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TRR Nov 9 2024 Poplar Grove Merlot Celebration and two Whiskies – Sons of Vancouver & Rupert’s from Eau Claire

November 9, 2024 Tasting Room Radio

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THE SHOW

Welcome to Tasting Room Radio.
In the 17 years we’ve been creating and broadcasting TRR most of the stories and interviews have been about wine  & food.
Slowly but surely, we’ve added tales of cider, no/low wines, and the wild and wonderful world of whisky.
So here’s the mix this week -an exceptional Poplar Grove Merlot and two whisky houses.  Sons of Vancouver and Eau Claire.
We lead with a special release of Poplar Grove Merlot (2014) and the release of 2020 Merlot. Recorded On Merlot Day.
Chris Holler – VP/GM/Farmer  Poplar Grove – Naramata Bench
Along with Hillside, Poplar Grove is one of the originals on The Bench. Prime vineyards and strong leadership.
Now under the direction of the next generation of The  Hollers Family ...our guest is Chris Holler
Chris and I go over the quick history of Poplar Grove, especially its relationship to Merlot (thank you, Ian Sutherland)

Chris Holler and Family

Chris takes us through two Merlot releases..
Poplar Grove Merlot 2020 – Gone are the plum and vanilla notes from 2019.   The 2020 has dark ripe fruit, cherry, blackberry, currant and white pepper.
Engaged acidity and tannins to dream about.  $34.70 (at winery)
The star of the releases is the Merlot from the Poplar Grove Library Collection  2014. It takes its place in  the rest of the “collection” –
The Cabernet Franc and the flagship blend The Legacy.
 
Poplar Grove is the first winery to launch a formal library program, where they hold back a considerable amount of age-worthy wines each year and release them for sale a decade later. Very distinctive bottles and labels are constructed as metal medallions.
The 2014 growing year was the second hottest on record.
Originally it was ruby red, with eucalyptus and sage on the nose.
10 years later is brick red in colour, with notes of dried berry, ripe plum, the palate welcomes raspberry, big cherry and forest floor.
88% Merlot, 5% Cab, 5% Cab Franc, 2% Malbec  $82.52 at Winery.

James Lester -SOV

Sons Of Vancouver Realms of Rye

James Lester – Partner and co-founder of Sons of Vancouver
 
James returns to Tasting Room with another simply outstanding whisky.
The Realms of RYE. 
All tasting notes and flavours in each whisky have been amplified through the fermentation, maturation and blending process only.
The label has the mystery of a great short story. The bottle has 100% Canadian Rye matured in ex-bourbon and a new oak cask.
Lots of ripe fruit, java, fresh-picked mint and Quebec maple syrup.
The palate completes engages the senses. Everything you want in a craft whisky is right here.
If they enter this gem in the Canadian Whisky Awards in January in Victoria..they could very well win their second Whisky of the Year award.
Changing the expectations of craft whisky in Canada, one bottle at a time.
Thank you James….

Caitlin Quinn – Distiller/Blender Eau Claire Distillery

Caitlin Quinn – Distiller/Blender Eau Claire Distillery – Turner Valley, Alberta
 
Just like James, Caitlin has been with us several times before.
You’ll be reminded when she starts to speak in her thick Edinburgh accent.
When she starts talking about her whisky, Caitlin gets excited and her words spill over each other. But you get the sense that she loves what she does. It shows in the whisky.
Caitlin brings with her Rupert’s Exceptional Canadian Whisky – Awarded Best Canadian Whisky at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
dark brown sugar, and vanilla on the finish. Notes of candied ginger. Overall, engaging and smooth.
This delightful whisky will also be considered for Canada  Whisky of the Year in January at the Canadian Awards.
Thank you to all at Eau Claire Distilling.  Well Done
Thank you Caitlin

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Howling Bluff
Ucluelet fishing and Pluvio dining
More Hatch Wines
Fort Berens
Artema Releases
Latest from Hester Creek

November 2nd, 2024 – Wine releases from the Naramata Bench

November 3, 2024 Tasting Room Radio 0:54:37

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THE SHOW

This week  we reconnect with the wineries of the Naramata Bench.

Like many others in the BC wine community, The Naramata Bench was also hit with heartbreaking losses of their prime vineyards due to a killer Winter deep freeze.

Even as they pour the wines this year, we’re still talking about the growing season last year and how each and all with survive.

The pouring and presenting of Spring wine releases is an annual traditional event.  Talking about failed bud breaks, the loss of complete vineyards and the big question – what to do next?

Many changes coming to BC Wine farming.

What to plant?  Where to plant? How to survive the crisis?

New Varietals, new Blends and new owners/makers/farmers.

As tough as the next couple of years may be,  none of that showed itself in the first of the year  pour at Vancouver Community College on West Pender.

The Bench is a very tight community. Even though they are all hyper-competitive, when it comes to showcasing their individual wines  The Naramations pull together as a team. Impressive,  to say the least.

 

One thing to keep in mind – there a many wines available from BC wineries. Some pull from past vintages and many have wines stockpiled.

Here are the guests for Part One – talking Spring Wines and Vineyard Survival!!

 

  • Colin Ross – President of Bench Wineries (Tightrope)
  • Tyson Archer –  (co-founder) Fox and Archer
  • Emma Roberts – (GM) Howling Bluff
  • Bob Ferguson – (co-founder/winemaker)  Kettle Valley

Kathy Malone – Hillside Winery

  • Kathy Malone – (Winemaker) Hillside Winery and Bistro

Marcus

(Marcus Ansems/Daydreamer)

  • Marcus Ansems – (Winemaker Co-owner) Daydreamer Wines
  • Richard Da Silva – (Owner-Winemaker)  Da Silva Vineyards and Winery
  • Lyndsay O’Rourke (co-founder/winemaker) Tightrope Winery

Dylan Roche-Roche Wines

  • Dylan Roche – (co-founder/co-winemaker) Roche Wines
  • Graham Pierce – (winemaker) Ruby Blue

Rebecca Mikulic

  • Rebecca Mikulic  – Three Sisters Winery

Robert Van Westen

  • Robert Van Westen – (co-founder/winemaker)  Van Westen Vineyards
  • Lauren Bunckle – (Asst Winemaker) Elephant Island Winery
  • Wilbert Borren – (co-owner/winemaker) Four Shadows Vineyard and Winery
  • Will Hardman – (co-founder/winemaker) Deep Roots Winery

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 Ucluelet and Pluvio Food Experience

Sons of Vancouver Realms Rye

More Hatch wines

Fort Berens

Howling Bluff 

Artema Releases

Poplar Grove – a Merlot Moment

 

 

EP 325 | Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy from Blue Rodeo & Jim brings his new solo album

November 2, 2024 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor…when they’re together on stage it’s a partnership to behold.
Both know well when to lean in for a lyric or harmony support.
Offstage, it’s a wild and crazy ride. Even when they agree, they disagree. They remain friends and literally remain family.
This interview was done many weeks before the songwriter’s Hall of Fame induction so the comments will be of interest.
Jim Cuddy is currently on his All the World Fades Away tour with his fine singing and songwriting son, Devin.
Nov 3 Red Deer
Nov 4  Lethbridge
Nov 6  Banff
Nov 7 Winspear Edmonton
Nov 9  Mission
Nov 10 Kelowna
Nov 12 Orpheum Vancouver
Nov 13 McPherson Victoria
Nov 14 Parksville

It doesn’t matter whether you see Jim Cuddy at Bo’s in Red Deer on the 3rd or at Massey Hall on the 27th. It’s the same engaging and memorable night.
FYI – Jim is singing a bit and signing a lot of his albums at select Indigo Stores across the country.
Nov 7 in Edmonton then…
Kelowna
Robson Store in Vancouver
Victoria

Details
Jim hooks up with Greg December 28 in Oshawa, then once around the neighborhood in Niagara, Windsor, Kitchener, and….Budapest in April.
Greg is laying low and likely writing songs and recording his new solo album.  Just guessing but it is what he does. He does it beautifully.
Enjoy
Details

EP 324 | Author Luke Whittall and his Sipster’s Pocket Guides Books

October 21, 2024 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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Look who’s on a Roll – It’s this week’s guest,  Author Luke Whittall
 
Luke and his Sipster’s Pocket Guides Books.
In the third volume in the popular  Sipster’s Pocket Guide series, wine expert and educator Luke Whittall presents his latest top 50 British Columbia wines under $50 (including many under $30) and along the way shares his thoughts on wine country and common misconceptions about certain grapes, and offers up tangents on everything from scented candles to middle children to jazz hands.
With food and activity pairings that range from Thai noodles and pool noodles to classic rock and hootenannies, and an index of attitudes that lets you choose a wine based on your mood (come hither, dressed to kill, razzle-dazzle), the Sipster’s guides are equal parts freewheeling and focused.
Divided into chapters on sparkling, white, rosé, red, and dessert wines, the latest volume of Sipster’s will snap you out of a catatonic funk in the liquor store and stick around for a quiet evening paging through a book—perhaps this book and perhaps there’s even a wine for that.
Welcome to Volume 3, where a Viognier can be a lot like a bouncy castle, a red blend that is the icing on top of another layer of icing and also  a wine that will upstage Taylor Swift and Kayne and an adventurous evening calls for a certain Trebianno (not the guy from Friends . . . but then again, maybe?).
The Sipsters series are written in language anyone can understand. Words we all use and can remember a day later.
Make no mistake, Luke knows his wines from the vineyards to the bottle. He just makes the journey much easier than it really is.
We also start TRR with a conversation about vineyard damage & recovery,   plus the coming discovery of BC Wines made with Washington grapes.
So those damaged vineyards, wineries and wine-farming families can survive the next couple of years.
And heads UP – The Sipster’s Ontario Vol 2 is coming – just in time for Christmas.
Then surely, the Luke Whittall film starring Ryan Reynolds. 
Luke Whittall
Online:
Books:
“The Sipster’s Pocket Guide to 50 More Must-Try BC Wines, Volume 3″ 2024 (Touchwood Editions)
“The Sipster’s Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try Ontario Wines, Volume 1″ 2023 (Touchwood Editions)
“The Sipster’s Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try BC Wines, Volume 2″ 2023 (Touchwood Editions)
“The Sipster’s Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try BC Wines, Volume 1″ 2021 (Touchwood Editions)
“The Okanagan Wine Tour Guide” 6th Edition (with John Schreiner) 2020 (Touchwood Editions)
“Valleys of Wine: A Taste of British Columbia’s Wine History” 2019 (Whitecap Books)

EP 323 | Natalie MacLean – Wine Witch on Fire

October 12, 2024 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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The full title of Natalie Maclean’s  memoir is 
Wine Witch on Fire Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation and Drinking Too Much.
 
For all of you who bought and read Natalie’s  book Red, White and 
Drunk All Over and listened to her podcast Unreserved Wine Talk, this memoir is a completely different read.
She discovers her husband of many years is leaving the relationship and at the same time, her wine rivals decide to tell the wine world that she’s not nearly as accomplished as we think.
Despite multiple awards for her writing and knowledge, Natalie has to rebuild her career, fight for her son and find an elusive second chance in a business that rarely gives you any.
All of this drama is played out in a wine world where many women are taken for granted and rarely given credit for their skills.
Yup – Wine Witch is a thriller. And it’s funny, just in time for Christmas.

You can get Natalie MacLean’s new memoir Wine Witch on Fire: Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation, and Drinking Too Much in paperback, ebook or audiobook from these retailers.

She hosts the podcast, Unreserved Wine Talk, and offers popular online wine and food pairing classes at www.nataliemaclean.com.

October 12th, 2024- Wine Witch on Fire – The Natalie MacLean Memoir.  

October 11, 2024 Tasting Room Radio 0:39:09

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Wine Witch on Fire – The Natalie MacLean Memoir.  

 

THE SHOW 

I'm A Wine Writer. Here's How I Cut Back On Drinking - Chatelaine

“Natalie MacLean had it all – an accomplished husband, a high-profile wine writing career and an email signature of “Chief of Wine Happiness.”  But her life fell apart when her husband departed, she started to drink too much and a social media mob came after her.

Wine Witch on Fire is the triumphant story of how MacLean pushed back against sexism in the wine industry, found love and drew on her female “witching” powers to turn obstacles into opportunities.”

Francis Dinkelspiel bestselling author of  Tangled Vines

The full title of Natalie MacLean’s book is

Wine Witch on Fire

Rising from the  Ashes of Divorce, Defamation and Drinking Too Much

When I read that Natalie had written a memoir that was both dark, transparent and funny, I knew I had to ask for an interview.

The memoir was surprising in its transparency and elements very familiar to me.

Receiving the wines, studying the info, sipping and at times fully tasting the wines that arrived.

The most interesting wines were always paired with food, as they were intended.

I had page after page of questions written out but in the end, like all great engaging conversations, there was little time to check on notes or questions. Just make sure you’re recording and exchanging any and all opinions and thoughts.

I do hope you like the conversation. The book is even better.

You can get Natalie MacLean’s new memoir Wine Witch on Fire: Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation, and Drinking Too Much in paperback, ebook or audiobook from these retailers.

She hosts the podcast, Unreserved Wine Talk, and offers popular online wine and food pairing classes at www.nataliemaclean.com.

The video version of the interview can be found on the terrydavidmulligan YouTube Channel.

www.nataliemaclean.com

#winewitchonfire

@NatalieMacLean

@natdecants

 

Happy Thanksgiving all.

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

The Sipster 3 and Ontario 2

Victoria Wine Festival

Winemakers Cut

The State of BC Wine – Fall 2024

Fort Berens

Jason Parkes Customs

2025 Van Wine Festival

New releases from Sons of Vancouver

Jim Moody – Zanatta Wines

Pluvio and Ucluelet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EP 322 | Kris Kristofferson interview 2006-Blue Moon Marquee (New Orleans Sessions)

October 5, 2024 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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We meet  Blue Moon Marquee – Al Cardinal and Jasmine Colette – on the stage at the Osbourne Bay Pub in Crofton, Vancouver Island.

That stage was the first place they met and then played together many times as Blue Moon Marquee.

They’ve come a long way since that stage.

Juno Winners, sweeping the  2023 Maple Blues Awards and still winning awards,  including this week.

After a decade of stages and touring comes the 5th album New Orleans Sessions. Recorded in New Orleans in two days – Four hours each day. One track Trickster Coyote was a first take. Recorded with some of the very best New Orleans players.

Lots of stories and new music. Also news of the next two projects they intend to present.

They start their next tour October 26th at Festival Place, Sherwood Park.  October dates in Lloydminster, Daysland and Athabaska. – and April 5 at the Arden

(complete interview on Mulligan Stew Podcast)

We start the Mulligan Stew Podcast  Stew  remembering the man  and celebrating the life and music of the late Kris Kristofferson.

From the Mulligan Stew archives we replay the Kris Kristofferson interview we did  2006 backstage at Calgary Folk Festival.

Answering media questions, including my own:

Kris talks about Johnny Cash, Willie and his sons, Hank Williams, movies, performing solo, the Nashville Underground,  songwriters these days John Prine, Todd Snider, Shooter Jennings, and how nervous he gets singing for 12,000 people.

Message from Margo Price:

I’m lighting a candle for Kris Kristofferson and remembering every song he ever wrote. I’m thinking about of how lucky I was to come into his orbit if even for a short time, because he was, without a doubt, one of the best songwriters to ever walk the face of the earth. Kris was, like the words of his song; ‘The Pilgrim, Chapter 33,’ a poet, a picker, a prophet, a pusher, a pilgrim and a preacher and a problem when he was stoned. He was also a song crafter, a storyteller, a movie star, a soldier, a helicopter pilot, an activist, a Rhodes Scholar, a Renaissance man, a father, a family man, a veteran and a true blue American hero. 

Bob Dylan once said, “Kristofferson came into Nashville like a wildcat that he was and just changed everything. You can look at Nashville pre-Kris and post-Kris.” Kris was politically charged, often outspoken and sometimes misunderstood.

 

Please enjoy…honoured to bring you both artists!!

 

EP 321 | The Fretless – With new album GlassWing

September 28, 2024 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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The Fretless guest on The Stew.
Karrnnel Sawitsky and Trent Freeman – one-half of The Fretless join us.
Saturday in the first hour.
Their album – GlassWing is brilliant. With 3 songs cowritten and sung by Madeleine Roger.
Classically trained, raised on rock, jazz, blues, folk and heritage roots, they take all those influences and combine them into a sound unlike any other
group.
They take 100 year old shanty’s and reshape the song without losing the original melody so it can last another 100 years.
In GlassWing, they write all their own tunes. Three co-written with Madeleine Roger.
There is such joy in hearing violins, violas and cellos driving the beat where normally the drums and bass would be.
Impressive my friends.  Very impressive.
Have a listen to Pipe Dreams!  
The Queen Nancy – named after a car and a make-believe BC Ferry.
Icarus – a Madeleine beauty
Or the lead track Lost Lake.
 
This marks a new chapter The Fretless. With Lights, sound and stage design created especially for this album, these songs and this tour.

The Fretless GlassWing Tour 

  • Oct 3  Fanny Bay
  • Oct 4 Comox
  • Oct 5 Victoria
  • Oct 6 Van
  • October 10 Calgary
  • October 11 Edmonton

 

EP 320 | Donovan Woods and his latest album Things Were Never Good if They’re Not Good Now.

September 21, 2024 Mulligan Stew Podcast

hello

This week we welcome Donovan Woods and his latest album Things Were Never Good if They’re Not Good Now.

Wonderful insight into his songwriting and his place in the music business.

The first time he played in Victoria, he couldn’t believe the audience knew the words to his songs.

And in the past year, he played in Australia and remembers an audience in Perth who sang the words louder than he could.

He has come a very long way has Donovan.

Struggling to find things to sing about or sing at all.  A series of failures led to an addiction counselling program and committed himself to getting to “the bottom of myself“

He changed his mind about a lot of things.

” It turns out the truth does really set you free” 

“I won’t be cheesy and say I  feel like this is my first album, but it certainly feels like a new start”

TRR Sept 21st 2024-Kathy Malone – Hillside Estate Winemaker on events and new releases.

September 20, 2024 Tasting Room Radio 0:27:54

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THE SHOW

When I kicked off Tasting Room Radio in 2007 on the Naramata Bench, I had just finished shooting Season Three of Hollywood and Vines TV with pal Jason Priestley.

I came away very impressed with the community that surrounded winemaking. The farmers who worked the fields and the seasoned craft that was created in the winery cellars.  I felt I wanted to be part of that community but had a lot more to learn.

Thus, Tasting Room Radio was started.

I felt that as long I was learning about winemaking the audience could learn as well.

One of the very first people that I turned to was Kathy Malone, the new winemaker at Hillside Estate. Hillside was one of the first three vineyards planted on the Naramata Bench.  There’s lots more there now.

Many years later, I’m proud to say Hillside is one of the segment sponsors of TRR and Kathy is still mentoring me.

Kathy is guesting for the whole show.

She’s bringing announcements about an event at Bard and The Banker.

Also launching Friday Night Flights. Encouraging locals to come after work on a Friday and taste “old style” with no seated 45-minute wine class. BUT with tasting fees waived with purchase. A number of Bench wineries have agreed to join. Already signed up are Hillside, Little Engine, Deep Roots, Four Shadows and more.

Kathy also lets us know about a mid-October event at the Naramata Inn.

Part Two of Tasting Room Radio is about the new Hillside Releases.

2023 Muscat Ottonel  “The Ottonel”.  The new cool name

 

2023 Gewurztraminer – hottest season on record on 5 vineyard blend

 

2023 Heritage Pinot Gris –  Three vineyards selected for Tokaj oak barrel selection.  Its shows.

 

Hillside Fall Releases

Single Vineyard Series

Currently, our DTC customers are offered the three single vineyard merlots in the same vintage-2018 release.  With the next releases, this gets shuffled again, as it is rare that we choose to showcase all in any given year.

 

2019 Hidden Valley Vineyard Merlot

A thankfully smoke-free year, 2019 was an average year in terms of heat units, but our “above-the-road” Hidden Valley Merlot ripened nicely.  At 12.5% alcohol and featuring ripe tannin, it offers a balanced, elegant finish

2022 Occhi Dolci Vineyard Merlot  (Okey Duel-Chee)

We’re super excited to send our first release of Occhi Dolci Vineyard Merlot.  Planted and grown by Pat Bowen and Carl Bogdanoff, retired scientists from the Summerland Research Station, this vineyard has given us awesome merlot and cab franc for Mosaic and other blends, but we were reluctant to put “Bowen-Bogdanoff” on a wine label.  They finally named the vineyard and voilà!  Meaning “sweet eyes” Occhi Dolci refers to the gorgeous view from this vineyard perched high over Okanagan Lake, but is also Italian slang for a flirtatious look, or what my sister referred to as her “come-hither look”.

 

2020 Cabernet Sauvignon

We are continually amazed at the quality and ripeness of this Cabernet Sauvignon, planted as far north as the Naramata Bench.  The 2020 vintage is no exception, taking a gold at the National Wine Awards this summer.  Even more astonishing is the fact that this block survived over 57 hours of minus-25 Celsius cold this January.  Yes, we still have a Howe Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

www.hillsidewinery.ca

www.naramatabench.com

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

New FALL Releases

Zanatta – Cowichan original

Pluvio  and Ucluelet

Sons of Vancouver

Fort Berens

Best Coast Distilling

Hester Creek

Winemaker’s Cut Fall Releases

Q&A Winemakers Dinners