Audio

EP 299 | The Juno Couch Recap (Edmonton 2023)

March 23, 2024 Mulligan Stew Podcast

hello

 

Juno Couch:  a luxurious seating area where artists may gather during Juno Weekend and exchange opinions, questions and minor insults. All for the entertainment of music fans everywhere. Music can also be played from the stage conveniently located right next to the Couches.

Just for the record, the Juno Couch only happens when the awards are hosted in Alberta. It’s been co-hosted by Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo – except for this year.

Year one was in the bar lobby of the Hotel MacDonald, Year two was in a restaurant at the base of the Calgary Tower and Year Three was on the streets of Calgary.

Just over a week ago, Edmonton hosted the Junos Awards. Right across the street from the Juno home base was CKUA Radio.

A perfect home for the Juno Couch because we already had two couches and a performance area.

Jim Cuddy was playing Juno Cup hockey to raise funds for Music Counts—Canada’s music education charity.

Jim made a guest appearance from the rink via The Net.

My co-hosts this year were Tom Wilson (Blackie and the Rodeo Kings) and Dan Mangan.

Guests include

  • Angelique Francis
  • Digging Roots
  • Shawn Hall (The Harp and Axe)
  • Jon Dore
  • Shakura S’Aida
  • The Weather Station
  • Marc Jordan and Amy Sky
  • CKUA Hosts
  • Holger Petersen
  • Cam Hayden
  • Kate Stevens
  • Marek Tyler
  • Grant Stovel
  • Kerry Clarke

This podcast is an edited combination of guest comments over the two-hour show. Best exchanges on the day!

Please enjoy!

And thank you all.

Guests, crew,  staff, volunteers, Vintage West, Rigoletto.

March 23rd, 2024- VanWineFest with DJ Kearney and a reconnect with Sandra Oldfield

March 22, 2024 Tasting Room Radio 0:48:49

hello

THE SHOW

 

Our last segments of  2024 VanWineFest with DJ Kearney  and  a reconnect with Sandra Oldfield

The Vancouver International Wine Festival (#45) has come and gone but the interviews live on….for at least this week.

I’m joined by my third & final co-host, the one and only DJ Kearney.  Educator, mentor, leader, wine judge, black belt, speaker and wine director at Terminal City Club.

Deej is also the best friend a person could ever have. We all feel lucky to know her.

As I did with Kelcie Jones  and Michaela Morris,  I asked DJ to choose who she’d like to interview and spotlight.

 

Immediately she belted out….. “Justin Hall  – first Indigenous winemaker in the World”.

So  winemaker Justin Hall joins us from Nk’ Mip in Osoyoos.

And Stavros Kriaris Global Ambassador of Alpha Estate in Greece.

“I’ve been there and loved the winery and wines”

Justin Hall Nk’ Mip

Then I had the gall to ask “who do we close with Deej?”

DJ liberally yelled “Lets invite next years  feature theme region California“

Bonterra Organic  Mendocino    (Gabriela Marble  Export manager)

Robert Mondavi   Napa    (Kurtis Ogasawara, Director of Winemaking)

Signorello Estate   Napa Valley Golden Mile (Ray Signorello – Owner. North Shore guy)

Ray Signorello

www.signorelloestate.com

www.robertmondaviwinery.com

www.bonterra.com

www.alpha-estate.com

www.nkmipcellars.com

www.tcclub.com

@djkearney

 

 

Sandra Oldfield –  Elysian Projects / Tourism Leader

Sandra Oldfield  (Elysian Projects)

Many of you know Sandra from her over 20 years at Tinhorn Creek. Winemaker, co-owner, helped to establish BC’s first sub-appellation – The Golden Mile Bench.  In 2017 Sandra and husband Kenn started Elysian Projects, a beverage/tourism consulting company. Sandra named one of Canada’s Top 100 Powerful Women of 2016.  She co-founded the Fortify Conference and  is in the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame.

Sandra embeds herself into the dialogue of today’s BC Wine Industry , she’s natural leader.

We met in Victoria, just before a 3 day tourism conference kicked off. There was much to talk about at the conference.  In addition,  there were a number of issues Sandra and I had to talk about for the podcast. The on going BC/Alberta wine clash. What can tourism do to help the wine industry through this very tough year?  The loss of considerable vineyards to cold snaps and who speaks for the small farmer?

Sandra finished the interview with a story about several boxes that arrived at her house. Sent from Alberta to BC.

The question is/was “what’s in the boxes and why should we care?”

We welcome back Sandra Oldfield.

 

www.elysianprojects.com

www.fortifyconference.ca

www.winebc.com

www.hellobc.com

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

New Spring Release Feature Wines

Tightrope – Naramata

Hillside Winery – Naramata

Winemakers Cut (South Okanagan)

Orofino – Similkameen

Bartier Brothers

Painted Rock

EP 298 | Shotgun Sandra Oldfield . Alberta-BC Wine War

March 17, 2024 Mulligan Stew Podcast

hello

 

Sandra Oldfield is one of the leading voices for and in the Okanagan Wine Industry.

Was team leader and winemaking leader at Tinhorn Creek in the South Okanagan.

Now, she and her husband Kenn lead a popular consulting firm called Elysian Projects. Sandra is also one of the leaders in BC Tourism.

She’s a highly respected spokesperson for the wine community in BC.

No one hired her, she just is.

Sandra is also a world-class troublemaker and people love her for that.

She speaks her mind but does it from knowledge and passion for who and what she’s standing up for.

Several years ago the Liquor Control bureaucrats would not allow wine fans to buy BC wine in BC and drive it back home to Alberta.

I drove a case of wine across the BC/Alberta border but was not detained. https://bc.ctvnews.ca/no-wining-dj-flouts-prohibition-era-wine-law-1.643649

 

Sandra ordered a shotgun from the prairies to show that a gun could be sent across borders but not wine. We’ve been friends ever since.

Now the same Alberta Liquor agency is telling BC Wineries that they cannot send their wines to wine club members in Alberta and if they do, all their wines will be pulled from store shelves in that province.

This is all happening just as many of the small BC farmers who grow the grapes are staggered from the almost complete loss of vineyards and fruit in the Okanagan from two Winter cold snaps that killed many many vines.

I found Sandra in Victoria  and sat down for a focused talk about the state of her industry and possible solutions for all involved. Both sides.

She also has revealed a video she shot with her husband Kenn. Boxes arriving from Alberta were sent directly to her house in BC.

Sandra will explain what that says about the playing field here.

Delighted to welcome Shotgun Sandra Oldfield

March 16th, 2024- 45th VanWineFest TRR Part 2 – 10 Italians and a Turyk!

March 15, 2024 Tasting Room Radio 0:54:16

hello

 

 

Featuring guest hosts and wine specialists  Kelcie Jones and Michaela Morris.

TDM. Kelcie Jones co-host – Ermes Scardova (Ermete) and Beatrice Schiavio (Marchesi di Barolo)

The feature region of the 2024 Vancouver International Wine Festival was Italy.

There were  71 wineries representing 13 different Italian regions, from Sicily in the far south to Trentino-Alto Adige in the north.
There were hundreds of autochthonous grape varieties and each region has its own mix of varieties, wine styles, and food and wine culture!

So much history and passion wrapped up in Italian wines. Italian winemakers and owners know that Canada has its own history of embracing the wines of Italy.

No matter what the region.

When I asked Kelcie Jones and Michaela Morris to consider co-hosting with me, I also asked who would they like to invite for the interviews.

Kelcie is the co-founder of This is Wine School and the Sommelier of the Year 2023.

Kelcie looked forward to talking with

Beatrice Schiavio –  Marchesi di Barolo. The first Barolo was created in their cellars.

Thomas Jefferson was an early fan. The King of Wines. The Wine of Kings.

 

Ermes Scarova.  Medici Ermete.   Growing vineyards and creating wines since 1890. Not just any wine but a sensational  CRU of Lambrusco: Concerto

 Next comes the charming Daniel Grace – the American owner of Il Molino di Grace

In the very heart of the Chianti region. Producing world-class wines for 350 years.

Urs Vetter – from Vietti.   Formed 150 years ago in the very heart of the Langhe at the highest point of the medieval village of Castiglione Falletto. It’s still there today.

What followed were beautiful Arneis, Moscato, Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Barbaresco and many  Barolo.

tdm – Michaela Morris- Daniel Grace. Katie Nussbaum. Sebastiano De Ferrari  Vanwinefest 2024

Unsworth Vineyards – Cowichan Valley Vancouver Island.  Chris Turyk.. marketing and family member.  If you listen to Tasting Room radio you know Chris Turyk.

Chris Turyk – Unsworth (Cowichan Valley)

Every region needs a spokesperson. Chris is the leading voice of the Cowichan Valley Wineries.

Unsworth leads by example.

 

Michaela Morris becomes the co-host in the second half of this Tasting Room Radio.

 

Michaela is a fully acknowledged leader in Canada’s wine world.

She’s an educator, mentor, sought-after wine judge and gifted writer. (Decanter)

Michaela had just returned from Tuscany.

Michaela invited

Katia Nussbaum Owner of San Polino.  Vineyards were created early in the  10th century. As of 1581 it was owned by the Montalcino Hospital, Santa Maria della Croce. The olive trees planted in 1581 are still standing.

Then Sebastiano De Ferrari. The owner of Boscarelli sits in.

Michaela and I then welcome

Barbara De Rahm from Marziano Abbona and

Stefano Inama – Inama Wines  Owner and family member – perhaps the finest producer of Soave!!

Stefano brings his son along for the chat.

 

Thank you, Kelcie and Michaela!!  Thank you, Meredith and Harry!!

 michaelamorris.ca

           @kelciejones

            thisiswineschool.com

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Van Wine Fest Part Three

  • with DJ Kearney
  • Tightrope Winery  New Releases.
  • BC/Alberta  Wine Wars

 

EP 297 | Grant Lawrence-His tour is ‘Stories and Songs Live’

March 9, 2024 Mulligan Stew Podcast

hello

 

Grant Lawrence (The Smugglers, CBC Podcast, multiple best-selling books) is on the road with his Stories and Song Live.

Grant and Joel Plaskett, Ashleigh Ball, played Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney by the Sea north of Victoria Thursday night.

Friday on Galiano Island and Saturday in Maple  Ridge with his love  Jill Barber added.

 

We met at The Five and Dime Diner across from the venue and talked for 20 or so minutes about EVERYTHING.

He told the story of two teens,  Grant and Nardwuar knocking on my front door Halloween night to ask questions about their favourite bands. I did the best I could and sent them along with extra promo records. Grant still has his.

 We’ve been friends for 36 years. That’s the kind of podcast this will be.  Corey Woods (Associate Producer) shot it on video as well..so it’s also on terrydavidmulligan YouTube channel.

 

March 9th, 2024-The 45th VanWineFest Part One

March 9, 2024 Tasting Room Radio 0:48:53

hello

The 45th VanWineFest Part One

 

THE SHOW

The press release says: It’s the largest combined consumer and trade wine show in North America. And one of the biggest and oldest in the World.  From Feb 24 to March 3. Eight days, 42 events, 12 countries,  149 participating wineries, 71 from feature region Italy, 1, 150 wines, 800 in the tasting room and over 18,000  wine fans expected to attend all events.

So…..how does one guy with one microphone cover something like that?  You don’t!!

Can’t be done without a huge team but if you plan carefully and do your homework, surround yourself with wine friends who bring their own beliefs on wine and winemakers, then you might get something captured.

I’m so pleased to announce that with the help and smarts of the following friends & experts we managed to do 22 interviews with winemakers and principals from Italy, Greece, Washington, California, Spain, France and BC.

Thank you to Meredith Elliott – Communications and Marketing manager.  Grace under pressure.

Harry Hertscheg – Solid Support.

Harry Hertscheg (sip mag)

Our co-hosts are:

Daenna Van Mulligen – The Wine Diva. Writer, speaker, judge and popular reviewer.

Michaela Morris –  educator, judge, speaker and wine writer (Decanter)

Kelcie Jones – Best Sommelier 2023, educator, consultant and founder of This is Wine School

DJ Kearney – Director of Wine at  Terminal City Club, wine educator at large. Legend.

This first Tasting Room Radio will feature opinions and comments from

Terry and Daenna

Daenna Van Mulligen – www.winediva.ca Has travelled the wine world. Knows many winemakers in the room.

Hosted a sold-out feature seminar on Gerard Bertrand Winery.

Blue Grouse Estate Winery – Michael Abbott – New GM (Cowichan Valley)

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery – Stephen Neumann – Brand Ambassador (Oliver)

Le Vins Bonhomme –  Nathalie Bonhomme. (founder/winemaker) Originally from Montreal. Now making wines for her label –  in Spain and France.

Nathalie Bonhomme-lesvinsbonhomme

House of Smith – Donal Black VP – Int. Sales. A new gathering of Charles Smith Wines. K Vintners, Substance, Sixto, Golden West etc. (Washington)

Charles Smith – House of Smith

Harry Hertscheg – Executive Director VIWF.  The man who dreams the dream and leads the team.

Bench 1775 – Richard Kanazawa (Winemaker)  Naramata Bench. Fabulous winemaker

Osoyoos LaRose – Michael Kullmann   CEO/Winemaker (Osoyoos) Great discussion between these two. Consistently fine wines.

www.winediva.ca

www.Bench1775.com

www.bluegrouse.ca

www.burrowingowlwine.ca

www.Lesvinsbonhomme.com

www.houseofsmith.com

@HHonWine

www.vanwinefest.ca

www.osoyooslarose.com

#vanwinefest

#VIWF

 

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

NEXT WEEK – All Italian wineries (except for Unsworth.)

Co-Host Kelcie Jones  

Marchesi di Barolo

Medici Ermete

Il Molino di Grace

Vietti

Unsworth

 

Co-host Michaela Morris

San Polino

Boscarelli

Maziano Abbona

Inama

 

EP 296 | Remembering Jeff Healey and Celebrating Wine with Harry Hertscheg!

March 2, 2024 Mulligan Stew Podcast

hello

Every once in a while there’s a week that goes by that is blessed with great conversations.
Somewhere down that road, I decided that instead of choosing one interview over the other, why not have them both share the podcast.
March 2, 2008, was the day gifted singer/songwriter and truly remarkable man Jeff Healey lost his battle with cancer.


We had a great long-distance friendship. Every time we reconnected, we fell into an easy chatter that always ended up in laughter. Good man.
His loss gutted me. Still am.
Roger Costa is the co-administrator/archivist of The Estate of Jeff Healey.
He’s currently  leading the production team shooting the documentary
See the Light: The Jeff Healey Story.

That film and my interview with Roger will come later this year or early 2025.
In the meantime, I wanted to remember Jeff on March 2 with someone who knows him well. Roger Costa.

Harry Hertscheg

Harry Hertscheg is a regular listener to this Podcast. He listens to it while biking through busy Vancouver traffic to and from work.
Work is being executive director of the hugely successful VanWineFest which is just wrapping up.
Almost 20,000 wine fans have attended seminars, winemakers dinners and large and small tastings.
The feature region is Italy. 71 Italian wineries sent their best.
Next year the feature region is the USA.
Here’s a conversation with the completely engaging and informative Harry Hertscheg.

Enjoy the ride Harry.

EP 295 | Corb Lund Interview, New Album ‘ EL VIEJO’

February 24, 2024 Mulligan Stew Podcast

hello

Corby brings new, acoustic, live off off-the-floor music in his new album El Viejo (The Old One) in memory and tribute to his pal Ian Tyson.

Corby says that this album may be his best yet.

He brings memories of Ian and also how his audiences are different depending on where he’s playing,

For El Viejo Corb and the Hurtin’ Albertans played live, letting the songs reveal themselves. It was all captured by CKUA Alumni Scott Franchuck.

Corby describes it as “organic”.

We talked about his name “is that the name of the band?”

Touched on  his time with The Smalls and how this music connects to those days. “half urban/indy and half cowboys/ranchers”

We touched on Hearts on Fire Michael Barclay’s book on “6 Years That Changed Canadian Music” which in its promo mentioned cowboys who used to play speed metal. 

“the alt-country music in the late ’90s and 2000s was littered with x-punks who suddenly discovered acoustic guitar.”

That’s Corb. The Poet Laureate of the Albertan people.

March 5 Corb is in Vancouver at The Orpheum

March 7 Grey Eagle Calgary

March 9 Midway Edmonton

March 22 Zankel Hall / Carnegie Hall NYC

May 28 Amsterdam

And multiple dates in Europe with The Dead South.

February 24th 2024- Seven Wine Stars – Time to Buy B.C. We can ALL help!

February 24, 2024 Tasting Room Radio 0:50:40

hello

Seven Wine Stars – Time to Buy BC. We can ALL help!

 

THE SHOW

 

Christine Coletta – Co-founder  Haywire Wines (Summerland)

Grant Stanley – Winemaker and GM of Spearhead  – (East Kelowna) 2022 Best Small Winery in Canada.

Rhys Pender – Master of Wine and co-founder Little Farm Wines (Similkameen)

Kimberly Hundertmark – Executive Director Okanagan Wine Festivals

Sandra Oldfield – Partner Elysian Projects and Organizer/Founder  of  Fortify Conference.

Tim Pawsey – Writer and Wine Judge (Hired Belly)

Leslie D’Andrea – Co-founder and CEO Noble Ridge Winery (OK Falls)

 

If ever the BC Wine industry could use your support, it’s right now .

Discover the Wines, Wineries and Vineyards of British Columbia | Wine BC

Farming and making wine is a long hard road during the growing season. The past farming year was hit with

wild fires, smoke, a December freeze that killed many vines and the MacDougall Creek Fire, one of the largest and most dangerous  fires overlooking West Kelowna.

Then, at the height of the fires,  the BC government shut down the highways into the Okanagan.  Wine fans and tourists were asked to stay home.

They did stay home and when the roads opened again they either stayed home or went elsewhere.

The wineries, restaurants and accommodation business in the Okanagan lost weeks of customers and income.

The lost revenue and the reduced fruit crop has put a hurt on many small wineries. Some will be lost. Many are holding on, hoping for a better year ahead.

Of course, now comes another challenge. The Alberta government has threatened to pull BC Wines from their store shelves. Yup. Another holdup at the border.

HOW CAN WE HELP?

 Have a listen to these BC Wine leaders.  Lots of suggestions and much wise advice.

From buying BC wines for the near future and ordering a BC wine when dining.

Join a wine club. Shop on line. Gift your friends. 

Also the Spring Wine Events are on in the Okanagan.  Now’s the perfect time to visit.  Kimberly Hundertmark Executive Director  of Okanagan Wine fests gives us a primer on the events.

 

Spearheadwinery.com

Haywirewinery.com

LittleFarmWinery.ca

thewinefestivals.com

elysianprojects.com

Nobleridge.com

Timothy Pawsey

WineBC.com

Totabc.org

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Spring Wine Releases

Haywire

Painted Rock

Clos du Soleil

Anthony Buchanan Wines

French Door Winery

Orofino

Sons of Vancouver

Wild Life Distillery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EP 294 | Dominique Fils-Aime New Album ‘Our Roots Run Deep’

February 17, 2024 Mulligan Stew Podcast

hello

Dominique Fils-Aimé presents her fourth album Our Roots Run Deep.

Dominique Fils-Aimé is a JUNO Award-winning singer-songwriter from Montreal. Her new album invites us to deep dive into the roots of her soul with a strong desire to connect with one’s higher self and the desire to surround you in a soothing aural embrace.

On stage, whether in Canada, in Europe or the USA,  Dominique Fils-Aimé’s magnetic presence on stage leads the audience on a transcendent journey.

 

The Montreal-based JUNO award-winning singer-songwriter put the history of African-American musical culture into the heart of her work, reflecting on the social realities that influenced the genres of blues, jazz and soul. Her previous trilogy shed light on the history of Afro-American music, inspired by soul icons such as Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Etta James.

2018’s Nameless, was about confronting historical silences and sorrows. This blues-tinged album led to two sold-out shows at the Montreal International Jazz Festival in 2018.

Her second album, Stay Tuned! was a call for revolution. This album won the 2020 JUNO Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year.

 Dominique Fils-Aimé [FEES-em-AY]  closed the final chapter of the trilogy with Three Little Words, a call for reconciliation. The record received rave reviews in prestigious publications all around the world. It made the Polaris Short List and claimed the #1 spot for best-selling album in Quebec and #2 in Canada.

In her fourth album entitled Our Roots Run Deep, Dominique crafts her latest album with a loose, dreamlike narrative structure that tells a story of growth. For Dominique, nature acts as an anchor and creates the unique but interconnected journey of a human being.

“Just as we cannot see the mycorrhizal network that allows trees in a forest to communicate with each other underground,” says Dominique. “I believe our souls do the same and that music can be a fertilizer for this invisible communication network.”

Dominique!

 

Saturday night  Feb 17 Dominique is appearing at Calgary’s Block Heater festival at Central United Church. When she takes the stage at 8:55 Dominique will not only charm the audience in the Church but will be streamed live on the CKUA Radio Network. Province-wide in Alberta and heard on the CKUA App.

www.mulliganstew.ca