Ian Sutherland

June 6th, 2020- Winemaking Couples  –   Birch Block and 2House  

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Winemaking Couples  –   Birch Block and 2House

 

THE SHOW

 Block Party with Sarah and Murray Bancroft  (a series)

This whole show is about new school and old school winemaking.

Ian Sutherland and Valeria Tait have been a couple for years in the Okanagan but now have decided to make wine together. Finally.  After all those years. That’s the second half of TRR.

We start with one of the newest, coolest couples to ever become winemakers and farmers.

Just a couple of years ago Sarah and Murray Bancroft were living the life in Paris.

 

Murray is a trained chef but works in food and menu design/styling.

Sarah is an editor and is skilled at crafting digital sites and campaigns.

Now they’re farmers in Kaleden, just south of Penticton. Their winery is called Birch Block

www.birchblockvineyard.com

What we have in common is a love for a documentary called The Biggest Little Farm

“The Biggest Little Farm is about a young couple who decide to leave their old lives behind and buy a farm. The movie especially points out how hard it is to keep a farm running and all of the hardships, sadness and anger they face, but also the happy, beautiful moments and the relationships they build.”

https://www.biggestlittlefarmmovie.com/

I like these two and their story so much, we’re going to do a series of interviews..chronicling their growing season and the up and downs of being a new school winemaking team.

Sarah says the series is called Block Party.

Birch Block has released a Rose and a small lot chardonnay. The future sounds like Pinot Noir is in the plans. They have a guest house with French linen, Moroccan plates and Spanish hats.

If the wines are as stylish as these two..you’ll want to get your hands on some.

Valeria Tait and Ian Sutherland – Old School

When Meg and I first moved to the Naramata Bench in 2007, the very first winemaking locals we became friends with were Ian Sutherland and Val Tait.

Ian had founded Poplar Grove. A small vineyard with huge potential. Ian was a really good winemaker and always fun to be around.

Val was a viticulturist. Basically hired to design vineyards and consult in the planting and growing.  Painted Rock, Poplar Grove, Bench 1775.

Years went by.

Ian sold Poplar Grove and headed for Panama. Valeria became GM and winemaker at Bench 1775 and joined Ian in the off season. They built a beautiful home in Panama.

Now. FINALLY. They have decided to make wines together but not the same wine.

For example, they’ll both make a Cab Franc but one will be Ian’s take and the other Val’s.

Love that.

The wines will be called 2House..with a second label called Charisma.

They have a Tempranillo coming. Plus Bubble and  Semillon/Sauvignon.

Val has agreed to become the winemaker at Gold Hill, the label that the farming Gill family has built. Her partner is those wines is the not yet 30 year old Navi Gill. Definitely new school.

Navi joins us in the last  segment.

Instagram: @2housewine

https://www.goldhillwinery.com/

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

 

NEXT

The Hatch

Unsworth

Row 14 at Klippers Organics

Orofino

Road 13

September 14th 2013

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Tasting Room Radio B_BANNER2
This week: 14 BC wineries pour their latest releases and the Dean of Canadian Wine Writers John Schreiner ..shares his tasting notes.
Okanagan Crush Pad


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THE SHOW

It’s the annual Colour BC VQA Fall Release Tasting at the Vancouver Convention Centre
Take a BC wine journey through the growing wine regions of British Columbia!
The largest annual tasting of BC VQA wines in Vancouver, this event hosted 75 BC wineries, showcasing more than 300 BC VQA wines.
We are so pleased to present the talented people behind the wines. We hope you have fun as you discover their new fall releases.
There was ONE other question that I asked most of the people below.
ARE YOU CURRENTLY SHIPPING YOUR WINES TO THE REST OF CANADA?
Some very surprising comments came back my way.
For years many of these same wineries were in denial.
Either ducked or wouldn’t answer the question
NOT ANY MORE!!
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The new BC wines pour their latest in Vancouver.
The Bartier Boys
Michael Bartier Bartier Bros/Okanagan Crush Pad. Perhaps the busiest winemaker in BC
Ian Sutherland Poplar Grove/Monster Vineyards Between Poplar Grove and Monster.. .enough wine for everyone!
Kelowna Vineyards
Jay Drysdale – Bella Ah bella.. Bella!!! Bella!!!!!!! Love that Bubble
Richard DeSilva – Misconduct Pair his wines with Chef Abul Adame and its Heaven
Randy Picton – Nk Mip The one and only Winemaker Nk Mip has had. Solid and very talented.
Randy Picton Nk Mip
Graydon Ratzlaff – Recline Ridge Amazed how good their pours were.
Adrian Cassini – Cassini Cellars Built a beautiful winery south of Oliver. To showcase his award wining wines.
Mike Raffan – Township 7 T7 in two locations. Naramata bench and just outside Vancouver.
BC Vineyards
Bill Eggert – Fairview Cellars Troublemaker who makes complex, thoughtfull wines.
Ezra CipesSummerhill One of the most popular wine destinations anywhere.
Ezra Cipes. 2nd from left
James Cambridge – Backyard Vineyards James brings his talents from Le Vieux Pin. It’s all good
Marty Farrell – Clos du Soleil Great circle of friends, working together. Ace in the Hole? Winemaker Ann Sperling
Helene Pannekoek – Fort Berens in Lillooet. One of the new wine regions in BC. Amazing Reisling.
Nirmal and Pinki Gidda – Mt Boucherie They own over 300 acres. Half the room has sought their grapes and its Pinki’s first interview
John Schreiner – Author. The Dean of Canadian Wine Writers. He reveals his tasting notes on several wines.
John Schreiner


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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Sean Heather. First question, which do you have more of Children or Restaurants.
The man behind Irish Heather, Salt tasting Rooms, Judas Goat. Shebeen, Salty Tongue etc.
One of which he sold this week.
The Cowichan Valley Wineries throw a party
Niagara presents its 62 annual Fall Wine Festival
Balbo Argentina