The Cowichan Valley Wine Spring Wine Pour. Year 2025
The location may change from year to year, new faces may appear but one thing that’s always in the room is Cowichan Valley Pride!!
The wine community all across the province is keeping a closer eye on what’s changing on Vancouver Island.
For example – three new winery owners – all from California, have decided that with climate change, the future of winegrowing is in the Cowichan Valley.
I did my very best to talk to everyone in the room but for those I missed, I’ll be reaching out shortly.
This years Cowichan Wine Festival takes place all of August.
Best Coast Distillers and Winemaker’s Cut/The Opera.
THE SHOW
Corey Wood/Cory Hastings – Best Coast Distillers (North Saanich)
Best Coast Distillers have been really busy for the past couple of years. Planting necessary ingredients on their farm, building the distillery from the ground up, getting their hands on quality distilling equipment, harvesting, carefully crafting all of the necessary steps in the distilling process and deciding which blend becomes the next whisky.
We had fun with this interview. Talking to the Corey’s/Cory’s.
Cory Hastings, Corey Wood and Host-Terry David Mulligan
Corey Wood – Co-owner, Sales & marketing ( also Associate Producer of Mulligan Stew)
Cory Hastings – Co-owner, representing the distillery operations, and his family farm.
The missing partner is Sandy Burns. Distiller. Originally from Scotland.
Best Coast Distillers are trying to do things differently as Craft Distillers in North Saanich on Vancouver Island
They are the first in Canada to grow, harvest, juice and distill Sorghum Cane!
Producing Canada’s first true Agricole Rum. (French Oak. 170 bottles.)
They are growing a crop of Agave, which will result in Canada’s first true Agave Spirit, ‘Tequila Style’
Best Coast Distillery is built on a 5th-generation family farm, with grains sourced from local farmers. If you find yourself in the Sidney area of the Peninsula, near the Victoria International Airport and Ferry Terminal, look them up and swing by the tasting area to meet the team.
Best Coast has already released WildFire Whisky, a Cinnamon and Madagascar vanilla-infused whisky. This is great for sipping or mixed in various cocktails found in bars and restaurants around the island. Partial proceeds of sales are being donated to the Victoria Firefighters Foundation. The whisky is currently in stores in BC and will soon be available in Alberta.
Michal Mosny – Co-founder and Winemaker at Winemaker’s Cut and The Opera ( District Wine Village Oliver)
Michal was a winemaker in Slovakia who saw Jason Priestley and I hosting Hollywood and Vines TV in the Okanagan.
He and his wife Martina liked what they saw so much, they moved to Oliver in the south Okanagan and started Winemakers Cut. It was Michal who suggested that, to honour their new life in Canada, we three create a wine to celebrate.
Thus Q&A was created. A Bordeaux red and a Northern Rhone White.
In the meantime, Michal and Martina continued building Winemaker’s Cut and eventually became a sponsor of Tasting Room Radio.
This interview was very interesting, in that Michal was releasing his Crafted in BC Whites for 2024.
When permission was given to let BC wineries access out-of-province fruit, Michal headed for Yakima, Washington and led the growing and harvesting teams. Once the grapes were harvested, the fruit & juice immediately headed north by truck and arrived at the crush pad after an overnight trip.
On his label, which has black and white shots of a cat, raccoon, eagle, polar bear, etc, Michal says to the growers in the USA , “Thanks for the Support.”
(Yakima Valley)
These are just some of the wines Michal created.
All 6 are grown in Washington Fruit – Crafted in BC. $26.00 each.
2024 Chardonnay (can be aged for 5 years)
2024 Gruner Veltliner (beauty)
2024 Muscat (loved this)
2024 Rose (cab and cab franc) Fantastic
2024 Sauvignon Blanc (bold)
2024 Sparkling. 100% Gruner – Charmat Style
Michal and I also talk about Boho, Bohemian Reserve, Q&A, 20222/2023 white wines, his sparkling wines
Fidelia, Piccolina and Angelica and more.
We finish with his just opened latest project. A tasting room right next door, called The Opera Room.
With an assortment of newly created no/lo alcohol wines, ciders and coolers.
Piquette Blanc, Rose, 4.5 Blanc. Piquette Apple Etc. Plus amazing ciders you really want to taste.
If you haven’t already heard, April is BC Wine Month.
Its also the month that we thank the four sponsors of Tasting Room Radio.
When we started TRR the Summer of 2007, we made a pledge about the segment sponsors.
If I’m going to talk about their winery or restaurant for a year, let’s please make sure we really like them and admire what they create.
Kathy Malone – the winemaker at Hillside Estate on the Naramata Bench has been part of our show for many years now. When we moved to Naramata in 2007, I realized if I was to launch a wine show, I’d better find a mentor who had all the answers to my many questions.
That teacher and friend was right down the road from me. Winemaker Kathy Malone.
(I would also like to thank Ian Sutherland and Valeria Tait for their friendship and support.)
Kathy has just returned from a Winter vacation in Europe, that ended in Paris. No vineyards for this traveler. Instead, it was days and days of museums, art galleries, historic churches and opera houses. Impressive.
Kathy and I hooked up on Zoom and she walked and talked me through her latest releases.
Including
2023 Below the Road Rose – Unbelievable Rose. Kathy explains the glacial history behind the name and the wild blend driving the savoury notes of this winner.
Merlot, Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc and Viognier all came together from a field blend. A world class rose, currently available only to wine club members.
Yes, its the perfect reason to join.
Kathy and I talked about their Hillside Rose but it may be sold out soon, an absolutely delicious 2020 Cab Franc. 18 months in French oak. 23% new!
And the 2018 Mosaic. A classic blend of Bordeaux grapes – Cab Franc, Merlot, Cab Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot. All grown on the Naramata Bench.
Kathy talked about one of her favorite wines. The 2018 Dickinson Vineyard Merlot and how that varietal is sometimes taken for granted these days.
We’ll be back to talk to Kathy about her Crafted in BC wines. Created using Yakima and Columbia Valley grapes. A new chef’s white is here.
Speaking of The Chef, Bistro Chef Evan Robertson opens the doors Wednesday April 30! We’ll be back to talk to chef as well.
Oh..one more thing.
Kathy mentions the Naramata Bench event, bringing it all back home. A Spring tasting for locals Saturday April 26 from 11am to 5PM.
Paul Sawler – Chair of Wine Growers of BC/Wine BC & VP Sales & Marketing Dirty Laundry Wines
Paul Sawler
We’re so pleased to introduce our latest sponsor, Wine Growers of BC and Wine BC. (Thank you Wine BC)
Paul Sawler is Chair of the Board and part of the leadership team at Summerland’s Dirty Laundry Winery.
Wine BC represents the BC wine community. It’s a big job in any growing year. However this year is historical.
People will reference this year for many years to come.
Two vine killer winters, sales conflicts with Alberta, out of province wines being crafted in BC, trade barriers possibly dropping across Canada and ugly tariffs from the USA.
Paul takes us through the headlines..
April is BC Wine Month. How can consumers support BC Wine?
How the Crafted in BC wines are proceeding? Where to find them and what to expect?
( I think they’ll be a smash hit)
Thoughts on the tourism season ahead. Why Canadians hopefully are planning a visit to BC wine country?
What about those dropping trade barriers and what does it mean? Will BC wines be available across Canada?
In the time we had left Paul takes us through some of the releases coming from Dirty Laundry.
Winemaker Mason Spink spent a great deal of the year down in Washington State choosing vineyards, growing, harvesting the crops, crushing within hours of harvest and getting the juice overnight to The Okanagan.
They’re releasing their whites now and the reds 2 years from now.
Watch for the
2024 Hush White (Yakima)
2024 Pinot Gris (Yakima)
2024 Sauvignon Blanc (Yakima)
2024 Unoaked Chardonnay (Yakima)
It’s an amazing year. Right in front of us.
BC wines are changing. Just how much we don’t know yet but we’ll follow this story from week to week and find out!
Kurtis Kolt – Wine Educator, Judge, Writer. (Vancouver)
This is a wild and crazy time in the wine business.
Kurtis Kolt
As a result of the recent Winter cold snaps in the Okanagan, many vineyards were killed and what did survive offered up very small production possibilities.
In order to survive, BC wineries were given permission to source grapes from out of the province. They headed for Washington, Oregon, California, Niagara and The Cowichan. Those wines, the whites at least, will be showing up on shelves just about now. Blends we’ve never seen before. The bottles will be marked and labels changed to reflect out of province sources.
How will wine fans respond? Kurtis has sharp opinions.
Because of US tariffs, there’s a renewed discussion about provincial trade barriers finally changing. The Alberta / BC wine partnership is part of the discussion.
Kurtis covers a lot of ground here. The dialogue is like a tennis match.! Lots of back and forth.
Best of all, Top Drop 2025 is coming to Vancouver (May 13) and Calgary (May 15)
Top Drop is the best small wine festival anywhere.
One of the reasons it’s held in such high regard? It’s because Kurtis Kolt is one of the driving forces behind the curating and presenting of the attending wineries.
Examples? –
Piro Wine – (Santa Barbara)
Planeta (Sicily)
Dr Loosen -= (Mosel)
Tantalus (Okanagan)
Bodegas Arzuaga Navarro (Spain)
Marchesi Di Barolo (Italy)
Orofino (Similkameen)
Roche (Naramata)
Closson Chase (Ontario)
Top Drop Vancouver MAY 13
Top Drop Calgary MAY 15
Kurtis guests on Tasting Room Radio to talk about….“everything”.
Hank’s was originally going to be called “Hank & Ludo” named after our dog Hank and a gigantic bull mastiff named Ludo. Then the name was shortened to just Hank’s. Hank, the dog, is named after one of my favorite customers who passed away the month we opened, at the age of 98, Hank was a local gentleman that I met at the Duncan Farmers Market and would walk to the market every Saturday rain or shine with chocolates for us in his pockets and a joke. (Louise Pickles)
(Louise)
Hank would buy charcuterie boxes and terrines from me every week – some he gave as gifts to friends and the rest he ate throughout the week” Louise Pickles
“When you walk into Hanks, there’s a busy bustle going on. There may be 10 customers looking at what’s being offered, some standing in line. In the open kitchen, there always seems to be just as many chefs, bakers, cooks and servers. This is such a wonderful experience.” (TDM)
Louise Pickles –Red Seal Chef, Owner/Operator Pickles’ Pantry Ltd. and Hank’s Cowichan Ltd.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, food has always been an essential part of family life for Red Seal Chef Louise Pickles. After graduating from Brentwood College in 1998, followed by Queen’s University and University of Victoria, Louise decided to make her passion for food and cooking her occupation and signed up to attend the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in 2003.
Since graduating, Louise’s career has taken her around the world and back again working in hotels and resorts throughout BC such as The Terminal City Club, Diva at the Metropolitan Hotel, Sonora Resort, Black Rock Oceanfront Resort, and The Hotel Georgia.
After moving to Western Australia to work in Margaret River and the one hatted restaurant “Bistro Moncur” in Sydney NSW, she returned to Ucluelet to take on the role of Executive Chef at Black Rock Oceanfront Resort before starting a family in 2014.
As a family, Louise and her husband and business partner Aaron Walsh have chosen the Cowichan Valley as their home . Louise decided finally to start her own business in 2020. She teamed up with Aaron and coffee roaster, Dana Meiner, to open Hank’s Cowichan in Duncan.
Louise and Aaron
A go-to spot for freshly made pastries, sweet treats, and coffee, Hank’s provides an assortment of provisions, including amazing soups, celebrated sandwiches, cheeses, and charcuterie crafted by Pickles’ Pantry. The breads are a work of edible art. Louise explains how they connected with a French baker who crafts the art. Louise and Aaron are both Red Seal Chefs.
Just imagine how outstanding Hanks is. Well, it’s even better than that. A destination to be celebrated.
Aaron Walsh – Co-owner & Chef Hank’s Cowichan
Originally from Windsor Ontario, Aaron attended cooking school at George Brown College and went on to work in Toronto for a number of years before moving to Vancouver Island where he worked at various establishments including Long Beach Lodge and later with Lisa Ahier to open SOBO.
He stayed on the West Coast for 16 years and he has since worked abroad in Australia and in BC at numerous restaurants and hotels including Black Rock Oceanfront Resort in Ucluelet.
Aaron now oversees production and manages all culinary things and bread baking at their own business, Hanks Cowichan.
Jason Parkes & Robbie Hundertmark – 12 Spring wines from Jason Parkes Customs/The Hatch (West Kelowna)
THE STORY
We welcome back – a dynamic duo.
Jason Parkes is the founder of The Hatch in West Kelowna. Labels include The Hatch, Black Swift Vineyards, Crown and Thieves. Each of those labels has a rapidly growing list of sub-labels. There’s the spectacular rooftop dining at Angel Share. and The Broken Hearts Club,
The Hatching Post (West Kelowna’s BBQ Saloon)
The total portfolio is wider than the lake. Think Santa’s elves only bigger, smarter and much nicer.
Robbie Hundertmark is the recipient of the 2025 Ultimate BC Wine Ambassador Award.
Jason and Robbie
The award recognizes an individual who is passionate about sharing the love of BC Wine with their guests. They are seen as a hospitality superstar. Robbie inspires and educates with his smarts, dry humor and humanity.
Robbie has been in the wine industry since 2012. Fully certified Sommelier as of 2019.
Joining The gang at The Hatch is like running away and joining the Circus..
For Example – have a look at the wines they are releasing this Spring. 8 BC grown and crafted/4 Washington grown & BC crafted
FREE SPIRIT VICTORIA – non-alc. zero-proof, alcohol free. A story of our times.
THE SHOW
For the first time under one roof in Victoria , importers will be joined by local BC makers from Vancouver Island, Vancouver, the Okanagan etc., to showcase the best alcohol-free wine, beer, spirits, and packaged cocktails available.
Organized by Kurtis Kolt.
Kurtis Kolt is a Vancouver-based wine consultant who writes about wine, presents seminars, hosts events, judges wine competitions, works with restaurants on their wine programs etc. His various certifications and credits include London’s Wine & Spirit Education Trust, the Court of Master Sommeliers & the Winemaking Program at UC Davis.
In 2010, when Kurtis received the ‘Sommelier of the Year’ award from both the 2010 Vancouver International Wine Festival and Vancouver magazine, he opted to diversify his focus on wine through different arenas.
In recent years, Kurtis co-founded and runs ‘Top Drop’ in both Vancouver and Calgary, a terroir-focused trade & consumer wine festival Western Living magazine called, “The one wine tasting of the year you shouldn’t miss.”
Guests we could slow down long enough to talk to were:
Kurtis Kolt – See above
Kurtis Kolt
Mark Wachtin -storied wines and spirits. Pouring Ones+
Andrea Demers – Softer Drink Store in Victoria. More than 100 different drinks. pouring Zamalek and Fin Soda.
Hester Creek – The 2024 Columbia Valley Collection
Guests: The Marks.
Mark Sheridan – President
Mark Hopley – Winemaker
It was only a matter of time before we all started to see the “out-of-province” wines of 2024.
Due to 2 cold snaps, especially the Winter of early 24, BC, Wineries were given permission to source their much-needed fruit from out of province.
Most headed to Washington and Oregon. Some from California, some from Ontario and several from the Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island.
As we approach the beginning of April, we’ll all start to see new labels and new wording on those labels. Advising that the wine in the bottle was “Grown in Washington. Crafted in BC”
The agreement between BC Wineries and the BC Government was – transparency!
Make your source statement on the front of the bottle. Not hidden on the back.
Hester Creek went in full tilt. The label on their four new releases makes a statement.
2024 Columbia Valley Collection. The back of the label has a map and information on where the grapes were grown. Vineyards are identified when possible.
Located just south of the border, the proximity of the Columbia Valley to Hester Creek on the Golden Mile allowed Mark Sheridan to regularly meet with his growing community. He got to choose the varietals best suited to the collection, which vineyards they were grown in and supervise the growth for every stage of the growing season. The grapes were hand harvested, transported the same day as picking, in temperature-controlled trucks to the Hester Creek Crush Pad.
The Columbia Valley Collection is:
2024 Pinot Gris. Soils are very similar to Hester Creek. Ripe apricot, peach, honey, fennel, and that’s just the nose. Crisp and clean in the mouth, herbs, peach and minerality delight. Pairs well with a smile and engaged conversation. $19.99 plus tax
2024 Sauvignon Blanc. again, very similar soil to the South Okanagan, perhaps slightly higher heat units. Grown, harvested and again sent by temp-controlled truck to Hester Creek. The same day as they were picked.
Berry, lemon and grapefruit of the nose. Ripe tropic fruit, citrus and herbs on the palate.
Here’s your wine for the Hali/Salmon season. $19.99 plus tax
2024 Viognier. Sustainably farmed at Goose Gap AVA. Hand harvested and trucked to the Golden Mile the same day they were picked.
As a Viognier fan, on the nose I was welcomed by the ripe fruit, apricot, peach, and light white pepper.
In the mouth it’s stone fruit, fennel and minerality right down the middle. Beautiful.$23.99 plus tax
This is viognier with just a touch more heat during growing season.
2024 Rose Cabernet Franc
Specifically grown in Red Mountain AVA and Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Where the big reds live.
After transportation to Hester Creek, same day as picking, the grapes were destemmed, cold soaked for three days, 21 days of fermentation. Then cross-blended and aged for four months in stainless steel tanks.
On opening, stifling a pleasure giggle, aromas of pink grapefruit, warmed strawberries. The palate showed itself to be a delight with ripe cherries, strawberry of course and a touch of rhubarb.
Here comes Summer. $22.99 plus tax
There are four more Hester Creek Columbia Valley Collection wines to come.
Thank you to the growers, farmers and field teams in Washington State for their very important contribution to these BC wines. The border disappears at times like these.
Congratulations to the winemaking teams at Hester Creek, lead by Mark Hopley.
FYI – The wine shop, Terrafina Bistro and the Villa are all open.
Co-Hosted with This is Wine School -Part Two of 2025 VanWineFest
THE SHOW
This is Wine School are founders, educators and award-winning sommeliers Jenna Brisco, Kelcie Jones and Maude Renaud-Brisson.
We gathered in a small circle of chairs, surrounded by many 100’s of wine trade attendees constantly on the move at the convention center.
We welcome to the chairs…
The much-celebrated Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein.
Evan Goldstein
The first ever Master Sommelier for a professional sports team – his hometown San Francisco Giants. (Evan touches on that very subject when we talk about attracting new, younger wine fans)
Evan was the keynote speaker at a recent VanWineFest and has developed a long-distance love affair with
Vancouver and many of our wineries in BC.
Once he’s set in motion, there is no way to stop Evan from talking wine. Highly entertaining.
Tony Holler is the owner of Poplar Grove Winery (Naramata Bench)
Tony Holler
Tony makes things happen. He’s a leader.
For example, when a dozen or so Naramata wineries were looking for out of province fruit to replace vineyards lost in the Winter deep freeze, Tony offered to search and buy for everyone as he felt there was more bargaining power in the collective. At Van Wine Fest Tony was pouring the new Poplar Grove Cascadia series. Says right on the front of the bottle
Washington Grown, Made in BC
Cascadia series includes Pinot Gris & Rose. Out April 2025. Lots more varietals to come.
Amber Pratt – winemaker at Moraine Winery (Naramata Bench)
Because Moraine takes pride in using only Naramata grown fruit, I was interested in knowing if Amber was now working with out of province fruit in this special year.
2024 featured wildfires, floods, COVID, road closures, price, tax and wage increases and two cold snaps over two Winters.
Vineyards were damaged or destroyed by the Winter freeze. Wineries and growers were facing a 2025 with little or no wines to cellar and sell.
The Wine Industry and Government leadership came up with a plan to allow BC Wineries to harvest next year’s fruit this year in Washington, Oregon, California, Ontario, The Frazer Valley and The Cowichan Valley.
As long as the label states “Crafted in BC” and the process is transparent.
Will BC wine fans buy their favourite labels if the fruit comes from another region?
If they like the new juice?
Will they still embrace their original BC wines?
What gets replanted, and what new varietals will we see growing in the new BC?
So much to consider.
Which is why we’ve invited four of the most connected leaders from the BC wine industryto share opinions, suggestions and creative ideas over the course of an hour.
They are:
Christine Coletta: Co-Owner Okanagan Crush Pad. For 9 years, executive director of the BC Wine Institute!
DJ Kearney – Wine Director The Terminal City Club. Wine Educator at large. @djwines www.tcclub.com
DJ Kearney
Rhys Pender – Master of Wine. Co-owner of Little Farm Wine. Similkameen Valley www.wineplus.ca
Rhys Pender
Lauren Skinner Buksevics– Director of Sales and Marketing Painted Rock. Okanagan Falls. Member of the Wine Growers of BC Board. @paintedrocklaur @paintedrockwine www.paintedrock.ca
