist Colin Cripps who plays in The Jim Cuddy Band. The bulk of the talk will be heard on Mulligan Stew @ CKUA radio Saturday Nov 16. Jim and I always talk wine when we get together. Because he has given so much to GMPlates, he’s asked to be  part of various trips that are auctioned off..so there are  stories there. He’s discovered a new paella dish at Carmen in Toronto and thus he’s washing it down with Ribera del Duero wines.   Blue Rodeo’s 2014 tour starts Jan 2-3 in Vancouver. Alberta dates include

• Jan 9  Red Deer
• Jan 10/11  The Jube in Calgary
• Jan 12  Lethbridge
• Jan 16 Fort MacMurray
• Jan 17/18 Jube Edmonton

The Devon Cuddy band opens the shows. www.bluerodeo.com  

There’s also a Mulligan Stew connection to the next guest Martha Wainwright..of the legendary Wainwright/McGarrigle Families. Her brother is Rufus Wainwright. Her Dad is Loudon Wainwright 111.  Her Mother Kate McGarrigle  lost her battle with Cancer in 2010 just months after Martha had given birth to her first child. All of those emotions played out in her current album Come Home To Mama.
At the end of our conversation..I asked Martha about her relationship with wine and off we went. Because she’s pregnant again, she’s stopped drinking but you can tell she’s a wine fan through and through. Way to go Martha. www.marthawainwright.com We’ve aired the story of Plume before on TRR. A really good Napa Cab that come out of nowhere at $25.00 but  tasted like $35. It was the result of a partnership between two wine families.

The Zepponi’s of Napa and Stewarts of The Okanagan. Dan Zeponni first wine memory is planting vines along the Silverado Trail at the family vineyard. Tony Stewart and his family did the same above BC’s  Okanagan Lake at Quails Gate.
Now they’re making Plume and introducing a new label into their portfolio –  Lake Sonoma. Here’s the complete story and how they may just be the Tip of a very large Iceberg.     www.lakesonomawinery.com www.plumewinery.com quailsgate.com

Dominique Demarville is the very lucky Cellar Master at Veuve Clicquot. The makers of fine champagne for 240 years. Dom says he can still feel the presence of Madame Clicquot in the darkest corners of the cellars. This quiet conversation made its way through the history of the label, how he felt when he first walked into those cellars and what makes Veuve so unique. We agreed on the value of the bubbles. Best bubbles in the World.
The label has a special place in this world. Whenever someone wants to celebrate a marriage..a graduation, a conquest or to remember someone departed..a bottle of Veuve Clicquot usually finds its way into the occasion. Special place that. Salute!!   www.veuve–clicquot.com Richard Parsons/il Palazzone

Former Citigroup Inc.  Chairman Richard Parsons, whose career in banking and media saw him at the helm of the industries’ biggest companies, is betting he can make money in retirement in the wine-rich Tuscan hills. Twelve years after buying Il Palazzone, a Montalcino vineyard perched on the ancient trail to Rome, Parsons is getting serious about winemaking, turning a hobby into a business. He’s built a new cellar he inaugurated with this year’s harvest and plans to double production of his finest wine, Brunello, turning Il Palazzone into a profitable activity within five years. Despite its name, il Palazzone, or “the big palace” is actually quite a small winery making less than 1,000 cases of Brunello di Montalcino annually.
While the estate is roughly 20 acres, the vineyard area authorized for the production of Brunello di Montalcino is a mere 10 acres. Il Palazzone recently completed construction of a new cellar, designed to blend beautifully into the landscape and minimize its carbon footprint. While the cellar utilizes the best of modern technology, the vineyard still creates its Brunello in the traditional method by aging the wine in large, Slavonian oak barrels for nearly four years. Great story this. www.ilpalazzone.com     [divider]

Wine Diva at Intervin

          The InterVin International Wine Awards is designed to recognize and celebrate the very best wines available to Canadian consumers. An entirely objective, blind tasting format has been developed that utilizes a team of qualified and respected judges. The panel features wine industry professionals with backgrounds in hospitality, media, education and winemaking. Competing wines are  grouped by varietal or style ensuring that each is fairly evaluated.
Judges awarded  gold, silver and bronze medals in each category as well as determine the prestigious top awards for the overall best wines. One of the highly qualified judges was Daenna van Mulligen – The Wine Diva. The results are now out but Daenna has her tasting notes and gives us the inside edge on who won what and why. Wines included in our discussion were  

Best in Show

• Cavas la Capilla – Malbec
• Tyler Harleton – Pinot Gris
• Taylor Fladgate LBV Port
• Stellars Jay Brut 2008
• Mission Hill Compendium
• Nk Mip  Qwam Qwmt  Riesling ice wine
• Painted Rock Cabernet and Syrah
• Poplar Grove – Pinot Gris
• Quails Gate  – Chenin 2012
• Quails Gate – Dry Riesling
• Red Rooster – Reserve Viognier
• Silk Scarf  Malbec-Cab 2009
• Stellars Jay
• Tinhorn Creek Pinot Noir 2009
• Tyler Harleton  Viognier. Pinot Gris
• Wild Goose
• Stoney ridge
• Tawse

www.winediva.ca www.intervin.ca  [divider]

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

• Carlo Mondavi at Continuum
• The 17^th annual Cornucopia. Whistler Wine Festival
• Bistro Seventeen 89
• A Return to La Morra Piedmont
• Beppi Crosariol