Tasting Room Radio

January 21st, 2017 – Dine Out Vancouver!

January 20, 2017 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 0:50:40

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Once again, Dine Out Vancouver has kicked  off in Vancouver until Feb 5

Here’s a Primer on how the whole thing works..and we do it in Railtown!!

Featuring Railtown Grill, The Uncommon Café, The Settlement Building and Pidgin (in Gastown)

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THE SHOW

 

About the 15th annual  Dine Out Vancouver Festival:
Produced by Tourism Vancouver, Dine Out Vancouver Festival is Canada’s largest annual celebration of food and drink. Attracting more than 100,000 locals and visitors, the festival takes over the city with 17 days of culinary events, prix fixe menus at 280-plus restaurants (at $20, $30 or $40 price points), as well as “Dine and Stay” packages and special hotel rates. The festival promotes local and regional ingredients, the wines of British Columbia, and the city’s exceptional culinary talent.  Dine Out Vancouver Festival 2017 runs from January 20 to February 5.
dineoutvancouver.com @DineOutVanFest #dovf

 Dine Out is the perfect opportunity for locals and visitors to sip, sample and savour Vancouver’s array of exotic flavours (Peruvian, German, Brazilian, Italian, Greek, Ethiopian, Chinese, Japanese and East Indian, to name but a few); try new and buzz-worthy eateries  and return to locally loved haunts. This year, a number of iconic restaurants have joined the Dine Out roster for the first time, including long-standing Kitsilano treasure Bishop’s and world-renowned Vij’s.

I was given the opportunity to be part of a media tour in advance of the kick off. They kindly allowed me to pick the area of Vancouver I wanted to discover and do a show on.

Because Roundhouse Radio is located in Railtown, East of Gastown..I decided that the Railtown Experience was for me.

All of the teams  gathered at UVA Wine Bar opposite the Orpheum at 900 Seymour. The rooms were jammed with excited media and industry professionals waiting to head out into the night.      Frankly, I’m  glad I took my trusty recorder because from that point on – the night was a BLUR!!

 

 

 

 

 

In a matter of 4 hours we travelled in  a bus dressed up a as a Trolley Car and here’s where we went and who we met and interviewed.

Lucas Pavan – Coordinator of Dine Out Vancouver.  Gives us some of the history of the event and how’s its grown. What’s new and what you can expect!!

www.dineoutvancouver.com/    https://www.tourismvancouver.com/

 

Sabrine Dhaliwal –  Bar Manager and Sommelier at UVA Wine Bar.. Explains what Uva is doing for Dine Out and what she’s pouring these days. (She really  knows her stuff) and because Uva is right across from The Orpheum and Commodore Ballroom, her bar gets to pour for  people from all over the World. The question is “how many people do they get to turn on to BC wines?”    https://www.uvavancouver.com/

Sabrine Dhaliwal Uva

Bonnie Todd – Owner & Founder of Off The Eaten Track (Culinary walking tours) Bonnie specializes in talking tours to parts of the City that are outside the tourist haunts.  Neighbourhoods that people wanted to explore.  The ones  with smaller restaurants and cafes..that are interesting and informal and multi-cultural. Ones that perhaps people are nervous about or don’t have a sense of the area but were just as good as the downtown destinations.

Bonnie Todd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We started at The Railtown Café..One of my favourite food stops.

Railtown-Cafe

Bonnie fills us in on  their history, Railtown’s character  and why they have such a loyal clientele and how they have just opened their third location  downtown.

www.Offtheeatentracktours.ca

Then comes an amazing story.  The Uncommon Café at the corner of Jackson and Powell Streets..right across from Oppenheimer Park.  As I explain, it can be a tough neighbourhood so I wanted the owners Luc and Lisa Leimanis to explain how they arrived at this exact corner and an insight on the dialogue that happened with “the locals”.  It’s a Café, a cooking school and a commissary space for local small  businesses who need a kitchen.

Uncommon Cafe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You have to be truly committed to make all this work.  They are and they do..

Luc and Lisa let us get in the kitchen to  create and bake pizza..it was wild.

PS they’re famous for their meatballs and their home cooked meals.

 

www.uncommonssary.com/

Right around the corner at 55 Dunlevy is Vancouver Urban Winery, Belgard Café and Postmark Brewing..all under the one roof called The Settlement Building.  At one time in Vancouver’s history, airplane props were added to planes there  during WW2.

 

We talk to Bonnie Todd and Frazer Rowland the Assistant Retail Manager.

 http://www.settlementbuilding.com/ 

 And we finish in Gastown at Pidgin (east/west/eat/drink)

Our host Brandon Grossutti  Owner/Operator/GM of PIDGIN

Brandon Grossutti.

350 Carrall St  Also a challenging part of town..right across from  the notorious Pigeon Park.

(they were a news item when they opened..as picketers blocked their front door..saying they represented changes in the neighbourhood that they didn’t want. The pickets have gone and Pidgin just keeps getting better)

They are famous for pushing the boundaries of Asian food..with a French plate sense.

Plus, when you sit down, they just bring the share plates..we went through 9 courses..

This was a  fabulous food experience.. Send your friends or better yet, go with them..

 

pidginvancouver.com

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

DJ Kearney, Kurtis Kolt and Rhys Pender take us through what to expect at the Vancouver Wines Festival..

And then we record 2 one hour specials at the Fesatival.

Canada is the feature region and we’ll be knee deep in Canuck wines..

 

January 14th, 2017 – Fastest line-up in Victoria: Pagliaccis!

January 13, 2017 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 0:50:40

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We’re talking Whiskey (and spirits)!!

Guests include Solomon Siegel from Pagliacci’s and JP Wiser’s Master Blender Dr  Don Livermore!

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THE SHOW

 

Solomon Siegel – Pagliacci’s (Victoria)

 

Full disclosure!!  I have limited knowledge of whiskey and spirits.
During my teen years, my brother Denis and I would travel with the Kamloops Rube Band.  Mostly guys who were in their mid-late 20’s and early 30’s and light years away from me as drinkers.

When we travelled I tried to keep up with the big boys and failed miserably.

It didn’t help that they all seemed to like Lemon Gin.. which curled my toes and caused numbness of the brain.

Thus, when I moved on I left spirits and whiskey behind.

I was far more comfortable with wine and Tasting Room Radio was born.

However, It’s important on Tasting Room  to include everyone in the drinks business and this show is my small way of paying attention.

 

We start with Solomon Siegel, GM of the legendary Pags in Victoria. His Father Howie helped to create this fabulous place.

When I walk into Pagliacci’s on Broad St, I’m transported back to the 1950’s in Brooklyn.

It has a tremendous vibe going on. Autographed photos of all the great baseball stars, signed photos and posters from everyone  Etta James to Louis Armstrong and his band on their tour bus.

The level of conversation in this room is unparalleled.  A buzz few can rival.

The food is involved and delish… huge portions..and now,  with Solly’s smarts,  a wine and drink list that’s really good.

I needed someone to school me on spirits and the new cocktail nation and Solly’s the guy.

Solomon talks me through his new cocktail menu and then the wines and what he pairs with them.

It also helps that he knows Dr Don Livermore our second guest.

www.pagliaccis.ca/

Dr. Don Livermore – Master Blender JP Wiser’s Union 52

 Wiser’s Union 52. It’s exclusive to BC and it’s very limited edition. Created by the Master Blender himself, Dr. Don Livermore. Their  master blender connected  their very  last barrel of 52 year old highland malt scotch with their finest 16 year old Canadian whiskey, resulting in a rich smooth blend. A union of new and old world styles. On the nose, notes of toffee,  sourdough bread, green apples and mesquite. In the mouth Union 52 begins with honey  rich vanilla and smoke.

Dr Don Livermore

 

They made 4386 bottles.

Its fermented, distilled and aged separately then blended.

AND its only available in BC.

Dr Don and I talk Union 52, Wiser’s and whiskey in general.

It’s a Master Class from a Master Blender

 

 

Here’s a review from Beppi Crosariol – The Globe and Mail

 

J.P. Wiser’s Union 52, Canada

SCORE: 94 PRICE: $69.99

“A one-time-only release, Union 52 is as uncommon as whisky gets. A blend of mostly Canadian whisky, matured for 15 years in new-oak barrels, it features a 4-per-cent dollop of 52-year-old Highland single malt. The combination harks back to a time when Canadian blenders were regularly flavouring their whiskies with tiny quantities of imported Scotch. Full-bodied, luscious and smooth, with big caramel, toffee and vanilla flavours from new oak as well as mellow dried-fruit and chocolate characters, it then turns spicy and firm, with a subtle smoky overtone. My kind of chocolate bar. Available only in British Columbia.”

http://www.jpwisers.com/ca/

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

Dine Out Vancouver  Speed eating through Railtown

Railtown Grill/The Uncommon CAFE/The Settlement Building/Pidgin

 The annual Vancouver International Wine Festival

 

 

 

 

 

January 7th, 2017 – THE CALIFORNIANS! They’re backkk!

January 5, 2017 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 0:50:50

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Tasting Room Radio Post Banner B

 

They’re baaaack!!  THE CALIF0RNIANS!!

Cannonball/Merryvale/Lange Twins/Gloria Ferrer & St Francis and as a one off St. Urbans-Hof

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The SHOW

cali vineyards

Once a year our winemaking friends in California pack up the latest releases and tour “up North”

Canada is one of their very best customers and it’s their way of thanking us, with a gentle reminder that California wines are always out there.

Like a wet hug on a dry day.

Here’s the line – up…

Cannonball/Angels and Cowboys  –  Yoav Gilat(Founder/CEO)  Healdsburg

 CANNONBALL WINE CO logo type-01-1519x575

A&C 2012 RED FRONT-689x638

The Cannonball dive is a dive for the people.  It doesn’t discriminate against body type, race, religion, political affiliation, social status, or fashion sense.  And if you’ve never done a Cannonball then you’d better just shut down this computer, go find a body of water, and dive in!  When you’re jumping into the water on a beautiful summer day, with nothing on your mind except leaping high, balling up tight, and making a splash that is going to get as many people wet as possible, that moment you’re in the air might be the best feeling you can have with your swimsuit on.

Cannonball exists because of 2 founding partners – Yoav Gilat and Dennis Hill.  Visionary Yoav brims with more energy than a speeding hummingbird as he oversees the entire Cannonball operation. He brings 20 years of experience in consumer goods and beverages and fell in love with Sonoma and Mendocino when providing strategy/marketing to Blackstone Winery. Fed up with the over-priced, stuffy wine scene, Yoav made it his mission to produce a range of “serious wines that don’t take themselves too seriously”.  He wants you to enjoy the expertly crafted wines whilst being transported back to a time when the only point in life was to have fun. “Dive in and share a splash”. This explains the concept behind the packaging and brand.

Pssst! If you find Angels and Cowboys Rose..buy it. Buy it all.. it’s that good.

www.drinkcannonball.com 

www.angelsandcowboyswines.com

 

Merryvale/Starmont – Rene Schlatter (Owner/CEO) St Helena

 MVV-logo-brandview

Right across the street from Taylor’s Refresher (now called Gott’s) is Merryvale.  1000 Main Street  St Helena

Rene Schlatter and his ever growing family have created wines that get better and better each year.

What started as award winning  Merryvale wines has now grown to a second label Starmont.

 rene

A native of Switzerland, René has lived in the U.S. since 1987.  Since taking the helm of the company in 2008, René has made significant contributions to Merryvale’s sales, marketing, finance, vineyard acquisitions and farming improvements — with particular focus and interest in the quality and expression of each individual wine and vintage.

In recognition of the success of the business, Wine Enthusiast magazine honored René with its prestigious “Person of the Year” Award in 2011.Presented at its Annual Wine Star Awards, the magazine included these comments: “Since 2008, the president of Napa’s Merryvale Vineyards has pioneered green initiatives while preserving the winery’s family legacy and excellence in producing Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.”

“I enjoy drinking wines from all over the world – Bordeaux, Burgundy, Tuscany, Switzerland and, Napa Valley. No matter what the origin I look for purity of fruit, personality, character and a sense of place. For a wine to be great it must stand the test of time.”

http://www.merryvale.com/

Lange Twins  –  Joseph Lange  (International sales/family member)  Lodi

LangeTwins-Feat-Img-e1416585148572

Notes from Randall and Brad Lange

During the 1870’s  Great-Grandparents, Johann and Maria Lange, settled in Lodi and began a family farm growing non-irrigated watermelons with their son, Grandpa Albert. The farm grew year over year and by 1916 they had the  family’s first grape-ranch. It was on this ranch where their  dad, Harold, was born in 1920.

Grandpa and Dad’s farm expanded to include the River Ranch and the DeVries Road Ranch, where the family was raised. They  continued the tradition of working the vineyards and in 1974  decided to farm on our own. It was an exciting time for them because as they grew their business, their  family grew as well. Both married (Randall to Charlene and Brad to Susan) and by 1982 the fifth generation was here! Between our families we have five kids — Marissa, Aaron, Philip, Kendra and Joe.

As the kids grew up on the River Ranch they developed an appreciation for winegrowing by working summers and harvest . After college they each decided to come back to the family farm, so they took the next step and built a winery in 2006.

Today they all have unique responsibilities within the winery and viticulture teams, continuing their agricultural roots and growing their winery and wine brands. As fifth generation winegrowers they look forward to working with the sixth!

LangeTwinsFamilysm

www.langetwins.com

Gloria Ferrer – Juan Furne  (President  Friexenet Atlantic)

GloriaFerrer[1]

Back in the early 80’s there were only a handful of winegrowers planting Pinot Noir in Carneros. And yet, the Ferrer Family knew the key to a world-class méthode champenoise wine would be Pinot Noir.

The Gloria Ferrer winemaking team’s quest for perfection takes them to Champagne where they manage to acquire Pinot Noir and Chardonnay clones.

Gloria Ferrer is not only the first sparkling wine house in Sonoma Carneros, but also the first to plant Champagne clones and the first to plant in Carneros.

Almost thirty years later, with 335 acres under vine, the estate vineyards at Gloria Ferrer produce Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that rival some of the world’s finest.

www.gloriaferrer.com

 

St Francis  – Chris Silva (President/CEO)  Sonoma

chris-silva-04

Fifth-generation Sonoma County native, Christopher Silva is firmly rooted in Sonoma County agriculture. He was raised in a family of Petaluma dairy farmers, and nine years after graduating from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, he retired from practicing law to join St. Francis Winery. At the age of 38, he became President & CEO of St. Francis in 2003. He understands firsthand that a farmer’s footprint and intimate knowledge of the soil, microclimates and terroir of the region are the most important ingredients for healthy vines.

As President & CEO of St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, Chris has a specific focus: crafting world class Sonoma wine. St. Francis is best known for luscious, elegant, fruit driven Sonoma County Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and “Old Vines” Zinfandel.  Additionally, St. Francis was named “#1 Restaurant in America” by Open Table  in 2013 and 2015 in recognition of its farm to table wine and food pairings offered on site to Winery visitors each day.

“Our time at St. Francis will not be measured in years. It will be measured by the contributions each one of us makes—as individuals—to constantly improving the quality of our grapes and our wines. ‘Good enough’ is contrary to our mission.”

 

Chris gives us a Master Class in St Francis ZIN.

 

http://www.stfranciswinery.com/

 

 

St Urbans-Hof  –  Nik Weis  (Owner-GM)

nick weis

and finally..from half a world away – in Germany’s Mosel Region comes Nik Weis Owner and GM of St. Urbans-Hof.

The winery St. Urbans-Hof is one of the most renowned wineries of the growing region Mosel and distinguishes itself by the particularity of owning best positions both on the Moselle and on the Saar. The Weis family who founded the winery in 1947, always focused on quality, which was almost a rarity, especially in the seventies and eighties. Authenticity is for Nik Weis, the grandson of the founder doing a very important feature. According Riesling is exclusively developed, the intervention in the vineyard and cellar are as gentle as possible. The nursery of the estate,  is among the most important in Europe.

It was a privilege to be poured some spectacular wines, including the Wiltinger Alte Reben 2014, which arrives in early spring, as well as some of the older vintages dating back to 1990 from Ockfener Bockstein, Laurentiuslay, Goldtropfchen  and a drop of Eiswein or two.

Urbanshof_NEU

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STORIES WERE WORKING ON

  • The 39th annual Vancouver International Wine Festival

December 31st, 2016 – Vancouver International Wine Festival-Hour 2

December 28, 2016 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:50:40

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Tasting Room Radio Post Banner

It’s  Hour TWO of our round table coverage of the 38th Annual Vancouver International Wine festival.

An All-Star cast of winemakers, journalists and principals from all over the Wine World.  Enjoy!!

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THE SHOW

 

Living the life

Living the life

 

Hour Two of this year’s Vancouver International Wine Festival begins with my wine friends around the table.

 

(Thank You to Technical Producer Julia Graff)

 

DJ Kearney – World Class wine expert, educator  and judge.  @djwines.

DJ Kearney

DJ Kearney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kurtis Kolt – Wine Columnist Georgia Straight. Educator and expert. www.kurtiskolt.com

Kurtis Kolt

Kurtis Kolt

Rhys Pender  – Wine Plus Educator. Co-Owner/Winemaker of Little farm Wines www.littlefarmwinery.ca

Rhys Pender

Rhys Pender

Daenna van Mulligen – The Wine Diva. Columnist for Vines Magazine. Judge and expert.  www.winediva.ca www.winescores.ca

 

The Wine Diva

The Wine Diva

Matt Dumayne – Haywire Winemaker.  Summerland BC  www.haywirewinery.com

Andrew Windsor – Tinhorn Creek Winemaker.  Golden Mile BC  www.tinhorn.com

John Freeman – Winemaker  Waterbrook.  Walla Walla, Wash www.waterbrook.com

Elizabeth Douglas-Grant – La Crema Winemaker. Sonoma www.lacrema.com

Elizabeth Douglas-Grant La Crema

Elizabeth Douglas-Grant La Crema

Adam Mettler  –   Winemaker  Michael David Winery (Lodi) www.michaeldavidwinery.com

Adam Mettler - Lodi

Adam Mettler – Lodi

Mark de Vere –  Master of Wine. Robert Mondavi (Napa)  www.robertmondaviwinery.com

Richard Sowalsky –   Winemaker Clos Pegase  (Calistoga) www.clospegase.com

Richard Sowalsky - Clos Pegase

Richard Sowalsky – Clos Pegase

Marilisa Allegrini –  Allegrini  (Italy) www.allegrini.it

Maralisa Allegrini

Maralisa Allegrini

Ermenegildo  (Joe)  Giusti  – Giusti (Italy)  www.giustiwine.com/en

Stefano Benini –  Marchesi de’Frescobaldi (Italy) www.frescobaldi.it

Gabriele Tacconi – Ruffino (Italy)  www.ruffino.com

David Scholefield – (Narrative Wines  BC/ Expert) https://okanagancrushpad.com/buy-narrative–wine/

David Scholefield

David Scholefield

Leah Bickford – Marquis Wine Cellars. Italian Wine Expert  www.marquis–wines.com

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

December 24th, 2016- Vancouver International Wine Festival

December 23, 2016 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:50:44

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It’s one of the best wine festivals anywhere. The 38th annual Vancouver International Wine Festival  Held at the Vancouver Convention Centre from  Feb 20- March 1

For eight years TRR has set up a studio on the floor of the Trade Tasting on the Thursday and invited the World to sit in.

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THE SHOW

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The Vancouver International Wine Festival is one of the biggest and oldest wine events in the world, offering something for every level of wine drinker, collector and trade professional. Winery principals (winemaker, proprietor, senior executive) representing 156 wineries from 14 countries will be in attendance to pour and discuss their wines. In 2016, the theme country will be Italy.

38th Vancouver Wine festival featuring Italy

The heart of the festival is the International Festival Tastings at the Vancouver Convention Centre, where 776 wines are available for sampling, with an additional 164 wines available at two trade tastings. More than 625 additional wines will be served at special events orbiting the tasting room, including a gala dinner + auction, wine seminars, trade events, and food and wine pairing affairs such as winery dinners, lunches and brunches at top Vancouver restaurants and hotels.

The Italian table will represent an all-star moment.  Tedeschi/Ricasoli/Dogliani

 

Hour One:

  • Michaela Morris – House Wine
  • Stevie Kim – VinItaly
  • Gurvinder Bhatia – Quench Wine Editor – Edmonton
  • Daenna van Mulligen – The Wine Diva
  • Harry Hertscheg – Executive director of Festival
  • Riccardo Tedeschi – Tedeschi Amarone (family owner/winemaker) Veneto/Valpolicella –
  • Barone Francesco Ricasoli (32nd generation Ricasoli) Tuscany/Chianti Classico –
  • Fiorenzo Dogliani – Batasiolo.  Piedmont  CEO   (Richardo March.. Export Director)
  • Daenna van Mulligen – The Wine Diva
  • Michael Bartier – Bartier Bros  BC
  • Chris Wyse – Burrowing Owl  BC
  • Harry McWatters – Time  BC
  • Ezra Cypes – Summerhill  BC
  • Thomas Perrin – Famille Perrin  France
  • Jim Robertson – Stoneleigh  NZ
  • Eduardo Montresor  – Montessor .  Veneto Italy
  • Loren Gil – Gil Family Estates  Spain

 

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NEXT WEEK HOUR TWO

  •  Daenna van Mulligen
  • DJ Kearney
  • Kurtis Kolt
  • Rhys Pender
  •  Matt Dumayne –  WM  Haywire
  • Andrew Winsor –  WM  Tinhorn Creek
  • John Freeman – WM Waterbrook (Washington)
  • Kirk Brewer – Gruet Winery (New Mexico)
  • Poplar Grove – Stefan Arnason, Winemaker
  •  
  • David Phillips – Michael David Winery (Cali)
  • Mark DeVere – Mondavi (Cali)
  • Ted Seghesio – Seghesio  (Abigail Smith
  •   
  • Marilisa Allegrini  – Owner-CEO – Allegrini
  • Ermenegildo Giusti – Owner – Giusti
  • David Scholefield – Haywire  Advisor
  • Stefano Benini – Int Export Director/Family member Marchesi De’Frescobaldi 
  • Gabriele Tacconi – WM –  Ruffino (1st visit to Canada)

 

 

 

 

December 10th, 2016-Guests include Alex Prud’Homme, DJ Kearney and Harry Hertscheg and more…

December 9, 2016 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:50:41

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Author Alex  Prud‘Homme arrives with tales of Julia Child.  He wrote her first  book My life in France.  Now comes The French Chef in America..it’s the rest of Julia Child’s story.

We taste our way through some of the Canadian wines coming to the next Vancouver International Wine Festival, where Canada is the feature region.

Guests include DJ Kearney and Harry Hertscheg.

And finish with stories on Sea Star, Haywire and Left Field Cider.

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THE SHOW

 

Alex Prud’Homme – The French Chef in America:  Julia Child’s Second Act

 

Julia Child is synonymous with French cooking, but her legacy runs much deeper. Now, her great-nephew and My Life in France coauthor  Alex Prud’Homme vividly recounts the myriad ways in which she profoundly shaped how we eat today. He shows us Child in the aftermath of the publication of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, suddenly finding herself America’s first lady of French food and under considerable pressure to embrace her new mantle. Every bit as entertaining, inspiring, and delectable as My Life in France, The French Chef in America uncovers Julia Child beyond her “French chef” persona and reveals her second act to have been as groundbreaking and adventurous as her first.

 

In 2004 Alex helped Julia Child write her memoir, My Life in France, about her “favorite years” — 1948-1954 — when she and her husband Paul lived in Paris and Marseille. (Paul was his grand uncle, his grandfather’s twin brother.) In France Julia experienced “a flowering of the soul” and discovered her raison d’etre in cooking. They  worked together for eight months, until Julia died in her sleep two days shy of her 92d birthday. He spent another year finishing My Life in France, published in 2006. The book reached #1 on the New York Times best-seller list.  In 2009, it inspired half of Nora Ephron’s film “Julie & Julia,” which starred Meryl Streep.

In 2014, a decade after working on My Life in France, he circled back to answer a few questions about Julia that had tugged at his curiosity: what was it like for the Childs to retire from the Foreign Service in 1961, and settle in Cambridge, Massachusetts? How did Julia first appear on Public Television in 1963, win an Emmy in 1966, and land on the cover of Time in 1967? And what led her to the White House, the Queen of England, James Beard and Colonial food, to leave Public TV for Good Morning America, and to become America’s first true celebrity chef?

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Julia Child and Alex Prud’Homme

Julia reached the peak of her celebrity in the Seventies – epitomized by Dan Aykroyd’s famous “Save the Liver!” parody on Saturday Night Live in 1978 . Researching this era Alex  discovered a trove of articles, scripts, documentary footage, correspondence, and notes about unpublicized or forgotten aspects of the Childs’ lives. Interviewing Julia’s colleagues, he learned how disciplined, hardworking and resilient she was, how deeply she loved her family and friends, the breadth of her culinary knowledge, the depth of her generosity, creativity, curiosity, and natural humor. “The idea,” she said, “was to take the bugaboo out of cooking.”

 

http://www.alexprudhomme.com/about-alex/

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

https://www.facebook.com/JuliaChild

 

Vancouver International Wine festival – Feature region CANADA (two parts)

 

The 2017 festival runs from Feb 11 through the 19th and as always we will be there.

 

In celebration of Canada’s 150th Birthday, the 2017 festival features Canada as the theme country with 76 wineries from British Columbia, Ontario and Nova Scotia, nearly one third of which are participating for the first time. This marks the largest gathering of Canadian wineries ever at an international festival. “VanWineFest 2017 offers an unprecedented showcase of Canadian wineries, principals and wines alongside their international counterparts in the Tasting Room,” says  our guest VIWF executive director Harry Hertscheg. “Let’s celebrate!”

 

Pouring  and speaking on Ontario wines – Magdalena Kaiser Wine Marketing Association of Ontario

Pouring a speaking on Nova Scotia wines – Asha Hingorani.  Canadian Vintners Association

Pouring and speaking on BC Wines – DJ Kearney  NewDistrict.ca

DJ Kearney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part Two – We’re joined by VanWineFest  Executive Director Harry Hertscheg who always comes through  what the audience wants to hear.

Harry gives newbie’s  a quick history lesson and then  on to “The Show”.

If you’re looking for answers about this year’s festival, don’t miss this segment.

 

CANADA 

 British Columbia

8th Generation Vineyard  Lake Breeze Vineyards
50th Parallel Estate Laughing Stock Vineyards
Averill Creek Vineyard Liquidity Wines
Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery Maverick Estate Winery
Bartier Bros. Meyer Family Vineyards
Bench 1775 Mission Hill Family Estate
Black Hills Estate Winery Moon Curser Vineyards
Blasted Church Vineyards Moraine Estate Winery
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Nk’Mip Cellars
C.C. Jentsch Cellars Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery
Cassini Cellars One Faith Vineyards
CedarCreek Estate Winery Osoyoos Larose
Chaberton Estate Winery Painted Rock Estate Winery
Church & State Wines Pentâge Winery
Culmina Family Estate Winery Poplar Grove Winery
Evolve Cellars Quails’ Gate Winery
Ex Nihilo Vineyards Red Rooster
Fort Berens Estate Winery Road 13 Vineyards
Foxtrot Vineyards Sandhill
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery Sperling Vineyards
Gold Hill SpierHead Winery
Harper’s Trail Estate Winery Stag’s Hollow Winery
Haywire Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Hester Creek Estate Winery
 Tantalus Vineyards
Hillside Winery Tightrope Winery
Howling Bluff Estate Winery TIME Winery
Inniskillin Okanagan Estate Tinhorn Creek Vineyards
Intersection Winery Township 7 Vineyards & Winery
Jackson-Triggs Estate Winery Unsworth Vineyards
LA FRENZ WINERY Wild Goose Vineyards and Winery

 NOVA SCOTIA

Benjamin Bridge Domaine de Grand Pre 
Blomidon Estate Winery L’Acadie Vineyards
Devonian Coast Wineries Luckett Vineyards

ONTARIO

Château des Charmes Inniskillin Niagara Estate
Closson Chase Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate
Colio Estate Wines Pelee Island Winery
Domaine Queylus Pillitteri Estates Winery
Hidden Bench Vineyards and Winery Trius Winery

 

 

http://www.vanwinefest.ca/

www.canadianvintners.com

www.winecountryontario.ca

www.newdistrict.ca

 

A trio of artisans:  Sea Star/Haywire/Left Field Cider

 

David Gouge from Sea Star about life on Pender Island and how he’s raised his profile in Vancouver’s best restaurants. www.seastarvineyards.ca

http://seastarvineyards.ca/

 

Christine Coletta. (Okanagan Crush Pad)  After establishing a fine career in wine marketing , CC  reinvented herself as co-owner of Summerland’s Okanagan Crush Pad Winery, a custom winemaking facility that is home to the Haywire and Narrative labels as well as wines made for other vintners.  They were  named Innovator of the Year for 2013 from the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association and were also celebrated by BC Business Magazine as one of the Top Innovative Companies in BC for 2013. She was inducted into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame.

If you’re at all interested in the direction BC wines are headed, then look no further than Christine Coletta and those working with her at Okanagan Crush Pad.

www.haywirewinery.com

https://okanagancrushpad.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Theresa Petersen – Left Field Cider (Logan Lake)  Helping to lead the cider breakthrough in BC  is this female driven Cidery. Cider works with most BBQ dishes, salads and anything with apples in it and it’s also a perfect patio sipper  They are SO left field!!

Theresa Petersen Left Field Cider

www.leftfieldcider.com

 

 

 

 

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

Christmas gifts

Wines of the Year

 

 

 

December 3rd, 2016 – Jason Parkes punks the Hatch!

December 3, 2016 Tasting Room Radio 00:50:41

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Can a rocker make wine? You bet. Especially if  your name is Jason Parkes!   The Hatch was named 9th best winery in Canada and 5th in BC.

And IS this the weekend  to Lick Your Plate?

 

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THE SHOW

Some wine fans follow labels, some follow grapes, some follow regions and some follow Winemakers.

Can I please suggest one winemaker  you may want to follow?  Jason Parkes!

First of all he’s born in Peachland, so the man knows his fruit.

jason-parkes-customs

 

 

He’s fronted two punk bands. OK, that has nothing to do with wine-making but there’s a do-it-yourself attitude in the punk/post-punk community and that works in a vineyard/cellar…

 

He started making wine in the Okanagan to pay the bills and get his band’s van back on the road.

 

Now, after multiple harvests, he’s gathered around him a great team of growers, cellar hands and winemakers.

It shows in the wines he creates.

The Hatch

  • Black Swift
  • Contempt by Pamela Anderson
  • Screaming Fenzy
  • Gobsmacked
  • Talking Stories

and countless more.

2016 WINE ALIGN AWARDS OF CANADA, THEY WERE NAMED THE 9TH BEST WINERY IN ALL OF CANADA. 5TH BEST IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.

http://www.winealign.com/awards/2016/07/27/2016-nwac-top-25-wineries-in-canada/

Here’s what they say about themselves..

The Hatch is the absolute culmination of the wants and dreams of a select, rare and bizarre cadre of people who are unconcerned about the convention and now have a chance to show the world exactly what real wine, real hospitality and real people are all about. ‘the hatch’ is the direct confluence of all our favourite arts.

the-hatch

The liquid arts, the visual arts and the living arts; finally together and together forever.

That answers the ‘what’, but also asked is the ‘why’. Why ‘the hatch’? Because the time is long overdue for something like this to enter your life, and more-so; to make your life that much better. Now it’s time to shut-up and go drink some wine.

 

Jason Parkes brings lots of stories to the edition of Tasting Room Radio. Great fun.  Fabulous wines.

Drink the future!!

 

https://thehatchwines.com

 

 

Lick Your Plate  –  Authors Julie Albert and Lisa Gnat

 Yes,  they are sisters and best friends, they each have 3 kids and they live within 5 blocks of each other.

authors-julie-albert-and-lisa-gnat

julie and lisa

 

These sisters  create a force in any kitchen. Julie writes… Lisa Cooks.

Julie and Lisa have  released their third cookbook Lick Your Plate. A follow up to Bite Me and Bite me Too!

The girls write about food and family (family first).

They talk with me about Sloppy Joe’s, Baja Fish Tacos, Slutty brownies and the fact that it takes  Twinkies 45 seconds to explode in a microwave!

We do take time to go back and remember their Grandmother.  Alice Leiberman welcomed them into her kitchen and very likely set this whole career in motion.

We also get sidetracked into their fave MuchMusic VJ, Bon Jovi and what BC wines I’m recommending to these two Torontonians

Lick Your Plate offers 160 original recipes, several 30-minute dinner ideas, tips, tricks, mouthwatering visuals, funny anecdotes, drool-worthy descriptions of every recipe, and is perfect for everyone from the beginner to the well-seasoned home cook.

“We’re not Martha telling someone to make the eight-hour broth, but we’re also not Rachael Ray saying put cheese on toast. There is that happy medium,” says Gnat, who developed the recipes.

The sisters say they understand the importance of accessible recipes, where all the ingredients can be bought in one shop.

“We love and admire ‘the foodie’ and we’re happy to sit down to a gourmet meal. And we are all about fresh flavours and great food. But we also live in the real world with six kids between us. We don’t always have that sort of time and inclination to go on a goose chase for fig paste,” says Julie.

 

http://www.bitememore.com/

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/252970/lick-your-plate-by-julie-albert-and-lisa-gnat/9780147529886/

 

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

Alex Prud’Homme  My Life in France/The French Chef in America

Stories from Julia Child’s Great-Nephew

November 26th, 2016- ” I’ll have what shes having!”

November 25, 2016 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:50:41

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DJ Kearney brings  New District wine collections called Bubble-licious and “I’ll have what she’s having” for The Holidays.

The final  results of the 9th BC Iconic Reds with John Schreiner and Simon Wosk.

Restaurants under the radar – Todd Braiden at Fat Jacks Boston Bar.  Dude!

Emandare ups the bar in the Cowichan Valley.  Mike and Robin Nierychlo guest!

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THE SHOW

 

DJ Kearney –  Director of Wine/New District

 

dj-kearney-new-district

dj kearney- new district

New District’s philosophy is about curation  and it informs everything they do. They  do the leg work for you, to expertly hone in on what matters to you in the world of wine.  Sign up for the weekly newsletter that carefully selects their  best bottles, articles and multimedia content, giving subscribers unique insights into British Columbia’s dynamic emerging wine culture.

And best of all The Curator is DJ Kearney, the best wine educator and expert in the business.

Deej has two offerings this week..plus she has the scoop on their new Store at 41st and Dunbar.

Holiday Bubble-Licious.  3 Wines.

and…

I’ll have what she’s having For The Holidays.  6 Winter Weight  Wines. All handpicked by DJ.

advent-banner-984x500

Check out what’s inside the boxes.. www.newdistrict.ca

new-district

 

9th annual BC Iconic Reds – John Schreiner  and Simon Wosk

john-schreiner-and-the-duke-of-earl

john-schreiner and-the duke-of-earl

 The BC Iconic Reds took place on November 16.   John Schreiner,  organizer Simon Wosk  and up to 80  attendees tasted everything in the room and chose the Top Five Releases  at The Sutton Place Hotel.

2016 Iconic Reds tasting

2016 Iconic Reds tasting

2016  contenders were:

  • Church and State Quintessential 2010
  • CedarCreek Platinum Meritage 2013
  • Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin 2013
  • Clos Du Soleil Signature Red 2013
  • Mission Hill Compendium 2012
  • Laughing Stock Portfolio 2014
  • Cassini Cellars Maximus 2012
  • Hester Creek The Judge 2012
  • Painted Rock Red Icon 2014
  • Lake Breeze Tempest 2012
  • Black Hills Nota Bene 2014
  • Poplar Grove Legacy 2012
  • Mission Hill Quatrain 2012
  • Culmina Hypothesis 2012
  • La Stella Fortissimo 2014
  • Summerhill “OM” 2012
  • NK’Mip Mer’r’iym 2014
  • Lariana Thirteen 2013
  • Perseus Invictus 2013

 

To find out how the final five won..just listen to the show.

 Our congratulations to Randy Pickton, Justin Hall and their team at NK’Mip Cellars for their first place finish and to all participating wineries for producing such exceptional wines.

 The top 5 scorers, as chosen by attending  tasters, were:      

  1. NK’Mip Mer’r’iym 2014

 

  1. Laughing Stock Portfolio 2014

 

  1. Clos du Soleil Signature Red 2013

 

  1. Cassini Maximus 2012

 

  1. Hester Creek The Judge 2012

 

Here’s John Shreiners  blog on the competition..

John Schreiner

John Schreiner

http://johnschreiner.blogspot.ca/

Restaurants Under The Radar – Todd Braiden at Fat Jacks Pub  Boston Bar

 I had two thoughts..that there are lots of chefs and restaurants that are my favourites  but some of them – for whatever reason – are below the public’s radar.

I’m torn doing these interviews because I want them to stay available but I also want to let you know they exist and are worth the seeking.

breakfast

Breakfast!

You may remember hearing about a chef who was cooking in Vancouver’s East End in an apartment and you had to find him by word of mouth..the experience was called 2B (the name of the apartment where he cooked.)

One day..he quietly left town and announced he was headed for Boston Bar..in the Frazer Canyon.  Didn’t make sense right?  But if you knew Todd you just had to believe that he knew what he was doing and wished him luck.

todd baiden-fat-jacks

Years later he’s cooking up a storm 6 kms East of Boston Bar at a diner/pub  called Fat Jacks, named after his Father.

He brought the adjoining  Mighty Fraser Motel, back to life and made it a destination stop. Really good rooms.

The man has a wicked  sense of humour and its reflected in the menu.

He also has a bar next door and pours select BC craft Beer.

Both rooms have a BC wine list and any music playing in the bar or bistro  is the best of the best.

 

We  welcome to TRR – The Hell Raiser of Hell’s Canyon  Todd from 2B

http://www.themightyfrasermotel.com/

  

Mike and Robin Nierychlo   – Emandare Vineyards  (Cowichan Valley)

 Mike has always been around the wine business..I first met him when he was doing a wine interview show.

Then he and his wife Robin announced that they had purchased a working vineyard in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island

 

mike-and-robin-emandare

mike-and-robin-emandare

A number of years ago, Mike developed an overwhelming passion for wine. He began to spend every available moment nerding out on all things wine-related! This inevitably led to home wine-making in their garage, and many, many other wine adventures.

As Mike explored the vast world of wine, a desire to one day own a winery was born. Although this dream seemed unrealistic, there was always a sense of possibility.

On Sept. 28, 2013, in the pouring rain, he and Robin  moved onto their  8.5 acre adventure.    They named it Emandare after their last names. M & R.

 “they’re also pioneers on the all-natural front—no irrigation, no commercial yeasts, organic farming techniques, and the bare minimum of sulfur. So far the results are stunning—the future of Island wine rests here.”  Neal McLennan  Vancouver Magazine

We taste and talk the  portfolio of wines of Emandare at Marquis Wine Cellars in Vancouver.

http://www.emandarevineyard.com/

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

We take a look inside The Hatch.

Feature interview with Jason Parkes  Winemaker/Troublemaker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 12th, 2016

November 9, 2016 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:50:38

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DJ Kearney –wine educator and expert – presents The Advent Wine Calendar

Two reports from The Wine Diva and Samantha Rahn (Araxi) on  Cornucopia,  this weekend’s Whistler Wine Festival.

Savio Volpe celebrates EnRoute Award and raises $ for Italian Earthquake Communities.

Jean Claude Mas on the wines of Domaines Paul Mas.  

 

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THE SHOW

 

Paul Grunberg  –  Co-Owner of Savio Volpe (and  l’Abattoir) 

 

Paul Grunberg

Paul Grunberg

We start this week’s Tasting Room Radio with Paul Grunberg Co-Owner of Savio Volpe, the wildly successful Italian Restaurant in The Frazer Hood Vancouver.

From the some of the same team that created L ‘Abattoir in Gastown.

They have just been awarded a Top 10 placing in the 2016 Air Canada EnRoute Magazine Best New Restaurants in Canada.

Savio has also decided  next Tuesday Nov 15th  to raise funds for devastated towns in Italy from the recent Earthquakes by serving a special pasta dish on the night.

AND they celebrate being open and very busy for one full year.

Paul graciously fills us in on everything that’s going on.

www.saviovolpe.com

DJ Kearney – Wine Director at New District  

DJ Kearney

DJ Kearney

 

– New District, an innovative B.C.-based online wine marketplace, has released a limited number of their wildly successful Wine Advent Calendars for the 2016 holiday season. Boasting 25 diverse bottles, wrapped and numbered for each day in December leading up to Christmas, the curated pack includes bottles valued up to $100 each. All Wine Advent Calendars purchased by November 20 are guaranteed to be delivered by December 1.

 

Last year, the Wine Advent Calendar sold out in only five days. Each bottle is hand-picked by New District’s Wine Director, and one of B.C.’s top wine authorities, DJ Kearney – ensuring that each package contains a unique wine experience. Beautifully wrapped in tissue, the 25 bottles come nestled in an elegant wooden case. Beginning December 1, New District will release a daily video (newdistrict.ca) unveiling that day’s wine selection.

By the time we get this story on the air, this amazingly successful wine calendar may be sold out..I believe that much  of the popularity is because the wines are chosen by our highly respected guest DJ Kearney.

update: The Advent calendar is sold out…  BUT if you call 604 229-3663 , they can create custom wine advent calendars, more info at the website…. Have fun!

 The info and number can also be found at

www.newdistrict.ca

 

Deanna van Mulligen – The Wine Diva

Samantha Rahn – Wine Director at Araxi Whistler

 

Samantha Rahn

Samantha Rahn

Cornucopia is the True North of food & drink festivals
This  weekend and next , Cornucopia celebrates 20 years

Cornucopia shines a light on the chefs, vintners, brewers and distillers of BC.  We’re talking grapes, hops, the fruits of the sea and the soil.
Winery dinners, grand tastings, culinary demonstrations and events, industry gatherings – including the brand new Cornucopia Wine Summit.
An 11 day festival of food + drink, Cornucopia brings together the wild and the refined, and puts the art of eating and drinking centre stage.

The Wine Diva

The Wine Diva

Both Daenna and Samantha will be extremely busy over the next 10 days. Both are hosting seminars and tastings.

If you are at all a wine fan you’re going to like  this segment.

cornucopia

whistlercornucopia.com

winediva.ca

winescores.ca

Jean-Claude  Mas  – Domaines Paul Mas /  Langedoc
In 2015, Drinks International ranked the world’s 50 most recognized wine brands. Domaines Paul Mas was 16th, between Chateau Haut-Brion and Chateau Mouton Rothschild.  Its Arrogant Frog label, launched in 2005 in Australia, now sells more than five million bottles around the world.

Jean Claude Mas

Jean Claude Mas

Jean-Claude Mas was born in a winemaking environment in the Languedoc, in Pézenas. At the age of 3, during the harvest, he escaped from his mother and ran 2.5 km to meet his grandfather in the cellar! This was a moment that he never forgot, when his interest and passion for wine were born!

At school and later at university, he studied economics and advertisement, and wine became a hobby. No matter where he lived, he was always involved in the wine: in the North of France, he created a wine club, then in England,  he set up a small import company for organic wines, then in Miami he worked in the consulate to develop the import and distribution of French food & wine products.

In his professional life, he devoted the first 3 years of his career to his second passion :  Race Car Driving , but very soon, he came back to his first love : the Family Winery.

jean-clause-mas-two

Jean-Claude

Jean-Claude Mas is often described as a pioneer from the New Languedoc, belonging to the New wave of French wines, one of those on a mission to give Languedoc his former glory back in a region where wine production goes back to more than 2000 years.

Surprisingly, Jean-Claude leads an Old World winemaking juggernaut but thinks and sells  like a New World Winemaker. Brilliant!!

 

www.paulmas.com

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

Nk Mip named Canadian Winery of the Year.

Chief Clarence Louie and Winemaker Randy Picton.

The Wine Diva – Daenna van Mulligen

 

 

 

November 5th, 2016 – Australia’s First Families of Wine

November 3, 2016 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 0:42:41

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It’s the return of Australia’s First Families of Wine!!

10 iconic wineries who shaped Australian wines. Yalumba / Henschke / d’Arenberg / Tahbilk / McWilliams / De Bortoli / Tyrrel’s / Brown Brothers / Howard Park / Wakefield

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THE SHOW

 Australia’s First Families of Wine

Wakefield Wines

Wakefield Wines

10 multi-generational wine families unlocked rare and revered wines from their private cellars to showcase Australia’s rich wine heritage, modern diversity, and the celebrated wine stories that have become the foundation for future generations. Get a sneak preview of a limited number of wines that are being released from each winery at BC Liquor Stores.

Through these exclusive interviews, you will have the rare chance to meet the people behind the wines. Family members from each winery will share wines that provide a glimpse into the past, present and future of Australia’s most iconic winemaking families.

 

And they are all great storytellers..with outstanding stories to tell.

De Bortoli Wines

De Bortoli Wines

 

Their message is all about the farms and rich soils that they work, the quality of the wines they craft and the pride they have in their  history and how it has shaped who they are and what they  stand for.

 

 

McWilliams

 

 

Together, they are the custodians of over 5000 hectares of land that includes some of Australia’s most iconic vineyards, creating premium quality wines that proudly bear their  names.

 

 

Australia’s First Families:

(and the years they first planted)  

Australia

Australia’s First Families of Wine

 

 

www.australiasfirstfamiliesofwine.com.au 

  

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

DJ Kearney – New District Advent Wine Calendar

Whistler’s Cornucopia

Nk Mip wins Winery of the Year

Fall Wines

Jean Claude Mas – Paul Mas Wines