November 27th 2013

November 26, 2013

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Alexander Payne – The Oscar winning director of Sideways, The Descendants and Nebraska, opening this weekend.
His leading lady – Will Forte from Saturday Night Live.
The Wine Diva previews the first 50 selections from her Top 100 Wines under $20.00 for 2013. Part One
Carlo Mondavi..Surfer/snowboarder explains how The family lost an Empire and gained a single brilliant wine.
Rocker Sam Roberts explains his love of wine.
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THE SHOW

Carlo Mondavi’s Grandfather was the wine legend Robert Mondavi.

Carlo Mondavi

There’s no class anywhere that can teach what Robert taught Carlo.
Being around wine was just part of Carlo’s growing years.
Then came the fateful day when the Mondavi Family lost their winery to a corporate Giant.
They immediately started planning their future. Making a single World Class wine..on a single piece of land.
That wine is Continuum Estate . It’s a brilliant blend of Cab/Cab Franc/Petit Verdot and Merlot.
Carlo fills us in on how it all went down.

http://www.continuumestate.com

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The Sam Roberts Band is about to release their next Album Lo-Fantasy Feb 11.
We’ll deal with that fact on Saturdays Mulligan Stew.
Sam Roberts is a huge wine fan.

Sam Roberts

When Jason Priestley and I were shooting HollywoodandVinesTV in Ribera del Duero Spain,
We were deep into the Neo cellar and we find a barrel signed by Sam Roberts.
I’ve been waiting 5 years to ask him..how that barrel came to be.
Sams parents moved from South Africa to Montreal where Sam was born months later.
He attended McGill and then hustled the music scene through various bands until he found the right song and the right band.
The song was Brother Down and the band became The Sam Roberts Band.
This was fun!!
www.samrobertsband.com

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Alexander Payne

Alexander Payne is a one-of-a-kind screenwriter and director.
The list of films he’s given us should tell you everything you need to know about his taste and smarts.

Election – Oscar Nomination for Screenplay. Starred Mathew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon.
About Schmidt – Jack Nicholson
Sideways – The best film ever made about wine
The Descendants – Won an Oscar for Screenplay. Starred George Clooney.

Will Forte

His latest film Nebraska comes out Nov 29th in BC, December 13th in Alberta.
Its shot in black and white and stars Bruce Dern as grumpy old guy who refuses to believe that a form letter saying he may have won a Million Dollars is not real.
Will Forte from Saturday Night Live plays his son who travels with his Father to watch over him.
It’s certainly going to be nominated for Oscars this year.
Alexander Payne and Will forte guest on this week’s show
www.nebraskamovie.com
Listen to interviews here:

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Daenna Van Mulligen

Looking to stock up for the Holidays?
Looking for wine to gift?
The Wine Diva returns with a timely list.
It’s her Annual Top 100 wines (plus 13) Under $20.00
We’ll try to talk about as many of the first 50 as is possible.
The complete list can be found at
www.winediva.ca
www.winescores.ca

Luigi Bosca Malbec, Mendoza Argentina
Louis.M.Martini Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County California
Hess Select Chardonnay, Monterey California
CanTinian Malbec, Mendoza Argentina
Gray Monk Riesling, Okanagan Valley BC
Quinta do Ameal Branco Seco Vinho Verde, Portugal
Santa Rita Reserva Pinot Noir, Cassablanca Chile
Kangarilla Road ‘Hellbent’ South Australia
De Martino ‘Nuevo Mundo’ Cabernet Sauvignon~Malbec Reserva, Maipo Valley Chile
Cono Sur Organic Pinot Noir, Colchagua Valley Chile
Domaine Zinck Pinot Blanc, Alsace France
Navarro Lopez Rojo Granrojo Tempranillo, Castilla Spain
La Posta ‘Cocina’ Tinto, Mendoza Argentina
Kaiken Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva, Mendoza
Masi Masianco Delle Venezie, Italy
Loma Larca ‘Lomas del Valle’ Pinot Noir, Casablanca Chile
Santa Cristina Toscana, Tuscany Italy
DeAngelis Prato Grande Chardonnay, Marche Italy
Norton Reserva Malbec, Mendoza Argentina
Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia
Peter Lehmann ‘Layers’, Barossa Valley Australia
Pascual Toso Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza Argentina
Chateau de Nages ‘Buti Nages’, Costieres de Nimes, Rhone France
Quarisa ’30 Mile’ Shiraz, Australia
Wirra Wirra ‘Scrubby Rise Red’ Adelaide South Australia
La Poderosa Reserva Syrah, Chile
Township 7 Sauvignon Blanc, Okanagan Valley BC
Bartier Bros. ‘Lone Pine Vineyard’ Gewurztraminer, Okanagan Valley BC
Castillo de Monseran Garnacha, Carinena Spain
Santa Rita Reserva Sauvignon Blanc Casablanca Valley Chile
Bartier~Scholefield Rose, Okangan Valley BC
Castillo de Malunda ‘Punto Y Coma’ Garnacha Vinas Viejas, Calatayud Spain
Wente ‘Morning Fog’ Chardonnay, Livermore Valley California
Bodegas San Alejandro ‘Pablo’ Old Vine Garnacha, Calatayud Spain
Dona Paula Estate Torrontes, Cafayate Salta
Chateau D’Angles ‘La Clape Classique Blanc’, Languedoc France
Domaine Bousquet Malbec, Tupungato, Mendoza Argentina
Louis Latour ‘Ardeche’ Chardonnay, Coteaux de l’Ardeche France
Santa Carolina Sauvignon Blanc Reserva, Leyda Chile
Vina Las Perdices Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza Argentina
Tormaresca ‘Paiara’, Puglia Italy
Gunderloch’ Fritz’s’ Riesling, Rheinhessen Germany
Harper’s Trail ‘ Silver Mane Block’ Riesling, British Columbia
Purato Nero d’Avola, Sicily Italy
Nathalie Bonhomme ‘el petit bonhomme blanco’, Rueda Spain
Sperling Vineyards ‘The Market White’, Okanagan Valley BC
Dominio del Plata ‘Crios’ Torrontes, Argentina
Edna Valley Vineyard Chardonnay ‘Paragon’, San Luis Obisbo County California
Chateau de Jau ‘Le Jaja de Jau’ Syrah, Pays D’Oc France
Poplar Grove Pinot Gris, Okanagan Valley BC

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Bistro Seventeen 89. Seafood and wine pairings
Brian Skinner (The Acorn)– BC Gold Medal Plates Champion.
Wine Diva – Top 100 under $20 Part Tw0
Chefs David Hawksworth and Suzanne Goin (AOC Cookbook) in a roundtable discussion.

A Return to La Morra. Piedmont Italy
Beppi Crosariol and Lucy Waverman from The Globe and Mail. Great new Book!!
Jorge Riccitelli. Winemaker at Norton. Mendoza Argentina
Frank Giustra creates world class olive oil !!

November 20th 2013

November 19, 2013 00:54:01

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It’s the 17th annual version of Cornucopia. Whistlers Food and Wine Festival.
The good news is it’s expanding to include extra days filled with Beer and Spirits tastings. We work the floor of the Trade Tasting, attend the Big Guns dinner at Araxi and then stalk the wine experts before, during and after their seminars.
Take a minute and check out the guest list on this show. It’s an All-Star event.
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THE SHOW

We start with the organizer Mary Zinck. From Whistler Tourism.
Then it’s off to the Trade Tasting at the Convention Centre.

Guests include:

Tim Martiniuk – Stoneboat
Jim Williams – Freakshow
Michael Bartier – Bartier Bros
Heleen Pannekoek – Fort Berens
John Skinner – Painted Rock
Bob Ferguson – Kettle Valley

Chef James Walt and Wine Director Samantha Rahn (Sommelier of the Year) at Araxi. Big Guns Dinner.
Daenna van Mulligen – The Wine Diva. On bubbles and other pours.
DJ Kearney – Wine Educator on South Africa
Rhys Pender- Master of Wine. Multiple Seminars
Kurtis Kolt – Blends
The Wine Monkeys – Keith Nicholson & Paul Watkin. Can real men drink Rose??

: Kurtis Kolt

: John Skinner Painted Rock

: Samantha Rahn Sommellier of the Year

And a final word from John Skinner on possible changes to BC’s wine laws and the big guys who insist on importing bladders of Chilean wine into Canada and
bottling it as Canadian.
If you can’t get to hear the whole show..or there’s too much info..it will stay posted here for weeks.
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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Alexander Payne – Director of Sideways..talks about that film and his love for wines.
Chefs David Hawksworth and Suzanne Goin (AOC Cookbook) in a roundtable discussion.
Carlo Mondavi at Continuum
Bistro Seventeen 89
A Return to La Morra Piedmont
Beppi Crosariol and Lucy Waverman from The Globe and Mail. Great new Book!!
Jorge Riccitelli. Winemaker at Norton. Mendoza Argentina
Brian Skinner – Owner and Chef at The Acorn on Main in Vancouver and the first ever Vegetarian Chef to win Gold Medal Plates

November 13th 2013

November 12, 2013 00:54:01

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Jim Cuddy, Photo: Pollock Heather

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

Imagine being the Cellar Master at 240 yr old Veuve Clicquot. That’s the life of Dominique Demarville. He says Madame Clicquot is still in those cellars.
Richard Parsons has run Time Warner, General Counsel for the White House and many more. His wine mentor was Nelson Rockefeller.
Likely one of the reasons why he became the owner of Italy’s Il Palazzone
His motto? We drink all the wine we can and sell the rest!!
Jim Cuddy from Blue Rodeo plays through the West for Gold Medal Plates. We talk about raising funds for Olympians and why he’s all over Spanish Wines.
Martha Wainwright was a guest on Mulligan Stew last week. After we got through the music talk we discovered a mutual love for wine. Go figure!
And the Wine Diva returns with her take on this year’s Vines Magazine/ Intervin Wine Awards.

Who won best of show and the Gold medal winners from BC.
Daenna was one of 19 judges. This is the inside dope!!

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THE SHOW

Blue Rodeo, by Dustin Rabin

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

Blue Rodeo’s 2014 tour starts
Jan 2-3 in Vancouver.
Alberta dates include

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

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

Martha Wainwright

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

Dan & Tony in the Vineyard

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

www.lakesonomawinery.com
www.plumewinery.com
quailsgate.com

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

www.veuve–clicquot.com

Richard Parsons/il Palazzone

Richard Parsons

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

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Wine Diva at Intervin

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

Best in Show

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

www.winediva.ca
www.intervin.ca
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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

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

November 6th 2013

November 5, 2013 00:53:54

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It seemed too good to be true. An offer to not only visit Barolo during harvest but also attend the Truffle Festival in Alba as the guest of Batasiolo. Begun in 1882, Batasiolo started with just 7 acres. They have become a winery that makes 10% of all Barolos. Our host: Fiorenzo Dogliani. A family so ingrained in the Piedmont wine region that they have a town named after them. Join us – Barolo and Truffles? It IS a dream come true!

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THE SHOW

For centuries Dogliani has been a name synonymous with the distinctive wines of Piedmont. Both as a picturesque town that has long been famous for wines produced from Dolcetto – Dolcetto di Dogliani – and today as the family surname of one of Piedmont’s most famous producers of Barolo. Fiorenzo Dogliani, CEO of the Dogliani family’s Beni di Batasiolo winery, runs the family enterprise, Batasiolo SPA. In addition to the winery, Batasiolo SPA has embraced a wine-country destination lifestyle with its newly built, 38-room luxury hotel and spa, Il Boscareto which was opened in Serralunga d’Alba in 2009.

: Il Boscareto Hotel and Spa

The Dogliani family’s winegrowing history spans four generations in Italy’s Piedmont region and traces its origin to just seven and a half acres of Nebbiolo vines in Barolo. With the launch of Beni di Batasiolo in 1978, the company’s vineyard holdings now total 345 acres from nine vineyard sites and four growing regions: Barolo, La Morra, Monforte D’Alba and Serralunga D’Alba.

Fiorenzo Dogliani

As CEO, Fiorenzo directs the company from the Beni di Batasiolo winery located in La Morra Cuneo. In the late 1950s, Fiorenzo is credited with reaching beyond the borders of Piedmont to market the family’s wines to restaurateurs in nearby Milan. It was this bold first move that established a presence for the company’s wines on the domestic market and foreshadowed Fiorenzo’s future role as an evangelist for the Piedmont region on the world market. Fiorenzo was among the first Piedmontese winegrowers to travel extensively to promote his wines Fiorenzo’s early efforts helped raise visibility for the company’s long-lived Barolo and Barbaresco wines and establish a reputation for quality, one that is rigorously pursued at Batasiolo. By 1979 he was traveling to New York and Toronto introducing the trade and consumers alike to joys of Nebbiolo, an effort that helped speed the evolution of American palates at the time towards the appreciation of dry, sophisticated wines.

Richardo March

Canada is the number four market in the World for Batasiolo. In order to talk to Fiorenzo and also travel the Piedmont district we needed a translator, wine expert and driver and we found him in Richardo March. Director of US and Canada sales for Batasiolo.

www.batasiolo.com http://www.boissetfamilyestates.com http://www.barolodibarolo.com/inglese/ http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/liguria-piedmont-and-valle-daosta/piedmont

Kimberly and Ziggy in Alba

Also along for the trip and guesting on the special were: Our host and organizer of the trip … Kimberly Charles – Charles Communications & Associates in San Francisco. http://www.charlescomm.com/ Ziggy Eschliman, known to most simply as The Wine Gal. Her radio shows are broadcast throughout wine country and are available on the internet. As a leading American speaker, consultant, and wine writer. Ziggy is a driving force behind a national movement toward making wine hip, fun and accessible. http://www.ziggythewinegal.com

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The World Wine Guys MIKE DeSIMONE and JEFF JENSSEN, also known as the World Wine Guys, are wine, spirits, food, and travel writers, educators, and hosts. They are award winning journalists as well as best selling and award winning authors. Mike and Jeff are the Entertaining and Lifestyle Editors at Wine Enthusiast Magazine and are regular travel and wine contributors for The Huffington Post. DeSimone and Jenssen are the authors of the best-selling Wines Of The Southern Hemisphere. Mike and Jeff are members of the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association, The Society of Wine Educators, and The James Beard Foundation. http://worldwineguys.com/

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The Truffle Master The famous ‘Tartufo d’Alba‘ is a marvelous gift of nature and a symbol of the rich cuisine of Piemonte. The truffle was known in antiquity, not just for its inherent culinary qualities but also as an aphrodisiac! Scientists discovered that truffles contain a volatile alcohol with a strong musk flavor, a chemical brother of testosterone. No doubt this is something the ancients knew all along. The secret to enjoying the truffle is to avoid using it with other strong flavors. It is perhaps best served as an antipasti, buttered on whole meal toast or over pasta as shards with butter and parmigiano reggiano cheese. In a country where food equates with love as one of life’s great pleasures, ‘tartufi’ are literally worth their weight in gold. The delicate white truffle variety, only served raw, grows in Northern Italy and Umbria. Piedmonte is the heart of white truffle country, where the famous Alba festival provides a magnificent backdrop of Romanesque ruins, Gothic spires and Baroque bell towers every October. Thank you Batasiolo. Thank you Kimberly and thank you Italy!!

Stories we are working on:

The Lake Sonoma Story
Dominque Demarville – The Cellar Master at Veuve Clicquot
Martha Wainwright – singer/songwriter/wine fan
Richard Parsons – Ill Palazonne
Thierry Threlfall – sommelier of the Year pours his new wine TNT
Carlo Mondavi returns to Vancouver
2012 World Winemaker of the Year Jorge Riccitelli of Bodega Norton
2013 Cornucopia Wine festival – Whistler

October 30th 2013

October 30, 2013 00:54:01

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Steve Meyer..The Chief Winemaker at Wyndham Estate Wines in Australia..pours George Wyndham Founders Reserve Shiraz at Fable in Vancouver
And Chef Trevor Bird from Fable Kitchen creates four different courses to go with that big down under red.
Rene Schlatter co-owner and President of MerryVale and Starmount wines talks Napa.
Laure Viasserman from the Rhone Valley Wine Council takes us on a tour of Rhone Valley Wines.
And while I was in Italy..The Wine Diva was in Chile – again!! We compare notes.

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THE SHOW

Daenna van Mulligen..The Wine Diva headed for Chile last week. At the very same time I headed for Barolo in Italy.

Daenna Van Mulligen

(Next week..its a one hour special on the wines of Barolo and Truffle Festival time)
As soon as I got back, I phoned Daenna and we traded road stories.
Daenna had been there 5 years ago.
This time she went to South America as the guest of Santa Rita.
Expect an update on the wines of the very popular Santa Rita and her observations of Chilean wine country.
www.winediva.ca
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Steve Meyer is the Chief Winemaker at Wyndham Estate Wines in Australia .

Steve Meyer

‘His love affair with the wine industry comes from the core essence of wine making. For Steve to “have a look at the fruit in the vineyard and get an idea of its potential” is as paramount as when it eventually comes into the winery to process it.
Steve has shaped his career around the overriding philosophy that winemakers shouldn’t over do it with too many winemaking tricks. His mantra is “making products more regional”; something he suggests is the next big thing in the wine industry. “Consumers want to know where the wine comes from, we should be able to show off distinctly where a wine comes from as an aspect of distinctly what we are trying to do”.
The opportunity now for Steve at Wyndham Estate is to make fully-fledged regional Shiraz in full flavoured styles.
The featured wine is the George Wyndham Founder’s Reserve Shiraz 2010 Vintage. www.wyndhamestate.com
Steve poured his wine at the fabulous Fable Kitchen on Fourth Ave in Kitsilano.
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Chef Trevor Bird was committed to pair four different courses with one wine. Wyndham Founders Reserve Shiraz.

Trevor Bird

Fable Kitchen was opened in the spring of 2012 by Chef Trevor Bird (of reality show Top Chef Canada fame), and has become one of Vancouver’s “it” restaurants, showcasing the best of local farm to table cuisine. Chef Bird chose to plan the entire evening with this 2010 Shiraz as the only wine, thus showcasing the wine’s excellent versatility with food pairings from appetizers to desserts.

The evening started with canapés—wonderful blue cheese and bacon filled dates along with shooters of parsnip and apple soup. Trevor chose to highlight the herbaceous notes in the wine with the first course of rabbit legs and squash angolotti. For the second course, Braised Beef Stiletto, the Shiraz was used to braise the meat and create the au jus, making this a perfect pairing. The evening drew to a close with a sublime Dark Chocolate Terrine and Olive Oil Ice Cream www.fablekitchen.ca
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Rene Schlatter – Co-owner and President of Merryvale and Starmont wines since 2008.

Rene Schlatter Family

The first winery built in Napa Valley following the repeal of Prohibition, Merryvale is located in the heart of America’s premier wine region.
In this celebrated home, sustainable winemaking thrives in the care of the Schlatter family.
The winery continues to capture the elegance and charm of its historic beginnings, with their historic Cask Room where they host private events, seasonal wine club events and winemaker dinners, and unique Wine Experiences for visitors. The winery also features a state-of-the-art winemaking cellar that showcases the latest equipment to craft boutique wines.

Merryvale Cask Room

Merryvale has earned international acclaim for wines of outstanding quality.
Their 2008 Profile was awarded 96 Points by Robert Parker.

www.merryvale.com
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and finally we finish with a trip to the Rhone Valley without ever leaving The Tasting Room.

Laure Viassermann is with the Rhone Valley Wine Council and as such has a wonderful perspective on what makes Rhone wines so very special.
This interview and guest are for all those people (like myself) who have a desire to know more about Rhone wines and why they seem to have a delicious hold on us.
As I learn more about all things Rhone, perhaps you can as well.

Rhone Valley Wines

“The vineyards of the Rhone Valley are a world apart, a shifting landscape which winds and unwinds around a fluid axis: the Rhone, king of rivers, carrying silt and a sense of history. The Rhone is the linking factor, holding together these contrasting landscapes. From Vienne to Nîmes and Avignon, and on to the borders of the Luberon, on both banks of the river, there is a wealth of places to explore”. Christophe Tassan, “Flânerie dans le Vignoble de la Vallée du Rhône
The Rhone Valley is France’s second largest
80% of the production is Red
Northern Rhone is the birthplace of Syrah
Tavel is the only 100% dry Rose Appellation from France.
Southern Rhone Reds pair well with Stews, soups, roasts, salmon, spicy food, pork belly and game
Northern Rhone Reds pair best with tomato based pasta dishes, grilled foods, grilled beef, chicken, veggies, lamb, ribs, steak and tuna.
Rhone rose pair with charcuterie, pate, cheeses, BBQ and smoked salmon. Roses are perfect for Asian food.
The whites are made from Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc go well with cheese, white fish and sushi.

www.vins-rhone.com

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

A one hour special next week on our trip to Piedmont Italy. The Northern home of Italy’s wine region.
Barolo, La Morra, Asti and Alba. Our host is the legendary Barolo winery Batasiolo.
We tour, we talk, we drink (OMG) and we eat from sun up to sunset.
Everything you may have wanted to know about Barolo will be asked and answered.
Details coming on Tastingroomradio.com

October 16th, 2013

October 14, 2013 00:53:59

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All Righty then!!
It’s the 9th annual Iron Chef Okanagan. A culinary smack down between Chef Ned Bell and Chef Paul Rogalski of Rouge in Calgary.
Special guests on the night include Poplar Grove, Summerhill, Twisted Tomato, Intersection, Naramata heritage Inn and Jay Blackford..Our host and co-owner of Cabana Grille in Kelowna.
The Wine Diva has a new Best of BC wine list.
And Merridale Cider on Vancouver Island takes the next big step!!!

THE SHOW

I was pleased and honoured to be a judge at the annual Gourmet and Grapes/Iron Chef Okanagan at the Cabana Grille in Kelowna.
The chefs have one hour to open a black box and create 2 dishes. The ingredients include a mystery item that makes it just that much tougher.

Chef Ned Bell

Chef Ned Bell has been in all 9 showdowns, losing only once to a 9 year old from Cawston.
Ned is a partner in Cabana Grille but spends most days creating fabulous culinary treats at Yew at Vancouver’s Four Seasons Hotel.
He’s fast, very competent and totally focused on winning once the hour starts.
I once made the mistake of tasting his ingredients that he foolishly placed in front of me during combat.
When he saw me eating his food he came very close to climbing over the counter and slugging me.
Full contact cooking. www.yewseafood.com

Cabana Grille

In May of 2001 Olivier Reynaud and Paul Rogalski combined their tremendous experience to create The Cross House Restaurant, and in April 2003 introduced us to ROUGE – At The Cross House.

Paul Rogalski

Since the formation of their partnership, they have enjoyed outstanding reviews. It’s more than just the critics who are taking notice, though. Calgarians are making ROUGE a part of their Calgary culinary scene.

When Rouge was voted #60 in S. Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurants in 2010 the phone started ringing and hasn’t stopped since.
He promises Ned Bell is going to Dance like a monkey!! www.rougecalgary.com
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While the competition was going on there was nothing to judge..so I grabbed my trusty recorder and talked to the following guests.

Ian Sutherland – Poplar Grove. The voice, the face and the soul of Poplar Grove. www.poplargrove.ca
AK Campbell – New chef at Naramata Heritage Inn www.naramatainn.com
Jesse Croy – Fine chef at Summerhill Winery www.summerhill.bc.ca
Bruce Schmidt – owner/winemaker at Intersection in South Okanagan. Solid wines..new winery www.xwine.ca
Carl Maertz – Chef at Twisted Tomato in Kelowna www.twistedtomatokitchen.com
Jay Blackford – co-owner at Cabana Grille and our Host. www.cabanagrille.com

[divider]
The Wine Diva is in fact Daenna van Mulligen..wine reviewer and friend of the family.

Who else do we know would taste over 1000 wines in a year AND SPIT THEM ALL OUT!
If you go to www.winediva.ca and look up her new list The Best of BC you can follow along as we try and
Give you the goods on as many as possible.
And this is a good thing because BC Liquor stores will be showcasing these wines for the next month.
Enjoy!!
[divider]
Rick Pipes and Janet Docherty are the great people behind Merridale Estate Cidery in Cobble Hill Vancouver Island.
They make Cider, Fortified and Spirits.

Janetand Eick from Merridale

Now comes Hoptimized.
Made from Cowichan Valley Cider Apples and Vancouver Island Hops, it is perfect for beer lovers who might be hesitant to cross-over to cider. Hoptimized has proven to be so popular that they have pre-sold most of it to private liquor stores before they have even bottled it!
Lets get our Merridale on.
http://www.merridalecider.com

Shows we are working on:

Merryvale/Starmont Winery in Napa
Wyndam Estate pours Shiraz at Fable
Laurie Vaissermann – A primer of Rhone Wines
A very special report on Batasiolo Wines and the annual Truffle festival in Barolo Italy.

October 9th 2013

October 8, 2013 00:54:26

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THE SHOW

Nicolette Novak. The Queen of Niagara. What a delight!!

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Nicolette Novak

A lifelong native of Niagara, Ontario, Nicolette is one of the area’s best resources. She always has one ear to the grapevine to uncover what’s new and exciting in the community. Her enthusiasm and passion for what she does has earned her many well deserved accolades as well as many fans among her vast clientele. Time spent with Nicolette is time well spent.
As many people over the years have observed, Nicolette is The Good Earth! Her wit, sense of fun and genuine caring are just some of the ingredients that have made
The Good Earth such a success.
This is her family’s farm. She started the cooking school and then planted the vines..
How many times have you heard chefs and sommeliers say ”combining the grapes and food from the same soil..is the best of both Worlds”
And with Good Earth and Wine she has done just that.
Can’t tell you how much fun this interview was. Hope you like it.
http://www.goodearthfoodandwine.com
[divider]
John Clerides is the owner of Marquis Wine Cellar in Vancouver and is a respected voice in the wine community.
He’s opinionated and totally dialed in.

John Clerides

Thus we find him on a vacation on a ship off the coast of France..conducting wine tours.
I thought he’d be relaxed and laid back right?
Wrong!!
We cover French wines, BC wine laws and the new expanded store he’s about to open.
http://www.marquis-wines.com
[divider]
When I left the Naramata bench 2 years ago Stewart Glynes was the chef at Bench Market above Penticton.
Now he’s the chef and Co-owner with his wife Heather . So I thought we’d check back in with the very popular Mr Glynes.
If you’re headed to the Naramata Bench… don’t miss the opportunity to stop and check out where everyone in the wine community hangs out.
http://www.thebenchmarket.com/
[divider]

Corey Wood

Corey Wood. Crime fighter and web master.
He and his team have done a remarkable job transforming our website.
I have limited skills in that area so asked Corey to walk me through some of the new points.
This is brisk but helpful for me and hopefully for you.
Corey also has a winery promotion platform called VINPIN.com it’s all about WINE | FOOD | FRIENDS | the perfect pairing! Some see it as the “Pinterest of wine” others a modern way of promoting and aggregating your wineries products , social media and story. Check it out
http://vinpin.com/wineries/promotion

[divider]
The Wine Diva – Daenna van Mulligan sits down just long enough to share her latest list from her website.

Daenna Van Mulligen

These are Thanksgiving wines.
Meant for family and friends.
Meant to compliment the food of the harvest and the season.
Follow along by finding the list on her website
www.winediva.ca
[divider]
….and finally Denis Cotter at Hastings House Salt Spring Island.

Born in Macroom, Co. Cork, Denis worked in banking for eight years before leaving to follow an ambition to work with food. Already a vegetarian, he trained as a cook in the famous Cranks restaurants in London.
Back in Ireland, after a spell in a wholefood restaurant, Denis’ frustration with the limitations of the vegetarian industry sparked the opening of Cafe Paradiso in 1993, to create an environment where he could evolve a personal style of cooking focussed on the pleasure of food rather than the perceived negativity of vegetarianism.
Among the many awards bestowed on Cafe Paradiso, Denis Cotter was voted ‘Chef of the Year ’ by Food & Wine (Ireland) magazine in 2005.

Denis Cotter

Denis Cotter is also the author of four books. Atrium, an imprint of the Cork University Press, published his first book, ‘The Café Paradiso Cookbook’ in June 1999; and his second, ‘Paradiso Seasons’ in June 2003. The first book was shortlisted for the British Guild of Food Writers Awards. ‘Paradiso Seasons’ won ‘Best Vegetarian Cookbook in the World’ at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in Barcelona in 2004, and was shortlisted for the James Beard Awards in New York in 2005.
November 2007 saw the release of Denis’ third book, titled ‘wild garlic, gooseberries & me’ and published by Harper Collins. Giving equal rein to his writing talent and ability to create inspirational recipes, ‘wild garlic…’ was shortlisted for the Andre Simon Awards in 2008.
His latest book, ‘for the love of food’, published by Harper Collins in April 2011, is easily Denis’ most accessible collection of recipes, focussing on home cooking with delicious flavour combinations.
∞
http://www.cafeparadiso.ie/about/denis-cotter
[divider]

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

IRON CHEF OKANAGAN

Chefs ned Bell and Paul Rodalski from Rouge Calgary
Ian Sutherland Poplar Grove
AK Campbell Naramata heritage Inn
Jesse Croy – Chef at Summerhill
Bruce Schmidt – Intersection Wines
Carl Maerz – Twisted Tomato Kelowna
Jay Blackford – Cabana Grille
Merridale Ciderworks –
Wine Diva – Best of BC

October 2nd 2013

October 1, 2013 00:54:00

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It’s the 62 annual Niagara Grape and Wine festival.
Food. Wine. New Friends.
[divider]

THE SHOW

Downtown St. Catharines

The Niagara Wine Festival — or Grape and Wine as its been called — is back for its 62 year.
Over the years its kept growing until it now takes over most of wine country..not just downtown St Catharines.
I was invited by Executive Director Kimberley Hundertmark to host a wine panel called East vs West.
I discovered they weren’t talking about BC vs Ontario but regions within Niagara.
As it turns out the panel never took place but I did get to Introduce The Spoons at the Friday night concert (that’s was fun) and then drove around Niagara and stopped into wineries for a taste and chat.
This episode of TRR is all about Niagara and the people who make it special.
What a sensational destination.
The wines just keep getting better and better..some are World Class.
As a BC based wine fan, I wanted to know about several important things.
How’s Niagara doing 2013?
Are they now shipping wine to consumers across Canada?
Now that Ontario wines are welcome in BC, which wines are available?
And How Much do they like the Alberta customer ? (they like Alberta..)

Guests include

Allan Schmidt – President of Vineland / Chair of The Wine Council of Ontario  www.winecouncilofontario.ca www.vineland.com
Charlie Pillitteri – CEO/President Pillitteri Estate Winery  www.pillitteri.com
Curtis Fielding – President of Fielding Wines. Grape grower of the year 2012/13  www.fieldingwines.com
Sportscaster Bob McGown – CEO Stoney Ridge Estate Winery. Partner in Mike Weir Wines www.stoneyridge.com
Rob Power – Winemaker at Creekside Estate Winery. Matt Loney Sales and marketing Creekside www.creeksidewine.com
Gillian Tinsley – Estate Sommelier. Martin Werner – Winemaker at Ravine Vineyard  www.RavineVineyard.com
Deborah Pratt – Winery Public Relations Great Estates Niagara. (Inniskillin Jackson-Triggs. Clos Jordanne) www.greatestestatesniagara.com

: Rob Powers …After Harvest!

: Charlie Pillitteri

: Chardonnay

: Mike Weir Wines

: dinner in the vineyard

: Ravine Vineyards

: Bob McCown

: Niagara Falls

[divider]

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Nicolette Novak – The Good Earth Food and Wine Company.
Merridale Cider launches their Spirits Line on Vancouver Island.
Denis Cotter – One of the world’s greatest Vegetarian Chefs comes to Hastings House Salt Spring Island .

September 25th 2013

September 25, 2013 00:53:59

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The Wine Diva visits Painted Rock and hands us 6 wines to watch
Makini Howell. The vegan queen of Seattle
Hester Creek rocks the Golden Mile
Susane Balbo

[divider]

The Show

The Wine Diva has two stories this week.

First is about the remarkable destination known as Painted Rock.

Combining award winning wines and a profile that strides across the
landscape with ease.
John Skinner opens his winery and BOOM..he’s holding two Lieutenant Govern
awards.

john Skinner

Talk about making your presence felt.
Finally after two years of planning John has opened his new tasting room and
event center just South of Penticton, overlooking Skaha Lake.
If you can’t get there not to worry.
Daenna van Mulligan – The Wine Diva – will take us through the two wines
they poured at their opening.
Chardonnay and Syrah!
The Daenna has a half a dozen wines she’s been reviewing and we pass those
on to you. Enjoy!

Upper Bench Estate Winery Merlot
Mt. Boucherie Family Estate Summit Reserve Blaufrankish
J.G. Carrion Cristallino “Jaume Serra” Brut Nature Reserva Cava
Bodegas Ateca ‘Garnacha de Fuego
Howling Bluff Sauvignon Blanc~Semillon
TIME Estate Winery White Meritage

[divider]
Makini Howell

www.plumbistro.com Plum Bistro,
Seattle’s wildly popular vegan restaurant, is known for its delicious and
innovative vegan recipes using local ingredients. Now there a cookbook to go
with the restaurants. Sure to please both vegans and meat-eaters, Plum:
Gratifying Vegan Dishes features Plum’s flavorful, comforting dishes for
brunch, soups, salads, entrées, desserts, and more. Makini Howell’s book
features 60 recipes, including Pesto Plum Pizza, Good Old-Fashioned French
Toast, Barbecue Oyster-Mushroom Sliders, Fresh Blueberry Shortcake, homemade vegan pasta, and more.

Makini Howell has been passionate about creating a chic dining experience
that appeals to vegans, foodies, and omnivores alike since her days of
living in New York City. In 2005 she moved back home to Seattle with the
goals of redirecting her family’s restaurant business and creating a new
perception of veganism. Makini is focused on using organic and non-GMO
seasonal produce and herbs from family-owned farms in combinations that are
both comforting and unexpected. As an entrepreneur she has developed a
sustainable business model using what the earth provides to supply
wholesome, nourishing food.
Couldn’t wait to ask Makini why many vegans are opinionated and such a pain.
She agreed.
[divider]
Hester Creek
Hailing from the Niagara region, it seems natural that Rob Summers figures
large in the Canadian wine industry After acquiring an Honours Degree in
Food Science (BSc, Hons) from the University of Guelph he worked at
Hillebrand Estates, Henry of Pelham, Cave Spring Cellars, and Peller
Estates. While at Peller, Rob directed VQA winemaking for two vintages in
the Okanagan where he saw the vast potential that the south Okanagan Valley
held, and was inspired to relocate his family to Osoyoos He joined the team
at Hester Creek Estate Winery in 2006 and his signature winemaking style has
since gained accolades from his fellow winemakers and seasoned wine experts
alike.

Born and raised in the Barossa Valley in Australia, and after earning a
Bachelor of Agriculture Science at Adelaide University, Mark Sheridan went
on to work for some of Australia’s largest wine producers. Mark was
attracted to BC, as he saw the Okanagan as the world’s next wine frontier,
so in 1999, he moved to Canada to be director of vineyard operations for
Vincor Canada. He was recognized for his talents and called “a rising star
in a young industry”.
Now, as Hester Creek’s general manager, Mark oversees all aspects of the
winery’s business, from viticulture through to the finished wines and then
into the marketplace
While tasting and talking about their new Fall releases we also talked about
wine shipping laws, the growing season and The Okanagan today.
[divider]
Susana Balbo

In a country dominated by male winemakers, Susana Balbo stands out not only
for her gender, but for her incredible skill and experience. She has been
making wine since she earned her enology degree in 1981, and she has
probably produced a wider variety of wines than any other winemaker in
Argentina. Susana was the first Argentine winemaker to be hired as a
consultant to make wine outside of Argentina. She has made wine in
Australia, California, Chile, France, Italy, South Africa, and Spain, and
she spends a month each year in a different wine region of the world
studying with local winemakers and growers. After twenty years of producing wines for others, Susana decided it was time
to apply her education and experience to her own wines and put her name right on the bottle.
Susana strives for balance in her wines, with layers of complexity coming from the individually fermented varietals. She wants
people who drink her wines to feel that every sip from the glass is as
exciting as the first.
www.dominiodelplata.com.ar

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[divider]

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

The 62 Annual Niagara Food and Wine festival
Bob McGown
Ron Power
Nicolette Novak
Charlie Pilliterri

September 18th, 2013

September 17, 2013 00:54:00

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The Wine Diva has two dozen wines for the Season. Falling in Love with Autumn Wines
We travel to Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island for their wine festival.
Sean Heather – One of the most interesting restaurateurs in Vancouver enters the Hall of Fame.
[divider]
THE SHOW

300x310xwine,P20diva,P204.png.pagespeed.ic.SaIdA6Pg5n

Daenna Van Mulligen

Daenna van Mulligen returns as The Wine Diva.
Falling in Love With Autumn Wines.
It’s that change of season ..heading fully into Fall. Most of us start looking for more “involved”
Wines..switching from the bright and light of summer to bigger reds and more complex whites.
The Diva brings it…
If you miss info..it’s always listed here and on her website.

Peter Lehmann ‘Portrait’ Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia
Castiglion Del Bosco Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Tuscany Italy
Allegrini Palazzo della Torre, Veronese, Veneto Italy
Antinori ‘Peppoli’, DOCG Chianti Classico, Tuscany Italy
Montebuena ‘Cuvee KPF’ D.O. Rioja, Spain
Plume Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley California
Brazin Old Vine Zin, Lodi California
Tinhorn Creek Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley BC
Quails’ Gate Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley BC
Howling Bluff ‘Summa Quies” Pinot Noir Reserve, Okanagan Valley BC
Altos Las Hormigas, Malbec Classico, Mendoza Argentina BC:
Delas Cotes-Du-Ventoux, Rhone Valley, France
Bartier~Scholefield ‘BS’ Red Table Wine, Okanagan Valley BC Winery
Campo di Sasso Insoglio del Cinghiale, Bibona Tuscany Italy
Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley BC
Evans & Tate ‘Metricup Road’ Shiraz, Margaret River Australia BC
Belle Glos Pinot Noir ‘Clark & Telephone Vineyard’, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara, Calif.
Mer Soleil ‘Gold’ Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands
Kettle Valley Viognier, Okanagan Valley BC Winery
La Vieille Ferme Rouge Cotes~du~Ventoux, Rhone Valley France
Sebastiani Chardonnay, Sonoma County
Penfolds ‘Thomas Hyland’ Shiraz, Adelaide Australia
Whitehaven Pinot Noir, Marlborough New Zealand
Stoneboat Vineyards Pinotage, Okanagan Valley

www.winediva.ca
[divider]
Cowichan Valley Wine Festival
We’re off to Vancouver Island and the annual Cowichan Fall Wine Festival.
Just south of Duncan lies the most beautiful farmland and forests. The ocean view helps as well!

A breathtaking drive over the Malahat Highway or a picturesque ferry ride brings you to the southern end of Cowichan Valley and the communities of Shawnigan Lake, Mill Bay, Duncan and Cobble Hill. Sheltered by a ridge of high mountains to the west and warmed by the Strait of Georgia to the east, the valley has long been called by local First Nations people ‘The Warm Land’. Indeed the region boasts the highest average temperature in Canada, which creates ideal growing conditions for almost any crop. Approximately a quarter of Vancouver Island’s cultivated land is found in the valley and it’s a local tradition to sell products fresh off the farm.
Keep an eye out for vineyards with Tasting Room Open signs, where you can sample aromatic wines that are nurtured by rich soil and the climatic combination of warmth and moisture. Local winemakers work with vinifera favourites such as Pinot Gris, Ortega, and Pinot Noir, along with lesser-known varietals carefully matched to the maritime climate.
Keep an eye & ear out for Blattner Wines.
Valentin Blattner is a grape breeder living on the edge of the Jura Mountains in Switzerland. As a young man he had a vision to breed new grape varieties for a changing world, vines that would not require the usual spraying for fungal diseases that most popular grapes need. Of course these new vines needed to produce wines that were both unique yet reminiscent of traditional wine flavours.
Today in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, British Columbia, Ontario and the Canadian Maritime Provinces the dream has been realized. After many years of field trials of the vines and wines, there are finally critically acclaimed wines being released from the Blattner Selections.

My hosts were Linda and Mark Holford of Rocky Creek Wines.

Linda and Mark Holford

They asked me to host a panel at the winery which I gladly accepted.

Guests on the panel included:
Treve Ring Sommelier. Writer. Consultant. Editor. Outspoken and opinionated. Perfect!!
Troy Townsin Author (Wine Feast: Eat. Drink & Discover BC Wine) and Host of Time for Wine on CBC Victoria. Great Overview!
Chris Turyk The new voice and face of Unsworth Vineyards. Doesn’t look like a dirt farmer.

Mark Holford President. Owner of Rocky Creek Winery. And this is his second job!!
Bailey Williamson Winemaker at Blue Grouse. Learned his craft with Michael Bartier at Road 13. Wants to make great bubble.
Tereza Roux Wine Director at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort. Flight Delayed by Fog. Was Missed.
Other guests included:
Tim Turyk and Daniel Gosman Owner and Winemaker at Unsworth Vineyards.

[divider]
This episode of Tasting Room Radio concludes with long overdue interview with Sean Heather.

Sean arrived in Vancouver from Ireland with the intention of earning enough money to finance a trip to Berkeley, where he hoped to work with Alice Waters.
He soon realized that the only way to beat the grind of the restaurant business would be to work for himself.
He partnered with his sister Roisin and soon to be wife Erin. Then he opened the Irish Heather in 1997. He worked behind the bar five nights a week, pouring pints for his regulars, while his wife served tables and his sister worked weekends.
Next came Shebeen Whisky House, which opened in 2000, and then the Salty Tongue Café in 2003. After opening Salt to rave reviews in 2006, Sean’s business world grew in leaps and bounds.
Next came Fetch, a coffee kiosk in the old B.C. Electric building at Carrall and Hastings streets, opened in 2009; Judas Goat, a Spanish-style tapas bar next door to Salt, as well as Chinatown coffee shop Everything Café and the Pennsylvania Hotel bakery, all opened in 2010.
There’s also Penn Bakeshop, Bitter and his latest project Rainer Provisions.
He has opened and operated highly successful destinations on some of the toughest streets and alleys on the West Coast.
Plus…he quietly supports local charities including The Portland Hotel Society, The Rainer Hotel and Beauty Night Society.
And That’s why he’s being included into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame and a very welcome guest on Tasting Room Radio.
http://www.bcrhof.ca/
www.scoutmagazine.ca Gluttony‎
http://www.shophhg.ca/pages/about-us