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August 6th, 2022- Anthony Gismondi & The National Wine Awards of Canada – 2022

August 5, 2022 Tasting Room Radio 00:39:36

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The National Wine Awards of Canada – 2022

With Co-Founder Anthony Gismondi.

 

THE SHOW:

 

 Our guest is the highly respected wine writer, reviewer, and industry leader Anthony Gismondi.

Anthony Gismondi

Anthony Gismondi is a Canadian wine journalist and one of North America’s most influential wine voices. His twice-weekly column in The Vancouver Sun, which he has written since 1989, is read across Canada through Postmedia Network, reaching close to 10 million readers.

His comprehensive wine review website www.gismondionwine.com, one of the first such sites on the internet, features over 30,000 tasting notes, added daily. It is an important resource for trade and consumers in Canada and 114 other countries.

Anthony hosts BC Food & Wine Radio Show the longest-running, weekly wine and food show on Canadian radio for 25 years. The one-hour show is broadcast on 20 radio stations across British Columbia and is available everywhere as a podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, and more.

Gismondi is the co-founder of the annual National Wine Awards of Canada, the largest and broadest competition for Canadian Wine since its inception 21 years ago. Anthony continues to run the annual event as co-chair. He is also the editor of the Canada wine section in the world’s best-selling wine book Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book. In addition, Anthony is a much sought-after moderator and consultant.

He will occasionally post as ‘The Spitter”

NWAC2022_icon

The 21st running of the National Wine Awards of Canada wrapped up on June 23 in Niagara.  After much deliberation and number checking,  the results rolled out on July 15th, starting with Sparkling Wines. 

The rest of the category results were rolled out throughout the rest of July, with the final Platinum, Best Performing Small Winery, and Winery of the Year announcements coming at the end of the month.  (We’ve included links to all the results below)

Co-Head Judges Anthony Gismondi and David Lawrason

The 2022 National Wine Awards of Canada were founded by David Lawrason and Anthony Gismondi, ‘The Nationals’ are the largest and most respected Canadian wine competition.

In 2022, 24 judges tasted 1,890 entries from more than 250 wineries. Canadian wine is indeed gathering acclaim internationally, but ‘The Nationals’ is the most important peer competition local wineries can enter. With nearly every producer of note in the country competing, making it to the top ten of any category list is special. Getting on the annual list of the Top 25 Wineries in Canada is one of the most sought accolades in the business.

nwac22_judgesadmin

Judges and Admin Staff of the National Wine Awards of Canada

The entries came from eight provinces. British Columbia had the highest representation with 137 wineries entered, Ontario came second with 87, followed by wineries from Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.

The wines were all served blind (producer, origin, and price were not revealed) but identified and organized into flights by grape variety or style. The top medalists were tasted in multiple rounds by many different judges.

The judges only tasted a limited quantity of wines each day so their palates could stay fresh and focused, and the wines were served in high-quality glasses at just the right temperature. All this was to ensure that each wine was treated with the respect it deserves.

Finally, after an exhilarating series of announcements on July 29 WineAlign were thrilled to conclude their results with Canada’s Winery of the Year, the Top 25 Wineries in Canada, the Top 10 B.C. Wineries and the Top 10 Ontario Wineries.

 

Congratulations to all the winners of the 2022 National Wine Awards of Canada!

 

FINAL RESULTS:


https://www.winealign.com/awards/2022/07/29/2022-nwac-results/

 

Medal Winners by Category:

Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon
Chardonnay
Cider
Gamay
Icewine & Late Harvest
Mead, Fruit Wine & Fortified
Merlot
Orange Wines (extended skin contact)
Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio
Pinot Noir
Red Blends
Red Single Varieties – Others
Riesling
Rosé
Sauvignon Blanc
Sparkling
Syrah
White Single Varieties – Others
White Blends

www.gismondionwine.com

https:/ww.winealign.com/awards

https://twitter.com/bcfwradio?lang=en

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Hester Creek – includes new sparkling

Bartier Brothers

Fort Berens

HaltWhistle Cheese pairing with Unsworth – Cowichan

Cowichan Wine Month – kick off at Brentwood

 

 

 

Mulligan Stew July 30th 2022- Sam Philips, Colin James & Jeff Healey

July 29, 2022 Mulligan Stew

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July 30 2003 Sam Philips died in Memphis.

He lead an amazing life..

 

From a family in the deep south that grew cotton.  Sam would work in the fields with African American pickers. They brought their songs with them and Sam grew to love the music.

He worked his way through radio and played a mix of black and white music that he loved.

When he started Sun Records in Memphis..it made perfect sense that he would record Jr Parker, Howling Wolf, and Charlie Rich side-by-side.

Then he went looking for a white singer who shared his love of black music and found him in ELVIS.

When I had the opportunity to visit Sun Records Studio…I just sat there and tried to imagine the history bouncing  off the walls

So years later, I find myself at the opening of the Rock Hall of Fame in Cleveland in 1995. Sam Phillips is being inducted and comes into the press room to speak with journalists and reporters as a group.

I waited until the very last question and asked him this question…

“Sam. They have recreated your studio here in the Hall. But how do they recreate the magic, the creative juice that connected in your original rooms? The incredible spark that happened between you and Elvis. How does that get captured here?”

His answer just blew me away… The other voice you hear is Mary Wilson from The Supremes.

 

The other guest visit is with Colin James and Jeff Healey…many years ago at MuchMusic in Toronto.

Just jamming in the studio. A Jimmy Reed song.  I told the guys I’d give them 5 bucks each if they worked my name into the lyrics.

A Great jam, both guys solo on their acoustic guitars – Five bucks later it’s followed by a giggle.

 This was pure magic..still is!

Here’s the long weekend music list – goes well with burgers.

 

OH…the Podcast is Cheech  and Chong.  Years ago, back in Vancouver where it all started for them.

 

PLAYLIST:

Mulligan Stew Terry David Mulligan CKUA Radio
Let me love you, baby (live) Buddy Guy Rock Hall of Fame 2004
Don’t Mind Patti Griffin with Robert Plant Tape
Sunny afternoon The Kinks Summer
I got a feelin (live) Norah Jones Live. Empire State Building
Love me like a man Diana Krall The girl in the other room
TDMulligan – The Stew @tdmulligan Next – Mark Knopfler and Emmy Lou Harris
right now (live) Mark Knopfler and EmmyLou Harris Real Live Roadrunning
coal mine iskwe – Tom Wilson Mother Love
Coyotes Banff Next Coming UP -Sting and Bruce Springsteen Mulligan Stew
Every breathe you take (live) Sting and Bruce Springsteen Released. Human Rights Concerts
My guy Mary Wells Hitsville
Pride and Joy Marvin Gaye Hitsville
TDMulligan The Stew @tdmulligan
Roadrunner Jr Walker and the All Stars Shotgun
Roll with it Steve Winwood Roll with it
Roadrunner Jr Walker Shotgun
Mulligan Stew NEXT – The man who invented Rock Sam Phillips
Sam Phillips Interview With Mary Wilson from The Supremes- At Rock Hall of Fame 1995
Rocket 88 Ike Turner and Jackie Brenston. Delta Cats Golden Hits
In dreams Roy Orbison Very best of
Big River Johnny Cash Greatest Hits
Paying the cost to be the boss BB King His Best
Great balls of Fire Jerry Lee Lewis Greatest HIts
Hound Dog Elvis Presley The Searcher
This is Year 26 of Mulligan Stew Next – John Batiste @tdmulligan
Sweet Jon Batiste.Pentatonix. Diane Warren Single
Sing me a song William Prince – Serena Ryder Single
Rhinestone Cowboy The Jim Cuddy Band Countrywide Soul
Sing The Small Glories Assiniboine & Red
Mulligan Stew @tdmulligan Next Colin James and Jeff Healey
Baby what you want me to do Colin James and Jeff Healey Jam at MuchMusic with tdm
Wouldnt it be nice The Beach Boys Greatest Hits
Windows are rolled down Amos Lee Mission Bell
This has been The Stew with TDMulligan Take in a Festival
This has been The Stew with TDMulligan Go to a Festival
Fire Escape Dan Mangan Single
Running up That Hill (A deal with God) Kate Bush Hounds of Love

EP 216 | A conversation with Cheech and Chong

July 29, 2022 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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“Comedy is the ultimate truth. Jazz is hitting the notes that no one else would hit, and comedy is saying words that no one else would say.” ~ Tommy Chong

“Marijuana was a new phenomenon when we started. Now it’s for everyone – doctors, lawyers, presidents.” ~ Cheech Marin

I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. Again.

While I was doing rock radio in Vancouver, Richard Marin and Tommy Chong were creating comedy stand-up in a strip club. Between the strippers’ sets,  they would take the stage and riff for 10 minutes.  Tommys’ family owned the club so they could work the stage as much as they liked.

Things got funny.

One night I was walking through Bacedas..a swanky 5 room club downtown and there in the comedy room were Cheech and Tommy gathering up camera gear from around the stage.

Me – “whaddya doing guys?”

Cheech  – “we’re recording all the bits we do  and whatever gets the most  laughs, we’re turning it  into a pitch for a stoner movie”

Years later “Up in Smoke”  was a blockbuster, made for chump change and they were off and running.

As Tommy says in the interview – we got so successful we broke up.

Cheech headed into films and tv work – Tommy did one-nighters and scratched out a living.   Tommy then famously got busted for manufacturing glass bongs.  He turned his 9 months in jail into a book and a documentary.

 It wasn’t until they sat down and talked things through that Cheech and Chong returned to tours and work and fame.

I found this interview hiding in an old file. If I happen to get my hands on the rest of the interviews, I’ll let you know.

This was in Vancouver at the Opus Hotel during their reunion tour. First time back on stage in Vancouver in many years.

Survivors. Going bigger and better than “the man” ever thought they would.

Enjoy –

JULY 30 2022-SUMMER SPIRITS with Davin De Kergommeaux

July 28, 2022 Tasting Room Radio 01:03:53

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SUMMER SPIRITS with Davin De Kergommeaux

Proudly Sponsored by Harbour Air

THE SHOW

 My spirits education began and ended with the same bottle of  Lemon Gin.

My brother and I were the youngest members of the Kamloops Rube Band.

All the other band members were college-age or dads.

 

Denis and I tried to keep up with “the boys” when we did parades or road trips.

As much as we liked the first taste of lemon gin, we HATED ourselves the morning after.

For me, it only took one bottle and I never went back to spirits. That is until I met Davin de Kergommeaux at the Canadian Whisky Championships in Victoria.

Davin has been an author and whisky reviewer/judge for over two decades.

Davin De Kergommeaux

His books Canadian Whisky The Portable Expert, The New Portable Expert, and The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries are invaluable to those of you seeking support and deep information on whisky and spirits.

www.canadianwhisky.org

So.  When I decided to do a Summer Spirits special – Davin was a natural co-host.

I asked two things of him:

Please recommend spirit makers who are also storytellers

and…   stop me when I get stupid.

He was great on the first ask and on the second request,  Davin almost gave up on me.

 

Davin’s recommendations were:

Caitlin Quinn – Head Distiller at Eau Claire Distillery, Turner Valley, Alberta.

Negroni. Old Fashion. Rupert’s Whisky Sassafras.

www.eauclairedistillery.ca

Caitlin Quinn – Eau Claire

 

Jake Clark –  Consumer Engagement Manager  Strait and Narrow – Custom Handcrafted Gins/Pacific Coast Cocktails

Grapefruit Rosemary/Pear Rhubarb/Peach Elderflower/Lemon Lavender  (Makers of 1908 Gin)

www.straitandnarrow.com

 

Bob Baxter – President & Co-founder Yukon Brewing Company

Spiked Seltzers –  Cherry and Lime/Pineapple Ginger/Raspberry/Basil/Mango Hibiscus and a great Lemon Lavender Radler (German Shandy)

www.yukonbeer.com

Bryce Parsons – Master Distiller  Last Best Brewing. Calgary.

The man who created 52 different gins in one year.

Last Best Afterglow Gin & Soda – Savage Love  Tom Collins – Fortunella Citrus Iced Tea

 

www.lastbestbrewing.com

 

Colin McDougall – Corby’s Spirits Portfolio Consultant.

JP Wiser’s 18-year-old Whisky and Lot 40 Dark Oak 100% Rye Whisky

The man is a storyteller. Enjoy the tales.

www.corby.ca

 

Thank you Davin De Kergommeaux, Letittia King, Rob Roycroft and Heather Gillespie at Yukon Brewing.

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

Fort Berens – Releases and Awards

Aug 4 Cowichan pour at Brentwood School

Wine Align – National Wine Awards

Township 7 New Wines

HaltWhistle Cowichan Cheese and Unsworth Pairing Session

Hester Creek – Foating down The Creek

 

 

EP 215 | Courtney Barnett Documentary- Anonymous Club

July 22, 2022 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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Our guest Danny Cohen is a Melbourne-based director who has filmed and photographed some of the most interesting and influential figures in contemporary music.

Shot on vivid 16mm film over a three-year period, ANONYMOUS CLUB chronicles notoriously shy, Melbourne-based musician Courtney Barnett’s ups and downs on the world tour for her album Tell Me How You Really Feel. Featuring Barnett’s unguarded narration from her audio diary, recorded on a dictaphone provided by filmmaker Danny Cohen, the film delivers frank and unprecedented insight into Barnett’s creative process, the sacrifices and inner conflicts set in motion by fame, and the sometimes dark backdrop to her whimsical, relatable poetic compositions.

Based for much of her adult life in Melbourne, Courtney Barnett first found critical acclaim with 2013’s The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas, and broke into the mainstream in 2015 with her debut album, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit. Garnering a coveted Best New Artist Grammy nomination and numerous other accolades, the album stands as a generational classic.

Barnett is also a powerhouse live act, playing slots at festivals including Coachella, Bonnaroo, Governor’s Ball, Primavera, and Lollapalooza. In 2021, she released Things Take Time, Take Time, a remarkable artistic step forward.

Anonymous Club opens across Canada over the next several weeks.

Mulligan Stew July 23rd 2022-Organic and Sustainable playlist for Saturdays Stew

July 22, 2022 Mulligan Stew

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A hand-picked, organic and sustainable playlist for Saturdays Stew

We remember the legacy of Amy Winehouse who died 11 years ago Saturday.  She was 27.

It’s Allison Krauss’ Birthday so you can expect she and Bob.

Also Tony Joe White’s Birthday – Got some Bubba Jones

Two new tracks from Blackie and the Rodeo Kings.

New from Tedeschi Trucks

New Dr John

Live tracks from

Kris Kristofferson

Etta James and Eddie Cleanhead Vinson

Eric Clapton

Delbert McClinton

James Brown

Bill Withers

And Summer Jazz from

Joni Mitchell and Herbie Hancock

Bruce Hornsby

The Gene Harris Quartet

Peter Frampton Band with Larry Carlton

Nick La Riviere and Best Laid Plans

The Mulligan Stew Podcast features an interview with Danny Cohen – director of the Courtney Barnett Documentary Anonymous Club 

Film opens today in Calgary

PLAYLIST:

Mulligan Stew Terry David Mulligan CKUA Radio
The way it is Bruce Hornsby Here comes the noise makers
All blues Peter Frampton Band with Larry Carlton All Blues
Playing with my emotions Tedeschi Trucks Band I am the Moon 2: Ascention
Sleeping dogs best left alone Dr John Things happen that way
TDMulligan MulliganStew NEXT – Bill Withers and McCartney
Use me (live) Bill Withers Live at Carnegie Hall
Ain’t no sunshine (live) Paul McCartney MTV Unplugged
The Stew Mulligan Stew Podcast Anonymous Club
Sunfair Sundown Courtney Barnett Things take time, take time
Bubba Jones Tony Joe White Bubba Jones
There was a time (live) James Brown and the Famous Flames Live at The Apollo
TDMulligan Check out our Podcast on Courtney Barnett Coming up – Remembering Amy Winehouse
what would your Mama say Matt Anderson Halfway home by midnight
Get ready Nick LaRiviere and The Best Laid Plans Get Ready
Mulligan Stew -Terry David Mulligan Next – Amy Winehouse Remembered
Cupid Amy Winehouse Back to Black (Super Deluxe)
Valerie (live) Amy Winehouse Back to Black (Super Deluxe)
Wake up alone Amy Winehouse Back to Black (Super Deluxe)
TDM – The Stew Courtney Barnett Documentary on Podcast Next – Alison Krauss
Can’t let go Alison Krauss and Robert Plant Raising the roof
I’ve got dreams to remember Delbert McClinton LIVE
Stop and Listen Blackie and the Rodeo Kings O Glory
Coming UP – Clapton – Etta James – Kris Kristofferson- All Live
Crossroads (live) Eric Clapton Live at The Fillmore SF 1994
I just want to make love to you (live) Etta James & Eddie ‘Cleanhead’ Vinson Blues in the Night
Me and Bobby McGee (live at Gilley’s) Kris Kristofferson Live at Gilleys
This has been Mulligan Stew – Year 26 TDMulligan Have a great weekend
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (live) Joni Mitchell and Herbie Hancock Live at Bread and Roses
Summertime (live) The Gene Harris Quartet It’s the real soul

July 23rd, 2022- The Wonderful Wines of OZ

July 22, 2022 Tasting Room Radio 00:41:38

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The Wonderful Wines of OZ

 We start with Tim Dolan, the Senior Winemaker at  Peter Lehmann Wines in the Barossa Valley.

 

Tim Dolan

Tim Dolan is the third generation of his family to make wine in the Barossa, following his father Nigel and grandfather Bryan – two of the most influential winemakers of their respective eras.

Tim worked for pocket money after school in just about every part of the winery, from crushing to cleaning. With a degree in Oenology from The University of Adelaide, in the five years that followed Tim set out to amass as much international experience as possible working vintages in eight different regions across the USA, Italy, Canada, and  Australia. He spent several chilling vintages in Niagara but was impressed with Canadian wines.

In 2011 Tim joined the Peter Lehmann team under the stewardship of then Chief Winemaker, Andrew Wigan. Since that time he has proven himself to be a talented and highly competent winemaker brimming with passion and ideas. Tim is now the Sr Winemaker at Peter Lehmann.

Peter Lehmann

It didn’t go unnoticed that one of his winemaking team at Peter Lehmann is Brooke Blair,  who spent many years winemaking in Canada. Most of it with Jackson – Triggs in the South Okanagan.  She was often a guest in the first years of Tasting Room Radio, I hope to follow that info up and reconnect with Brooke.

Tim Dolan brings two solid wines to the show.

The Barossan Shiraz and The Barossan Chardonnay.  Both will go great with your Summer BBQ.

The Barossan Shiraz:  Best with an Angus beef burger – extra cheese, dill pickle, and a side of crunchy chips.

the barossan 2019 Shiraz

The Barossan Chardonnay:  Perfectly paired with BBQed chicken or Salmon, or pair it with a coconut and turmeric fish curry. This Chardonnay was made specifically for Canadian Wine Fans.

These wines are well made, balanced, and best of all – affordable!! Both under $20

the barossan 2021 chardonnay

www.peterlehmannwines.com

 

Back to Australia

We’re staying with Australian wines and winemakers for the last segment of this week’s TRR.

An interview from the archives from a  busy Top Drop gathering several years ago.

Behind  the Australian pouring, table were Wines of Australia ambassador Mark Davidson, Brendan Keys (BK Wines/Handmade Wines), and  Matt Fowles (Ladies who shoot their Lunch & Are you Game?)

Mark Davidson

www.wineaustralia.com

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

The Cheese and Wine special

Fort Berens

Township 7

Aug 4 pour in Mill Bay

 

EP 214 | Interview with directors of Documentary Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen. A Journey – A song

July 16, 2022 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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It’s not just a story of the life of Leonard Cohen.  It follows the life of his song Hallelujah.

Leonard wrote 130-150 verses for the song. Took him years and years.

Then when he released it on the album  Various Positions, his label in the USA,  Columbia Records, refused to release it.  It never got played and was almost forgotten…until John Cale recorded it for the tribute album I’m Your Fan and it began a life of its own. The songs passed from Dylan to Cale, to Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, kdlang to the Shrek Soundtrack. Now, it’s legendary. However, with Fame comes The Lame. Various singers have crushed the life out of Hallelujah in TV Talent shows.Some crediting the song to Buckley without knowing that Cohen lived it and wrote it.

Hallelujah started as a spiritual journey and ended, with various Leonard rewrites,  to become a secular and sexy anthem.

Post Shrek, Hallelujah took Leonard Cohen to audiences all over the World. It’s a heartfelt film that captures the brilliance of Leonard Cohen and the song.

The film was released Friday in the USA and in Toronto/Montreal  and I’ve heard it opens across Canada very shortly.

This is smashing filmmaking and epic storytelling.

The directors are Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine and they were my guests on Saturday’s Stew

https://www.sonyclassics.com/film/hallelujah/

 

Mulligan Stew July 16th 2022- Interview with directors of amazing Documentary,Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen. A Journey – A song

July 15, 2022 Mulligan Stew

hello

It’s not just a story of the life and career of Leonard Cohen.  It’s unique in that the film follows the life of his song,  Hallelujah.

Leonard wrote 130-150 verses for the song. Took him years and years. Then when he released Hallelujah on the album  Various Positions, his label in the USA,  Columbia Records, refused to release it.  It never got played and was forgotten…until John Cale recorded it for the tribute album I’m Your Fan and it began a life of its own. Now, it’s legendary.

Hallelujah started as a spiritual journey and with various Leonard rewrites, went on to become a secular and sexy anthem.

Hallelujah took Leonard Cohen to audiences all over the World and into the soundtrack of “Shrek”.

The film is released this Friday in the USA and I’ve heard it opens across Canada very shortly.

This is smashing filmmaking and epic storytelling.

The directors are Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine and they are my guests on Saturdays Stew

The complete interview can be heard on the Mulligan Stew Podcast right after The Stew is done.

The video of the interview can be seen on our YouTube Channel

As for the playlist, It starts with Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, and Jackson Browne jamming on Dylan’s Highway 61..

Aretha Live, U2 salute Billie Holiday, Beatles, Randy Newman,

We remember Bob Babbitt, an amazing bassist for Motown, who died July 16, 2012. Have a listen to his work on

Stevie Wonder – Sign, Sealed, Delivered. I’m Yours

Marvin Gaye – Inner City Blues

Smokey and the Miracles – Tears of a Clown

Plus James Browns Papa’s got a brand new Bag came out July 17 1965 and Funk Was Born.

New music from

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings

Tedeschi Trucks Band

Patty Griffin and Robert Plant,

Bonnie Raitt

Alice Toner and Joey Landreth

LOTS more.

-tdm

July 16th, 2022- Cowichan Valley Wineries Party and Pour Aug 4

July 15, 2022 Audio FIle, Tasting Room Radio 00:39:36

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Cowichan Valley Wineries Party and Pour Aug 4

A blend of stories from Cowichan Valley  and  Naramata Bench.

Starting with master storyteller Lorin Inglis, the GM of Enrico Winery in the Cowichan.

Then off to Upper Bench Road in Naramata and a visit with Wilbert and Joka Borren, the owners and winemakers at Four Shadows Winery.

And finally to the epi-centre of the Naramata Bench. We meet Nathan Todd,  President and GM of legendary Foxtrot Winery.

It’s the wine version of “something for everyone”

Lorin Inglis – Enrico Winery  GM (Cowichan)

TDM and Lorin Inglis

13 Cowichan wineries will kick off their August wine month on August 4th,  on a glorious Summer evening outside, on the lawn of the classic Brentwood College School in Mill Bay.

Lorin takes us through how the evening will unfold.

Wines poured by owners and winemakers, food from the Brentwood College kitchens, and music from Roland Barrett.

It’s such a great location and the people who made the wines are pouring, so you know  It will sell out.

If you can’t make the Aug 4th – then pick any other day in August. They’re ready to welcome you.

Details at www.cowichanwineries.com

 

 

  • Alderlea Vineyards
  • Averill Creek
  • Blue Grouse Estate Winery
  • Cherry Point Estate Wines
  • Damali Lavender and Winery
  • Divino Estate Winery
  • Emandare Vineyard
  • Zanatta Winery and Vineyards
  • Deol Estate Winery
  • Enrico Winery
  • Unsworth Winery and Restaurant
  • www.cowichanwineries.com 

 

 

 

Wilbert and Joka Borren – Co-owners of Four Shadows  (Upper Bench Naramata)

What a great story.

Wilbert and Joka

Joka and Wilbert were pig farmers in Lacombe Alberta with four growing sons. They had dreams of moving to the Okanagan and farming. That’s exactly what they did.

They bought a forgotten property on Upper Bench Road and decided to bring back the vineyards and plant their own vines to then sell the fruit to wineries.

Along the way, it made much more sense to become a winery and Four Shadows was born. The name is from a photo of their four sons.

Did I mention they had no wine knowledge but they knew how to farm pigs. I mean, how tough can it be to grow grapes?

They had amazing mentoring from Lindsay and Graham O’Rourke at Tightrope and consultant Pascal Madevon.  It paid off. They learned well.

You say “Pigs to Pinot”  They say “Swine to Wine.”

They poured

2020 Rose,  2020  Riesling Classic, 2020 Riesling Dry, 2020 Riesling sparkling, 2018 Pinot Noir and 2018 Merlot.  From Swine to Wine.

www.fourshadowsvineyard.com

 

Nathan Todd  President and GM  Foxtrot Winery (Naramata Bench) 

Even though he made his name working in very serious wine sales out of  New York City he did have an early connection to the Okanagan Valley.  Harvesting fruit to make ends meet.

Years later he blind-tasted a Foxtrot Pinot. It may have changed his life.

Nathan-Todd-Foxtrot-

He never forgot that wine and years later convinced his wine friend Douglas Barzelay to eventually buy the winery from the Allander family.

Barzelay is one of the  World’s leading authorities on Burgundian wines. Their wine consultant is Veronique Drouhin from Domaine Joseph Drouhin. Torsten Allander’s son Gustav was retained as winemaker. Quite a team.

Nathan poured:

2 versions of Foxly Rose 2019/2020 (both instantly likable. $24)

An Estate Vineyard 2019 Pinot Noir.  (everything a great Pinot should be. texture. balance. Defines a long finish.)

www.foxtrotwine.com

 

Thank you, Tina Baird, Naramata Bench. Thank you, Barry and Carol Beecroft for “the swim”.

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON  

  • Fort Berens – New Releases
  • August Wine Month – Cowichan
  • Howard Soon
  • Victoria Wine Festival