Sara Park and Cam Duke, the co-founders of Coastal Craft Beverages in Victoria always throw a great pour.
As in previous years, they head for the 8th-floor skyline suites at the top of Parkside Hotel in downtown Victoria.
They work exclusively with producers who are independent and family-owned. Artisans who focus on sustainability and care for the Planet and its people.
“I have a real passion for working with local, BC, Craft Producers and helping them grow their businesses. We have some of the most talented Winemakers, Distillers, Craft Brewers & Cidermakers in North America – right here! I’ve met and worked with incredibly knowledgeable and passionate people in this business. I feel very lucky to do what I do, and work on the west coast.” Sara Park.
“Working with like-minded, passionate people who take such incredible pride in their workmanship and crafts is a privilege to be a part of. I’m excited to continue growing these relationships and contribute to each of their success stories.” Cameron Duke
Jacqueline Downey Photography
Meet the Makers
Provincial Spirits –Jesse BannisterFounder, Owner
Jesse Bannister-Provincial Spirits
Winemaker’s Cut –Michal Mosny,Winemaker and Owner
Mike Mosny – Wine Makers Cut
Sheringham Distillery and Lumette –Jason MacIsaac, Master Distiller, and Owner
Sheringham Distillery and Lumette –Jason MacIsaac, Master Distiller, and Owner
Junction Cider –Cody Brown (Owner),
Junction Cider –Cody Brown (Owner),
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards –Gordon Fitzpatrick,Owner/VP
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards –Gordon Fitzpatrick, Owner/VP
I’ve waited a long time to finally talk to Scott from The Waterboys.
I found him at his home in Dublin.
Mike is a founding member, lead singer, and songwriter of The Waterboys.
I was truly looking forward to his new album All Souls Hill which was released Friday.
Because Mike grew up studying English literature and philosophy so you know his lyrics and song structure are always going to be different.
Mike moved through the brit punk scene and finally found himself forming The Waterboys.
Almost 25 albums later..he’s writing, composing, and singing better than ever.
As always, Mike and Waterboys music cannot be pinned down. Round peg. Square hole.
Check out the track Passing Through..a very old gospel/folk song that he’s re-written the lyrics to – to reflect our lives today. It took him 10 years to write and it’s 9 minutes long.
The Stew is back . After 10 days of fundraising for donor supported CKUA.
(you did donate, right?)
This first Stew will be a celebration of NOT having to talk.
New music from Lyle Lovett/Bonnie Raitt/Govt Mule/Norah Jones/Barney Bentall/Willie and more.
A tonne of tracks and a special guest
Mike Scott – Founder and leader of The Waterboys.
They have a just released their album All Souls Hill which includes a 9 minute version of the folk /gospel classic Passing Through..that Mike added lyrics to – to reflect current history.
He tells the story on todays Stew and then we play it for you. It ends with a reference to George Floyd.
The much longer complete interview with great storytelling can be heard on The Mulligan Stew Podcast.
(subscribe on Spotify .Apple Podcasts)
The ZOOM video of our interview from Dublin can be seen on our You Tube Channel (terrydavidmulligan)
On May 10th and 11th, Top Drop Vancouver returns, with a continued focus on sustainably-farmed, handcrafted wines offering a distinct sense of place, without heavy-handed winemaking trickery to get in the way.
Top Drop is now in its seventh year.
.
Over two days, Top Drop offers Vancouver’s wine professionals and enthusiasts unique events and opportunities. As Top Drop’s flagship experience, The Main Event is a walk-around, grazing-style tasting where attendees can enjoy sips and stories from the principals of 40 participating international wineries.
The Main Event will take place from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 10 and 11, at Yaletown’s Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews). A full list of event participants follows, and can be found at TopDrop.ca. Tickets are $125 until they’re sold out, and available online at TopDrop.ca.
Event proceeds go to the BC Hospitality foundation, an organization providing financial support to individuals from the hospitality industry facing a major medical crisis.
Top Drop’s annual grand tasting features dozens of international, terroir-focused wineries and the people behind the wines.
Kurtis will be talking about the wines that are starred ***
Aldegheri, Valpolicella, Italy
w/ Jane Glees, Export Director
Anselmi, Soave, Veneto, Italy
w/ Lisa Anselmi, Family Proprietor
***Ashes & Diamonds, Napa Valley, California, USA
w/ Kashy Khaledi, Proprietor + Owner
Averill Creek Vineyard, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
w/ Brent Rowland, Winemaker
***Azienda Agricola Bruna Grimaldi , Piedmont, Italy
w/ Martina Fiorino, Family Proprietor + Sales Manager
***Bella Wines, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada
w/ Jay Drysdale, Owner + Winemaker
***Benjamin Bridge, Gaspereau Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada
w/ Jean-Benoit Deslauriers, Winemaker
***Chiorri Perugia, Umbria, Italy
w/ Francesco Strangis, Proprietor + Winemaker
***Creek & Gully Cider, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada
w/ Annelise Simonsen, Proprietor + Director
Elk Cove, Gaston, Oregon, USA
w/ Cam Christie, Director Of Distribution & Sales
***Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada
w/ Gordon Fitzpatrick, President
***Free Form by Okanagan Crush Pad, Okanagan Valley, Canada
w/ Matt Dumayne, Chief Winemaker
***Gekkeikan, Folsom, California, USA
w/ Koichi Murakami, VP of Sales & Marketing
***Hedges Family Estate, Red Mountain, Washington, USA
w/ Christophe Hedges, General Manager
***Lightning Rock Winery, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada
w/ Jordan Kubek, Winegrower
***Long Shadows, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA
w/ Dane Narbaitz, Director of Sales & Marketing
***Marchesi Di Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
w/ Valentina Abbona, Family Member + Ambassador
***Martin’s Lane Winery, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada
w/ Shane Munn, Winemaker
Medici Ermete, Reggio Emilia, Italy
w/ Ermes Scardova, Export Director
Mirafiore, Piedmont, Italy
w/ Chiara Destefanis, Export Area Manager
Susana Balbo Wines, Mendoza, Argentina
w/ German Pungitore, General Manager
***Synchromesh Wines, Okanagan Falls, BC, Canada
w/ Alan Dickinson, Proprietor + Winemaker + Farmer
Born in Cuba, Alex fell in love with a Canadian beauty & immigrated to Canada. Alex packed into his belonging’s his many songs and sharp knowledge of the history of Cuban music.
Mendo is his 9th album.
With those 9 albums, Alex has won 2 Juno awards and is up for another this month. He’s also won four Latin Grammy Awards and at the recent 2022 event, he won his first Grammy Award.
Alex is a completely self-contained artist. Put an instrument in front of him and very likely he can play it.
During the Covid pandemic, he decided to collaborate with other players, singers and songwriters. The songs came alive and Mendo became yet another turning point in his career.
Alex has been on Mulligan Stew before. On the Juno couch in Calgary with Jim and Devin Cuddy and again on Zoom.
So happy to welcome back a Spanish-speaking, English riffing star on the rise.
Alex Cuba brings Mendo. (The essence of the soul)
Biography:
Though raised in Artemisa, an hour outside of Havana, Alex Cuba’s artistry is as far-flung as the place he has settled and lived for over fifteen years: Smithers, BC, 14 hours north of Vancouver. His music at once incorporates his roots and is a unique amalgam of styles, having collaborated with artists ranging from Jason Mraz to Ron Sexsmith and Nelly Furtado; and bringing together melodies, popsoul hooks and rock chords in songs that may seem to bear little resemblance to traditional Cuban form.
A forward-thinking, indie-minded artist, Alex has amassed a steadily growing following among critics and fans. With over 20 awards and nominations to his name, including 4 Latin Grammys and two Junos Awards and three Grammy nominations.
Alex carries his Cuba within, incorporating subtle jazz influences, gained from his early years as a bass player in Cuba, and tasteful, sophisticated chords and lyrics expressing his poetry in an undeniably Cuban way. His growing body of work defines a unique musical place in the Latin diaspora.
Building on the 2017 Grammy nominated release Lo Unico Constante with its back to roots introspection, his latest collection of songs was released in September 2019 on the full length album “Sublime”, featuring six songs with Latin American singers and songwriters. Alex joined with Toronto based engineer, John Bailey to record in Gibson’s BC at The Farm Studio.
The decision to record all the instruments came to Alex Cuba years ago when making demos for new songs and wanting to share that undeniable personal sound.
Just know, they’re making everything in small batch productions. As soon as you taste these delicious wines, this piece of information becomes important. They will go quickly. Think about joining their wine club.
We welcome Joel and Linda because dreams DO come true.
Stillhead Distillery Inc. opened its doors in October of 2017, founded by the Colebank family, husband and wife team Erica and Brennan, along with parents Christal and Ron.
Brennan Colebank graduated from UNBC with a Bachelor of Computer Science degree..
After working almost 15 years in the tech industry, Brennan left his job to pursue his dream career blending the two things he loved most; chemistry and whisky!
Four years later, the Stillhead team has grown from a family of 4 to a team of 9, with each year showing more potential and room to grow.
stillhead distilling
Stillhead’s vision is to reflect the essence of island living in their brand and all of their spirits. By adding distinct Vancouver Island ingredients to their products, they’ve provided a way to showcase and express the spirit of this wonderful area they call home, in every bottle.
I tasted my way through 6 small sample bottles of Stillhead
Several “old” releases…
Rye Whisky – Small Cask Finish. Nose. rye bread and malt Palate. Allspice, toast, coconut and leather.
DJ Kearney has trained over a thousand sommelier candidates throughout North America for the International Sommelier Guild and the Wine and Spirit Education Trust and has consulted for many global wine marketing bodies — including Wines of Chile, Wines of South Africa, Wines of California, Jura Wines, Sopexa, and Wines of Argentina — while leading educational master-classes for these entities around North America.
DJ judges, moderates, presents at wine festivals and competitions around the globe. She brings a truly global perspective to her work. DJ has been the Drinks Editor for Vancouver Magazine and critic/contributor/judge for Wine Align.
Long-time friend, I asked DJ to comment on the 2021 Wine Align final results.
As for the Wine Align Canadian Wine Awards, DJ Kearney was there, right in the middle of it, tasting and judging many 100’s of Canadian wines.
I also asked Deej to comment on recent wines from anywhere that made an impression on her,
And comments on BC, Ontario plus wines that make great gifts year-round.
· PIERRE PAILLARD – LES PARCELLES BOUZY GRAND CRU 750 ml | SKU: 477372 France $67.99
· POL ROGER – RESERVE BRUT 750 ml | SKU: 51953 France $73.99
· PENEDES CABERNET SAUVIGNON – TORRES MAS LA PLANA 2015 750 ml | SKU: 315838 Spain $67.99 on sale from $72.99 On Sale (until Jan 1)
· CHABLIS – WILLIAM FEVRE CHAMPS ROYAUX 2018 750 ml | SKU: 25270 France $36.99
· CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA – MAZZEI SER LAPO 2015 750 ml | SKU: 176842 Italy $29.99 down from $32.99 On Sale (until Jan 1)
·
Our BC conversation included
Syrah
Riesling
Chardonnay
Cab Franc
Sparklings
DJ and I finish with a question we always ask ourselves.
Will BC wines ever be truly available in Ontario and other provinces and will Ontario wines show up on shelves in BC? If you’re a wine fan, perhaps you could ask your local member of parliament.
N/V The Fizzy One (a pre-release). A beautiful blend of 62% Kerner and 38% Pinot Gris. “it’s for Wine Club Members but for you a tease and a treat” Hey! Join the club.
2021 Dolcetto – Wild mix of ripe cherry, plums, rose on the nose plus spice and dark chocolate. Winemaker Keira Le Franc speaks Italian through wine and I understand what she’s saying.
Considering the entire process this wine goes through, partially dried skins then more merlot added – for 8 months, it is totally worth your time and dough to find it and enjoy Winemaker/Owner Paul Gardner’s craft.
The podcast feature guest is Wine Judge and Writer Treve Ring pouring 8 Prosecco’s from the legendary Conegliano Valdobbiadene region of Italy.
The amazing Treve Ring is a wine writer and editor, judge and speaker, and perpetual traveler. A certified sommelier, WSET diploma holder, French wine scholar, instructor, and Sherry instructor, Treve is based in Victoria, though is most often found on a plane or in a vineyard.
This Podcast story begins in Conegliano Valdobbiadene, a hilly area in North-East Italy, 50 km from Venice and around 100 from the Dolomites. Here, for over three centuries, people have grown the grapes that produce Prosecco Superiore, whose success began with the founding of Italy’s first School of Winemaking in 1876. The production area covers 15 communes and represents the heart of the world of Prosecco; it is one of Italy’s historic denominations, recognized in 1969. In 2009, with the reorganization of the denominations for Prosecco, the Ministry of Agriculture classified it as a Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin (D.O.C.G.), the highest level of quality for Italian wines.
Treve brings 8 Proseccos from Conegliano Valdobbiadene. The heart of Prosecco Superiore D.O C.G.
Treve Ring presents a Master Class in Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco. Enjoy!
Because we’re all going to be doing a LOT of talking over the next bunch of days – I thought I’d just lay out two hours of tunes and get out of the way.
Along the way, I’m celebrating the birthdays of
Roy Hamilton 1929
Dusty Springfield 1939
Peter Garrett (mid oil) 1953
Celebrate
Chuck Berry’s recording of Roll over Beethoven (1964)
The Stones release the first lp England’s Greatest Hitmakers (1964)
And remember the passing of EddieCochran – taxi car accident in England
The year was 1960. Eddie was but 21
He has already written and recorded
Somethin’ Else
Cut Across Shorty
Summertime Blues
Twenty Flight Rock
Playing them all. Back to Back.
NEW music from
Arcade Fire
Pink Floyd
Keb Mo
William Prince
Ruthie Foster and Meshell Ndegeocello
One more. Celebrate the memory of Carlton Barrett. Drummer for Bob Marley and the Wailers. The man who gave the World One Drop.
Have a memorable Easter. See you at Spring Fundraiser
Mike Scott – Founder and leader of The Waterboys.
