Our Guest is Kerri Wyse-McNolty VP Burrowing Owl Vineyards and co-creator of their fine Cookbook.
(with Author and Wine Writer Jennifer Schell Lirag)
THE SHOW
The Question they most often hear in their tasting room is …..”what should I pair with this wine?”
So Kerri Wyse and her team collaborated with award winning cookbook author, wine writer Jennifer Schell Lirag and her team and wrote a cookbook to answer that question.
Unlike most books of this nature, Kerri and Jennifer organized the pages by varietals that they produce at Burrowing Owl.
So you’ll find – page by page – three recipes that pair with each of the award winning wines they create. (Pinot Gris is an example)
You’ll also find suggested music to go with meal prep and dining. I am very impressed and I’ve included some below.
Pinot Gris (Baba Ghanoush/Chicken Marbella/Okanagan Apple Crisp)
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay (La Traviata Giuseppe Verdi)
Viognier (Come away with me – Norah Jones)
Pinot Noir
Malbec (Doo Bop Miles Davis)
Merlot
Cab Franc (Stand in the Joy William Prince)
Rose (Arriba Bruce Becvar)
Syrah (Harvest – Neil Young)
Athene (Dans Ma Main Jean-Michel Blais)
Cab Sauvignon
Meritage (Oscar Peterson plays Count Basie)
Coruja (fortified) (Duke Ellington and John Coltrane)
The recipes were a collaboration between Jennifer and the Wyse Family. Some were inspired by Wyse family favourites. The book also provides Wyse Family history and stories. I also loved the fact that Jennifer and Kerri suggested music that would pair with the meal prep and dinner.
In his foreword, Master of Wine Rhys Pender wrote…
“In this cookbook, I like to think of 30 years captured of Wyse Family meals.
That’s 3 decades of family working, cooking and eating together. – their hard work, tough decisions and deep family conversations as they shared wines, shared recipes and helped pioneer the BC wine industry. That is what it takes to become an iconic winery”
Full show Interview with Anthony Gismondi: Co-founder of The Nationals!
THE SHOW
The 2024 National Wine Awards of Canada wrapped up in June in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Founded by Canadian wine experts David Lawrason and Anthony Gismondi, ‘The Nationals’ are the largest and most respected Canadian wine competition.
This year 22 judges tasted 1,800 entries from 230 wineries. Canadian wine is indeed gathering acclaim internationally, but ‘The Nationals’ is the most important peer competition local wineries can enter. With nearly every producer of note in the country competing, making it to the top ten of any category list is special. Getting on the annual list of the Top 25 Wineries in Canada is one of the most sought accolades in the business.
The Judges
The entries came from seven provinces. British Columbia had the highest representation with 147 wineries entered, Ontario came second with 84, followed by wineries from Quebec, Nova Scotia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
The finale, the Top 25 Wineries of the Year list, has become an all-out race we look forward to every year and one warmly received by consumers looking for an edge when shopping for top Canadian wine. Each year has its rhythms, and 2024 was no different. Less winemaking and more of that elusive terroir/site/origin was making its way into the top-scoring wines, something eminently satisfying for the judges tasked with finding the best in the country. Every medal is hard fought for at the national level and should signal consumers that something good is going on at the recipient wineries. Our goal has always been to award medals that mean something in a crowded retail market, and we couldn’t be prouder of this year’s collection.”Co-Chair, Anthony Gismondi, Gismondi on Wine
I look forward to connecting with Tony each and every time. So much to talk about. He is, after all, the perfect guest.
Anthony Gismondi
I just ask the questions and get out of the way.
The master link for the final results is included below. Perhaps pour yourself something: a morning coffee or an afternoon platinum rose (yes, that actually happened) and follow along.
Its an amazing read. Congratulations to Anthony and David, their volunteers and staff, the judges and especially the wineries of Canada.
Our last segments of 2024 VanWineFest with DJ Kearney and an Okanagan reconnect with Sandra Oldfield
The Vancouver International Wine Festival (#45) has come and gone but the interviews live on….for at least this week.
I’m joined by my fourth & final co-host, the one and only DJ Kearney. Educator, mentor, leader, wine judge, black belt, speaker and wine director at Terminal City Club. None better!!
Deej is also the best friend a person could ever have. We all feel lucky to know her.
As I did with Daenna van Mulligen (The Wine Diva),Kelcie Jones and Michaela Morris, I asked DJ to choose who she’d like to interview and spotlight.
Immediately she belted out….. “Justin Hall – first Indigenous winemaker in the World”.
So winemaker Justin Hall joins us from Nk’Mip in Osoyoos.
And Stavros Kriaris Global Ambassador of Alpha Estatein Greece.
“I’ve been there and loved the winery and wines”
Justin Hall Nk’Mip
Then I had the gall to ask “who do we close with Deej?”
DJ yelled “Lets invite next years feature theme regionCalifornia“
Many of you know Sandra from her over 20 years at Tinhorn Creek. Winemaker, co-owner, helped to establish BC’s first sub-appellation – The Golden Mile Bench. In 2017 Sandra and husband Kenn started Elysian Projects, a beverage/tourism consulting company. Sandra named one of Canada’s Top 100 Powerful Women of 2016. She co-founded the Fortify Conference and is in the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame.
Sandra embeds herself into the dialogue of today’s BC Wine Industry , she’s natural leader.
We met in Victoria in the Spring, just before a 3 day tourism conference kicked off. There was much to talk about at the conference.
In addition, there were a number of issues Sandra and I had to talk about for the podcast. The on going BC/Alberta wine clash. What can tourism do to help the wine industry through this very tough year? The loss of considerable vineyards to cold snaps and who speaks for the small farmer?
All of these issues were in play in the spring. Some have been sorted out, mostly they remain issues for the BC wine industry.
Sandra finished the interview with a story about several boxes that arrived at her house. Sent from Alberta to BC.
The question is/was “what’s in the boxes and why should we care?”
We welcome back Sandra Oldfield. A Fall Update to follow.
Featuring guest hosts and wine specialistsKelcie Jones and Michaela Morris.
TDM. Kelcie Jones co-host – Ermes Scardova (Ermete) and Beatrice Schiavio (Marchesi di Barolo)
The feature region of the 2024 Vancouver International Wine Festival wasItaly.
There were 71 wineries representing 13 different Italian regions, from Sicily in the far south to Trentino-Alto Adige in the north.
There were hundreds of autochthonous grape varieties and each region has its own mix of varieties, wine styles, and food and wine culture!
So much history and passion wrapped up in Italian wines. Italian winemakers and owners know that Canada has its own history of embracing the wines of Italy.
No matter what the region.
When I asked Kelcie Jones and Michaela Morris to consider co-hosting with me, I also asked who would they like to invite for the interviews.
Kelcie is the co-founder of This is Wine School and the Sommelierof the Year 2023.
Kelcie looked forward to talking with
Beatrice Schiavio – Marchesi di Barolo. The first Barolo was created in their cellars.
Thomas Jefferson was an early fan. The King of Wines. The Wine of Kings.
Ermes Scarova. Medici Ermete. Growing vineyards and creating wines since 1890. Not just any wine but a sensational CRU of Lambrusco: Concerto
Next comes the charming Daniel Grace – the American owner of Il Molino di Grace
In the very heart of the Chianti region. Producing world-class wines for 350 years.
Urs Vetter – from Vietti. Formed 150 years ago in the very heart of the Langhe at the highest point of the medieval village of Castiglione Falletto. It’s still there today.
What followed were beautiful Arneis, Moscato, Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Barbaresco and many Barolo.
tdm – Michaela Morris– Daniel Grace. Katie Nussbaum. Sebastiano De Ferrari Vanwinefest 2024
Unsworth Vineyards – Cowichan Valley Vancouver Island. Chris Turyk.. marketing and family member. If you listen to Tasting Room radio you know Chris Turyk.
Chris Turyk – Unsworth (Cowichan Valley)
Every region needs a spokesperson. Chris is the leading voice of the Cowichan Valley Wineries.
Unsworth leads by example.
Michaela Morris becomes the co-host in the second half of this Tasting Room Radio.
Michaela is a fully acknowledged leader in Canada’s wine world.
She’s an educator, mentor, sought-after wine judge and gifted writer. (Decanter)
Michaela had just returned from Tuscany.
Michaela’s interview guests included:
Katia Nussbaum Owner of San Polino. Vineyards were created early in the 10th century. As of 1581 it was owned by the Montalcino Hospital, Santa Maria della Croce. The olive trees planted in 1581 are still standing.
Sebastiano De Ferrari. The owner of Boscarelli.
Barbara De Rahm from Marziano Abbona
Stefano Inama – Inama Wines Owner and family member – perhaps the finest producer of Soave!!
Stefano brings his son along for the chat.
Thank you, Kelcie and Michaela!! Thank you, Meredith and Harry!!
The press release says: It’s the largest combined consumer and trade wine show in North America. And one of the biggest and oldest in the World. From Feb 24 to March 3. Eight days, 42 events, 12 countries, 149 participating wineries, 71 from feature region Italy, 1, 150 wines, 800 in the tasting room and over 18,000 wine fans expected to attend all events.
So…..how does one guy with one microphone cover something like that? You don’t!!
Can’t be done without a huge team but if you plan carefully and do your homework, surround yourself with wine friends who bring their own beliefs on wine and winemakers, then you might get something captured.
I’m so pleased to announce that with the help and smarts of the following friends & experts we managed to do 22 interviews with winemakers and principals from Italy, Greece, Washington, California, Spain, France and BC.
Thank you to Meredith Elliott – Communications and Marketing manager. Grace under pressure.
Harry Hertscheg – Solid Support.
Harry Hertscheg (sip mag)
Our co-hosts are:
Daenna Van Mulligen – The Wine Diva. Writer, speaker, judge and popular reviewer.
Michaela Morris – educator, judge, speaker and wine writer (Decanter)
Kelcie Jones – Best Sommelier 2023, educator, consultant and founder of This is Wine School
DJ Kearney – Director of Wine at Terminal City Club, wine educator at large. Legend.
This first Tasting Room Radio will feature opinions and comments from
Terry and Daenna
Daenna Van Mulligen – www.winediva.ca Has travelled the wine world. Knows many winemakers in the room.
Hosted a sold-out feature seminar on Gerard Bertrand Winery.
Blue Grouse Estate Winery – Michael Abbott – New GM (Cowichan Valley)
Last week we featured The Cowichan Wineries August Festival .
This week we reconnect with the wineries of the Naramata Bench. 15 interviews with winemakers and principals.
Like many others in the BC wine community, The Naramata Bench was also hit with heartbreaking losses of their prime vineyards due to another Winter deep freeze.
Even as they pour the wines this year, we’re still talking about the growing season last year and how each and all with survive.
The pouring & presenting of wine releases is an annual traditional event. Talking about failed bud breaks, the loss of complete vineyards and what to do next is not an annual tradition.
Many changes are coming to BC Wines and how they’re farmed.
What to plant? Where to plant? How to survive the crisis?
New Varietals, new Blends and new owners/makers/farmers.
As tough as the next couple of years may be, none of that showed itself at the early 2024 pour at Vancouver Community College on West Pender.
The Bench is a very tight community. Even though they are all hyper-competitive, when it comes to showcasing their individual wines. However, The Naramations pull together as a team when crisis arrives.
Impressive, to say the least. naramatabench.com
Here are the fifteen guests – talking 2024 Wines and Vineyard Survival!!
Colin Ross – President of Bench Wineries (Tightrope)
Tyson Archer – (co-founder) Fox and Archer
Emma Roberts – (GM) Howling Bluff
Bob Ferguson – (co-founder/winemaker) Kettle Valley
Kathy Malone – Hillside Winery
Kathy Malone – (Winemaker) Hillside Winery and Bistro
Marcus
(Marcus Ansems/Daydreamer)
Marcus Ansems – (Winemaker Co-owner) Daydreamer Wines
Richard Da Silva – (Owner-Winemaker) Da Silva Vineyards and Winery
There’s a buzz going on about the Wineries of the Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island.
It started when Unsworth Winery was purchased by key members of the Jackson Family (Kendall Jackson, Napa). Then months later it was revealed that the same family members had purchased Blue Grouse, just down the road.
So…
A California wine family with intimate knowledge of farming, planting, harvesting and selling wines had researched wine regions all over the World and Canada, had twice decided that “the” place to take a stand against wine growing in climate change was the Cowichan Valley.
Those are decisions that start people talking In and out of the wine business.
The Cowichan was abuzz with talk over coffee in the morning and a glass at the end of the day.
It makes this group interview with a number of Cowichan winemakers all that more interesting.
We’re talking about the 2024 Cowichan Wine Festival, which runs Aug 1 – 31.
Each winery has events and different wine pours.
All are celebrating being in the Cowichan.
ALL are pouring.
The entire month of August all of the Cowichan Wineries will be open and pouring their very best.Each will have their own events, food components and August Wine Passports.
Dylan Sheldon – owner of his own micro-winery in Santa Rosa, California has become the winemaker at Cowichan’s newest winery Cobble Hill.
Driven by regenerative farming and serious winemaking Dylan talks about his new plantings, including Albarino, Verdelho, Gruner, Sauvignon Blanc, Zweigelt etc
Cobble Hill Winery
Stacey Hornemann – The new winemaker at Blue Grouse. Coming directly from Sonoma, California. Stacey too has planting and replanting plans. We also talk Dutch Ovens
Julie Powell – Co-owner of the delightful Alderlea Vineyards, just North of Duncan. Pinot Noir leaders.
Lorin Inglis – GM of Enrico Wineries. President of Cowichan Wineries.
Kathy Malone Hillside Winemaker – Naramata Bench and a walk around 3rd annual Langford Beer Festival.
THE SHOW
Two of BC’s wine originals.
Hillside Estate Winery. The third winery built and planted on the Naramata Bench. Our guest – Kathy Malone, The Chief Winemaker since 2008.
Kathy Malone
Kathy bring three outstanding wines :
Chef’s Whites is a unique blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Chardonnay, all grown along the pristine Naramata Bench. Winemaker, Kathy Malone and Chef Evan Robertson have combined their expertise to create a wine that pairs seamlessly with the culinary delights served at the Bistro. The idea behind Chef’s Whites is simple yet profound: “What grows together goes together.”
Even before it was released, Chef’s Whites had won a place in the BC Top 50 wines this Summer and Gold in the All-Canadian Wine Championships.
Featuring fermentation in terra cotta jarre.
2021 Heritage Collection Pinot Noir
This 100% Naramata Bench Pinot Noir shines with juicy raspberry and wild strawberry aromas and flavours. The silky texture lingers on the palate while a hint of spice adds to its beautiful complexity.
2019 Gjoa’s Vineyard Merlot
This elegant wine shows dark fruits, with meaty umami undertones, followed by silky fine-grained tannins. So fun to taste and compare with our Hidden Valley Merlot or Dickinson Vineyard Merlot
Aug 12 – Join Hillside as they celebrate the junior Chefs of their culinary team for a summer send off with “Hillside’s Got Talent”!
Enjoy an afternoon on their patio with a delicious bite created by their junior chefs at 4 different stations, carefully paired with an outstanding Hillside wine. Cast your vote for favorite bite and savor the Naramata Bench.
Tickets: $55 plus tax and gratuity; available thru our website at www.hillsidewinery.ca or by phone: 250.487.1350.
Third annual Langford Beer Festival took place at Starlight Stadium. It’s from Victoria Beer Society, the same team that also presents The Great Canadian Beer Festival Sept 6-7 in Victoria.
Its Joe Weibe and Lee Marchbanks. Lee starts off the beer blitz by explaining what breweries are attend, the pouring format (2 kegs) some of the outstanding beer trends and the new beer fans attending.
We appreciate the following guests allowing us to mess with their pours…
Tristan Fetherston – Brewer/Owner Beacon Brewing. (Sidney by the Sea)
Owners Alexa, Tristan and Steven are committed to supporting the community they live in and call home. Proudly using as many local ingredients from as many local companies as possible. (an observation…On Tuesdays they have 25% off a growler refills but only 10% off Senior purchases. How about leveling that out 25% off both. Take care of those Seniors)
Ryan Bangma – One of the partners in Herald Street Brew Works. (Victoria) When the sensational Herald Street Café closed . they grabbed the space and did a amazing refurbish. Then followed very popular craft beers, including Salted Watermelon Lager, Phazer Hazy IPA etc. Ryan started a discussion about the method of making “Watermelon Terpenes” and he lost me.
Isaiah Archer – Whistle Buoy Brewing (Market Square – Victoria) Patio and Tap Room. Always busy.
Vape Lord Hazy Pale Ale, Fuzzy Peach Sour
Brad McCarthy – Owner White Sails Brewing (Naniamo)
Very popular room and very handsome brewery. Just below “Gina’s”. If you don’t know what that means, ask someone who does.
They create very special beers…highly recommended.
whitesailsbrewing.com
whistlebuoybrewing.com
heraldstreet.com
beaconbrewing.ca
victoriabeersociety.com
STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON
Meyer Family
The Hatch/Black Swift
Fort Berens
Burrowing Owl Winery Cookbook
Sipster 3
Cowichan Valley Wine Festival
John Kubek – Lightening Rock and Alberta Wine Wars
2024 Releases – Tightrope (Naramata) and Bonterra Organic (Mendocino)
THE SHOW
Lyndsay O’Rourke – Winemaker at Tightrope Winery (Naramata Bench)
(Lyndsay and Graeme O’Rourke)
Tightrope Winery is a small, family-run, sustainable winery on the Naramata Bench.
A true Labour of love for owners Graham (viticulturist) and Lyndsay O’Rourke (winemaker). Their vineyards on the Naramata Bench are farmed sustainably to make hand-crafted wines with artistry and passion. Tightrope wines capture the soul of Naramata – the personality, character, culture and fruit of “the Bench.”
Tightrope is yet another story of a couple who discovered they both had a passion for wine and when given the self-inspired opportunity to become farmers and winemakers, they changed careers and homes to follow their dreams.
To those who seek such things, it should come as no surprise that their wines are completely passionate and speak to your senses.
Top 10 small wineries in Canada – 2019.
Our 2 part interview with co-owner and winemaker Lyndsay O’Rourke will cover their story as owners and winemakers and some of their 2024 Tightrope Releases..
2023 – Pinot Gris – 4 different vineyards. Notes of pear and grapefruit. Beautifully clean and dry. ( Lyndsay has prices in the interview)
2023 – Rose. What a nice surprise to find 96% Pinot Noir and 4% Barbera which adds spice notes to the tasting experience.
2022 – Semillon. Single vineyard Gem. 100% Sem. Lemon zest. Grapefruit and minerality. Clean and crisp.
2023 – Viognier. Two vineyards were involved. Ripe citrus notes, ginger. Dry and bright. Aged on lees for 3 months. French and Acacia Barrels. Worth it!!
2022 – Pinot Noir Rubis. Destemmed not crushed. 3 weeks on skins. Then French Oak – 30% new for 10 months. Cranberry. Strawberry. Spice. (Cellar for 2-10)
2022 – Pinot Noir Fleet Road. Complex vineyard management pays off. Ripe black fruit, plum. Leather. Some Oak. Impressive. (cellar 2-10 years)
Bonterra Organic Estates – Joseph Brinkley Director of Regenerative Farming/Benjamin Mitarakis Dir. of Trade Development (Mendocino)
This taste and talk took place at Tap and Barrell Bridges on Granville Island. The afternoon was part of the Spring release tasting and very much a talk about organic farming at Bonterra Organic Estates. America’s #1 Organic Winery.
The winery and vineyards over the years have been known as Fetzer Vineyards and had winemakers such as Paul Dolan and Bob Blue.
Vina Concha y Toro took control of Fetzer in 2011 and when they launched Bonterra they were well ahead of anyone else in Organic farming and wines.
It has taken years of education to raise the profile of organic wines. With the consumer and surprisingly with wine sales staff. Not just in Vancouver but everywhere.
Benjamin and Joseph spent several hours walking us through the farming process, the certification of the vineyards and their commitment to The Earth.
(Joseph Brinkley – TDM – Benjamin Mitarakis)
Our energized conversation covered most of the questions asked in the room but then we talked about
“the wines”.
We tasted and talked about the following Bonterra 2024 Releases..
2022 – Bonterra Organic Estates Chardonnay. 2 vineyards. One sandstone and the other volcanic rock. On Lees 6 months American Oak – third new. $24
Delightful Mendocino Chard. Light oak notes – nice finish and the price is right.
2021 – Bonterra Organic Estates Cabernet Sauvignon. A nice touch of Petit Syrah adds fine aromas. 40% new French oak. Raised toast levels lift everything.
$25. Dark ripe berries, lasting finish. Again, the price is right.
Not yet available but hopefully coming our way, we also tasted
2022 – Bonterra Estate Collection (new) Chardonnay. Granny Smith, citrus, ripe pear. 50/50 oak French/American. Brilliant nose. Big hit!
2022 – Bonterra Estate Collection (new) (new) The Butler Red Blend. Butler Ranch Vineyards. 63% Syrah, 18 P Syrah, 12 Mourvedre, 6 Grenache and 1% Viognier. 14 months in French Oak (12 new). Direct, delicious and damn good.
Bonterra Certified: B Corporation/ Regenerative Organic Certified/Climate Neutral Certified/True Zero Waste Certified.
Two Wine Stories –New wineries in Garnet Valley, Solvero & Garnet Valley Ranch Plus Two from Bottleneck Drive, Dirty Laundry and Pamplemousse Jus.
As much as I like to follow the wines we all share, I’m equally driven by the people who make them. The battles they wage against weather and man!
Best of all are the stories they tell. Every wine has a story.
Those are the people and stories I want to share with you on Tasting Room Radio.
Christine Coletta – Co-founder of Okanagan Crush Pad/Haywire etc and now Garnet Valley Ranch Wines
Alison Moyes – GM and Winemaker at Solvero Wines in Garnet Valley.
Discover Garnet Valley Ranch., a quick 7 minute drive from the town of Summerland! The 320-acre ranch is a working farm that is surrounded by natural habitat, organic vineyards, fields of ground crops and a lavender farm. A small pond attracts more than 70 species of birds and wildlife. With no immediate neighbours, the site is tranquil and relaxing. There are places to hike and horseback riding options, or go off grid, listen to nature, and read a book while you sip wine.
Christine talks about the wines being planted, grown, harvested and released.
Christine Coletta is one of the veteran leaders in the BC wine industry. We’ll also be talking about the future of BC wine.
Her only “next door” neighbor in Garnet Valley is Alison Moyes and the team at Solvero Wines.
“It was just a dense forested mountainside, very steep slopes, very challenging terrain to farm. But over the course of two years, a 16-acre vineyard was planted in 2016. Then we started building the winery in 2020 to be able to produce the wines. And then finally, we’ve just finished this beautiful new tasting room and we’re ready to launch this year.” Alison Moyes (Global TV)
This destination, is one of the highest vineyards in BC, almost 600 metres. Its perfect for growing their signature releases of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
By hiring Alison Moyes, they’ve found the final piece of the puzzle.
She learned her winemaking craft through years at Stoneboat, Osoyoos Larose and Liquidity.
Enjoy the conversation between winery neighbours. Both creating new wines in a new destination. We get to taste and compare the same varietals from both locations.
Then a short trip down the road to Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive.
Jordan Kubeck – owner/winemaker Pamplemousse Jus natural winery (Bottleneck Drive)
Jordan Kubeck winemaker/owner at Pamplemousse Jus
One of BC’s most admired new wineries is Pamplemousse. Not only making highly creative natural wines, they are also creating “natural” converts with every season.
Jordan has been making wine in BC since 2010. After working at Cellar Tek, Okanagan Crush Pad and Lightning Rock, Jordan was excited to launch her own project along with her husband Tyler Knight and business partner James Langford-Smith in 2021.
Pamplemousse Jus is natural wine! Neutral vessels, basket press, manual labor and wild ferments create these wines. The wines are made in a garage turned winery with basic winemaking equipment and a whole lot of happy hearts. The Pamplemousse Jus team works hard, experimenting with unusual blends and winemaking styles to bring you the freshest, yummiest wines possible.
Mason Spink Winemaker at Dirty Laundry (Bottleneck Drive)
Mason Spink
When the recent Top 50 BC wines were announced, at the very top of the list – the wine of the year was
Dirty Laundry’s 2022 Cellar Series Gamay.
“this wine stood out among all entries for it’s exceptional quality and distinctive character, earning the highest honor in the competition.” Okanagan Wine Festivals.
dirty laundry
*
Mason Spink winemaker at Dirty Laundry Vineyards
After study at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont. by 2009, he was making wine and, in 2013, he left See Ya Later Ranch to join Dirty Laundry. Since Mason Spink took over as winemaker in 2013, Summerland’s Dirty Laundry Vineyard has doubled production. He likes to make serious, interesting wines but they don’t have to be pretentious. Over his time at Dirty Laundry he has been evolving the house style and winning awards. Including #1 at the new Top 50 in BC hosted by the Okanagan Wine Festivals
The vineyards were originally planted in the 1970s and are now some of the Okanagan Valley’s oldest vinifera vines.
Mason takes us through some of their recent releases and their plans for replanting vines lost in the latest winter freeze.
The other voice you hear belongs to Leeann Froese, the owner of Town Hall Brands. An outstanding wine advisor and marketing firm.
