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Mulligan Stew May 16th – BB King

May 15, 2015 Weekly Playlists

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King1

 

“The blues was bleeding the same blood as me.”

-BB King

“When I eventually drop, I pray to God that it’ll happen in one of three ways: Firstly, on stage or leaving the stage, then secondly in my sleep. And the third way? You’ll have to figure that out for yourself!”

-BB King. (He chose Door #2.)

 
It took several days to record this week’s Stew..
Somewhere between segments 3 and 4..the world lost one of the greatest blues legends  ever..BB King.
I know Holger will pay tribute to BB  but I’m compelled to throw away the last 15 minutes of the stew and pay my respects.
The box set I reached for revealed a long forgotten treat..IMG_3271
The last time I interviewed BB King was 2-18-94..backstage at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver.
The date stands out because it was our son Fynn’s 12th birthday that day.
I also remember that BB was very reflective that day..almost melancholy.
I remember getting Choked up as he talked about “so much more to do”
That was the kind of man he was.Gibson_Lucille
I couldn’t take my eyes off him or Lucille,  his guitar just over his shoulder.
We’ve added a photo of the boxed set I found today and a message that Eric Clapton tweeted out..
I know EC is really going to miss BB – they were  deep friends.
And BB was his teacher. He taught well.
Here’s to BB King and the music he left with us.
Play it. Remember it.
Thanks -TDM
 


PLAYLIST:

tdmulligan Host of Mulligan Stew playlist www.mulliganstew.ca
Good time charlie Duke robillard Living with the Blues
Knockin carolina chocolate drops and luminescent orchestrii carolina chocolate drops and luminescent orchestrii
Mulligan Stew www.CanadaHouse.com
come at me Daniel Wesley I am your man
Mother of lies JD McPherson Let the good times roll
Lotta Lovin Gene Vincent Best of
tdmulligan host of mulligan stew playlist www.mulliganstew.ca
small town talk Boz Scaggs a fool to care
Mulligan Stew coming UP – Mavericks, Kinks, Art Bergman
All night long The Mavericks Mono
Lola (live) The Kinks One for the road
It takes a lot to laugh. A train to cry Taj Mahal Tangled up in blues
Company store Art Bergman Song for the Underclass (ep)
Still crazy after all these years Paul Simon Concert in the Park
Fist City The Little Willies For the good times
this is Mulligan Stew coming UP – Jeff Beck John Fogerty. Dylan.Clapton.Lonnie Mack playlist www.mulliganstew.ca
Going Down Jeff Beck Jeff Beck Live +
Born on the Bayou (live) John Fogerty Conceert for the R&R Hall of Fame
Just like a woman Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde
this is Mulligan Stew with TD Mulligan www.coyotesbanff.com
Little Queen of Spades Eric Clapton Sessions for Robert J
I found a love Lonnie Mack Attack of the Killer V
this is Mulligan Stew Coming UP – A stroll down Abbey Road
Sun King The Beatles Abbey Road
Mean mr Mustard The Beatles Abbey Road
polythene pam The Beatles Abbey Road
she came in thru the bathroom window The Beatles Abbey Road
Golden Slumbers The Beatles Abbey Road
carry that weight The Beatles Abbey Road
the end The Beatles Abbey Road
Her Majesty the beatles Abbey Road
this is Mulligan Stew playlist at www.mulliganstew.ca BB King Sept 16 1925.     May 14.2015
When love comes to town U2 and BB King BB King Boxed Set King of the Blues
Riding with the King BB King and Eric Clapton Riding with the King
Make love to me BB King and Eric Clapton King of the Blues (demo)
Must be a better World BB King and Eric Clapton King of the blues

Good Rockin Wine of the Week May 15th

May 15, 2015 Wine of the Week 0:12:57

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  Terry David Mulligan Friday mornings

terry-on-radioPrint

 

 

MOVIES

We’re talking

  • Mad Max – Fury Road.. what a surprise. Oved this remake..re-do!
  • First 30 minutes are nothing but tight action and great chase scenes.. Going to do Big Box
  • Good Kill – Ethan Hawke as an  air force pilot turned drone pilot.  Good film
  • Pitch perfect 2 – Same women..different jokes. All funny
  • Dancing Arabs – indy film..screebed all over the world

Tasting Room radio – 9AM ON SATURDASY BECAUSE OF WORLD HOCKEY

Part 2 of Naramata Bench

Star Chef David Hawksworth

Joel Peterson – The Godfather of Cali Zin

And the Spot Prawn festival kicks off Sunday at Kits Docks..we talk to the guy who started it all Chef Robert Clark 

Wine of the Week

Colome – big assed Malbec from Argentina  $30

Alamos – easy drinking..affordable Malbec  Argentina  around $20

Theyre at the Post

U2…Desire!!

May 16th, 2015- Annual spot Prawn Festival

May 15, 2015 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:42:41

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Tasting Room Radio B_BANNER2

This weeks show airs at 9am pacific on TSN1410

  Naramata Bench Part Two. Talking with The Hawk!  Chef David Hawksworth. Joel Peterson, The Godfather of California Zin and Chef Robert Clark helps kick off Vancouver’s hugely popular Spot Prawn Festival.

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 THE SHOW

 Joel Peterson  Ravenswood Zin

 

Ravenswood

Ravenswood

Widely regarded as the “Godfather of California Zinfandel,” Ravenswood Founding Winemaker Joel Peterson has been named to the 2011 Vintners Hall of Fame by The Culinary Institute of America (CIA).  The induction recognizes  Joel’s significant contributions to the California wine industry and in particular, his unswerving devotion to and protection of California’s old-vine Zinfandel vineyards—a living testament to the state’s earliest winegrowing history.

 

 

Joel Peterson is one of just three contemporary California vintners to be inducted into the 2011 Vintners Hall of Fame!

Joel Peterson

joel-peterson-bedrock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following an apprenticeship with Joseph Swan—one of California’s outstanding craftsman of Zinfandel—Peterson founded Ravenswood in 1976 with $4,000, no vineyards and no winery.  His vision from the start was to craft high-quality, complex and spirited Zinfandels that would express the unique character of their specific vineyards.

A key to his success was seeking out vineyards chosen for their location, age, yield and unique flavor characteristics.  By forging collaborative relationships early on with the grower-owners of these exceptional sites (some more than 100 years old), Joel was able to build a distinctive portfolio of single vineyard-designated Ravenswood Zinfandels that together illustrated how well the grape reflects its precise locale.  Since many of these vineyards are also among the oldest in California, Peterson’s wines helped to preserve them.

Ravenswood-Vintners-Blend-Zinfandel-_28V_29-2009-Label

Joel  has also worked tirelessly on behalf of the industry as a whole to build consumer awareness and appreciation for Zinfandel as California’s most historic and authentic wine grape.

More than 30 years following his first harvest, Peterson continues his Zinfandel quest.  He is currently spearheading a project with fellow Zinfandel winemakers and ZAP called the Zinfandel Heritage Blends Project.  The program aims to reestablish California’s most unique and original wine, the Mixed Black Field Blend.  Primarily a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cariganne and Alicante Bousche (among many others), Joel believes strongly that the Mixed Black Field Blend was the most interesting and important wine that California made before Prohibition.  As Joel says, it was truly the “once and future wine of California.”

Along with fellow winemakers and the University of California at Davis, Joel is also currently spearheading the Heritage Vineyard Project, which was established to preserve, investigate, propagate and distribute clonal selections from a wide range of California ancient heritage Zinfandel vineyards.

All Hail The GodFather!

 www.ravenswood.com

Naramata Bench Spring 2015  Part Two

Couldn’t fit everyone into last week’s Naramata special..so here’s part two..which features Spring 2015 wines from

 

The Bench

The Bench

 

 

 

 

Luke Smith – Howling Bluff   www.howlingbluff.ca

Stefan Arneson – Poplar Grove and Monster Vineyards   www.poplargrove.ca www.monstervineyards.com

Dick Lancaster – Black Widow Winery  www.blackwidowwinery.com

 www.naramatabench.com

Chef David Hawksworth/ @Hawksworth

 It all started with an email from Barbara-Jo at Books to Cooks.

 

Barbara Jo

Barbara Jo’s Books to Cooks

 

 

 

Hawksworth, David – ISSUE 114 – Art Culinaire

  • Wednesday, May 20, 2015
  • 6:00pm  7:00pm
  • Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks

Art Culinaire has been producing a Hard Cover Magazine, four times a year for the past 28 years.  This periodical has been popular mostly with the chef and restaurant community, but is also popular with the culinary traveler.   Issue 56 featured a number of local chefs and restaurants.

This Wednesday evening, we launch Issue 114 with our own David Hawksworth taking the centre stage in both the book and our shop.

Please join us to celebrate with David as he regales us with his culinary adventures.  Thanks Barbara- Jo!

David Hawksworth

David Hawksworth

Once David and I got settled at Hawksworth headquarters we covered a lot of territory.. including Art Culinaire plus a

Recent spate of awards he and his staff have won, Top 100 Restaurants in Canada..Hawksworth #2.

And the new restaurant he’s opening this Fall in one of his favourite heritage buildings on Hastings.

(Here’s a hint..it has a pizza oven, so you know it’s more casual.)

Always love talking to David..

https://hawksworthrestaurant.com

 

 and finally… Sunday brings the hugely popular Annual Spot Prawn Festival at the fishing docks in Kitsilano.

Starting around 10:30/11am

Chef Robert Clark is a co-founder of this event and really was the driving force behind reclaiming our Prawn Fishery.

 

Spot Prawns!

Spot Prawns!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years ago Robert discovered that not only were we shipping our local prawns to  Asia, he couldn’t even BUY them for his restaurant.

So off he went to find Steve Johansen and his vessel Organic Ocean. The two of them created their own fishery and the rest is a wonderfully successful story.

I’ll see you on the docks. Bring a bag or bucket for your prawns.

(ps..Roberts cooking instructions..pour boiling water over your prawns and serve 30-45 seconds later. That’s it)

http://www.thefishcounter.com/

www.spotprawnfestival.com

http://www.insidevancouver.ca/2015/04/17/get-ready-for-vancouvers-spot-prawn-festival-2015/

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Spot+prawn+season+opens+with+great+haul/11053486/story.html

@OrganicOcean

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

  • Alamos/Argentina
  • Lageder/Italy
  • Tara O’Brady/Seven Spoons
  • New Zealand pours in Vancouver.
  • and The Return of The Wine Diva

Good Rockin Wine of the Week May 8th

May 8, 2015 Wine of the Week 0:12:57

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  Terry David Mulligan Friday mornings

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Mulligan Stew May 9th 2015 – Tony Dekker Interview

May 7, 2015 Weekly Playlists

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As a direct result of the spring Fundraiser…I’ve taken it upon myself to make up for all the talking we had to do..
The list below is as much music as I could slam into two hours of CKUA airtime.
Frankly, I think it’s a world’s record or something.
We really only stop once but when you hear who’s on the show I think you’ll understand.
image003
It’s  Tony Dekker. lead singer, writer and driving force behind Great Lake Swimmers.
They have a beautiful new album called A Forest of Arms.
Its filled with hooks and memorable lines and songs you want to covet and keep close.
It also deals with very current social events, such as the proposed pipeline through some of Canada’s most pristine wilderness and First nations territories.
Three of the songs were recorded in the Tyendinaga Cavern and Caves in Ontario..
It’s a game breaker for this first rate band..music that will take them all over the world
But first, they start their tour in Canada..with dates in Alberta
May 29th Edmonton Royal Albert Museum Theatre
May 30th  Calgary  Central United Church

The title, A Forest Of Arms, is taken from album track “The Great Bear,” a song inspired by a trip Dekker took to the northern rainforests of British Columbia in September 2013 with the World Wildlife Fund. It’s a pristine wilderness area that is under threat of being compromised by the construction of a pipeline, and Dekker and the group have been very vocal in their opposition to it. In a broader sense, the title is also a reference to the sense of community surrounding the Toronto-based band, as well as the band’s own growing families, exhibited in the songs “Something Like A Storm” and “Expecting You.”
Great Lake Swimmers consists of Tony Dekker on lead vocals and guitar, long time guitarist and banjo player Erik Arnesen, Miranda Mulholland on violin and backing vocals, Bret Higgins on upright bass and newcomer Joshua Van Tassel on drums. There are several special guest appearances on the album by Kevin Kane (Grapes Of Wrath) on 12-string electric guitar, as well as backing vocals on the song “A Bird Flew Inside The House.”
Here’s the western part of the tour

  • 5/25 Winnipeg, MB @ West End Cultural Centre
  • 5/26 Regina, SK @ The Excange
  • 5/27 Saskatoon, SK @ Broadway Theatre
  • 5/29 Edmonton, AB @ Royal Albert Museum Theatre
  • 5/30 Calgary, AB @ Calgary Folk Music Festival
  • 5/31 Cranbrook, BC @ The Key City Theatre
  • 6/01 Nelson, BC @ Civic Theatre
  • 6/03 Victoria, BC @ Alix Goolden Hall
  • 6/04 Vancouver, BC @ The Vogue Theatre

PLAYLIST:

Mother and Child Reunion (live) Paul Simon Live in NYC
come at me david wesley i am your man
i used to could mark knopfler privateering
boom bapa boom jimmy vaughn strange pleasure
Mulligan Stew at tdmulligan www.canadahouse.com
Spanish Harlem ben e king the songs of leiber stoller
young boy blues the honeydrippers Vol 1
there goes my baby ben e king best of
fun on a Saturday night the blasters fun on a Saturday night
This is Mulligan Stew with terry david mulligan Next UP – MAVIS
wish i had answered mavis staples your good fortune
someday los lobos and mavis staples box set
milk cow blues (live) eric clapton sessions @aol
This is Mulligan Stew www.mulliganstew.ca Happy Mothers Day
your rocky spine great lake swimmers Ongiara
simple twist of fate levn helm midnight ramble sessions
low rising the swell season strict joy
This is Mulligan Stew www.ckua.com Coming UP Tony Dekker Great Lake Swimmers
Tony Dekker Interview
with every departure great lake swimmers a forest of arms
Tony Dekker Interview
the great bear great lake swimmers a forest of arms
Tony Dekker Interview
something like a storm great lake swimmers a forest of arms
Tony Dekker Interview
what was going on through my head great lake swimmers from cover to cover
Tony Dekker Interview
shaking all over great lake swimmers a forest of arms
This is Mulligan Stew Twitter@tdmulligan Next UP – The Horse Commanche
Horse commanche Chadwick Stokes the horse commanche
fire on the bayou the meters anthology
keep a knockin little richard best of
This is Mulligan Stew www.coyotesbanff.com Happy Mothers Day
sooner than later ryna McMahan put me back together
spoonful howling wolf best of
woman got soul curtis mayfield and The Impressions The Impressions greatest hits
shrimp and grits tedeschi trucks band revelator

May 9th, 2015 – Naramata Special … Part 1

May 7, 2015 Tasting Room Radio, Weekly Show 00:42:47

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Tasting Room Radio B_BANNER2
 
It’s the 7th annual Naramata Bench Wine Tour through Victoria and Vancouver.
Part One features Elephant island. Upper Bench. Bench 1775. Lake Breeze. Tightrope. Hillside. TerraVista. Kettle Valley. Misconduct. Deep Roots.
Red Rooster. Therapy. Van Westen. La Frenz. Serendipity.   

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THE SHOW

Having spent the better part of five years living on the Naramata bench and getting to know most of my neighbours… when they bring their travelling wine road show to Victoria and Vancouver..I just have to be there.

The Bench

The Bench


It’s a two parter, so next week we’ll finish the story with Howling Bluff. Poplar Grove. Monster and Black Widow.
 
 
Naramata Bench is just an exceptional destination..not only for the wine grower but also for  the wine fan.
 
naramata rush hour

naramata rush hour


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Running above Lake Okanagan… East and North of Penticton, BC… it has the perfect soil and climate.
Big heat in the day… cool lake breezes at night.
It has also attracted some of the most interesting winemakers/growers  in the business. They all have a  story to tell.
Here’s the line-up and websites    –     www.naramatabench.com
 

In Victoria:

Del Halliday – Elephant Island   https://www.elephantislandwine.com
Gavin Miller – Upper Bench  www.upperbench.ca
Val Tait – Bench 1775  www.bench1775.com
Garron Elmes – Lake Breeze and Spice Jar  www.lakebreeze.ca
Lindsay O’Rourke – Tightrope  www.tightropewinery.ca
Kathy Malone – Hillside  www.hillsidewinery.ca
Senka Tennant – Terra Vista www.terravistavineyards.com
Tim Watt  – Kettle Valley  www.kettlevalleywinery.com
Richard Da Silva – Misconduct  www.misconductwineco.com
Will Hardman –  Deep Roots  www.deeprootswinery.com
Karen Gillis – Red Rooster  www.redroosterwinery.com/
Steve Latchford – Therapy www.therapyvineyards.com
In Vancouver:
Rob Van Westen – Van Westen www.vanwestenvineyards.com/
Jeff Martin – La Frenz  www.lafrenzwinery.com
Judy Kingston – Serendipity  www.serendipitywinery.com
 


 

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

The Naramata Bench Part Two
Hawksworth
Tara O’Brady – Seven Spoons
Argentina
New Zealand
 
 

May 2nd 2015 – Wall to Wall music!

May 2, 2015 Weekly Playlists

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Tonight… Wall to Wall music, starting with Little Feat live!
Enjoy!
-TDM

Fat Man in the Bathtub Little Feat (live) Waiting for Columbus
All that you dream Little Feat (live) Waiting for Columbus
Let your hair down baby Snooky Pryor/Mel Brown Double Shot
Got to move (live) Fleetwood Mac Live in Boston Vol 1
Mulligan Stew with TDM Playlist www.mulliganstew.ca How’s your Weekend?
You and I Wilco Wilco (The Album)
My all time Doll Elvis Costello Secret, Profane and Sugarcane (Bonus Track Version(
TDM
Take a look at that baby John Fahey Best of (Remastered)
Mulligan Stew with TDM coming Up Ray Charles and Norah Jones playlist mulliganstew.ca
Here we go again Ray Charles and Norah Jones
I put a spell on you Jeff Beck and Joss Stone Emotion and Commotion
I put a spell on you Annie Lennox Nostalgia
I put a spell on you Them Best of Them
Mulligan Stew with TDM coming up Paul Simon
Boy in the Buble Paul Simon Re-Mixed extended single
One Way Road John Butler Trio April Uprising
St Teresa Joan Osborne Relish
Mulligan Stew with TDM www.coyotesbanff.com Coming UP Joe Tex..One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show
One Monkey don’t stop no show Joe Tex The Very best Vol 1
Musta Got Lost (live) J Geils Band Live: Blow your Face Out
Mulligan Stew with TDM Playlist www.mulliganstew.ca
Tilt a Whirl Jimmy Vaughn Strange Pleasures
Be right back with Steely Dan playlist mulliganstew.ca
Home at Last Steely Dan Citizen Steely Dan 1972-80
Inner City Blues Marvin Gaye Whats Going On (deluxe edition)
Get behind the Mule Tom Waits Mule Variations
Henry nearly killed me (its a shame) Live ! Ray LaMontagne & Pariah Dogs Live – Fall 2010 – EP
Mulligan Stew with TDM Next Week Tony Dekker Great Lake Swimmers Thanks for a Great Fundraiser
Something The Beatles Abby Road

Good Rockin Wine of the Week May 1st

May 2, 2015 Wine of the Week 0:12:57

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  Terry David Mulligan Friday mornings

terry-on-radioPrint

 

 

May 2nd, 2015 – The 36th annual California Wine Fair

May 1, 2015 Weekly Show 0:42:35

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Tasting Room Radio B_BANNER2
The 36th annual California Wine Fair hits town. We work the room.
Hy’s Vancouver showcase their Table Side Dining..a true throwback.
Charles Baker and Stratus  Wines from Niagara..

 THE SHOW

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 36th annual California Wine Fair

Charlie Cline
 
  Charlie Cline
For 36 years the Wine Institute of California has toured one of their best ever markets…Canada!!
They pour their very best for all those Cali wine fans.
We talk to Charlie Cline..He says he’s the better looking brother of the Cline Boys. They call Sonoma home. They also make Jacuzzi Family Wines, right across the street.
Clinecellars.com – jacuzziwines.com
 
John Wetzel  Alexander Valley Vineyards – Family owner  

Alexander Valley Vineyards

Alexander Valley Vineyards


John is the Sales Manager and Family owner of this iconic winery.
We talk about how they’re handling the water shortage in the Valley.
And, of course, what he’s pouring.
www.avvwine.com
 
 The Silver Fox Returns / Keith Nichols Owner-Winemaker
Can’t miss that head of silver hair, nor should you miss his really fine wines from Paso Robles.
 Keith Nichols
Keith Nichols
Rick Slomka /  Canadian Director WICali
 Team Leader on the day.  The Canadian face and voice of Wines of California
Ray Signorello / Signorello Estate – Owner
 The perfect guy to close the show.  Lives in West Vancouver and on the Golden Mile  in Napa.
Produces a wide variety of top end whites and reds plus hugely popular entry level reds called Edge, Fuse and Trim.
signorelloestate.com 
Ray Signorello

Ray Signorello


 
www.discovercaliforniawine.com
 
 
 
 

Table Side Dining – rediscovered at Hy’s Encore in Vancouver.

bananas-foster
bananas-foster
They just don’t make them like Hy’s anymore.  I’m talking table side dining.
They’re featuring a menu that features selections which are prepared and showcased right at your table.
Their famous Caesar salad, Spinach Salad, Chateaubriand and Steak Diane..followed by Bananas Foster.
Talk about a throwback..this is to be celebrated..encouraged and shared.
Makes you realize what’s been lost in today’s servers and service.
A hands on food experience.
Guests include Neil Aisenstat ..President and son of Hy.
Brett Kawaguchi Wine and Bar Director who supplies pairings
And Senior Server Tim Butt.
www.hyssteakhouse.com

Charles Baker Wines – Stratus Wines

Stratus
He’s responsible for the outstanding wines at Stratus in Niagara and his own label cb Wines.
Stratus is widely respected for their Riesling made from various vineyards in and around the Niagara Escarpment.
Surprises come with their Chardonnay, Stratus white, a strong Cab Franc and their popular Stratus.
His own Charles Baker Riesling is memorable.  Great flavours and finish.

Charles Baker

Charles Baker


www.stratuswines.com
www.charlesbaker.ca
Both vineyards have committed to placing their wines all across Canada.  It’s a big task.
Well worth your time..watch for them!!
 
 

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 A one hour special NEXT Week on the Spring tour of the Naramata Bench Wineries.
 We find them pouring  in Victoria and Vancouver.

April 25th, 2015 – Exclusive interview with Russell Crowe!

April 23, 2015 Weekly Show 00:42:46

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Tasting Room Radio B_BANNER2
An exclusive interview with Russell Crowe who stars in and  directs his first feature film  The Water Diviner, opening this weekend !
Mike Bernardo goes full Beastie Boy with his Mike B Reisling!
Okanagan Falls pours in Vancouver..looking for profile and making new friends! We talk to 6 wineries.
And the return of The Napa Wine making Gunslinger Cameron Hughes.

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THE SHOW

Mike Bernardo – Sommelier of the Year
 

Mike Bernardo - maker of Mike b Riesling

Mike Bernardo – maker of Mike b Riesling


Somebody has to open for Russell Crowe and we think there’s no one better than Mike Bernardo – Sommelier of the Year and maker of Mike b Riesling.
Mike Bernardo fell in love with wine in 1997, working at the five star hotel, the Balmoral, followed by The Atrium, in Edinburgh, Scotland. After returning to Canada he worked at Dock 503 on Vancouver Island as Manager / Sommelier. In January 2001 Mike joined Vikram Vij and Meeru Dhalwala at Vij’s restaurant in Vancouver, where he worked with them to later open Rangoli, the Vij’s production facility for their line of packaged curries (Vij’s Inspired Indian Cuisine), as well as the Vij’s food truck.
Mike’s is currently Director of Operations and Wine Director for the Vij’s Companies. He has lead the Vij’s wine program to win several awards, including the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator and Gold Prize for best wine list from Vancouver Magazine. Mike was responsible for all the wine pairings in “Vij’s: Elegant and Inspired Indian Cuisine”, which won the 2007 Cuisine Canada’s Gold Award for Cookbook of the year. Mike also collaborated on the wine notes for “Vij’s at Home-Relax, Honey”, which won silver for best Indian Cookbook at the World Gourmand Cookbook Awards in Paris, France. In 2014, Mike won The Vancouver International Wine Festival and the Vancouver Magazine’s Sommelier of the Year awards.
In 2014, Mike opened his own restaurant called Sutra, in conjunction with Vij’s, in Victoria, BC. He now splits his time between Vij’s restaurants in Vancouver and Sutra in Victoria.
The Winner of said award is given the very special opportunity to make his/her own wine in partnership with Okanagan Crush Pad.
Mike decided to make a BC Riesling that would not only handle Vij’s half dozen spices in most dishes but would pair beautifully to make the meals even better.
He named the label Mike B in tribute to his favourite band – The Beastie Boys.
www.vijsrestaurant.ca
 
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Russell Crowe – Actor. Director. Singer/Songwriter and Dad!

 When I read that Russell was directing his first ever film I just knew I had to see if I could find him. Find him I did.
Was I Pushy. You bet. But I knew a little something about the man. He has a very big heart and values friendships.
I had the pleasure of being a cast member of Mystery Alaska when it shot years ago in Canmore Alberta.
Russell took me for a beer and included me in the cast and crew gatherings.

Russell Crowe

Russell Crowe


I found him in Chicago surrounded by police sirens and morning coffees.
This film is very special to him. The Water Diviner is part of Australian history…all those soldiers who were sent to invade Turkey at Gallipoli exactly 100 years ago.
 
 
 
Shooting on set

Shooting on set


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Many many men died on both sides..and that’s the story that Russell tells in The Water Diviner. Lead by the tale of a Farmer  looking for his three sons who reportedly were all killed on the battlefield the same day. The film opens April 24th in Canada.
We also talk about his new music group in partnership with Allan Doyle and a couple of wine questions..like how come with acres and acres of farm land, he isn’t making wines.
Please join us for this exclusive phone conversation with Russell Crowe.  Enjoy the film.
www.thewaterdiviner.com 
 
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 Okanagan Falls Wineries pour in Vancouver.

Okanagan Falls
Every year BC’s various wine regions come into Vancouver  and pour with pride their new releases.
For the food and wine industry it’s a chance to stay in touch with the Okanagan and Vancouver Island, renewing friendships and checking out the wines.
For years, Okanagan Falls situated between Penticton and Oliver was the place you stopped for ice cream but not wine.
They’re trying to change all that by making better and better wines.
Adding food and restaurants to their wineries.

Blue Mountain

Blue Mountain


We get caught up with the owners and winemakers from the following wineries:
Alan Dickinson – Synchromesh [email protected] 
Roland Kruger – Wild Goose  www.wildgoosewinery.com 
Elaine Vickers – Blasted Church www.blastedchurch.com
Lauren Skinner – Painted Rock  www.paintedrock.ca
Christy Mavety – Blue Mountain www.bluemountainwinery.com
Gerry Thygesen – Kraze Legz/Skaha and Acting president of OFWA.  www.krazelegz.com
www.ofwa.ca
 
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Cameron Hughes Wines

Cameron Hughes

Cameron Hughes


Cameron Hughes is an American négociant that makes, imports, and distributes ultra-premium wine under five wine labels; The Lot Series, CAM Collection, Hughes Wellman, Greenlip, and Zin Your Face.  
The company was founded by Cameron Hughes and Jessica Kogan in 2001 for one simple reason – to bring truly exceptional wine to the market at real world prices. They  do this by partnering with the finest growers and wineries in the world and delivering consistently high quality wines and the highest degree of service to their  customers. The result is Cameron Hughes is one the most trusted wine brands in the industry, receiving high praise from wine experts and consumers.
Great reviews can be found at  Wine Enthusiast, Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, Wine & Spirits, Wall Street Journal, Food & Wine, New York Times, Forbes Magazine, Cellar Tracker and more. In 2012, Cameron Hughes was nominated for “Innovator of the Year” by the Wine Enthusiast.
Safe to say he changed the game in California.
https://chwine.com 

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