EP 156 | Holger Petersen – Doctor of Blues

May 15, 2021

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Our CKUA Radio Network Neighbour has always been Holger Petersen’s Natch’l Blues.

It’s the greatest lead-in any show could have. Two hours of blues.

Holger celebrated 50 years of Hosting Natch’l Blues in 2019

But that’s not all Holger has accomplished.

He co-founded Edmonton Folk Festival

Co-founded Stoney Plain Records. (Over 400 releases)

Founded Alberta Music

Sat on Board of Directors for Socan

Inducted into Folk DJ Hall of Fame in New Orleans

1^st non-American to win Best Public Broadcaster.

Hosts Saturday Night Blues on CBC

Now Holger has been awarded The Alberta Order of Excellence.

And he’s our guest on the Mulligan Stew Podcast. Amazing storyteller.

Here’s the complete interview with the iconic Holger Petersen. Doctor of Blues

May 15th, 2021 – Spring Wine Reviews from Poplar Grove & Tightrope (Naramata Bench)

May 14, 2021 01:00:58

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2021 Spring Wine Reviews from Poplar Grove & Tightrope (Naramata Bench)

THE SHOW

Welcome to Tasting Room Radio’s 2021 Spring Wine Release Specials.

This week we welcome Tony Holler co-owner of Poplar Grove plus Graham & Lyndsay O’Rourke from Tightrope Winery. Both on the Naramata Bench.

Tony Holler – Co-Owner of Poplar Grove. (Naramata Bench)

When I started Tasting Room Radio we were living on the Naramata Bench and had created a studio in a barn. Outside the windows, I could see the roof of Ian Sutherland’s original Poplar Grove. Then he sold to Tony & Barb Holler and they started to build the new Poplar Grove out my French Doors to the side, up on Munson Mountain. (the one with the PENTICTON sign).

Tony introduces us to the 2021 Spring Releases. They include their flagship Bordeaux blend The Legacy. The 2017 release is coming in September. It won a Gold Medal for Best of Show (by varietal) at the London Wine Competition and scored 93 points.

Holler team!

The Poplar Grove Spring Releases are:

2020 Rose Lovely strawberries & Cherries on the nose. melon. citrus. cherries on the palate. Beautiful blend of Merlot/Malbec/Syrah/Pinot Gris/Muscat!

2020 Pinot Gris. You’re going to love this. Pear. Peach. Lychee. Citrus. Can be cellared to 2025

2017 The Legacy. This just in. The blend is 40 Merlot/38 Cab/12 Malbec/6 Cab Franc/4 Petit Verdot. It’s pure Gold!! Cellars to 2031.

Leather. Plum. Tobacco on the nose. Palate has tonnes of ripe berries, dark chocolate, and caramel. A true Okanagan Bordeaux!

The restaurant is up and ready to go. They have a great patio and fabulous lawn overlooking Penticton and the vineyards.

June 1^st they start gourmet picnic options. It’s the Munson Munch.

www.poplargrove.ca

Lyndsay and Graham O’Rourke – Tightrope Winery (Naramata Bench)

Team O’Rourke – Tightrope

They are a great pair. Graham grows the grapes and Lyndsay makes the wines. It’s called Teamwork!

Graham was one of the founding directors of Sustainable Winegrowing BC (SWBC) and that’s exactly what Tightrope wines are all about. Beautiful fruit made without harming the land, the environment, or people.

The Tightrope Spring Releases are:

2020 Rose – Clean. Dry. Strawberries. Spice. A blend of Pinot Noir/Syrah/Barbera. Cellar to 2022. $22 at winery

2019 Riesling – Sustainably grown. Cellar now through 2025. $22 at winery. Delicious.

2020 – Pinot Gris. Tropical fruit. Lime. Granny Smith Apples. Handpicked and pressed on the same day.$21.50 at winery

2020 – Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon 80/20. A spectacular White Bordeaux. Achieves a trifecta of clean and dry introduction and then texture. Wait for what? You can’t be both except when the palate also contains ripe mango and peach. Lime and Lemon.

I loved this wine. $22 at winery.

2018 – Merlot 12 months French Oak. Cellar through 2029. Your gateway wine back to Merlot Land. $27 at winery.

2018 – Vertigo. A wonderful blend of Merlot 45/Barbera 30/Cab Franc 25. 10 months 50% New French and American Oak

$36 at winery. Cellar this asap. Then count the days until you reward your clever self.

www.tightropewinery.ca

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Cowichan Wine Festival

Zanatta

Blue Grouse

Averill Creek

Enrico

Venturi Schultze

Unsworth

Clos du Soleil

Alderlea

Fort Berens

EP 155 | Jordan Hart

May 9, 2021

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Jordan Hart tells the story of discovering CKUA Radio. He asked, “what album am I listening to?” Told it was a radio station. CKUA!

His reply was “There’s no radio station that cool” With this podcast Jordan has come full circle. Back to CKUA Radio.

In 2019, Alberta singer/songwriter Jordan Hart embarked on a 100-day straight busking challenge in Toronto, through thunderstorms and snowstorms he played on. Every Sunday, 100 percent of the money he raised was donated to L’Arche Canada. In L’Arche, people with and without intellectual disabilities live, work, learn, and grow together. L’Arche demonstrates that when persons with intellectual disabilities take their place at the table, they contribute to a more just, compassionate, and vibrant world for all.

The Momentum from his daily busking also culminated in a sold-out show at the Great Hall in Toronto and his career streams also increased by over a quarter of a million. As a featured artist, his work with Lucky Rose on the song ‘’Lost’’ greatly increased his profile.

Jordan has released a fine EP called Only Pieces Of The Truth and with it a confirmation in each of the 7 tracks that he’s destined to become a much bigger artist. Much Bigger.

Add to that discovery that Jordan is also a natural storyteller. He talks about life on the streets busking. Being turned down completely by the young woman he wanted to spend his life with. About shooting his video for Freedom with a small group of actors with Down Syndrome.

Have a listen. See if you agree that he’s destined to shine!!

Subscribe to the MulliganStew podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify

May 8th, 2021 – 2021 Spring Wine Releases – Hillside and Roche (Naramata Bench)

May 8, 2021 00:55:12

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2021 Spring Wine Releases – Hillside and Roche (Naramata Bench)

THE SHOW

Hillside Winery and Bistro Kathy Malone – Chief Winemaker (Naramata Bench)

A dozen interviews.

That’s how many times I’ve talked to Kathy Malone for Tasting Room Radio.

She speaks on behalf of Hillside Winery and Bistro and been the spokesperson for The Naramata Bench Wineries Assn.

hillside rose

Kathy is also Chairman of the BC Wine Council.

Trust me of this – she absolutely knows how to make memorable wines.

Kathy brings her new Hillside Spring Releases

(Above/Below means position of vineyard in relation to Naramata Road. Kathy explains the nuances)

2020 Unoaked Pinot Gris. Amazing mid-palate. A winner.

2020 Gewürztraminer. you can smell flowers and ripe fruit. Ginger and Guava on the palate.

2016 Merlot. (Hidden Valley. Dickinson Vineyard) (in pre-release) (Below)

Coffee. Dark Chocolate. Ripe Cherry $40.00

2018 Heritage Series Syrah 100% Hidden Valley Vineyard (above) $32.00

Coffee notes. Clove and dark fruit. Currents. Splendid.

2018 Howe Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. (above) $48.00

Black fruit and chocolate. The long hang time on vine highlights beautiful flavours.

2015 Mosaic $54.00 Cab. Merlot. Can Franc. Petit Verdot. Malbec. “Big Mo”

A fine balance of flavours and discoveries in the mouth. Flying The Flagship of Naramata Bench.

Cellar up to 10 years.

Chef Evan Robertson Hillside Bistro

FYI – The 2020 Rose and the 2020 unoaked Pinot Gris are released.

Kathy introduces us to their wonderful new Chef Evan Robinson and his new menu.

The May fundraiser #HospitalityHustle campaign.$1 from every bottle of Muscat Ottonel.

Bistro Hours – Wed-Sun 5pm-9:30 pm Take out and meal kit Wed/Sun 1-8 pm

Heated outdoor patio dinner service

Tasting Room

Wed/Sun 10am-5pm

And check out Kathy Malone’s Virtual Tasting opportunities online.

www.hillsidewinery.ca

Roche Winery – Penelope and Dylan Roche

Had Meg and I stayed on the Naramata Bench, Penelope and Dylan would have been our next-door neighbors.

They bring such wonderful spark to the valley.

Penelope grew up in the very heart of French wine country. Chateau Les Charmes – Haut Brion. Dylan in North Vancouver.

I laugh every time I type that line. But there’s no shortchanging either one of them.

They trained in classrooms and cellars. Learned winemaking all over the World and then chose to make their stand in – the Okanagan Valley!

“Our strength is a combination of experience in vineyard management and winemaking and a precise appreciation of the link between the two”

Roche Vineyards Naramata Bench

Here are their Spring Releases:

2019 Texture Pinot Gris. floral notes. Apple then lime in the mouth. Very engaging. $21.90

2018 Traditional Pinot Gris. Vanilla. Apple.. Beautiful mid-palate. Pear and Lemon. Loved this front to back. WoW. $28.90

2017 nuances entry level Bordeaux but waaaaay better than many. 58 Cab Franc/25 Merlot/17 Cab. Herbs. Cassis.Blackberry $32.90

2016 Chateau 41 Cab Franc/35 Cab/24 Merlot vanilla.black currant .pipe tobacco. tannins & acidity. Think cellar. 14 months. 50% New French of course. $49.99

Penelope and Dylan Roche

FYI – They are now open to “futures” on their wines.

The Black Book Wine Club is very popular. Do you like their wines? Join the club.

Growing and farming under organic discipline.

Tasting Room open 11 am-5pm

For Pete’s sake- try the Chardonnay!

Roche has all the talent and smarts to be one of the wineries leading BC into the future. For me, where they lead, I follow.

www.rterroir.ca

Stories we’re working on:

Cowichan Wine Festival

Tightrope Spring Releases

Clos du Soleil Spring Releases

Alderlea Spring Releases

EP 154 | Strippers Union

May 2, 2021

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If you are lucky enough to work on the media side of the music business and if you’re honest in your relationships with artists, over the years many of them become friends.

Rob Baker and Craig Northey are just such a couple of friends and together they’re making music again as Strippers Union.

It took 10 years to record and release their third album called The Undertaking.

Craig Northey was leading The Odds and working with a long list of people plus he is also an important part of the Steven Page Trio.

Rob Baker was of course a member of one of Canada’s greatest bands The Tragically Hip, who lost their heart and soul with the death of Gord Downey.

We cover a lot of ground here but always come back to the music of The Undertaking.

Please enjoy the talk and tracks. Thank You Rob and Craig.

Subscribe to the MulliganStew podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify

May 1st, 2021- Our First Spring Wine Release Special of 2021!

April 30, 2021 01:00:56

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Our First Spring Wine Release Special of 2021

THE SHOW

You can set your clocks by this moment in the year. Spring shows itself in green “everything” plus warmer days and beautiful longer nights.

For the farmers and winegrowers its “Bud Break”. One of the first signs of life from the wines.

To celebrate, we’ll be presenting a series of these Spring Specials starting with our friends, the segment sponsors of Tasting Room Radio.

Enrico in the Cowichan Valley, Moon Curser in Osoyoos, The Hatch in West Kelowna.

Next week Hillside, one of the first on the Naramata Bench.

Celebrate the future with a glass of wine with your family and friends. It’s Spring 2021

Develyn Barker – The ‘Artful Dodger’ of The Hatch (West Kelowna)

If you’ve never been there, it’s almost impossible to describe the talented community gathered at The Hatch. However, their smarts and passion show in the wines.

The leader is the Fagan of the Okanagan, winemaker Jason Parkes. JP is the hub of a wine-making wheel called The Hatch.

Please let me give you an example.

Hatch World includes:

Crown and Thieves Spirit and Fizz

Black Swift Vineyards Cactus Fruit

Screaming Frenzy The Hatching Post Brewery

Truck 59 Cidery Proper Man – New album 40 Elephants

(Fifty Shades of J and Fifty Beards Old)

This segment is just a small piece of the whole wine picture at The Hatch.

Spring Wine Releases from Crown and Thieves

2020 Mr. Hickenbothom – Chardonnay

2020 Pinky Blinders – Rose

2020 Little Nipper – Pinot Gris

2020 Winemakers Wench – Blend (Chard. Roussanne. Pinot Gris. Viognier)

2014 – Scoundrels Punch $29.00 Amazing blend. 6 years in the barrel. (Hello? 6 years – 29 Bucks?)

2017 Broken Wing – Merlot $38.99

2017 The Arch Doxy – Cab Franc $44.99

And then a tease of two new big reds. (in the photo above)

Fifty Shades of J

Fifty Beards Old.

AND they’re just getting started. Coming up – new wineries, new wines, new ideas.

They will be announcing four new wines every Friday in May

Thanks to our guest Develyn Barker, The Artful Dodger, and his boss Fagan.

www.thehatchwines.com

Beata and Chris Tolley – Founders and leaders at Moon Curser (Osoyoos)

(Best small winery in Canada and the #2 winery of the top 25 in Canada)

Winery owners Beata and Chris Tolley.

They make a lot of everything at Moon Curser. All with new labels.

Keep an eye out for:

Roussanne Marsanne

Moonlit Viognier Bubble

Dolcetto

Touriga National

Tannat

Syrah. Tempranillo. Petit Verdot.

New Spring Releases include:

2020 Arneis. The “little rascal” of Piemonte . Also called Barolo Bianco. They believe it’s the only one grown in Canada. $25.99

2019 Border Vines. 62 Cab/15 Cab Franc/9 Petit Verdot/9 Malbec/5 Carmenere . Big Bold Bordeaux $27.99

2019 Dead of Night. 53 Tannat/47 Syrah. Can be cellared up to 10 years. $39.99

2019 Malbec $31.99. Cellar 7-10 years.

Moon Curser can be contacted online, tastings arranged and wine discovered and purchased.

They open right after May long weekend.

www.mooncurser.com

Lorin Inglis – GM of Enrico Winery (Cowichan Valley)

They’re open for business at Enrico. And weather permitting there’s live music on the patio Saturdays starting May 8.

Here are your 2021 Spring Wine Releases from Enrico in the Cowichan Valley:

Two bottles of fine bubble.

Celebration (Pinot Gris) $25.50

Revelation (Pinot Noir) $25.50

Coronet Reserve Petit Milo $26.50

Tempest Ortega $22.75

Shining Amour (Pinot Gris) $22.75

Red Dragon – a really interesting Pinot Noir Rose $21.25

Lorin and Terry

Lorin teases us with a new field blend that’s coming. And a little info about the annual Cowichan Wine Festival all August.

www.enricowinery.com

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Hillside – Spring Releases and a new Chef

Alderlea says Hello

More new Spring Wine Releases from

Clos du Soleil

Tightrope

Roche

EP 153 | Valerie June

April 24, 2021

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I heard someone say “Valerie June is an overnight sensation.” Well, just so you know It only took 39 years.

Her Tennessee family was strong but had many hurdles to overcome.

Valerie started performing at 19 in Memphis. After she ended a marriage to her partner and husband she worked minimum wages and some really seedy joints but kept moving forward. Released her own albums. Booked her own gigs. Finally she met Dan Auerbach from The Black Keys who co-wrote and produced her 2013 album “Pushin’ Against the Stone”.

Then came The Order of Time in 2017, which is where we first met. Rolling Stone called it one of the Albums of the Year.

Now comes the next reflection of her genius The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers. Like all of her other albums the sound, texture, lyrics, harmonies and musicianship are unique to Valerie June. In a business that celebrates “been there – done that”, Valerie June is one-of-a-kind.

And man does she have stories to tell..

Listen Up. There’s a hopeful message right in front of you. It’s Valerie June.

Subscribe to the MulliganStew podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify

April 17th, 2021- Spring Releases!

April 16, 2021 01:04:12

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Spring Releases from Le Vieux Pin, Noble Ridge and celebrating World Malbec Day

THE SHOW

It’s quite a line up today. Founders, owners, winemakers, viticulturalists and three of the best wine minds I know.

Leslie D’Andrea – co-founder/owner of Noble Ridge Okanagan Falls.

Leslie brings the next group of Spring releases from a very busy winery.

Leslie and Jim D’Andrea

FYI – Now open daily from 10-5 (May-October)

NV “The Fizzy One” Frizzante Sparkling 60% Pinot Gris 40% Viognier – a 100% fun. Lush Pink Grapefruit and citrus on the nose. The palate is clean, brisk and loaded with berry flavours. and here’s the best part. $21.99. How long do you think 300 cases will last?

2020 Rose’

100% Cabernet Sauvignon Provence style. Pear and herbs take you to a lasting finish.There’s no need to hurry through this rose’…linger a while. Salads, seafoods, soft cheese, chicken or the love of your life. $21.65 Only 120 cases.

2019 Meritage

84% Merlot 16% Cabernet Sauvignon 12 months in barrel. 75% French 25% American. 20% New Oak. Berry and dark ripe current on the nose. Herb and a solid minerality/graphite straight down the middle.Hints of heated barn wood and chocolate. yes I know, I’m getting carried away.Which is what a good wine should do for you. And the bonus is – $22.00 and they made 1984 cases.

www.nobleridge.com <http://www.nobleridge.com>

#benoble

Severine Pinte – winemaker/viticulturalist/management team Le Vieux Pin and La Stella

“Wine is complex, but also simple: it’s the transformation of fruit to alcohol. A lot of people are intimidated because of how people talk about wine: experts use big words, but sometimes it goes back to -“do I like this smell, this colour, am I pleased with what I see in my glass, is the taste pleasing, do I want another glass?”

Wine can be just that. If I see a smile on people’s faces when drinking my wine, then I’m happy. And remember, it’s a training process. You can keep practicing” Severine Pinte in The Femme Vine

We are so lucky to have Severine Pinte making wines in the Okanagan. With her skills and training she could be working anywhere in the wine world, even back home in France, where she grew up. She leads the growing in the fields and the winemaking in the cellars for Le Vieux Pin and La Stella. The first leans French and the second fully and completely embraces the best of Italy.

Just a hunch but I think the reason why her wines are SO good is because she’s a grower first. As a grower she knows what she wants in the bottle so she works with the vineyard to produce just such a wine.

Her favorite quote is from Jean Hugel: “100% of the quality of a true wine is already in the grapes, not in the cellars where you can only lose quality.”

Severine has been growing and harvesting and winemaking in BC since 2010 and she is truly one of the reasons why BC wines are so much better today.

Severine and Ava

Severine brings with her today her new Spring Releases from Le Vieux Pin and La Stella.

2020 Le Vieux Pin Sauvignon Blanc –hints & elements of Marlborough, a little Napa influence and a dash of The Loire.

Think oysters, prawns, salads. Strikingly fine $30.99

2019 Le Vieux Pin “Ava “ – classic Rhone white 50 % Viognier. Balanced with Marsanne and Roussanne. Can cellar for 5-8 years.

Le Vieux Pin 2019 Ava

Full and rich. Notes of herbs and brioche. Ripe fruit and floral delight. Pairs with roast chicken. Game birds.$30.99

2019 Syrah “Cuvee Violette” . This is a pure essence of Syrah. Pepper, dark fruit and oak.

Feminine, perfumed and elegant. 16 months in concrete. Some new oak. $32.99

2017 Le Vieux Pin Equinoxe Syrah. 18 months in French Oak. 48% New. Everything you want in a Syrah. Spice. Blackberries. Balance from front to back. This wine was made by a lover of Syrah. $89.99

La Stella 2018 Fortissimo Merlot. Cab. Cab Franc. Sangiovese. It has everything you could ask for in a beautiful dark blend – spice, plum, blackberries and a wonderful fruitiness & tannins but what really pulls it all together is the acidity in the Sangiovese. $31.99

La Stella 2017 Espressivo Old World meets New World. Paying tribute to the arrival in the 60’s of Super Tuscans This release is 52% Cab Franc, 16% Cab, 16% Merlot and 16% Sangiovesse. 17 months in barrel. 28% new oak. $49.99

2017 Maestoso “solo” Merlot. 100% Merlot. Powerful and seriously structured.

Notes of cassis – plum and vanilla. Wildly impressive. $89.99

https://lastella.ca/

https://levieuxpin.ca/

Saturday April 17th is World Malbec Day – Malbec is the flagship wine of Argentina

Viñedos relevamiento WOFA
Wines of Argentina

Talking about and recommending Malbecs are:

DJ Kearney – Educator and judge (note: at Argentine Wine Awards)

Kurtis Kolt – Educator and wine judge.

Rhys Pender – Master of Wine, winery co-owner and wine teacher.

Stories we are working on:

Spring Releases

Cowichan Wine Festival

Fort Berens

Hillside

Moon Curser

The Hatch

Enrico

EP 151 | SOOK-YIN LEE

April 10, 2021

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Vancouver’s Mint Records yesterday released Soon-Yin Lee and Adam Litovitz jooj two albums

Behind the release, there’s a very personal story – the love and loss between Sook and Adam.

“When we were making the song ‘Wrecking Heart’, Adam and I looked at each other, blown away by this song that was like nothing we’d ever written. It began with a supercharged sonic fragment he made that became the foundation of an unapologetic banger of a song that possessed and moved through us. We blasted it on the stereo, danced and air-guitared to it. Unconsciously, our lyrics seemed to telegraph our separation. “It sounds like a break up song,” he said, much to our disbelief at a time when we were very much together. But life challenges ended up pushing us in different directions. Though separated, we remained best friends, holding out hope that we would make our way back to each other. Adam landed a job scoring a TV series and I worked on our album, incorporating his notes. He said that he looked forward to playing cathartic meltdown live shows with me.
But that was not to be. Adam is no longer here. I believe he exists on other planes, in those who love him, and in our music, in his music, drawings, and writing. With this album, ‘jooj two’, I pick up the pieces of this Wrecking Heart, honoured to share our music.”
– Sook-Yin Lee

Adam took his own life. Sook-Yin patiently takes us through what happened and how it shaped the songs and her life. And yes, even though all this, we share smiles and laughs.

I’ve known Sook-Yin a long time… I think it shows in the discussion.

Follow Sook-Yin Lee

Instagram • Facebook • Twitter • YouTube • Bandcamp • Spotify • Apple

Subscribe to the MulliganStew podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify

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2021 Spring Wine Reviews from Poplar Grove & Tightrope (Naramata Bench)

THE SHOW

Welcome to Tasting Room Radio’s 2021 Spring Wine Release Specials.

Tony Holler – Co-Owner of Poplar Grove. (Naramata Bench)

Lyndsay and Graham O’Rourke – Tightrope Winery (Naramata Bench)

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

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2021 Spring Wine Releases – Hillside and Roche (Naramata Bench)

THE SHOW

Hillside Winery and Bistro Kathy Malone – Chief Winemaker (Naramata Bench)

Roche Winery – Penelope and Dylan Roche

Here are their Spring Releases:

Stories we’re working on:

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Our First Spring Wine Release Special of 2021

THE SHOW

Develyn Barker – The ‘Artful Dodger’ of The Hatch (West Kelowna)

Beata and Chris Tolley – Founders and leaders at Moon Curser (Osoyoos)

Keep an eye out for:

New Spring Releases include:

Lorin Inglis – GM of Enrico Winery (Cowichan Valley)

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

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Spring Releases from Le Vieux Pin, Noble Ridge and celebrating World Malbec Day

THE SHOW

Severine Pinte – winemaker/viticulturalist/management team Le Vieux Pin and La Stella

Stories we are working on:

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