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THE SHOW

When I kicked off Tasting Room Radio in 2007 on the Naramata Bench, I had just finished shooting Season Three of Hollywood and Vines TV with pal Jason Priestley.

I came away very impressed with the community that surrounded winemaking. The farmers who worked the fields and the seasoned craft that was created in the winery cellars.  I felt I wanted to be part of that community but had a lot more to learn.

Thus, Tasting Room Radio was started.

I felt that as long I was learning about winemaking the audience could learn as well.

One of the very first people that I turned to was Kathy Malone, the new winemaker at Hillside Estate. Hillside was one of the first three vineyards planted on the Naramata Bench.  There’s lots more there now.

Many years later, I’m proud to say Hillside is one of the segment sponsors of TRR and Kathy is still mentoring me.

Kathy is guesting for the whole show.

She’s bringing announcements about an event at Bard and The Banker.

Also launching Friday Night Flights. Encouraging locals to come after work on a Friday and taste “old style” with no seated 45-minute wine class. BUT with tasting fees waived with purchase. A number of Bench wineries have agreed to join. Already signed up are Hillside, Little Engine, Deep Roots, Four Shadows and more.

Kathy also lets us know about a mid-October event at the Naramata Inn.

Part Two of Tasting Room Radio is about the new Hillside Releases.

2023 Muscat Ottonel  “The Ottonel”.  The new cool name

2023 Gewurztraminer – hottest season on record on 5 vineyard blend

2023 Heritage Pinot Gris –  Three vineyards selected for Tokaj oak barrel selection.  Its shows.

Hillside Fall Releases

Single Vineyard Series

Currently, our DTC customers are offered the three single vineyard merlots in the same vintage-2018 release.  With the next releases, this gets shuffled again, as it is rare that we choose to showcase all in any given year.

2019 Hidden Valley Vineyard Merlot

A thankfully smoke-free year, 2019 was an average year in terms of heat units, but our “above-the-road” Hidden Valley Merlot ripened nicely.  At 12.5% alcohol and featuring ripe tannin, it offers a balanced, elegant finish

2022 Occhi Dolci Vineyard Merlot  (Okey Duel-Chee)

We’re super excited to send our first release of Occhi Dolci Vineyard Merlot.  Planted and grown by Pat Bowen and Carl Bogdanoff, retired scientists from the Summerland Research Station, this vineyard has given us awesome merlot and cab franc for Mosaic and other blends, but we were reluctant to put “Bowen-Bogdanoff” on a wine label.  They finally named the vineyard and voilà!  Meaning “sweet eyes” Occhi Dolci refers to the gorgeous view from this vineyard perched high over Okanagan Lake, but is also Italian slang for a flirtatious look, or what my sister referred to as her “come-hither look”.

2020 Cabernet Sauvignon

We are continually amazed at the quality and ripeness of this Cabernet Sauvignon, planted as far north as the Naramata Bench.  The 2020 vintage is no exception, taking a gold at the National Wine Awards this summer.  Even more astonishing is the fact that this block survived over 57 hours of minus-25 Celsius cold this January.  Yes, we still have a Howe Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

www.hillsidewinery.ca

www.naramatabench.com

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

New FALL Releases

Zanatta – Cowichan original

Pluvio  and Ucluelet

Sons of Vancouver

Fort Berens

Best Coast Distilling

Hester Creek

Winemaker’s Cut Fall Releases

Q&A Winemakers Dinners