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December 29th, 2018 – The Wine Diva Brings The Lists

hello

The Wine Diva Brings The Lists

VanWineFest & Randy Ullom: Kendall Jackson (Sonoma)

  

THE SHOW

  

Daenna van Mulligen is The Wine Diva.

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.

Daenna Van MulligenFor this week’s show she’s ready to talk about

  • Top 100 (under $20)
  • Top 50   (Over $20)
  • Bubbles

 

Top 100 ($20 and under)

  •  Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery Gewurztraminer, British Columbia
  • Harper’s Trail ‘Thadd Springs Vineyard’ Rose, British Columbia
  • Santa Carolina ‘Carolina’ Reserva Pinot Noir, Calsablanca Valley, Chile
  • Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Muscat ‘Rock Pocket Vineyard’, Okanagan Valley BC
  • Masi Passo Doble, Tupungato Argentina

 

Top 50 (Over $20 & 91 pts)

  •  Rust Wine Co. Syrah, Okanagan Valley, BC
  • Vanessa Vineyard Meritage, Similkameen Valley BC
  • Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California
  • Tantalus Vineyards Old Vines Riesling, Okanagan Valley BC
  • Bartier Bros. Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley BC

 

Bubbles (From The Queen of The Bubbles)

  • Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Blanc de Blancs, Okanagan Valley $40
  • Meyer Family Vineyards Method Traditionnelle Extra Brut, Okanagan Valley $40
  • Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards ‘Fitz’ Brut, Okanagan Valley BC  $33
  • Chandon Rose Brut, California  $32.99
  • Vaporetto Brut Prosecco DOC, Veneto Italy  $18.99
  • Bride Valley Vineyard Brut Reserve, Dorset, UK  $47.00

 

www.winediva.ca

www.winescores.ca

  

Harry Hertscheg  – (Executive Director  41st Vancouver International Wine Festival)

Harry Hertscheg

Vancouver International Wine Festival has been described as “the largest wine festival in the Americas” with 25,000+ admissions. It is Canada’s premier wine show and widely considered to be one of the best wine events in the world. At age 41, it is also among the oldest.

Its slogan is “The Wine World is Here”. For the past six years, VIWF has been voted the #1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Event in Canada by New York’s BizBash.

41st annual (founded 1979)

8 days, Feb 23-Mar 3 (Bacchanalia Gala, Feb 23)

25,000+ admissions

 

16 countries

160 wineries; including 53 from featured region California

54 events (20 are California events)

 

1,500 wines projected, including an estimated:

42,000 bottles poured and/or purchased.

 

vanwinefest The Goods

Harry Hertscheg is the perfect guy to guest here as he loves his VanWineFest numbers  plus he’s been on TRR many times and we seem to have developed a “shorthand” in getting through all the information the festival contains.

Most importantly, California is the featured wine region this year.  After all the fires, droughts then  floods they could use all the love we have to offer.

They were the first ever featured region via Robert Mondavi Wines and Vancouver is the closest international market to California.

Remember, one of the ways we can help them recover from the disasters is to buy their wines and send our support.  California is the single most popular wine region in BC.  Now is when they need us most.

But first, you have to have a ticket to get in.  Harry has some ideas for you.  How to get in and how to work the room.

https://vanwinefest.ca

  

 Kendall-Jackson/Winemaker Randy Ullom

 

Randy Ullom Kendall-Jackson

“I look at all of the vineyards we own, and all of the individual lots of wines that we make, and the thousands of barrels we have sitting in our cellar and sometimes I think, you gotta be kidding me! After I’ve sufficiently recovered from my daily panic attack, I take off my coat, dig in my heels and take it one barrel at a time. It’s a rewarding job that I love.”

 Randy Ullom

 Hired by Jess Jackson in 1992 as Winemaker for some of their smaller and international vineyards, Randy was handed his most prestigious assignment in 1997 – Winemaster for Kendall-Jackson Winery.

A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Randy became interested in wine during a three-year stay in Chile, while on sabbatical from college in the early 1970s. His stay inspired a cross-country trek through Chile’s vast wine-growing regions. On his return to the United States, he entered Ohio State University to study crop production with a specialty in Viticulture and Enology and received his degree in 1975.

After six years as a vineyard manager and Winemaker in Ohio and upstate New York, Randy moved to California to become associate Winemaker at De Loach Vineyards in Sonoma County. He was promoted to Winemaker and Vice President in 1991. The wines produced during his tenure were consistent gold medal winners at wine competitions.

Dude looks like a Sherriff from Dodge City..Oversees the growing and creating of 5 Million cases of wine from 35 labels. (check their website below)

His job includes  working with wines grown in Sonoma, Chile, Bordeaux, Australia and Italy.

This is a fun interview..with lots of information on their wines.  We love these wines..and why not?  They take such great care in their craft!!

See for yourself as Randy will be heading for this years VanWineFest

 www.kj.com

  

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

New Wineries to keep an eye on

Kutatas – Salt Spring Island

Best of BC’s Field Blends

 

 

 

 

 

December 8th, 2018 -Two Amazing Women Jane Ferrari and Jann Arden  

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Two of BC’s best Fitz Family & Tantalus plus Two Women who should run the World Jane Ferrari and Jann Arden

 

THE SHOW

 

Jane Ferrari –  The voice of Yalumba (Barossa, Australia)

 

Jane Ferrari – Yalumba

Jane is one of the World’s great storytellers and Yalumba is one great story. Yalumba is Australia’s oldest family owned winery.

Right off the top, Jane tells the gripping story of how the family and staff saved the winery many years ago.

The very best part of this story is that Yalumba make sensational wines – for the world.

Canada’s has been a Yalumba fan for years. The other story to watch for is when its founder Samuel Smith left Dorset England  in 1847 and found himself in Victoria, BC.  He  fell in love with the location but felt he had to move on to find a land for his vines.

In 2010, Wine Enthusiast named Yalumba ‘New World Winery of the Year.’

“The world of wine is a big family and I like it for many reasons.

It’s hellishly competitive in a commercial sense, but the Antinoris, Dujacs, Faiveleys, of the world and the Pol Rogers, Browns, Tyrells, Felton Roads, – they are all inspirations.”  Robert Hill Smith – Yalumba –  Fifth Generation Owner

 The world of wine is a big family and I like it for many reasons.

 https://www.yalumba.com/

 Gordon Fitzpatrick – Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards (Summerland/Peachland. Take your pick)

 Gordon Fitzpatrick is well known to  Canadian wine fans.

 In 1986 his family started Cedar Creek  Estate Winery and 8 years later they bought Greata Ranch located on the  main highway between Peachland and Summerland.

In 2014 Cedar Creek was sold to the Von Mandl Family and Gordon made serious plans for Greata Ranch, which had been somewhat forgotten over the years.

A mere 4 years later Fitzpatrick Family Wines have become a destination for fresh whites and a serious house of bubble.

I found Gordon on the back deck overlooking the Chardonnay and Pinot Vineyards and Okanagan Lake.

Congratulations again to the complete team that helped to create a rising star in Canadian Wine.

Gordon Fitspatrick- Peachland

 

At the 2018 national Wine Awards Fitz won 5 Gold Medals

Gold – 2014 Fitz Brut Sparkling Wine, $32.99

Gold – 2015 Fitz Brut Sparkling Wine, $32.99

Gold – 2014 Fitz Sparkling Rosé, $42.50

Gold – 2014 Fitz Blanc de Blancs, $42.50

Gold – 2017 Pink Mile Rosé, $19.50

 

 www.fitzwine.com

Jann Arden – Feeding My Mother: Comfort and Laughter in The Kitchen as my Mother lives with Memory Loss

“Jann Arden is one of the most honest and talented women I’ve ever met, and her love for her mother is so rich.” —Chef Lynn Crawford

Even though Jann and I have known each other for 30 years it didn’t make the book any easier to read.

The pain of watching her Mother fade away commands each and every page of this cookbook and then you turn the page and it’s

a recipe for split pea soup.

 

 

We talk about dealing with the slow loss of her Mother and Candy Grams for Mongo.

That’s exactly what a Jann Arden concert is like..crazy fun one moment and heart wrenching  the next.

 

As each day steals more and more of her Mother’s  memory, it’s her  kitchen  and the food in it that connects her Jann and her Mother.

Amazing book.

Fascinating performer.

Wonderful friend.

www.jannarden.com

https://penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/562454/feeding-my-mother#9780735273924

 

 

David Paterson – GM and Winemaker at Tantalus (Kelowna)

 

Tantalus is situated on the eastern slopes of the Okanagan Valley, overlooking the shores of Lake Okanagan and Kelowna.

Originally known as Pioneer Vineyards, the site was first planted to table grapes in 1927 and today is known as the oldest continuously producing vineyard in British Columbia

David Paterson is a Kiwi and a Canadian, having been born in Vancouver. He received his winemaking degree from Lincoln University NZ & following time spent working in the local NZ industry he travelled the wine world gaining experience at premium wineries in Oregon, France & Australia.

David Paterson Tantalus Winemaker & GM

He landed at Tantalus in 2009 and with many  successful vintages under his belt with the winery he took on the role of GM as well in 2016. Prior to joining Tantalus, David was working with celebrated South Australian producer Henschke Cellars.

As such he got to work the vineyards at the world famous Hill of Grace.  Riesling has always been the leader at Tantalus however, through  David’s guidance Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Blanc de Noir have caught our attention.

Outstanding wines and  leadership. That’s David Paterson at Tantalus.

 

www.tantalus.ca

STORIES WERE WORKING ON

 

Gotham and Hy’s announce a wine partnership

Joseph Luckhurst Road 13

3 Questions

-What wine as a gift

-Best wine of 2018

-Trends for 2019

Dan Wright – Winemaker at Unsworth

Best interviews of the year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 24th 2018- A Church. A Fort. A Chef and One of NZ’s Best,  Felton Road.

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A Church. A Fort. A Chef and One of NZ’s Best,  Felton Road.

OK.  Let’s take them one at a time.

Evan Saunders –  Winemaker at Blasted Church  (Okanagan Falls)

Evan Saunders

Evan grew up on the Canadian prairies.

Became a Micro-Biologist at UVic.

Which led to the wine course at Brock in Ontario and finally his first
winery at Osoyoos La Rose and a 3-year mentorship with their winemaker
Pascal Madevon.

Now Evan’s  talent has been fully recognized at Blasted Church, south of
Penticton, overlooking Skaha Lake and part of the Okanagan Falls Winery
Assn.

Blasted Church is unlike any other winery in Canada.

They make over 30 different wines, even though they keep changing, their
labels are totally one-of-a-kind  and very likely bother some wine fans who
happen to be religious.

Best of all, they make wine fun and funny AND they come through with solid
wines in the bottle.

Evan has created several new wines. The revered series featuring Answered
Prayers AND Nectar of the Gods (in partnership with pal  Pascal Madevon)

Plus Bible Thumper.

Down the road watch for Evan’s influence on the Blasted Church reds  That’s
his specialty.

Heads UP – we didn’t have room for all of Evan’s recommendations for last
week’s Winter Whites.

Here’s his list of Winter Whites  which he talks us through on today’s show
.

2017 Sauvignon blanc – 25% barrel fermentation, about 6% Semillon, estate
Sauvignon blanc

2017 Small Blessings Semillon – about 45 cases, barrel fermentation, 11
months on lees, Semillon from the North shore of Osoyoos Lake

2016 Bible Thumper – barrel fermentation, Viognier, Roussanne blend

2016 Nectar of the Gods – Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cot noir blend,
22 months in barrel, about 50% new French oak  ( It’s not White. Evan will
explain)

https://blastedchurch.com

<https://www.ofwa.ca/> https://www.ofwa.ca/

Rolf de Bruin – Fort Berens co-founder. (Lillooet BC)

Rolf de Bruin Fort Berens

Rolf and his wonderful wife/partner Heleen Pannekoek share the management
duties at  Fort Berens  in Lillooet, BC

They were the first winery in the area but  Rolf tells us about the four
growers now operating in the area plus yet another winery   Cliff and Gorge
will open at Texas Creek Ranch,  Spring 2019.  Plus a new GI has been
approved for Lillooet and so beginning with their next vintage they will be
able to use Lillooet VQA on their labels.

Fort Berens Winery

Rolf was also happy to announce the release of their exceptional  Reserve
Wines

Riesling

Cab Franc

Meritage

Plus their Classics

Pinot Noir

Cab Franc

Meritage

In May they planted their new Red Rock Vineyard with 4 acres of Merlot and 5
acres of Cab Franc.

Early in 2019, they plan to plant more Riesling, Cab, Gruner, and Merlot.

Things are looking good in Lillooet.  Have a listen to Rolf and then make
plans to give them a visit in 2019.

http://www.fortberens.ca

Nigel  Greening –  Felton Road  (NZ)

Nigel-Greening-and-his-neighbour-Sam-Neill.jpg

Maker of one of the world’s finest Pinot Noirs. No Question.

This Central Otago icon produces stunning biodynamic wines year after year.
These guys really know their stuff.

In 2010 Felton Road was designated a Grand Cru winery of New Zealand. This
Grand Cru status, currently only held by two other wineries (including Ata
Rangi), recognizes the premier producers of Pinot Noir in New Zealand.

Felton-Road-Vineyard-Central-Otago-Tourism

Winemaker Blair Walter is a master of less is more, Pinots are unfined and
unfiltered and challenge the very best the world has to offer.

Felton Road is situated on warm, north facing slopes of glacial loess soils
in Bannockburn, in the heart of Central Otago. The modern gravity fed winery
receives 100% estate grown fruit from its three vineyards that are all
farmed biodynamically and are fully certified by Demeter. Minimal
intervention in the winemaking with such practices as wild yeast, no fining
or filtration, allow the unique vineyard characters to further express their
considerable personality.

Since the first vintage in 1997, Felton Road has acquired a formidable
worldwide reputation.

Felton Road is one of the legendary names in New Zealand wine. They’re
probably the most famous of the Central Otago wineries, making some highly
regarded Pinot Noirs.

It was my great pleasure  to spend a number of hours talking to Owner, part
time chef and team leader Nigel Greening.

Looking for one of the best wineries anywhere in NZ?

You’ve just found it.  Felton Road.

https://feltonroad.com/

Chef Andrey Durbach – Il Falcone (Courtney, BC)

Andrey and Sian Durbach moved to the Comox  Valley, Vancouver Island over
a year ago from Vancouver. They had been  running multiple  downtown
Vancouver restaurants. High Tempo Rooms.

Sian and Andrey Durbach

Before he became an outstanding graduate of the CIA,  Culinary Institute of
America in NYC, he had first made a name for himself in Vancouver working
with Bishop’s, Il Giardino and Café de Paris.  He launched Etoile in 96.
There he learned the hard lessons of running a restaurant. Sold the place
and hit the road re-learning the trade.

When Sian and Andrey returned to Vancouver 2 years later they partnered with
Chris Stewart and opened Parkside, La Buca and Pied-a-Terre. Cafeteria
followed with its $20 or less menu. My favorite was Sardine Can. A tiny
room in Gastown.

No matter what the location I always noticed and liked his cooking.

Well,  imagine my delight to discover that Sian and Andrey had opened Il
Falcone in downtown Courtney.

Why Courtney?

Andrey explains in the interview that he and Sian finally wanted to work for
themselves and the best place was a former Mexican restaurant in Courtney.
Surrounded by burnt yellow stucco walls enclosing a courtyard filled with
black cherry, fig, and other fruit trees..you swear the restaurant was
somewhere in Italy.  Perfect. We’ve been three times and all three we sat
outside under those trees. Glorious.

And the food?

Italian dishes with no excuses…Nothing but the best. It helps that they’re
surrounded by hundreds of farms, fisheries specialists and foragers working
the land. One of the best cheese makers in Canada is right around the
corner.

Andre says he and Sian pretended to be Italians moving to the Comox Valley
and they did what they’d do back in Italy..source and cook local. Cook like
the Italians would.

The wine menu?  Almost exclusively Italian.

For anyone who’s traveled to Italy..no matter what small town you were in,
there would always be one Italian restaurant as its centerpiece. That’s what
they’ve tried to do here. Just off the beaten path..a discovery waiting to
happen.

Is it worth the flight or ferry? Yes and absolutely yes.

As Andrey told Montecristo magazine..

“My kind of diner is one who loves unctuous, delicious food, and is willing
to chance the unfamiliar. It’s a diner who knows and trusts the kitchen and
the servers, a person who wholeheartedly invests in the visceral experience
of a meal. This is what I’m after.”

I guess the question for you is – are you that diner?

https://www.ilfalcone.ca/

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Holiday Wines

Wine Gifting

Best interviews of the Year

November 17th – Winter Whites!

hello

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/

 

Nightingale Restaurant

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/ 

Jason Parkes – Winemaker The Hatch

Valeria Tait – GM and Winemaker at Bench 1775  https://www.bench1775.com/

Val Tait

Kathy Malone – Winemaker at Hillside https://www.hillsidewinery.ca/

Kathy Malone

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

Chris Rielly Head Sommelier at Nightingale

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:

 

Blasted Church

Fort Berens

Holiday Wine Gifts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 10th, 2018 – A Pinot Party!

hello

A BC Pinot Noir Celebration.

With a cast of All-Stars.

 

 

 THE SHOW

 

Everyone is talking about and buying BC  Pinot Noir these days.

If you ask growers and winemakers, they are pretty much agreed that BC is perfect for growing and harvesting Pinot Noir.

We truly hope you find your new best Pinot here with TRR.

 

The fourth annual BC Pinot Noir Celebration brings together 34 of the province’s best Pinot Noir producers to celebrate the varietal that is defining the region.

 

Co-Organizer JAK Meyer said

“This is an important time in BC, where Pinot Noir is starting to emerge as a signature grape with lots of different expressions. More wineries are coming on board as they find that their land is well suited to the grape. The BC Pinot Noir Celebration is not a competition, but rather a way to showcase what BC can do.”

 

Pinot Party. Christine Coletta & Curtis Krouzel

The BC Pinot Noir Celebration.  Linden Gardens,  Kaleden, BC

The fourth annual BC Pinot Noir Celebration brought  together 34 of the province’s best Pinot Noir producers to celebrate the varietal that is defining the region.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than 300 guests  sipped, swirled and discovered the nuances of BC’s Pinot Noirs on Saturday, August 19th at Linden Gardens  in Kaleden. The event paves the way for provincial, national and international recognition of BC Pinot Noirs as a wine of excellence.

There were lively breakout sessions, special key note speaker with special keynote speaker Master of Wine Richard Hemming.

Pairing only the best foods were  Cameron Smith & Dana Ewart from Joy Road Catering, Alex Sielmann  from Frog City Café, former Okanagan Chef Matt Batey  & Mike Bernardo from Vij’s and Sutra in Victoria.

 

 

 Our guests include:

 Barb and Iain Phillip – Wine Experts

Chris Turyk – Unsworth  https://www.unsworthvineyards.com/

Jak Meyer – Meyer Family Vineyards   https://mfvwines.com/

Christine Coletta – Haywire and OK Crush Pad   http://okanagancrushpad.com/

Thorsten Allander – Foxtrot  https://www.foxtrotwine.com/

Doug Reimer – Mirabel  http://www.mirabelvineyards.com/

Leslie d’Andrea – Noble Ridge https://www.nobleridge.com/

Jeff Martin – La Frenz  http://www.lafrenzwinery.com/

Curtis Krouzel – 50th Parallel  https://www.50thparallel.com/

DJ Kearney –  New District.ca   https://newdistrict.ca/

Andy Johnson – Averill Creek  https://www.averillcreek.ca/

Luke Smith – Howling Bluff https://www.howlingbluff.ca/

Bryant Mao – Hawksworth  https://hawksworthrestaurant.com/

Gustav Allander – Foxtrot  https://www.foxtrotwine.com/

  www.bcpinotnoir.ca 

    

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Fort Berens – growing by leaps and bounds.

Winter Whites?  Yes, there is such a thing.

( The subject is so welcomed, It’s a one hour special)

SOMM 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 3rd, 2018 – Judgment of B.C.

hello

THE SHOW

Hosted by the BC Wine Institute, and curated by the best in the business,
wine expert DJ Kearney, the Judgment of BC took place in Kelowna several
weeks ago.

 

I was pleased and honoured to be part of thirty nine international/national
wine judges.

We blind tasted and ranked the 24 wines.

12 were traditional method sparkling wines and 12 were Bordeaux-style red
blends.

6 of each were from BC and 6 were international benchmarks.

After ranking the wines, we then had to say whether the wines in question
were from BC or the World.

Some were easy. Many were impossible.

That’s a good sign.

 

 

Final Results at the bottom of the page

“The annual Judgment of B.C. allows us to gain insights and knowledge into
how we compare internationally,” said Kearney. “Introspection is a critical
part of ensuring we continue to make high quality wines, and also allows us
to collectively celebrate as an industry. We have so many reasons to be
proud, and the future is very bright.” Global News.

Our guests include:

DJ Kearney – WineDistrict.ca

Kurtis Kolt – The Georgia Straight

Michaela Morris – Educator and expert

Rhys Pender – Master of Wine

Mark Filatow – Owner/Executive Chef Waterfront Bistro

Ingo Grady – President of Poplar Grove Winery.

SPARKLING WINE RESULTS

1. Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut NV California | 12% | $46.99

2. Champagne Veuve Clicquot Brut NV France | 12% | $69.99

3. Champagne Pierre Paillard Les Parcelles Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut XIII
France |12.5% | $67.99

4. Blue Mountain Vineyard & Cellars Blanc de Blancs R.D. 2010 Okanagan
Valley, BC | 12.5% | $39.90

5. Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery The One 2012 Okanagan Valley | 12.0% |
$47.90

6. Sperling Vineyards Brut Reserve 2011 Okanagan Valley, BC | 11.5% | $50

7. Graham Beck Brut Zero 2011 South Africa | 12% | $29.99

8. Tantalus Vineyards Blanc de Noir 2015 Okanagan Valley, BC | 12.0% | $30

9. Segura Viudas Heredad Brut Reserva Spain | 12% | $33.99

10. The View Winery Pearls Traditional Brut 2016 Okanagan Valley, BC | 11.8%
| $30

11. Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards Fitz Brut 2015 Okanagan Valley, BC | 11.6%
| $32.99

12. Mumm Napa Brut Prestige NV California | 13% | $25.99

RED BLEND RESULTS

1. Poplar Grove Winery The Legacy 2014 Okanagan Valley, BC | 14.0% | $52

2. Laughing Stock Vineyards Portfolio 2015 Okanagan Valley, BC | 14.9% | $50

3. Blackbird Arise 2015 Napa Valley, California | 14.5% | $86

4. Dominus Estate Napanook Napa Valley Red 2014 California | 14.5% | $125.99

5. Intersection Estate Winery Axiom 2014 Okanagan Valley, BC | 13.9% | $39

6. Chateau Poujeaux 2015 Moulis-en-Médoc, France | 14% | $65

7. CedarCreek Estate Winery The Last Word 2014 Okanagan Valley, BC | 14.6% |
$84.99

8. Osoyoos Larose Estate Winery Le Grand Vin 2015 Okanagan Valley, BC |
14.0% | $45

9. DeLille Cellars D2 2013 Columbia Valley, Washington State | 14.3% | $85

10. Clos du Soleil Winery Signature 2014 Similkameen Valley, BC | 14.8% |
$45

11. Chateau de La Dauphine 2015 Fronsac, France | 14.5% | $50

12. Chateau d’Armailhac Grand Cru Classé 5th Growth Pauillac, France 2015 |
13.5% | $90

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

  • Winter White Wines?
  • (Do they exist? What are they?)
  • Cornucopia
  • Fort Berens
  • Other stuff

 

October 27th, 2018- Shane Taylors “Dilettante” Garnet Valley Pinot Noir 2017

hello

Shane Taylor’s  ‘Dilettante’ Garnet Valley Pinot Noir 2017

THE SHOW

There are three different elements in today’s show title.

First is Shane Taylor. Sommelier of the Year. As the winner, Shane gets  to
make a small lot wine using the grape variety and style of his choice.

Second is Dilettante  the wine that Shane created.

If you’ve followed BC wine news, you’ll know that  Okanagan Crush Pad is on
a roll. A 45,000 case roll. However, if you talk to ANYONE at OCP what they
really want to talk about is Garnet Valley, the vineyard above Summerland
that they’ve planted with the next generation of vines. The star of the
valley will almost certainly be Pinot Noir. Shane’s Dilettante just happens
to be the first Pinot Noir release from Garnet Valley.

The Third element is Garnet Valley itself. Currently it’s the highest
planting in the Okanagan. With the winemaking and growing skills of Alberto
Antonini and Pedro Parra in play, you know this valley is about to become
very much talked about and admired. Plus its organic all the way.

Chickens in the Vines

Last week, Shane Taylor and Christine Coletta from Okanagan Crush Pad
debuted Dilettante at CinCin on Robson Street in Vancouver.

Shane Taylor is the Wine Director in this very popular restaurant. That means he gets to
pour his own wine for diners in the room.  How cool is that?

tdm. Christine Coletta. Shane Taylor

Christine Coletta  – Okanagan Crush Pad

Okanagan Crush Pad was founded on a long history of friendship, a mutual
respect for land and wines that articulate “place”, a love of music and
admiration for one-another’s accomplishments. When friends come together in
this fashion, wine flows naturally and easily.

The journey began in 2005 when David Scholefield convinced Christine Coletta
and Steve Lornie to plant a small vineyard in Summerland.

David had a vision for the Okanagan, a young wine region that was trying to find its soul.
Christine and Steve, who have a well-earned reputation of making projects
come to life, began putting his plan in place, first by farming, albeit in a
conventional manner, with the idea to craft wines that were as naturally
beautiful as the Okanagan.

David persuaded Alberto Antonini and Pedro Parra
to come to the Okanagan and with their arrival, conventional thinking went
out the window and a new plan to push the envelope took center stage. Today,
that small vineyard, Switchback, is certified organic.

The team has built a state of the art winery, Okanagan Crush Pad, in Summerland, BC and
established a thriving custom crush business. Winemaker Matt Dumayne heads
the winemaking team, working with Alberto to craft pure wines that
articulate the message of the place where these wines are grown.

Matt Dumayne Winemaker OCP

On the farming side, Christine and Steve purchased a 320-acre Summerland site,
where Pedro has designed a vineyard that could be created on virgin soil.
There, on Garnet Valley Ranch, 40 acres of a potential 60 acres have been
planted according to the principles of precision viticulture. The ranch is
also home to 8 acres of organic field crops and a herd of sheep, guarded by
two lovely Great Pyrenees dogs

It was important that Christine Coletta starts this  show. CC is co-owner of
OCP.

We talked about Free Form, her new natural wine that is made the old
traditional way before modern conveniences came along and changed wines.

As Christine says –

“The label of natural wine is very controversial. Like any wine style there
are great ones, good ones, mediocre ones and awful flawed examples. If you
are a wine professional and you sum up the style and say you don’t like it –
in my mind you have no credibility. You haven’t done your homework, you haven’t tasted enough and you fail to recognize that many of the old wine classics from France and Italy are made this way – without additives or high amounts of sulphur”

 

 

We also talk about “aging” BC wines…whites and reds.

Christine talks about her  2016  Gamay which was sold to the Norwegian
Liquor Monopoly and 600 cases of portfolio wines were sold to a distributor
in Texas.

We touch on Haywire and other wines they produce.

And of course we talk about “The Bub”,  their bubble that’s getting
headlines.

However, as Christine mentions, Dilettante is very special because it’s the
first Pinot Noir from Garnet Valley and shows the way to the future of that
planting.

Finally we talk about Christine receiving The Founders Award at the Okanagan
Fall Wine Festival. It recognizes Christine’s work. As founding executive
directorfor the BC wine institute, She helped shape VQA and co-founded Wines
of Canada.

Perhaps her greatest achievement was to be part of the leading edge of
Canada’s organic farming and winemaking movement.

Her most recent project is on the team that formed the Okanagan Wine
Initiative. Seven BC wineries who united to share resources and to partner
on various projects internationally, across Canada, and in their home
market, British Columbia.

http://okanagancrushpad.com/

Shane Taylor – Wine Director CinCin

Shane brings an impressive résumé in service, having worked at the Relais
Gourmand White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine as well as serving at
Glenapp Castle and Chapter One, both Michelin-starred.

In addition, he has achieved impressive accreditation in gaining both his WSET Diploma in Wine
and Spirits, as well as his Advanced Sommelier’s certificate from London’s
Court of Sommeliers, one of the most senior and prestigious recognitions in
the wine world.

Shane Taylor

For the record Dilettante is Garnet Valley Pinot Noir 2017. 600 liter
barrels, rolled by hand. Two tonne stainless steel open top fermenters.

Four weeks on skins, basket pressed in large oak vessels and concrete tanks.
Then blended  and bottled unfiltered mid August 2018.  56 cases/12.5%.
Price $29.90

Currently, if you wish to try this groundbreaking Pinot Noir, make your way
to CinCin on Robson Street where Shane is the Wine Director  or contact
Okanagan Crush Pad.

https://cincin.net/

https://cincin.net/about/team/

www.okanagancrushpad.com

Dana Harris – Executive Director BC Hospitality Foundation

The British Columbia Hospitality Foundation is a charity that raises funds
to support those in the hospitality industry facing financial crisis due to
a health issue. Each year hundreds of hospitality workers across BC face
financial challenges and have nowhere else to turn. The BCHF helps them when
all other options have been exhausted.

Dana Harris BCHF

 

 

 

BCHF also supports students wanting to pursue  higher level wine education.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Dilettante will go the BCHF. Dana
explains who qualifies and why.

Wines sales from previous winners

Kurtis Kolt-Owen Knowlton-Terry Threlfall-Samantha Rahn-Mike Bernardo-Jason
Yamasaki-Jill Spoor have raised over $30,000 for BCHF.

<https://bchospitalityfoundation.com/> https://bchospitalityfoundation.com/

 

 

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON: 

The Judgment of BC  – 2018

Bubble and Blends.

Blasted Church

Fort Berens

October 20th, 2018 – A Merlot Special even Miles would like!

hello

THE SHOW

 

Jack If they want to drink Merlot, we’re drinking Merlot.

Miles Raymond No, if anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I am NOT drinking any f#*king Merlot!

 

Sideways

Somewhere on this website  is the famous Merlot scene from the film  Sideways, spoken with outrage and indignation by the sublime Paul Giamatti as Miles Raymond, failed writer and wine snob.

The film came out in 2004 and the sales of Merlot dropped like a stone. In some markets it has  never really recovered.

(Director and Writer Alexander Payne starts the show)

Alexander Payne – Director of Sideways

 

I had this nagging question hanging over me for a while now.

Is BC Merlot being taken for granted? Has it lost its luster and ranking to the wine fan?

The most planted grape in BC is Merlot  but, except for Vancouver Sun wine writer Tony Gismondi, I’m not seeing a lot articles or headlines on BC Merlot.

merlot-on-the-vine

In the next hour you’ll hear from many of BC’s Best Merlot winemakers. Many of the questions are the same…

Is Merlot being taken for granted?

What was the effect of Sideways?

What makes BC Merlot outstanding?

When did you fall in love with this grape?

Have we all changed our wine tastes?

Many of the questions were the same ..but the answers were  all wildly different.

 

Our 12   Merlot guests include

 

Alexander Payne – Screenwriter and Director of Sideways https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0668247/

Rhys Pender – Master of Wine   http://www.wineplus.ca/

Mary McDermott – Winemaker at Township 7  https://www.township7.com/

Mike Raffan – GM at Township 7   https://www.township7.com/

Phil McGahan – Winemaker at Checkmate Wines. (Winner: 2017  Judgement of BC) https://www.checkmatewinery.com/

Jeff Harder –  Co-Owner Ex Nihilo  https://exnihilovineyards.com/

Peter Lindenlaub –  Wagner Family Wines (Napa)  http://www.wagnerfamilyofwine.com/

Kane Morgan –  Co-Owner Rust Wine https://www.rustwine.com/

Joseph Luckhurst –  Managing Partner  Road 13  http://road13vineyards.com/

Larry Gerelus – Co-Owner  Stags Hollow  (OK Falls) https://stagshollowwinery.com/

Rob Summers – Senior Winemaker at Hester Creek  http://hestercreek.com/

Michael Bartier –  Co-owner  and Winemaker at Bartier Bros  http://www.bartierbros.com/

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlot

FYI – International Merlot Day is Nov 7th

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

Dilettante – the new wine from Sommelier of the Year Shane Taylor wine director at Cin Cin.

Not just any wine.  It’s the first from Okanagan Crush Pad’s Garnet Valley Pinot Noir. It also raises funds for BC Hospitality Fund.

Interviews with Christine Coletta Co-Owner of Okanagan Crush Pad and 2018 winner of Founders Award.

Fall Wines

 

 

 

October 13th, 2018- The Wickaninnish Inn and Natural Wines

hello

Discover the Cookbook from The Wickaninnish Inn.  #1 Resort in Canada (Conde Nast)

and face to face with Bella and Lock & Worth   

  Condé Nast Traveler this week announced the results of its 31st annual Readers’ Choice Awards with The Wickaninnish Inn recognized as the # 1 RESORT in CANADA.

This is the third time the Wickaninnish Inn has received Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Award, taking the number one spot in both 2013 and 2014, and the second award from Condé Nast this year. In January 2018, the Wickaninnish Inn was given the Gold List Award which highlights the editors’ favorite hotels from the best across the globe.

All of that great news was well timed as we were planning on repeating these interviews we aired back in June.

The second half of the show features two of the outstanding new winemaker/owners in the Canadian wine industry.

Jay Drysdale makes Bella – all bubble. All the time. On the Naramata Bench.

And just down the road is Matt Sherlock from Lock and Worth and Nichol Vineyards.

Both are introducing new winemaking methods and attitude. They both sound like preachers in mid-sermon.

The Show:

The Wickaninnish Inn

  

The Wickaninnish Cookbook – Rustic Elegance on Nature’s Edge

Executive chef Warren Barr and Managing Director Charles McDiarmid

 ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2018: “On the furthest west coast of Vancouver Island, the Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino, B.C., has been a destination for visitors from around the world since its opening in 1996, the Pointe restaurant a pillar of the town’s flourishing culinary scene. Their first cookbook gathers signature recipes from former and current chefs and focuses on regional techniques and seasonal west coast ingredients.” The Globe & Mail 

 

Since the Wick first opened in 1996, it has become a destination for travelers attracted by its rustic elegance, warm hospitality, and incredible west coast cuisine. This cookbook highlights the distinctive dishes (and the stories behind them) that have made The Pointe Restaurant a destination dining experience like no other and captures the spirit of spectacular natural surroundings, west coast life, and scenic ocean-to-table dining.

Memorable recipes from the Wick are coupled with signature recipes from current and former chefs–Warren Barr, Rod Butters, Matthias Conradi, Mark Filatow, Justin Laboissiere, Duncan Ly, Andrew Springett, and Matt Wilson–and combine cutting-edge techniques with fresh, seasonal ingredients, to create a distinctly contemporary, west coast cookbook.

Inside you will find both sophisticated and accessible recipes that speak to the Inn’s longstanding commitment to farm- and ocean-fresh ingredients, and strike a harmonious balance between the bounties of land and sea that surround the Inn. The Wickaninnish Cookbook offers a chance to visit life on nature’s edge and discover dishes from one of the most prestigious kitchens in Canada.

 

Guests on Tasting Room Radio are  Charles McDiarmid,  Managing Director  (His family conceived of and built The Wick)

And current Executive Chef Warren Barr.

 

https://www.wickinn.com

Matthew SherLOCK and Ross HackWORTH.  Lock and Worth. 

Jay Drysdale and Bella…

 

Matt Sherlock – Lock & Worth (VanCourier)

 Want to get a sense of BC’s wine future?  Matt and Jay will be the very front, leading the movement.

Honest, single vineyard wines of time and place – priced for everyday consumption.

Mathew Sherlock

 “We strongly believe that one should be able to drink high quality, single vineyard (non-commodity), small production wines that are priced reasonably from British Columbia. We plan to be around 20 years from now, not by becoming a large company but by creating a sustainable business within our community. For us, part of that means making wines that always over deliver

 Sherlock and Hackworth farm organically and work the vineyards by hand whenever possible. They use native yeasts for fermentations, limited sulfur, and a gentle touch that avoids punch downs or pumping over or racking during élevage. The wines are bottled without fining or filtration.

Up the road at Bella, is a winery owned by Jay Drysdale and his wife, Wendy Rose. Bella only makes sparkling wines and only works with Chardonnay and Gamay Noir.

Bella ’s annual production is 2000 cases, split between a vineyard series and a natural series. Each wine in the vineyard series highlights a single grape, from a single vineyard, and single vintage. Dry-farmed and organic vineyards from Kelowna to Kamloops supply the fruit. The natural series uses the same vineyards, plus Bella’s four-acre estate vineyard.

 

The vineyard series wines are made using the traditional Champagne method, with commercial yeasts and sugar added to the wine to trigger a second fermentation. Jay and Wendy make the natural series wines by pressing whole cluster grapes and allowing wild yeast fermentation to begin in neutral barrels.

No additives, allowing fermentation to finish in the bottle.  This process is called méthode ancestral and Bella is the first winery in western Canada to use it.

The natural process causes some of the bottles to be cloudy.  As Jay has said “Yes, they’re cloudy. Get over it”

Here’s a quote from a go-to wine human Kurtis Kolt in the Georgia Straight

 “Natural wine.  It’s wine made with minimal intervention. This means organic (and sometimes biodynamic) farming (without the use of pesticides and such), naturally occurring ferments with wild yeasts in the cellar, and winemaking without fining, filtration, or manipulation”.

 

https://www.lockandworth.com

 

http://bellawines.ca/

 

 

 

 

 

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

A Merlot Special:

Why doesn’t it get more respect?

  • Checkmate
  • Rhys Pender (MOW)
  • Hester Creek
  • Eh Nihilo
  • Township 7
  • Rust Wine
  • Road 13
  • The 2018 Judgment of BC

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 6th, 2018- Fifth Annual Victoria Wine Festival

hello

The Fifth Annual Victoria Wine Festival

 

As all festivals do, it started with an idea and a dedicated band of volunteers. Five years into its existence it’s become one of the highlights of the year in Victoria.

After talking with some of the perhaps 1500 attending,  two things became apparent.

The women outnumbered the men by a wide margin and I was surprised how many wine fans attending were not from Victoria.

Over 300 wines were showcased and the pop-up store from Vessel was crazy busy.

 

The Hatch – Andrew Melville.   Chief Steward and Storyteller

…We talk about Black Swift/The Hatch/Dynasty White/Rosso/Screaming Frenzy/Oak Street Vineyard etc

Andrew Melville – The Hatch

https://thehatchwines.com/

 

Road 13 –  Joseph Luckhurst Managing Partner. Canadian Winery of the Year

Joe talks us through the portfolio  and pours  GSM/Blind Creek Viognier/Stemwinder/Fifth Element/74K

http://road13vineyards.com/

 

Okanagan Crush Pad  – Mike West.  Mike is pouring and taking us through…

Free Form Ancient Method Sparkling Wine/Vin Gris/Waters and Banks/The Bub/Narrative/haywire/New Narrative Syrah & Cab Franc

http://okanagancrushpad.com/

Rust Winery – Kane Morgan Asst GM.  Pouring and focusing on  Single Vineyard & Single Varietal wines.

3 separate Merlots/Zin/Syrah/Gamay/ Rose from Pinot Noir/Pinot Gris/Riesling.

https://www.rustwine.com/

 

Wagner Family Wines  – Peter Lindenlaub Division Manager Canada.   A can’t miss portfolio

Caymus/Conundrum/Mersoleil/Emmolo/Red Schooner.

http://www.wagnerfamilyofwine.com/

 

Stile Brands – Benjamin Philip  Acct Exec.  Specializing in Italian Wines

Cantina Tollo Mo Montepulciano D’ Abruzzo Riserva  2012 &2014/

Altesino Rosso & Brunello/Argiolas Vermentino & Sardegna/Bottega  Prosecco Brut/ Bottega Petalo Moscato/Medici Ermete Concerto Lambrusco

https://stilebrands.com/stilebrands/

 

Unsworth  Vineyards– Tim Turyk  Owner.   Pouring from the Cowichan Valley

Unsworth Vineyards

Charme De L’lle/Allegro/Sauvignette/ Pinot Noir Rose/2016 Pinot Noir/Ovation

https://www.unsworthvineyards.com/

 

Hope Family Wines   Ex-pat Cameron Matches returns with wines from Paso Robles.

Hope Family Vineyards

Treana Blanc/Treana Cab/Austin Hope Zin & Cab/Liberty School Cab and Chardonnay.

https://www.hopefamilywines.com/

 

Many thanks to Heather Wood and Kerry Sedran for their help with shots at the event!

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

  • Where did Merlot go?
  • Ned Bell – Is he a chef or a Food Preacher?
  • Tojo celebrates 30 years
  • The 2018 Judgement of BC

 

 

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