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EP 270 | Jill Barber Interview and Kelowna Fire Special

August 26, 2023 Mulligan Stew Podcast

hello

Bumped into Russell Broom at EFMF. We talked Art Bergmann and his next album.
What brings you here? Says I
Playing with Jill Barber. Says Russ
And that’s how Jill and I ended up sharing a freshly poured Big Rock and a wonderful interview in the green room.
Jill covers thoughts and emotions on her home and Homemaker, her latest album. The complete interview – over a cold beer – starts this two-part Mulligan Stew Podcast.


Part 2 is an hour special with winemakers and locals on the fires that raged through the hills of West Kelowna.
It ends with a message that they’re “open for business”. Farming is tough enough. To have roads closed during the high tourist season is hard to survive.

How can we help?
If you’re buying wine soon please buy BC from your favorite winery. It all helps.

Speaking of the recent wine country fires, the  interviews we did with locals and winemaking friends  for Tasting Room Radio will be

Part Two  of this week’s Mulligan Stew Podcast

Buy Local.

Thank You

Mulligan Stew Aug 26th 2013-Special Guest Jill Barber

August 25, 2023 Mulligan Stew

hello

Bumped into Russell Broom at EFMF. We talked Art Bergmann and his next album.
What brings you here? Says I
Playing with Jill Barber. Says Russ
And that’s how Jill and I ended up sharing a freshly poured Big Rock and a wonderful interview in the green room.
Jill covers thoughts and emotions on her home and Homemaker, her latest album.

This Summer Stew starts and ends with Bob Dylan and his album Rough and Rowdy Ways. He’s just announced an R & R Ways tour. It includes two nights at Massey Hall Oct 26/27 with the next night in Montreal.

New Music from Mike Farris/Dolly Parton (with Paul and Ringo), Eric Clapton, Valerie June and Bill Frisell, Jesse Roper, Robert Finley, and Iris Dement.

The complete interview – over a cold beer – starts a two-part Mulligan Stew Podcast.

FYI. Tasting Room Radio is an hour special with winemakers and locals on the fires that raged through the hills of West Kelowna.
It ends with a message that they’re “open for business”. Farming is tough enough. To have roads closed during the high tourist season is hard to survive.

How can we help?
If you’re buying wine soon please buy BC from your favorite winery. It all helps.

Speaking of the recent wine country fires, the  interviews we did with locals and winemaking friends  for Tasting Room Radio will be Part Two  of this week’s Mulligan Stew Podcast

Buy Local.  Thank You

PLAYLIST:

Mulligan Stew -Guest Jill Barber Terry Mulligan details – mulliganstewdotca
False Prophet Bob Dylan Rough and Rowdy Ways
Honeysuckle Blue Mike Farris Honeysuckle Blue
Let it be Dolly Parton (with Paul and Ringo) Single
La Bamba/Good Lovin’ (live) Los Lobos Disconnected in NYC
TDMulligan Our guest this week is Jill Barber and her album Homemaker
Take a little walk with me Eric Clapton Rarities 2001-2010
Handsome Molly Valerie June (and Bill Frissel) Doc Watson at 100
Throw this rope Jesse Roper Throw this rope
Lady Madonna The Beatles One
Deane House and River Cafe Next -The Hip, Bahamas John Mayer playlist Mulliganstewdotca
Wheat Kings The Tragically Hip Fully Completely
Waiting for the World to change John Mayer Continuum
Opening act (Scooby Dooby) Bahamas Earthtones
The Summer Stew TDM Guest Jill Barber
fondly and forever Liz Cooper and The Stampede Audio track Far-out Version
Guest in Hour Two of The Summer Stew Jill Barber
Josie Steely Dan Aja
Things i used to do Van Morrison and Joey Defranco You’re driving me crazy
Sneaking Around Robert Finley Black Bayou
Warriors of Love Iris Dement Working on a World
Coyotes Banff Coming Up Blue Rodeo and Jill Barber TDMulligan
Arizona Dust Blue Rodeo Things we left behind
Jill Barber Interview with Terry David Mulligan at Edmonton Folk Fest
Homemaker Jill Barber Homemaker
Jill Barber Interview Complete interview on Mulligan Stew Podcast
Hell No Jill Barber Homemaker
Jill Barber Interview Mulligan Stew TDMulligan
Beautiful Wife Jill Barber Homemaker
Jill Barber Interview Complete interview on Mulligan Stew Podcast
Instant Cash for Gold Jill Barber Homemaker
Thank you for listening and donating . You donate- right? [email protected]
Crossing the Rubicon Bob Dylan Rough and Rowdy Ways

 

August 26th, 2023- Kelowna Fire Interviews

August 25, 2023 Audio FIle, Tasting Room Radio 0:51:30

hello

THE SHOW

 Kelowna Fire Interviews

Okanagan Valley on fire | JancisRobinson.com

 

August 16  a ferocious wind-blown fire raced through the hills and ridges of West Kelowna and threatened subdivisions, wineries and whole communities.

The battles to slow down and halt the fires went on for days and nights.

We decided that there was no more important story, especially for Tasting Room Radio which began its broadcast life in the Okanagan on the Naramata Bench.

I needed to find farmers, winegrowers, friends  and food/wine leaders to let us know:

 

The damage done.

The current situation.

Smoke and fire effect on Vineyards

Confirming the Okanagan is open again…

Interviews with:

Jeff Hundertmark – winemaker at Mt Boucherie (was in fire area)

Jeff Hundertmark

Kimberly Hundertmark – OK Wine Festivals (festivals still on)

Jason Parkes and Develyn Barker – The Hatch (perhaps even closer to fire)

John Weber – owner Orofino.  Similkameen

Rhys Pender – Master of Wine & Little Farm Winery Similkameen

Mark Filatow – Chef and owner Waterfront Bistro Kelowna

Each one of these guests tells tales of fire and survival. They also recommend how we can help the Okanagan survive this fire and financial damage.

VIDEO: West Kelowna inferno crests over ridge; community on high alert - Kelowna Capital News

The last interview is special.

Its my Aunt,  Joyce Mulligan. Joyce was married to my late Uncle,  Terry Mulligan. That’s the reason why I have all three names.

Within the family he was Terry and I was Terry David.

Joyce lives in  McDougall Creek – the epi-center of the fire. She was advised to evacuate and headed for Kelowna  then Revelstoke to be with her daughter Gale.

Firefighters risked their lives trying to rescue people and save homes from McDougall Creek Wildfire | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source

McDougall Creek area

Her tale may be the closest,  as she watched it, felt it and lived it.

Her home was close to a just completed water plant and fire fighters made sure those buildings were paid special  attention to.

She’s headed home soon.

Our chat was enlightening and so welcome.

All of the interviews can be heard on the Mulligan Stew Podcast

Thank you first responders.

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

2023 Van Wine Festival Part 2 and 3.

2023 Cider Festival

Fire Follow up

 

 

EP 269 | Remembering Robbie

August 19, 2023 Mulligan Stew Podcast

hello

Robbie Robertson passed away Aug 9, 2023.

We were born a year apart and once we were both making and playing music we crossed paths over the years.

What was special about the relationship was that we talked like two friends who loved the same music and artists.

I was fascinated by his Indigenous roots and he couldn’t believe that I had been a Mountie.

 

We discovered that we both found our musical roots through late-night radio. I was completely in awe of the Border Radio of  Wolfman Jack on XERB Del Rio Texas. Hard driving r&b, blues, conjunto and zydeco at midnight. Radio under the blankets and pillows.

Robbie was doing the very same thing in downtown Toronto and with his Mom’s family at  Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve.

Robbie of course went on to become a legendary guitarist and songwriter.

From Ronnie Hawkins Hawks to The Band to playing with Bob Dylan when he decided to introduce electric backing to his folk audience. They were decidedly not happy with Bob or The Band.

Robbie, Levon, Garth, Rick and Richard created historic music.  First in the basement of Big  Pink in Woodstock with Dylan then on their own.

The songs became the fabric of what was to become Roots and Americana Music.

Several became anthems.

The Weight, The Night they drove old Dixie down, Up on Cripple Creek. All three were written by Robbie.

I was lucky enough to be in the audience at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco for The Last Waltz.  November 25, 1976. Their final concert.

The only reason I got into that magical event was because Robbie had invited me to come.

I did interviews with him while he mixed the film’s audio a year later.

Another one was when the  Martin Scorsese film actually came out in 1978 and another was when Robbie released his autobiography,  Testimony.

Some interviews are locked away in network archives and some are lost.

However, in putting this special together I did discover, at the last minute,  another partial interview and I’ve added it into the Mulligan Stew Podcast.

It’s nearly impossible to include every project that Robbie either planned or executed. He was never not busy creating.

However, I’ll leave you with a partial awards list.

The Band and/or  Robbie were inducted into the Juno Hall of Fame, Rock Hall of Fame, Aboriginal Lifetime Achievement Award,  Canada’s Walk of Fame, Songwriting Hall of Fame, Govern General’s Performing Arts Awards for Life Time Achievement, Grammy Lifetime Achievement, Order of Canada, and many more.

Robbie and I talk, The Hawks, Bob Dylan, growing up at Six Nations, heading for the Mississippi Delta as a 16 year., The Last Waltz (and one magic moment) and talks about his three most famous songs.

If I’m lucky enough to locate more of our interviews, I’ll add them to the Podcast mix and repost them.

Thank you all..for Remembering Robbie and his life!

August 19th, 2023- 44th Vancouver International Wine Festival (Part One)

August 19, 2023 Audio FIle, Tasting Room Radio 0:41:12

hello

2023 QUICK FACTS  (Ever Changing)

44th annual (founded 1979)

8 days, April 22-30

18,000 admissions

17 countries

147 wineries » 44 wineries from South America

36 events at 19 venues » 26 public events; 10 trade-only events

25 participating restaurants, hotels, caterers

1135 wines, including:  800 wines in the Tasting Room –  335 wines at special events (dinners, seminars, etc)

15,000 bottles poured and/or purchased

THE SHOW

 This is our 17th year of covering the  adventure  of The Van Wine Fest!

For the Executive Director Harry Hertscheg and his top flight team of organizers,  it’s their 44th annual.

(Harry and keynote speaker Evan Goldstein will close our series in a couple of weeks)

harry hertscheg

Although it’s still a amazing “blur” I think we did at least 20 interviews in just under four hours.

A mix of winemakers and founders from Chile, Argentina, BC, Lodi, Napa, Sonoma and  Washington!

We could not have made this journey without the help of media/marketing support from Ruby Gillett (Milk Creative Communications) and Danielle Giroux (Director- California Wines Canada)

Thank you both.

Vancouver International Wine Festival

 

Here’s Part One of this years Festival

 We begin with the most amazing friend – Wine Director at Terminal City Club and much admired wine educator, speaker and wine judge,  DJ Kearney.

DJ and I were judging the Lt Governor awards last month and between flights I whispered “will you join me at VanWineFest for a couple of interviews. I love your questions and observations?”

She nodded OK!  How lucky I was to know her?

As promised,  DJ sat down for the first two interviews and to my complete surprise and delight,  she stayed for almost the entire series of chats. A small grouping of chairs – knee to knee –  because the crowd noise gets louder as the minutes click by. A lot of collective chatter.  In the chairs, we all found ourselves leaning in to listen and comment. Tasted many outstanding wines the guests brought.

Loved it.  Best of all, this is just Part One of 3 weeks of interviews.

This weeks guests are:

 DJ Kearney – Wine Director  (Terminal City Club) Wine Educator, Judge, Writer,  Speaker and great friend.

DJ Kearney

The one and only DJ Kearney with her observations about Van Wine Fest history, the line up of this years wineries and general opinions about the state of today’s winemaking. She brings so many memorable stories and details.

https://www.tcclub.com/

@djwines

 

JJ Dowell – Winemaker Lake Sonoma, Plume Wines. (Russian River, Sonoma, Alexander Valley, Napa Valley)

Jaime started her career “in the arts” at her family’s art gallery.

The art of wine came calling. Crooked Vine, Stony Ridge. Then off to New Zealand making high end Pinot Noir at Villa Maria.

Back to California in 2011 to join Bonny Doon, Alpha Omega, Round Pond Estate in Napa and finally joined West Coast Wine Partners – which included the Stewart Family at Quails Gate – to oversee Lake Sonoma and Valley of the Moon Wines.  Plume Wines were soon added to the portfolio.

All that experience shows in her wines.  https://lakesonomawinery.com/

Jaime "JJ" Dowell Named Round Pond Estate Winemaker - Wine Industry Advisor

JJ Dowell

 

Christa-Lee McWatters – McWatters Collection GM/Family (Penticton)

Tony Holler – Co-Owner Poplar Grove (Naramata Bench)

DJ and I knew this was going to be fast, informative and lots of fun.

Christa-Lee and Tony LOVE talking about wine. Theirs and many others.

But they also have new events and growth.

At Time Family of Wines in Penticton Christa-Lee has opened OROLO Restaurant with Damian Cole as Head Chef.  Fine dining friends.

Wine's Most Inspiring People: Christa-Lee and Darrien McWatters, TIME Family of Wines - Wine Industry Advisor

Christa-Lee McWatters

She was also pouring her Father Harry’s last vintage. A  2017 Brut!

Cheers to Harry McWatters.

www.timewines.ca

 

Tony Holler poured his Pinot Gris “it has to be poured at this event.”

Tony Holler

And also revealed his new culinary team at Poplar Grove Restaurant.

Timing says Tony “its all about timing” His executive chef moved on to Canoe in Toronto and at the same time Executive Chef Stacey Johnson and Chef de Cuisine Minette Lotz came available at Naramata Inn. Think about it.  That team in that room with that view? Wow!

Truly loved DJ’s comments.

www.poplargrove.ca

 

On my way into the Convention Centre I bumped into Chris Turyk and his Father Tim from Unsworth in the Cowichan Valley.

I reminded Chris that last year I stood in front of their Unsworth pouring table but the line-up just kept getting bigger and bigger and we never got an interview done.

Chris Turyk

So, this year we put two chairs together and had a conversation.

About Unsworth, the Cowichan Valley, the Jackson Family adding Blue Grouse to their Cowichan Portfolio, what he was pouring at the festival (Charme de l’ile NV), his journey to Master of Wine status and an update on the Cowichan Wine Festival the month of August.

My thanks to Chris, Tim and Unsworth.

www.unsworthvineyards.com

Next Week  Part Two –  Winemakers and Principals from

Tyler Tennyson – Aquilini (Red Mtn Washington)

Dave Phillips – Michael David Winery (Lodi, Cal)

Justin Hall – Nk’Mip  (Osoyoos)

Michael Kullman – Osoyoos LaRose

Ryan Rech  – Beringer Vineyards (Napa)

Oscar Salas – Santa Rita (Chile)

Pablo Prieto – Vina Carmen (Chile)

 

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Van Wine Fest Parts Two and Three

 

 

 

Mulligan Stew Aug 19th 2023-Remembering Robbie

August 18, 2023 Mulligan Stew

hello

Robbie Robertson passed away Aug 9, 2023.

We were born a year apart and once we were both making and playing music we crossed paths over the years.

What was special about the relationship was that we talked like two friends who loved the same music and artists.

I was fascinated by his Indigenous roots and he couldn’t believe that I had been a Mountie.

 

We discovered that we both found our musical roots through late-night radio. I was completely in awe of the Border Radio of  Wolfman Jack on XERB Del Rio Texas. Hard driving r&b, blues, conjunto and zydeco at midnight. Radio under the blankets and pillows.

Robbie was doing the very same thing in downtown Toronto and with his Mom’s family at  Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve.

Robbie of course went on to become a legendary guitarist and songwriter.

From Ronnie Hawkins Hawks to The Band to playing with Bob Dylan when he decided to introduce electric backing to his folk audience. They were decidedly not happy with Bob or The Band.

Robbie, Levon, Garth, Rick and Richard created historic music.  First in the basement of Big  Pink in Woodstock with Dylan then on their own.

The songs became the fabric of what was to become Roots and Americana Music.

Several became anthems.

The Weight, The Night they drove old Dixie down, Up on Cripple Creek. All three were written by Robbie.

I was lucky enough to be in the audience at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco for The Last Waltz.  November 25, 1976. Their final concert.

The only reason I got into that magical event was because Robbie had invited me to come.

I did interviews with him while he mixed the film’s audio a year later.

Another one was when the  Martin Scorsese film actually came out in 1978 and another was when Robbie released his autobiography,  Testimony.

Some interviews are locked away in network archives and some are lost.

However, in putting this special together I did discover, at the last minute,  another partial interview and I’ve added it into the Mulligan Stew Podcast.

It’s nearly impossible to include every project that Robbie either planned or executed. He was never not busy creating.

However, I’ll leave you with a partial awards list.

The Band and/or  Robbie were inducted into the Juno Hall of Fame, Rock Hall of Fame, Aboriginal Lifetime Achievement Award,  Canada’s Walk of Fame, Songwriting Hall of Fame, Govern General’s Performing Arts Awards for Life Time Achievement, Grammy Lifetime Achievement, Order of Canada, and many more.

Robbie and I talk, The Hawks, Bob Dylan, growing up at Six Nations, heading for the Mississippi Delta as a 16 year., The Last Waltz (and one magic moment) and talks about his three most famous songs.

If I’m lucky enough to locate more of our interviews, I’ll add them to the Podcast mix and repost them.

Thank you all..for Remembering Robbie and his life!

EP 268 | Robbie Robertson Revisited-Terrys last interview with Robbie -The 50th anniversary of The Band’s landmark self-titled 1969 album

August 12, 2023 Mulligan Stew Podcast

hello

“…and then there was one “

One of the greatest bands to ever walk our stages and play with our hearts has been taking the final curtain – one by one.

Ricky Danko

Levon Helm

Richard Manual

This week – the heart of The Band –  Robbie Robertson

Left to carry the flag Garth Hudson.

Very few artists can ever lay claim to changing popular music. Just a handful.

Then one day it hits you– hammers you actually.  You get total clarity and begin to change everything you’ve known and held sacred.   So it was when Eric Clapton heard The Bands Music from Big Pink.

It was like all of a sudden he heard this record and said to himself, “Now this is what music should sound like.” For me personally– this has always been one of the most interesting moments in rock music history.

Photo-Don Dixon

My pal Corey Wood called me just as I was finishing recording Saturdays Stew. “Sorry to tell you this but Robbie’s gone”

He knew how special I thought Robbie Robertson was.

Dixie Down, Cripple Creek, I shall be Released, Chest Fever, King Harvest, Stage Fright, Acadian Driftwood, Somewhere down the crazy river. Once were brothers.

On the eve of the 50th anniversary of The Band’s landmark self-titled 1969 album, Terry David Mulligan catches up with Robbie Robertson. As the lead guitarist and principal songwriter for the brotherhood known to all as The Band, Robertson holds an esteemed place in music history.

On September 20th, his sixth solo album Sinematic will be released. The record will be followed by the release of the documentary Once Were Brothers, the story of The Band on film. Robbie talks with Terry about his many projects, including the soundtrack he wrote for Martin Scorcese’s film The Irishman. 

August 12th, 2023 JAK Meyer & Terry Meyer Stone talking  fires, wines and family partnership.

August 11, 2023 Audio FIle, Tasting Room Radio 0:40:33

hello

It’s the annual Meyer-Mayhem Gathering.  JAK Meyer & Terry Meyer Stone talking  fires, wines and family partnership.

  

THE SHOW

 Love these guys. Love their wines. Truly admire their partnership.

Meyer Family Vineyards in Okanagan Falls and Mayhem Wines  on Anarchist Mountain Osoyoos.

JAK_& Terry

This year they decided to bring their tasting rooms together at Meyer Family Vineyards on McLean Creek Road.

“Not to compete but to compliment”  The Wine Diva.

After Terry left Tinhorn Creek, brother JAK convinced her to start a new label with him and wife Janice Stevens.  Janice happens to be an accountant and all round fine soul. Also in the mix was Terrys husband Andrew Stone who brought work smarts as vineyard manager with Liquidity, Arterra, Fort Berens and, of course, Anarchist Mountain.  All-in-all,  a formidable team.

Janice_JAK

Mayhem  leans towards Bordeaux style. The whites,  including the Rose all have a wonderful texture due to a light handed barrel program. The Sauvignon Blanc is quite frankly world class. A fine balance of new and used oak.

The reds are very approachable and all their wines are smartly affordable.

Their highly creative winemaker is Australian born, New Zealand raised Ajay Chavan.

Ajay Chavan – Mayhem winemaker

 

Over at Meyer Family Vineyards JAK and Janice focus on Burgundian wines Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and wine fans everywhere are  all better off for it.  Some wines are only available through the wine club.

Six different Pinot Noirs, including a “field blend”.  All clones in this vineyard are grown, picked, fermented together and aged in neutral oak for almost a year.

And

Six different Chardonnays.

Highly sought after and well worth the chase.

Winemaker is the gifted Chris Carson with assist and support  from Ajay Chavan.

Chris Carson_Meyer Winemaker (SomethingBlue)

Best of all, all the wines we talk about can be found in one location – Meyer Family Vineyards  Okanagan Falls.

www.mfvwines.com

www.mayhemwines.com

 

2021 Old Main Road Chardonnay (Naramata)

2022 Okanagan Valley Chardonnay (OK Falls, Osoyoos, Naramata)

2021 McLean Creek Road  Chardonnay (OK Falls)

We do chat about the Meyer Pinot Noirs..

2022 Mayhem Sauvignon Blanc (Naramata)

2022 Mayhem Rose (Oliver)

2022 Pinot Gris (Osoyoos)

2022 Riesling (Naramata)

  

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 Repeats:

2023 Vancouver Wine fest

2023 BC Cider Festival

 

 

 

EP 267-From the Vault: Bob Dylan turned 80, comments from past Interviews

August 5, 2023 Mulligan Stew Podcast

hello

Bob Dylan turned 80 on Monday the 24th.

As part of our coverage at CKUA, I started digging into old interviews looking for comments on Bob’s music, influence, and legacy.

I’m delighted to bring you a select group of artists who bring insight into the singular artist we’re celebrating.

A man for many. Matched by few.

Bob Dylan – Thank you for those 80 years.

Guests are:

David Bowie

Susan Tedeschi &  Derek Trucks

Robbie Robertson

Colin Linden

The Avett Brothers

Barney Bentall and Steve Dawson

Greg Keelor

Subscribe to the MulliganStew podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify

 

August 5th, 2023- Michele Faro/Pietradolce Mt. Etna Alex Nel.  S African  Winemaker at Fort Berens  

August 5, 2023 Tasting Room Radio 0:59:45

hello

Michele Faro/Pietradolce Mt. Etna

Alex Nel.  S African  Winemaker at Fort Berens  

 

THE SHOW

 Michele Faro  – Owner Pietradolce Mt Etna

Selwyn Rawstron – Epson Wines Canada

 

Michele Faro’s Grandfather toiled long and hard to grow vineyards on the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily.

When Michele took over the vineyards at Pietradolce in 2005/6 there were perhaps 10 vineyards on the island.

Now,  in part because of Pietradolce success,  there are hundreds of wineries there now.

 

 A native of Catania, Sicily, Michele Faro’s enthusiasm for agriculture began with his family, which has been dedicated to cultivating various crops – including wine grapes on the southern slopes of Etna – for generations.

After receiving his degree in agronomy from the University of Catania, he decided to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and make wine, this time on the northern slopes of the volcano, which was slowly beginning a new era in volcanic wines.

 

Michele and his family founded Pietradolce in 2006 with the main goal of producing wines with an immense sense of place, respecting the traditions of a one-of-a-kind wine zone, and pumping new life into tiny pre-phylloxera vineyards of native Sicilian grapes Nerello Mascalese and Carricante.

These vineyards hold  Pietradolce’s tremendous legacy and are used to produce their Cru wines.

Michele Faro

This is the land were bush vines thrive.  Etna supplies water for the hot months via the snow that sits atop during the Winter.

Pietradolce was established on the northern slopes of Mount Etna by the Faro family, whose passions are viticulture, agriculture, and all things Etna.

High altitudes, mineral-rich volcanic soils, native grapes, an exceptional Mediterranean, climate, low intervention in the cellar, and very old vines are the perfect ingredients for elegant wines with a one-of-a-kind signature, style, and enormous sense of place.

Michele joins us via Zoom from the Northern slope of Mt Etna. Selwyn was in either Calgary or Vancouver.

 

  1. Pietradolce “Barbagalli” Etna Rosso DOC 2018
  2. Pietradolce “Contrada Santo Spirito” Etna Rosso DOC 2019
  3. Pietradolce “Contrada Rampante” Etna Rosso DOC 2019
  4. Pietradolce “Feudo di Mezzo” Etna Rosso DOC 2019 (not yet in Market)
  5. Pietradolce “Archineri” Etna Rosso DOC 201

 

http://www.pietradolce.it/eng/home.html

www.empsoncanada.com

Alessandro Nel – Winemaker/Viticulturist at Fort Berens. Lillooet, BC

Alex Nel joined the team at Fort Berens as Winemaker and Viticulturist in January 2021.  Alex, his wife Tami and children came from the Stellenbosch wine region of South Africa.

While Alex wasn’t around for the harvest of the grapes he’ll be talking about, he’s been involved with all aspects of the reserve wines since his arrival.

Alex Nel Ft Beren

Alex curated the barrel selection of wines that would go into their 2020 vintage red reserve wines.

Speaking of their red wines, the 2023 Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards gave their 2020 Cabernet Franc Reserve a Platinum Medal, representing the top 13 wines of the competition. We tasted over  500 wines in three days.  On 186 cases were produced.  If you see it, grab it.

Alex and I talked about the differences between growing in South Africa and Lillooet.

What surprised him about our soils, weather and climate?

How different are our wines in taste and complexity?

And what’s up ahead for the wines of Fort Berens??

 

Here are the wines we’ll taste and talk about with Alex.

 

Riesling 2022

Small Lot Dry Riesling 2022

Small Lot Gruner Veltliner 2022

Pinot Gris  2022

Chardonnay 2022

Rose 2022 – (all 6 available now)

Cabernet Franc Reserve 2020 – released in June

Meritage Reserve 2020 (in Fall)

Red Gold 2020 (in Fall)

 

 

www.fortberens.ca

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

Meyer Family Vineyards

Mayhem Wines