Rhys Pender

November 6th, 2021- The 8TH Annual 4 F’s & Michelle  Bouffard

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The 8TH Annual 4 F’s & Michelle  Bouffard on Somm. of the Year & Tasting Climate Change

 

 THE SHOW

 It started 8 years ago as an idea. Let’s take some great food and wine and go fishing.

I made my pitch to:

John Weber    co-founder and winemaker at Orofino (Similkameen)

John Weber

Mark Filatow  Award winning Chef, Sommelier and Partner at Waterfront Wines Restaurant (Kelowna)

Rhys Mark and John

Rhys Pender  Master of Wine,  Little Farm Wines, wine judge  & WSET Educator Wine Plus+ (Similkameen)

Rhys Pender

Over the first 7 years we’ve lake fished, drift fished the Similkameen and Kettle Rivers,  salmon fished in Campbell River and hiked into remote lakes. Best of all, every time we gathered,  we all brought wines that we felt would be appreciated and Mark Filatow would create firepit meals that always featured huge Tomahawk steaks.

This year the guys went fishing when they could and I was house bound on Vancouver Island.

So… This week we met on Zoom and talked great wines.

For year 9  they’re coming to Mill Bay Vancouver Island.

Here’s a list of wines we each would have brought this year.

Chef Mark Filatow   Waterfront Wines

Mark Filatow

Markus Altenburger, Chardonnay vom Kalk, 2019, Weinland, Austria

 

Weingut Kruger-Rumpf, Munsterer Kapellenberg Riesling Kabinett 2001, Nahe, Germany

 

Veronica Ortega, ‘quite’ Mencia 2019, Bierzo, Spain

www.waterfrontrestaurant.ca

 

John Weber  Orofino

 

Jean Foillard Morgan 2019

Orofino Passion pit cab 2011

La Rioja Alta gran reserva 904 2001 mag

www.orofinovineyards.com

 

Rhys Pender MW  WinePLus+

Vajra Rosso 2019

Wynn’s 2007 Coonawarra Cab

Azahar Vinho Verde 2018

https://littlefarmwinery.ca/

www.wineplus.ca

 

TDMulligan

Else Wines – Jocko  (Echo Bay) a light cab franc

Modest Wines –  2018 zed’s dead (Zinfandel)

Maverick Estate Winery – 2019 Bush Vine Syrah

Thomson and Scott – Noughty  Organic Sparkling Chardonnay (alcohol free)

Odd Bird – Blanc De Blanc (Liberated from Alcohol) Sparkling Chardonnay

Rust Wine Co    Solus (Golden Mile Bench)

 

MICHELLE BOUFFARD

Sommelier, Author, journalist, speaker, educator, consultant.

Michelle Bouffard is a “force”.  She leads by example. Caring enough about this planet and its winegrowers that she conceived of and started Tasting Climate Change. The event takes place every two years. This year it will be held on line from Nov 8-30.   (Info below)

Michelle Bouffard

Tasting Climate Change is an international event organized founded and lead by Michelle, who acts as moderator of the conference. Michelle also offers training and consulting on the impact of climate change in the wine world.

 Originally from Quebec, Michelle moved to Vancouver to complete her Bachelor of Music degree in classical trumpet where she unexpectedly ventured into wine while working in a fine dining restaurant. Determined to make her mark in the wine industry, she graduated as a sommelier with the highest honours from the International Sommelier Guild in 2003 and completed the Diploma from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) in 2005.

Michelle was the co-owner of House Wine from 2003 to 2015. She also founded and was  president of BC chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers.

Michelle now lives and teaches WSET courses in Montreal and gives numerous training sessions including for wine associations such as Inter Rhône and Wine Australia. She works closely with the nursery Lilian Bérillon located in the Rhone Valley acting as a wine educator and ambassador.

Michelle first book “Dis-moi qui tu es, je te dirai quoi boire” was published in 2017.  She has a second book coming in 2022.

Michelle is often invited to sit on various panels and judges at numerous wine competitions in Canada and abroad. Ever the eternal perfectionist, she is continuing her studies at the prestigious Institute of Masters of Wine.

 

Michelle was also one of the judges at this years Sommelier of the Year competition. We start her interview right there, talking about how demanding  the competition is and the wild events they put each contestant through. The winner was Pier-Alexis Souliere from Quebec. Contestants were asked to display their knowledge of viticulture, wine regions, producers, spirits and beer.

https://www.tastingclimatechange.com/en/

 STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Cider tour of Vancouver Island and Gulf islands

Church and State

Tightrope

Zin

EP 133 | Sandra Oldfield, Kurtis Kolt, Rhys Pender. Helping Restaurants and Wineries in the year ahead

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You may have  noticed that our Podcast has a subtitle

Music. Film. Food. Wine.  Those are the subjects I keep coming back to.

We do lots of music and film and some food but the wine pods have been few and far between. That’s going to change.

The stories and interviews that stand out for me are the interviews affecting people everywhere.

This week it’s how we – the food and wine fan – can support our local restaurants and wineries, cideries, breweries, distillers.

 

The pandemic has caused many restaurants to close or hold on for dear life.

Wineries will disappear over the next year.  The same with brewers, cider makers, and distillers.

 

I really wanted to hear from three voices that deal with this community every day. The question – what can we do. How can we help? 

Sandra Oldfield – 20 years a winemaker and  X-CEO of Tinhorn Creek Winery.  Now head of Elysian Projects, assisting and guiding wineries and restaurants.

Kurtis Kolt – Wine writer, judge, and educator. Many years in the restaurant business in downtown Vancouver.

Rhys Pender – Master of Wine, Winemaker at Little Farm Wines.  Educator via WinePlus.   A calm voice inside all the noise.

October 3rd, 2020-Fishing, Food, Friends, Fluids – Year 8

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Fishing, Food, Friends, Fluids – Year 8

(A Chef, Winemaker,  Master of Wine and me)

 

THE SHOW

For 8  years now, Master of Wine Rhys Pender, Winemaker/Owner at Orofino John Weber,  Award winning  Chef at Waterfront Bistro Kelowna Mark Filatow and yours truly have gathered once a year to reconnect through fishing. On oceans, lakes, streams, rivers and sharing campfires, food, wines and stories.

 

2020 has been such a crazy mess on so many levels,  that getting away – just for two days – was so the right thing to do.

It was Mark who suggested drift fishing the Kettle River, one large valley East of the Okanagan. There’s no pristine chain of blue lakes down this valley but the river is gorgeous and home to beautiful trout.

Day one we drifted the Kettle River. Fished the rapids and pools for about 5-6 hours..had a spectacular dinner thanks to Mark. It featured the annual Tomahawk Chops cooked on an open fire (this year the fire was a charcoal fueled Weber BBQ)

Dinner cooked all on the charcoal fueled Weber. Dry Aged Beef Tomahawk Steaks.Organic Corn.

Potatoes and Chive sour cream. Tomato and Cucumber Salad. Homemade BBQ Sauce

The wines we poured were like a liquid gift… better and better.

I headed for bed while the other three played campfire dj. I happily slept through the noise.

I put on a master class in campfire coffee- for an audience of one. Me!

When the guys woke up Mark put on his usual healing breakfast – Kale eggs with Rhys’s great bread (photos included) and then off we went.

Day two, we drove Highway 33 East and identified 3 dark pools that looked promising and accessible. So, instead of drifting, we spent the day fishing those pools and walking the river.

Mark had two great fishing days, so did John. Rhys had his moments and I came up completely skunked. But I still spent two days with these friends, on a river and shared fishing, food and fluids.

It’s hard to put into words how wonderful it all felt.

The last dinner was spring salmon I had caught in Ucluelet and we BBQ’d on the fire with a wild variety of wines for pairing.

Dinner

Terry’s salmon with the potato, corn, shishitos and vegetable succotash

Wines in no particular order

Mark

Burge Family Barossa Valley Olive Hill Vineyard Semillon 2006

Clai, Ottocento 2014, Istria Croatia

Jean Bourdy, Cotes du Jura Blanc 2008

Eric Texier, St. Julien St. Alban, 2014, Rhône, France

Stephenson Cellars, Syrah 2008, Columbia Valley, Washington

 

John

 From Orofino:

Gamay bubble 2019

Hendsbee Vineyard Riesling clone 21B 2018

Hendsbee Vineyard Riesling clone 239 2018

Gamay 2019

Plus..

Pozza Vineyard cab franc rosé 2019

SA Natte Valley Cinsault 2017

Domaine de Pothiers “Reference” Loire Gamay

 

Rhys

Pesquera Ribera del Duero 2011,

St. Urbans Hof Ockfener Bockstein Kabinett Riesling 2011

 

Terry

Mission Hill  2007 Point Noir

Desert Hills 2006 Mirage

Inniskillin Dark Horse 1996 Riesling Ice Wine

 

We talked of Covid19, the state of wineries and restaurants this year and what 2021 may bring, wines we brought, about each of their careers and of course,  fishing.

www.orofinovineyards.com

www.Waterfrontrestaurant.ca

www.littlefarmwinery.ca

 

Next year?  Let’s just say “It’s under discussion.”

Thank you gentlemen..it was an honour and a dream.

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Angus An – Maenam Cookbook

Zoom tasting at Yalumba

Noble Ridge

Sandra Oldfield – Back Again!!

Vanessa

Mayhem and Meyer – All in the Family

Fonseca Zoomathon from Portugal

Dining at Row 14 in Cawston

Sam Roberts – Music and Wine

Tightrope

Lock and Worth/Nichol

Taylor Fladgate – Zoom from Portugal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 2nd, 2020 – BC WINE MONTH 2 WITH RHYS PENDER & BREAKING BREAD/ HOSPITALITY HUSTLE

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BC WINE MONTH 2 WITH RHYS PENDER & BREAKING BREAD/ HOSPITALITY HUSTLE

 

THE SHOW

 

April was BC Wine Month.

Wine Master Rhys Pender (Little Farm Wines) set out to remind all wine fans why BC has such great wines and celebrate all of the choices we have.

Part one took us from April 1 -15..with musical interludes via his ukulele.

Now we present almost all of part two , including the Ukulele jam

(We had TRR  edited and done, when his  last rant and his wrap up was released…a tad too late for this)

Rhys rants us through cellaring BC wines, 2019 Vintages, bottle aged BC wines, Riesling, single vineyards, organics and Syrah ( a tricky wine to sell but maybe the best wine we grow)

Rhys Pender MW is a wine educator, freelance wine writer, wine judge and consultant to the industry. Working in the wine trade since age 14, Rhys’ career has included experience in the vineyard, cellar, wine retail, education and hospitality – providing knowledge in all facets of the business. In 2010 Rhys became Canada’s youngest Master of Wine (MW)

Rhys Pender

Rhys instructs the Okanagan WSET® and educational programs for Wine Plus+.

Enjoy the rants..Rhys knows what he’s talking about.

https://winebc.com/wine-bc-events/

https://www.mastersofwine.org/rhys-pender-mw

https://littlefarmwinery.ca/

https://www.wineplus.ca/about/

Breaking Bread and Doing The Hospitality Hustle

 All of us are going through these “strange days indeed”!

Nobody more so than the men and women of the culinary, wine and hospitality industries. Tasting Room Radio knows a lot of these fine people having done interviews with them for over 12 years.

Thing is, there are 1000’s who we haven’t met and they’re all out of a job and having to pay rent, feed themselves,  take care of families and of course,

That’s why we’re doing feature stories and interview on events and social movements that have the potential to help.

Shelley McArthur

The first press release for Breaking Bread came in from at SMC Communications  March 13th

VANCOUVER, BC (March 13, 2020) — Members of Vancouver’s hospitality community are uniting in solidarity to urge the public’s support of the local independent restaurant and service industry as well as those whose livelihoods rely on them, by offering myriad ways to show support during this unprecedented time of COVID-19.

Comprising 23 local restaurants and counting, this newly formed collective wants to reassure the public that they remain committed to doing everything possible to ensure the health, safety and well being of their guests and staff.

They will continue to implement all guidelines set out by such regulatory bodies as Vancouver Coastal Health, the World Health Organization and Centres for Disease Control.

 

You’ll happy to know that it was such a hit that Breaking Bread has gone National.

THIS Press Release came in April 28th

Founded on March 13, 2020 by hospitality communications agency SMC Communications, Breaking Bread was born out of a collective of 23 restaurants in the Greater Vancouver area that came together to urge public support in response to COVID-19. Since then, the website has expanded to more than 1,500 listings nationwide and is growing in new features and businesses by the day.

For more information or to stay up to date on all the latest news, visit breakingbreadnow.com, follow @breakingbreadnow on Instagram and become a fan of /breakingbreadnow on Facebook.  #breakingbreadnow

Way to go Shelley (and teams)

Hospitality Hustle  Dana Lee Harris (Exec. Dir. BC Hospitality Foundation)

Dana Lee Harris

…. and then there’s the powerhouse Dana Lee Harris. Also in the communications business but recently has become the voice and face of BC Hospitality Foundation.

This was her press release.  May 31 @ 6:00 am – 7:00 pm

#HospitalityHustle (a virtual event)

 The original plan for the Hospitality Hustle was for the event to be an in-person 5km walk/run around Burnaby’s Deer Lake, followed by Sunday brunch at Hart House Restaurant. The event was intended to raise funds, as well as raising awareness of the importance of mental and physical health.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the initiative has expanded into a province-wide virtual event:  hospitality workers, as well as foodies who have missed getting out and dining, can get moving by training for a province-wide #HospitalityHustle that will take place on May 31, 2020 anytime from sunrise to sunset.

Keeping SOCIAL DISTANCING front of mind, we encourage participants to join this FREE event.

Pick your activity – walk or run 5km, dance for an hour, skip, prance, skateboard or take a 10km bike ride – and start your training today!!  Then on Sunday, May 31st our entire community will virtually get their ‘Socially Distant Hustle’ on for hospitality.

 

 https://bchospitalityfoundation.com/event/bchf-hospitality-run/

https://bchospitalityfoundation.com/

Dana Lee Consulting

#hospitalityhustle   

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Davin de Kergommeaux

Jason Priestley – Hunkering down in Hollywood

Fort Berens – New Releases

Nude Beverages – on a roll

April 18th, 2010- RHYS PENDER’S DRINK LOCAL SERIES & UNCORKED  IN PARKSVILLE

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RHYS PENDER’S DRINK LOCAL SERIES & UNCORKED  IN PARKSVILLE

  

THE SHOW

 April is BC Wine Month!

Rhys Pender, Master of Wine, Wine Plus Education  and co-founder of Little Farm Winery in the Similkameen Valley decided to celebrate the wines of BC by starting an on line video series called Rhys Pender MW-Drink Local. Found at IGTV at Instagram. One feature a day for the whole month.

Rhys Pender Little Farm

Basically he sets up a camera in his kitchen and talks to wine fans  about “everything”

Sperling Foch, Haywire Rose, Figaro, Little Farm Riesling, aging of BC wines, Niche Pinot Noir, wine regions and sub GI’s, Fort Berens, Tantalus Chardonnay, all The Benches, the price of BC wine, Culmina Rose, Joie Gamay,  and he also finds time to pick up his Ukulele and sing a song..one called drinking and cooking.

I asked Rhys for permission to take the audio from his videos and make a special out of it.

And that’s what starts this week’s TRR.

These are the first dozen shows but Rhys is still doing a show every day..which means there’s more than a dozen more  to go.

He usually gets around to posting them after dinner..around 7PM

Instagram IGTV Drink Local –  Rhys Pender MW

The Ukulele moments  are  the highlight of the year and my Life.

https://www.instagram.com/rhyspendermw/?hl=en

 

Swirl and UnTapped.  Uncorked in Parksville

Parksville sea walk

It’s the annual  gathering of wine, cider makers, craft beer brewers and distillery artisans on Vancouver Island.

This year it was craft beer etc at Beach Club Resort and the Wineries at Tigh-na-Mara.

Obviously these interviews were done before the entire World shut down and stayed home.

Because you can tell by the noise exactly when they opened the doors.

Very popular events these.

Love Shack Libations

Pouring  guests this week are:

 Terence Fitzgerald – COO and partner in Sheringham Distilling and his new venture Lumette Distilled non-alcoholic spirits.    Shirley, BC

www.enjoylumette.com

Dave Paul – Co-Owner. Brew master of Love Shack Libations Qualicum, BC

www.loveshacklibations.com

Michael Abbott – Raisin Rancher & Vineyard Manager Blue Grouse Estate Winery and Vineyard  Cowichan Valley

www.bluegrouse.ca

Lorin Inglis – Manager of Enrico Winery  Mill Bay, BC

www.enricowinery.com

Mark and Linda Holford – Owners of Rocky Creek Winery Cowichan Valley

www.rockycreekwinery.ca

Jack Eubank  – Co-Founder of Cliffside Brewing  Nanaimo.

www.cliffsidebrewco.ca

Chef Eric Edwards – Executive Chef Tigh-na-Mara   Seaside Resort. Parksville

www.tigh-na-mara.com

Dave Woodward – Mt Arrowsmith Brewing Parksville

arrowsmithbrewing.com

 

https://www.parksville.ca/

https://tigh-na-mara.com/

https://www.beachclubbc.com/

https://www.tourismvi.ca/

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

Tasting with a Mescal Master in Oaxaca Mexico (Next)

Ann Sperling – Sperling Vineyards

Davin De Kergommeaux – The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distillers

BC Spring Releases

How to support  Artisans and Culinary Teams.

October 19th, 2019 – Fishing. Food. Friends. Fluids  The Four F’s Year Seven

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Fishing. Food. Friends. Fluids  The Four F’s Year Seven

 The SHOW

 For 7 years I have had the pleasure of gathering once a year with 3 food and wine friends to fish, eat a great meal and pour tastes of interesting wines.
What’s not to like about that.

Along for the fun again are:

John Weber – Our host this year as we all gathered at John’s Orofino Winery in the Similkameen Valley in the South Okanagan. John’s wife Virginia was kind enough to let us stay overnight in her outstanding  Orofino Winery Suites, right beside the crush pad.

beautiful suites at Orofino!

 

John is the real true fisherman here. He arranged a pontoon boat drift down a stretch of the Similkameen River, from just outside Hedley and almost to Keremeos.  6 hours in total.

John Weber

Our second day was spent just outside Cawston on a farming lake that can be seen from the highway. Its stocked,  locked and loaded.

Executive Chef Mark Filatow from  came along again with his spinning rod..the one with no tip.

Didn’t stop him in the least.  Caught more fish than me, that’s for sure.

TDM and fish!

Mark also prepared a sensational breakfast and a dinner that I’m still telling people about.

Oh, and then he created pizza’s from all the leftovers. Pies that could win awards.

Mark Filatow

It’s the kind of cooking you come to expect from his Waterfront Bistro and his Catering café in Kelowna.

One other thing, because he’s a certified Somm, his wine choices for all of us are  from all over the Planet!

And finally Rhys Pender – Master of Wine and co-partner in Cawston’s Little Farm Winery, just around the corner from Orofino.

Rhys Pender

In the two days that we’re together it’s Rhys that starts most group laughs. Plus he  comments about the wines we’ve brought to no one one in particular..I think he just shouts out tasting comments to the ceiling.

 

Occasionally I feel like I’m in one of his Wine Plus Classes.

Enjoy the food, the wines, the fishing and what friends do when they gather.

The Four F’s Gang

(all fish were catch and release.)

Just a heads up – to all those many people who drive through Keremeos ,  Cawston and The Similkameen Valley on their way to “wine country”,   STOP and check out The Similkameen, Its where many of the other wineries wish they had vineyards. This IS wine country!!

And the fishing is outstanding!!

 

Special thanks to:

Virginia Weber

Similkameen Ernie

Row 14 Restaurant

www.similkameenvalley.com

www.orofinovineyards.com

www.littlefarmwinery.ca

www.waterfrontrestaurant.ca

www.waterfrontcafe.ca

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Lft Governors Awards

Harvest 2019

December 17th, 2016 – Gift Wines, Wines for Parties, Budget Wines

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Tasting Room Radio Post Banner

It’s Wall-to-Wall Wines featuring the reviews and stellar expertise of Master of Wine Rhys Pender, Consultant and teacher DJ Kearney and Georgia Straight Wine Columnist and consultant  Kurtis Kolt.

If you’re looking for Gift Wines, Wines for Parties, Budget Wines for yourself and need to know the best wines of the Year in BC and the world..THIS is your show.

THE SHOW

banner 3

Let’s face it,  this time of year we’re faced with a lot of decisions.

We can’t help you with most of them BUT we can help you with your wine selections.

The guests reviewers on this show are three of the very best in Canada.

Respected by their peers and the industry itself.

We’ll cover gift wines/Wines to take to parties/Budget wines for Yourself/Outstanding wines of the year from BC and the World.

Enjoy!!!  Happy Holidays!

 

DJ Kearney

 

DJ Kearney

DJ Kearney

DJ is a judge, writer, instructor and educator at the highest levels in the wine world.

She has just been made Director of Wine at New District, a very new and distinct wine group. (that story next year)

DJ Kearney’s 15 years in the wine industry embrace teaching, wine writing, wine criticism, and wine presentations for festivals and industry trade organizations.  She has trained thousands of sommelier candidates throughout North America for the International Sommelier Guild and the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, and has travelled extensively to the wine regions of the world. Although a global wine expert, she naturally has a special devotion for the wines of her home region. For many years DJ has been an industry advisor and ambassador for B.C. wines, teaching and presenting on behalf of the industry. Recently she toured Decanter’s Steven Spurrier through the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys, and curated the historic Judgment of B.C. tasting in Vancouver.  For the past several years she’s been the Drink Editor for Vancouver Magazine, and critic/contributor for WineAlign.

 

Gifts: 

The perfect 2-pack:

Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2014 Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa $44.99 (BCLDB)

Torres Mas La Plana Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Penedes, Spain $56 +315838 (BCLDB)

Champagne gifts:

Champagne Roederer Brut Premier N/V $61.99 +268771 (BCLDB)

Champagne Pierre Gimonnet et Fils Brut Premier Cru Cuis N/V $80 (fine private stores)

What I’m taking to the party:

Chateau La Gravelle Muscadet de Sevre et Maine Sur Lie 2014 $16 +411006 (BCLDB)

Pesquié Terrasses Rouge 2013 $17.49 +708750 (BCLDB)

Best of BC:

C.C. Jentsch Syrah 2013 (winery direct or private wine stores)

Le Vieux Pin Ava 2014  $25  $34.90 (winery direct or private wine stores)

Little Farm Chardonnay Mulberry Tree Vineyard 2014 $26 +841783 (winery direct or private wine stores)

Moraine Malbec 2013 $24 (and their Pinot Noir 2013, Syrah 2013 and Viognier 2013) (private stores or winery direct)

Blue Mountain Blanc de Blancs R.D. 2008 $39.90 +402594 (winery direct or private wine stores)

CedarCreek Platinum Riesling Icewine 2014 $53 (winery direct or fine wine stores)

Best Canadian’s to try:

Benjamin Bridge Brut N/V $50 +313106

Thomas Bachelder Niagara Pinot Noir 2012 $60+ (private wine stores)

Best ‘over-deliver’ wine

Emiliana Coyam 2012 Colchagua, Chile $27.49 +845321 (BCLDB)

World Beaters

Domaine Pattes Loup Chablis 2012 $40 (private wine stores)

Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Reserva Valle de Uco 2012 $30.99 +522870 (BCLDB)

Domaine Faiveley Nuits Saint Georges Premier Cru Les Damodes 2012 $112 +809343 (BCLDB)

Pio Cesare Barolo 2010 $65 (private wine stores)

Blandy’s 5 year Old Verdelho Madeira  $27 +845818 (BCLDB)

 

DJ Kearney (@djwines) | Twitter

Newdistrict.ca

 

Kurtis Kolt

 

Kurtis Kolt

Kurtis Kolt

His background is in running restaurants around Vancouver, most recently managing Gastown’s Salt tasting Room  until 2010 when he received the Sommelier of the Year Award at the Vancouver Wine festival.

He’s been profiled by Wine Enthusiast Mag, run the wine program at James Beard House in NY, been a tasting participant at Wine and Spirits Mag and educated through London’s Wine and Spirit Education Trust, The Court of Master Sommeliers and the Winemaking Program at UC Davis.

Kurtis is an in demand consultant and advisor.

Currently he’s the Wine Columnist at The Georgia Straight. His column is called The Bottle.

 

Gifts

Bella Wines 2013 Sparkling Blanc De Blancs – Oliver West Side – $23.90/750 ml, $14.90/375 ml

Bella Wines 2013 Sparkling Blanc De Blancs – Oliver East Side – $23.90/750 ml, $14.90/375 ml

BellaWines.ca

 

Parties

Gonzalez Byass Nutty Solera Oloroso Sherry – $15.99 – B.C. Liquor Stores

 

Budget wines for yourself

Christophe Pacalet 2011 Beaujolais Villages – $20.99 – B.C. Liquor Stores

 

Outstanding wines of the year, BC and the World

Clos du Tue-Boeuf 2013 Cheverny ‘Rouillon’ – $27-32 – Private Wine Stores

Robert Mondavi Reserve To Kalon Vineyard 2012 Napa Fume Blanc – $41.99 – B.C. Liquor Stores

Lock & Worth Winery 2013 Square One Cabernet Franc V.3 – $30 – LockAndWorth.com

Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2005 Blanc de Blancs – $199.99 – B.C. Liquor Stores

 

http://www.kurtiskolt.com/

Kurtis Kolt (@KurtisKolt) | Twitter

 

Rhys Pender

 

Rhys Pender is Canada’s youngest Master of Wine.

Rhys Pender

A passionate educator, wine lover, judge, writer, and grape grower/farmer, Rhys has worked in the wine industry since he was a teenager. In 2004 Rhys began taking on the grueling Master of Wine program. This culminated in Rhys becoming Canada’s youngest Master of Wine in 2010, one of only approximately 300 in the world.
Rhys runs a WSET wine school and consultancy through his business Wine Plus+ and between travelling around the world can be found with his boots in the dirt at his small 4 acre vineyard and winery in the Similkameen Valley – Little Farm Winery. He is a regular contributor to Canadian publications such as Montecristo, Taste, Savour, Wine Trend and Good Life Connoisseur. In addition to judging for Wine Align, Rhys judges wine competitions internationally such as the Decanter World Wine Awards, Vancouver Magazine Wine Awards and the Dallas Morning News Wine Competition

 

BEST INTERNATIONAL OF YEAR:

1 Chateau Haut Brion 2010 ($1599, 766618)

2 Ridge Monte Bello2010 ($283, Marquis)

3 Wynns 2010 John Riddoch CabernetSauvignon (~$100, not sure availability)

BEST BC:

4 Orofino 2014 Wild Ferment Syrah – Scout Vineyard ($29, sold out)

5 Van Westen Vineyards 2013 Voluptuous ($30, winery) (current vintage is 2011)

 

GIFT:
6 Château Dereszla 2008 Tokaji Aszú – 5 Puttonyos (500ml) ($44, 285643)

7 Taylor Fladgate 1985 Vintage Port($229.99, 149377)

8 Croft Vintage Port 1994 ($144.99, 686550)

9 Château Carles 2005 Haut-Carles Fronsac, Bordeaux, France ($79, 399253)

10 Mount Pleasant  2007 Elizabeth Semillon ($21, 664862)

11 Wynns Coonawarra Estate 2012 Black LabelCabernet Sauvignon ($21.99  til Jan 2, 502039)

HAVE AROUND HOUSE FOR HOLIDAYS:

 

12 Perrin 2012 Vacqueyras – Les Christins ($23, 585315)

13 Domaine de Babio 2011 Minervois ($17.49, 928531)

14 Château Bonnet 2013 Chénas Beaujolais, France ($21, 821769)

15 Régis Boucabeille 2013 Les Terrasses Côtes du Roussillon Villages, France ($20.49, 464883)

16 José Pariente 2011 Rueda (Verdejo) Rueda, Spain ($28.99, 884502)

17 Grao Vasco 2011  Dao, Portugal ($7.49 special, 14977)

18 Haywire 2013 The Bub ($29.90, winery)

Banner 2

www.wineplus.ca

Rhys Pender MW (@WinePlus) | Twitter

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

NEXT WEEK  Christmas Eve

 

A look back at the 38th annual Vancouver International Wine Festival – with feature region Italy!!

Guests include

  • Michaela Morris – House Wine
  • Stevie Kim – VinItaly
  • Gurvinder Bhatia – Quench Wine Editor – Edmonton
  • Daenna van Mulligen – The Wine Diva
  • Harry Hertscheg – Executive director of Festival
  • Riccardo Tedeschi – Tedeschi Amarone (family owner/winemaker) Veneto/Valpolicella –
  • Barone Francesco Ricasoli (32nd generation Ricasoli) Tuscany/Chianti Classico –
  • Fiorenzo Dogliani – Batasiolo.  Piedmont  CEO   (Richardo March.. Export Director)
  • Daenna van Mulligen – The Wine Diva
  • Michael Bartier – Bartier Bros  BC
  • Chris Wyse – Burrowing Owl  BC
  • Harry McWatters – Time  BC
  • Ezra Cypes – Summerhill  BC
  • Thomas Perrin – Famille Perrin  France
  • Jim Robertson – Stoneleigh  NZ
  • Eduardo Montresor  – Montessor .  Veneto Italy
  • Loren Gil – Gil Family Estates  Spain

 

 

Dec 31  New Years EVE show

Hour Two of the 38th Annual VanWineFest.

 

Guests include

 

  • Daenna van Mulligen –  WineDiva.ca
  • DJ Kearney  – NewDistrict.ca
  • Kurtis Kolt – Georgia Straight
  • Rhys Pender – Master of Wine
  •  Matt Dumayne –  WM  Haywire
  • Andrew Winsor –  WM  Tinhorn Creek
  • John Freeman – WM Waterbrook (Washington)
  • Poplar Grove – Stefan Arnason, Winemaker
  •  
  • David Phillips – Michael David Winery (Cali)
  • Mark DeVere – Mondavi (Cali)
  • Ted Seghesio – Seghesio 
  •   
  • Marilisa Allegrini  – Owner-CEO – Allegrini
  • Ermenegildo Giusti – Owner – Giusti
  • David Scholefield – Haywire  Advisor
  • Stefano Benini – Int Export Director/Family member Marchesi De’Frescobaldi 
  • Gabriele Tacconi – WM –  Ruffino (1st visit to Canada)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 26th, 2015- Last Saturdays TRR was so good, so filled with wine info you can use, we’ve decided to repeat the show. Enjoy and cheers to all out there..with special thanks to DJ Kearney Kurtis Kolt Rhys Pender

hello

Tasting Room Radio Post Banner

It’s Wall-to-Wall Wines featuring the reviews and stellar expertise of Master of Wine Rhys Pender, Consultant and teacher DJ Kearney and Georgia Straight Wine Columnist and consultant  Kurtis Kolt.

If you’re looking for Gift Wines, Wines for Parties, Budget Wines for yourself and need to know the best wines of the Year in BC and the world..THIS is your show.

THE SHOW

banner 3

Let’s face it,  this time of year we’re faced with a lot of decisions.

We can’t help you with most of them BUT we can help you with your wine selections.

The guests reviewers on this show are three of the very best in Canada.

Respected by their peers and the industry itself.

We’ll cover gift wines/Wines to take to parties/Budget wines for Yourself/Outstanding wines of the year from BC and the World.

Enjoy!!!  Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!!

 

DJ Kearney

 

DJ Kearney

DJ Kearney

DJ is a judge, writer, instructor and educator at the highest levels in the wine world.

She has just been made Director of Wine at New District, a very new and distinct wine group. (that story next year)

DJ Kearney’s 15 years in the wine industry embrace teaching, wine writing, wine criticism, and wine presentations for festivals and industry trade organizations.  She has trained thousands of sommelier candidates throughout North America for the International Sommelier Guild and the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, and has travelled extensively to the wine regions of the world. Although a global wine expert, she naturally has a special devotion for the wines of her home region. For many years DJ has been an industry advisor and ambassador for B.C. wines, teaching and presenting on behalf of the industry. Recently she toured Decanter’s Steven Spurrier through the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys, and curated the historic Judgment of B.C. tasting in Vancouver.  For the past several years she’s been the Drink Editor for Vancouver Magazine, and critic/contributor for WineAlign.

 

Gifts: 

The perfect 2-pack:

Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2014 Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa $44.99 (BCLDB)

Torres Mas La Plana Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Penedes, Spain $56 +315838 (BCLDB)

Champagne gifts:

Champagne Roederer Brut Premier N/V $61.99 +268771 (BCLDB)

Champagne Pierre Gimonnet et Fils Brut Premier Cru Cuis N/V $80 (fine private stores)

What I’m taking to the party:

Chateau La Gravelle Muscadet de Sevre et Maine Sur Lie 2014 $16 +411006 (BCLDB)

Pesquié Terrasses Rouge 2013 $17.49 +708750 (BCLDB)

Best of BC:

C.C. Jentsch Syrah 2013 (winery direct or private wine stores)

Le Vieux Pin Ava 2014  $25  $34.90 (winery direct or private wine stores)

Little Farm Chardonnay Mulberry Tree Vineyard 2014 $26 +841783 (winery direct or private wine stores)

Moraine Malbec 2013 $24 (and their Pinot Noir 2013, Syrah 2013 and Viognier 2013) (private stores or winery direct)

Blue Mountain Blanc de Blancs R.D. 2008 $39.90 +402594 (winery direct or private wine stores)

CedarCreek Platinum Riesling Icewine 2014 $53 (winery direct or fine wine stores)

Best Canadian’s to try:

Benjamin Bridge Brut N/V $50 +313106

Thomas Bachelder Niagara Pinot Noir 2012 $60+ (private wine stores)

Best ‘over-deliver’ wine

Emiliana Coyam 2012 Colchagua, Chile $27.49 +845321 (BCLDB)

World Beaters

Domaine Pattes Loup Chablis 2012 $40 (private wine stores)

Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Reserva Valle de Uco 2012 $30.99 +522870 (BCLDB)

Domaine Faiveley Nuits Saint Georges Premier Cru Les Damodes 2012 $112 +809343 (BCLDB)

Pio Cesare Barolo 2010 $65 (private wine stores)

Blandy’s 5 year Old Verdelho Madeira  $27 +845818 (BCLDB)

 

DJ Kearney (@djwines) | Twitter

Newdistrict.ca

 

Kurtis Kolt

 

Kurtis Kolt

Kurtis Kolt

His background is in running restaurants around Vancouver, most recently managing Gastown’s Salt tasting Room  until 2010 when he received the Sommelier of the Year Award at the Vancouver Wine festival.

He’s been profiled by Wine Enthusiast Mag, run the wine program at James Beard House in NY, been a tasting participant at Wine and Spirits Mag and educated through London’s Wine and Spirit Education Trust, The Court of Master Sommeliers and the Winemaking Program at UC Davis.

Kurtis is an in demand consultant and advisor.

Currently he’s the Wine Columnist at The Georgia Straight. His column is called The Bottle.

 

Gifts

Bella Wines 2013 Sparkling Blanc De Blancs – Oliver West Side – $23.90/750 ml, $14.90/375 ml

Bella Wines 2013 Sparkling Blanc De Blancs – Oliver East Side – $23.90/750 ml, $14.90/375 ml

BellaWines.ca

 

Parties

Gonzalez Byass Nutty Solera Oloroso Sherry – $15.99 – B.C. Liquor Stores

 

Budget wines for yourself

Christophe Pacalet 2011 Beaujolais Villages – $20.99 – B.C. Liquor Stores

 

Outstanding wines of the year, BC and the World

Clos du Tue-Boeuf 2013 Cheverny ‘Rouillon’ – $27-32 – Private Wine Stores

Robert Mondavi Reserve To Kalon Vineyard 2012 Napa Fume Blanc – $41.99 – B.C. Liquor Stores

Lock & Worth Winery 2013 Square One Cabernet Franc V.3 – $30 – LockAndWorth.com

Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2005 Blanc de Blancs – $199.99 – B.C. Liquor Stores

 

http://www.kurtiskolt.com/

Kurtis Kolt (@KurtisKolt) | Twitter

 

Rhys Pender

 

Rhys Pender is Canada’s youngest Master of Wine.

Rhys Pender

A passionate educator, wine lover, judge, writer, and grape grower/farmer, Rhys has worked in the wine industry since he was a teenager. In 2004 Rhys began taking on the grueling Master of Wine program. This culminated in Rhys becoming Canada’s youngest Master of Wine in 2010, one of only approximately 300 in the world.
Rhys runs a WSET wine school and consultancy through his business Wine Plus+ and between travelling around the world can be found with his boots in the dirt at his small 4 acre vineyard and winery in the Similkameen Valley – Little Farm Winery. He is a regular contributor to Canadian publications such as Montecristo, Taste, Savour, Wine Trend and Good Life Connoisseur. In addition to judging for Wine Align, Rhys judges wine competitions internationally such as the Decanter World Wine Awards, Vancouver Magazine Wine Awards and the Dallas Morning News Wine Competition

 

BEST INTERNATIONAL OF YEAR:

1 Chateau Haut Brion 2010 ($1599, 766618)

2 Ridge Monte Bello2010 ($283, Marquis)

3 Wynns 2010 John Riddoch CabernetSauvignon (~$100, not sure availability)

BEST BC:

4 Orofino 2014 Wild Ferment Syrah – Scout Vineyard ($29, sold out)

5 Van Westen Vineyards 2013 Voluptuous ($30, winery) (current vintage is 2011)

 

GIFT:
6 Château Dereszla 2008 Tokaji Aszú – 5 Puttonyos (500ml) ($44, 285643)

7 Taylor Fladgate 1985 Vintage Port($229.99, 149377)

8 Croft Vintage Port 1994 ($144.99, 686550)

9 Château Carles 2005 Haut-Carles Fronsac, Bordeaux, France ($79, 399253)

10 Mount Pleasant  2007 Elizabeth Semillon ($21, 664862)

11 Wynns Coonawarra Estate 2012 Black LabelCabernet Sauvignon ($21.99  til Jan 2, 502039)

HAVE AROUND HOUSE FOR HOLIDAYS:

 

12 Perrin 2012 Vacqueyras – Les Christins ($23, 585315)

13 Domaine de Babio 2011 Minervois ($17.49, 928531)

14 Château Bonnet 2013 Chénas Beaujolais, France ($21, 821769)

15 Régis Boucabeille 2013 Les Terrasses Côtes du Roussillon Villages, France ($20.49, 464883)

16 José Pariente 2011 Rueda (Verdejo) Rueda, Spain ($28.99, 884502)

17 Grao Vasco 2011  Dao, Portugal ($7.49 special, 14977)

18 Haywire 2013 The Bub ($29.90, winery)

Banner 2

www.wineplus.ca

Rhys Pender MW (@WinePlus) | Twitter

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

An Hour in Argentina

An hour in New Zealand

 

 

 

 

December 19th, 2015-Gift Wines, Wines for Parties, Budget Wines

hello

Tasting Room Radio Post Banner

It’s Wall-to-Wall Wines featuring the reviews and stellar expertise of Master of Wine Rhys Pender, Consultant and teacher DJ Kearney and Georgia Straight Wine Columnist and consultant  Kurtis Kolt.

If you’re looking for Gift Wines, Wines for Parties, Budget Wines for yourself and need to know the best wines of the Year in BC and the world..THIS is your show.

THE SHOW

banner 3

Let’s face it,  this time of year we’re faced with a lot of decisions.

We can’t help you with most of them BUT we can help you with your wine selections.

The guests reviewers on this show are three of the very best in Canada.

Respected by their peers and the industry itself.

We’ll cover gift wines/Wines to take to parties/Budget wines for Yourself/Outstanding wines of the year from BC and the World.

Enjoy!!!  Happy Holidays!

 

DJ Kearney

 

DJ Kearney

DJ Kearney

DJ is a judge, writer, instructor and educator at the highest levels in the wine world.

She has just been made Director of Wine at New District, a very new and distinct wine group. (that story next year)

DJ Kearney’s 15 years in the wine industry embrace teaching, wine writing, wine criticism, and wine presentations for festivals and industry trade organizations.  She has trained thousands of sommelier candidates throughout North America for the International Sommelier Guild and the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, and has travelled extensively to the wine regions of the world. Although a global wine expert, she naturally has a special devotion for the wines of her home region. For many years DJ has been an industry advisor and ambassador for B.C. wines, teaching and presenting on behalf of the industry. Recently she toured Decanter’s Steven Spurrier through the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys, and curated the historic Judgment of B.C. tasting in Vancouver.  For the past several years she’s been the Drink Editor for Vancouver Magazine, and critic/contributor for WineAlign.

 

Gifts: 

The perfect 2-pack:

Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2014 Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa $44.99 (BCLDB)

Torres Mas La Plana Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Penedes, Spain $56 +315838 (BCLDB)

Champagne gifts:

Champagne Roederer Brut Premier N/V $61.99 +268771 (BCLDB)

Champagne Pierre Gimonnet et Fils Brut Premier Cru Cuis N/V $80 (fine private stores)

What I’m taking to the party:

Chateau La Gravelle Muscadet de Sevre et Maine Sur Lie 2014 $16 +411006 (BCLDB)

Pesquié Terrasses Rouge 2013 $17.49 +708750 (BCLDB)

Best of BC:

C.C. Jentsch Syrah 2013 (winery direct or private wine stores)

Le Vieux Pin Ava 2014  $25  $34.90 (winery direct or private wine stores)

Little Farm Chardonnay Mulberry Tree Vineyard 2014 $26 +841783 (winery direct or private wine stores)

Moraine Malbec 2013 $24 (and their Pinot Noir 2013, Syrah 2013 and Viognier 2013) (private stores or winery direct)

Blue Mountain Blanc de Blancs R.D. 2008 $39.90 +402594 (winery direct or private wine stores)

CedarCreek Platinum Riesling Icewine 2014 $53 (winery direct or fine wine stores)

Best Canadian’s to try:

Benjamin Bridge Brut N/V $50 +313106

Thomas Bachelder Niagara Pinot Noir 2012 $60+ (private wine stores)

Best ‘over-deliver’ wine

Emiliana Coyam 2012 Colchagua, Chile $27.49 +845321 (BCLDB)

World Beaters

Domaine Pattes Loup Chablis 2012 $40 (private wine stores)

Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Reserva Valle de Uco 2012 $30.99 +522870 (BCLDB)

Domaine Faiveley Nuits Saint Georges Premier Cru Les Damodes 2012 $112 +809343 (BCLDB)

Pio Cesare Barolo 2010 $65 (private wine stores)

Blandy’s 5 year Old Verdelho Madeira  $27 +845818 (BCLDB)

 

DJ Kearney (@djwines) | Twitter

Newdistrict.ca

 

Kurtis Kolt

 

Kurtis Kolt

Kurtis Kolt

His background is in running restaurants around Vancouver, most recently managing Gastown’s Salt tasting Room  until 2010 when he received the Sommelier of the Year Award at the Vancouver Wine festival.

He’s been profiled by Wine Enthusiast Mag, run the wine program at James Beard House in NY, been a tasting participant at Wine and Spirits Mag and educated through London’s Wine and Spirit Education Trust, The Court of Master Sommeliers and the Winemaking Program at UC Davis.

Kurtis is an in demand consultant and advisor.

Currently he’s the Wine Columnist at The Georgia Straight. His column is called The Bottle.

 

Gifts

Bella Wines 2013 Sparkling Blanc De Blancs – Oliver West Side – $23.90/750 ml, $14.90/375 ml

Bella Wines 2013 Sparkling Blanc De Blancs – Oliver East Side – $23.90/750 ml, $14.90/375 ml

BellaWines.ca

 

Parties

Gonzalez Byass Nutty Solera Oloroso Sherry – $15.99 – B.C. Liquor Stores

 

Budget wines for yourself

Christophe Pacalet 2011 Beaujolais Villages – $20.99 – B.C. Liquor Stores

 

Outstanding wines of the year, BC and the World

Clos du Tue-Boeuf 2013 Cheverny ‘Rouillon’ – $27-32 – Private Wine Stores

Robert Mondavi Reserve To Kalon Vineyard 2012 Napa Fume Blanc – $41.99 – B.C. Liquor Stores

Lock & Worth Winery 2013 Square One Cabernet Franc V.3 – $30 – LockAndWorth.com

Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2005 Blanc de Blancs – $199.99 – B.C. Liquor Stores

 

http://www.kurtiskolt.com/

Kurtis Kolt (@KurtisKolt) | Twitter

 

Rhys Pender

 

Rhys Pender is Canada’s youngest Master of Wine.

Rhys Pender

A passionate educator, wine lover, judge, writer, and grape grower/farmer, Rhys has worked in the wine industry since he was a teenager. In 2004 Rhys began taking on the grueling Master of Wine program. This culminated in Rhys becoming Canada’s youngest Master of Wine in 2010, one of only approximately 300 in the world.
Rhys runs a WSET wine school and consultancy through his business Wine Plus+ and between travelling around the world can be found with his boots in the dirt at his small 4 acre vineyard and winery in the Similkameen Valley – Little Farm Winery. He is a regular contributor to Canadian publications such as Montecristo, Taste, Savour, Wine Trend and Good Life Connoisseur. In addition to judging for Wine Align, Rhys judges wine competitions internationally such as the Decanter World Wine Awards, Vancouver Magazine Wine Awards and the Dallas Morning News Wine Competition

 

BEST INTERNATIONAL OF YEAR:

1 Chateau Haut Brion 2010 ($1599, 766618)

2 Ridge Monte Bello2010 ($283, Marquis)

3 Wynns 2010 John Riddoch CabernetSauvignon (~$100, not sure availability)

BEST BC:

4 Orofino 2014 Wild Ferment Syrah – Scout Vineyard ($29, sold out)

5 Van Westen Vineyards 2013 Voluptuous ($30, winery) (current vintage is 2011)

 

GIFT:
6 Château Dereszla 2008 Tokaji Aszú – 5 Puttonyos (500ml) ($44, 285643)

7 Taylor Fladgate 1985 Vintage Port($229.99, 149377)

8 Croft Vintage Port 1994 ($144.99, 686550)

9 Château Carles 2005 Haut-Carles Fronsac, Bordeaux, France ($79, 399253)

10 Mount Pleasant  2007 Elizabeth Semillon ($21, 664862)

11 Wynns Coonawarra Estate 2012 Black LabelCabernet Sauvignon ($21.99  til Jan 2, 502039)

HAVE AROUND HOUSE FOR HOLIDAYS:

 

12 Perrin 2012 Vacqueyras – Les Christins ($23, 585315)

13 Domaine de Babio 2011 Minervois ($17.49, 928531)

14 Château Bonnet 2013 Chénas Beaujolais, France ($21, 821769)

15 Régis Boucabeille 2013 Les Terrasses Côtes du Roussillon Villages, France ($20.49, 464883)

16 José Pariente 2011 Rueda (Verdejo) Rueda, Spain ($28.99, 884502)

17 Grao Vasco 2011  Dao, Portugal ($7.49 special, 14977)

18 Haywire 2013 The Bub ($29.90, winery)

Banner 2

www.wineplus.ca

Rhys Pender MW (@WinePlus) | Twitter

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

An Hour in Argentina

An hour in New Zealand

 

 

 

 

June 27th 2015- Four guys fishing!

hello

Tasting Room Radio B_BANNER2

Four guys..doing our 5th annual fishing trip!!!

Friends. Food, Fluids and  Fishing…

At the 7 ½ Diamond Ranch. North of Princeton BC  


 

THE SHOW

 

Rhys. John and tdm

Rhys. John and tdm

 

Its a pretty basic show this week.. get together with my wine pals..always include a chef..and FISH YER BRAINS OUT!! 

We return to the site of last year’s 4F..The fabulous 7 ½ Diamond Ranch North of Princeton BC.   www.guestranchbc.com 

(do yourself a favour – and watch the short video. Be prepared to be wowed!)

Last year the  new bunkhouse wasn’t  quite ready, so we used that as a lame excuse to return –“ for the full experience.”

Yes, they have their own private lake..stocked with trophy  Kamloops trout, which can only be caught and released with barbless hooks.

Electric motors make sure the water quality is preserved.

It’s a small lake so you can stay in touch with those around you..watch the eagles do their foraging..ducks and their families, horses in the corrals and around the Ranch.

The Lake

The Lake

And we finally got to stay in the new bunkhouse..which is fact is a tricked out ocean going container..now covered inside and out in barn wood and really fine kitchens, stacked beds..with – wait for it – Flannel Sheets.

During the Summer  even though its hot during the day..at night it gets down to 10 degrees.

Showers and a really nice BIG front porch for just sitting and remembering the day.


 

Our guests are:

Justin O’Connor.

Our host and the son of owners Jim and Heather O’Connor!!

Justin is also the Vice President of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association in the Okanagan.   Justin  and his spouse and partner Christy Hughes also publish the award-winning Okanagan HOME Magazine.

He also represents Sotheby’s in the Okanagan

It was Justin who liked the idea of Tasting Room Radio spending a couple of days soaking up  ranch life , the fishing, the food and the wines.

Executive Chef Jeff van Geest –  Miradoro Restaurant at Tinhorn Creek  The  Golden Mile – South of Oliver BC

the singing chef

the singing chef

 

Chef Jeff Van Geest is one of British Columbia’s most celebrated chefs, focusing on locally procured foods from sustainable producer partners.

Jeff was born in St. Catharines, the heart of the Niagara region. His grandparents were farmers and taught him to respect what farm-fresh meant – which might explain Jeff’s desire to have a small garden on site at Miradoro, even if he doesn’t have time to tend it every day.

With his culinary training at the Vancouver Community College, Jeff landed an apprenticeship at Bishop’s restaurant in Vancouver – one of the earliest pioneers in sustainable cuisine. He worked his way through the ranks to Sous Chef before leaving to start his own restaurant: the Aurora Bistro. Highlighting field-to-table and honouring the farmer/chef relationship earned Jeff a reputation in the restaurant industry as someone who walked (or cooked) the talk.

After closing Aurora, Jeff accepted a position of Executive Sous Chef at Diva at the Met – another name on the who’s who list of British Columbia restaurants. Yet at every move in the culinary chain, thoughts of Jeff’s grandparent farmers stayed on his mind and the allure of rural living grew stronger. When Miradoro called in 2010, Jeff answered by moving his family to the Okanagan and the heart of British Columbia’s agricultural country.

Jeff cooked two great meals with meats supplied by Jason Pleym at Two Rivers Specialty Meats I North Vancouver.  Two Rivers is the go-to meat source in Western Canada.

Dinner

Dinner

Jason also included lots of their handmade specialty sausages, which were truly appreciated at breakfast, out on the water and as an appetizer for dinner.

Jeff is in the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame.  Plus, he’s an OK fisherman.  Not Hall of Fame material but maybe someday!!

www.tworiversmeats.com

www.tinhorn.com

 

John Weber – co-owner and winemaker at Orofino.  Similkameen Valley

 JOHN AND VIRGINIA WEBER both grew up in Southern Saskatchewan far away from anything to do with grapes and the wine industry. The closest they ever got to wine production was the jugs of chokecherry wine John’s parents made in their basement. Virginia studied nursing and became a registered nurse and John received a Bachelor of Arts in English and then went on to finish an Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan.

The Orofino winery, Canada’s only straw bale winery was constructed in 2004/2005. The eco friendly design consists of two buildings adjoined by a breezeway.

Showtime

 

Six Similkameen vineyards currently supply Orofino, which made 5,200 cases in 2012. The winery’s own 5.5-acre vineyard includes blocks of five varietals planted in 1989, along with replacement blocks planted at various times since 1999. The latest addition, in 2010, was 0.6 acre of Petit Verdot.

John and Virginia are making exceptional wines in the Similkameen outside of Cawston, including Four Rieslings.

Love these guys!!

http://johnschreiner.blogspot.ca/2013/08/orofino-raises-profile-of-single.html

http://www.orofinovineyards.com/

 Rhys Pender – Master of Wine. Co-Owner and winemaker at Little Farm. Cawston!!

John’s next door neighbour. Fishing partner  and wine fan.

A passionate educator, wine lover, judge, writer, and grape grower/farmer, Rhys has worked in the wine industry since he was a teenager, back in Australia. His interest in food and wine really peaked by travelling through Europe and then a summer spent immersed in food, wine and language in the South of France with Alishan

Rhys and Alishan moved to the Okanagan in 1999 to pursue the food and wine culture. In 2003 Rhys and Alishan started a catering company and Okanagan Grocery Artisan Breads, and Rhys started his Wine Plus+ business doing wine education, consulting, writing and judging. Rhys then took on the grueling Master of Wine all while running Okanagan Grocery and Wine Plus+ and with two baby daughters and one sleep deprived mother-baker in the house. Yes, they thought he was crazy.

Rhys

Rhys

 

This culminated in Rhys becoming Canada’s youngest Master of Wine (the wine world’s highest level of achievement) in 2010, one of only 300 in the world. Through his studies, Rhys knew every reason why they shouldn’t jump into the vineyard and winemaking dream but couldn’t help doing it anyway. Instead he used his training to design and plant the 4 acre Mulberry Tree Vineyard at the property Rhys and Alishan purchased in Cawston in 2008.

 

Rhys looks after the vineyard, farming it organically and sustainably, to produce intensely flavoured grapes from the calcium carbonate rich soils. Having studied the world of wine he brings a global perspective to the project and an understanding of the world’s wine regions and wine styles. He continues to run his Wine Plus+ business including a wine school, consultancy, writing for a number of publications and judging wine competitions around the world.

There is no category for master of fishing.

Little Farm Winery is the small hands-on operation of Rhys Pender MW and Alishan Driediger. It started with a passion for wine and developed into growing and producing Chardonnay and Riesling from their Mulberry Tree Vineyard at their home in Cawston, BC in the beautiful Similkameen Valley. The goal was always to make wines with minimal manipulation and intervention that really captured the vineyard site and the growing season. The vines were planted in 2009 on the calcium carbonate rich soil and braving the unforgiving Similkameen sun and wind. The first wines were made in 2011. In 2012 a dry Rosé was added to the lineup. Little Farm Winery will never be big and will always focus on making small batches of single-vineyard wine that reflect each site’s unique characteristics. The goal is to make interesting, character natural wines and look after their  little farm.

http://littlefarmwinery.ca/

www.wineplus.ca

Kamloops Wine Trail – Opens this weekend

Officially opening today, the Kamloops Wine Trail showcases BC’s newest wine experience with four unique and diverse wineries pioneering a new wine region in the Kamloops Thompson Valley area of British Columbia. Situated along the picturesque banks of the North and South Thompson Rivers, the Kamloops Wine Trail connects Harper’s Trail, Monte Creek Ranch, Privato, and Sagewood wineries.

On Saturday, June 27th, from 11:00am to 5:00pm, the Kamloops Wine Trail will celebrate our launch with an open house at each of the wineries. Complimentary wine tastings, tours, wine inspired appetizers, music and more will be offered! More information on the Kamloops wine Trail and the open house can be found at www.kamloopswinetrail.com

… our guests are:

Debbie Woodward at Privado     http://www.privato.ca

Vicki Collette at Harper’s Trail  www.harperstrail.com

 


 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

  • Garagiste NorthGARAGISTE – (gar-uh-jist-uh) noun, Fr. : The garagiste originally refers to a group of winemakers in the Bordeaux region of France, producing “vins de garage” or “garage wine”. They were renegade small-lot winemakers, sometimes working in their garage, who refused to follow industry laws and protocol. synonyms: Rebels, pioneers, renegades, individualists, mavericks, driven by passion.
  • The small guys wine festival!! 
  • The Similkameen wineries pour in Vancouver
  • The Wine Diva Returns 
  • Kilikanoon Wines – Clare Valley Australia