Tasting Room Radio

THE SHOW    Here’s what I know…   Similkameen Valley   The Similkameen is that spectacular valley in and around Keremeos and Cawston in Southern BC.   Many MANY wine fans drive right through on their way to Osoyoos and the rest of the Okanagan. Albertans also do the same heading for the Coast. The Point I’m trying to make is ..the wines out of this valley are some of the best anywhere in Canada. Red Bridge   The next time you’re driving through Manning Park and then the Similkameen, take a half day and check out the wineries, cideries and fruit crafters below.         The Hood How good is the region? There are a lot of BC wineries that would LOVE to get their hands on the fruit from the Similkameen.  It’s that good.  Guests include: Rustic Roots Orofino  www.orofinovineyards.com Orofino                   Seven Stones  www.sevenstones.ca Corcelettes Estate  www.corceletteswine.ca Eau Vivre  eauvivrewinery.ca Hugging Tree   https://www.facebook.com/huggingtreewinery Clos Du Soleil  https://www.closdusoleil.ca Robin Ridge   www.robinridgewinery.com Twisted Hills Craft Cider  www.twistedhills.ca Forbidden Fruit  forbiddenfruitwines.com Kurtis Kolt – organizer  www.kurtiskolt.com   ….and an update on July 11th BBQ King weekend www.similkameenwine.com          STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON: Garagiste – The Small Guys Wine Festival 8 wineries all making under 2000 cases and changing the wine landscape. Texas BBQ in Parksville Salmon Fishing at King Pacific Lodge Wines paired with Music at Interstellar Rodeo Ocean wise gathering at The River Cafe in Calgary            

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 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 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,

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 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 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

    Time for an Okanagan Road Trip Wild Goose. Liquidity. Culmina. Hester Creek. Road 13. Fairview Cellars. Local Lounge and Grill. Brodo And 8 fascinating  minutes with The Legend Richard Cleave.     THE SHOW     We start this journey through the South Okanagan as we should.. with Ellen Walker Mathews from Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association. TOTA had arranged a food and wine tour of the Okanagan..that allowed for little down time.  OK by me. This show is  the first of two specials. Next Week..Part Two.  Ellen Walker Mathews – TOTA.  Our Host. http://www.totabc.org/    Roland Kruger – Wild Goose http://wildgoosewinery.com/  The new tasting room at Wild Goose is now open and in full operation! The wine shop is loaded with new vintage wines and an assortment http://secured.onlinegambling2014.com of library wines available for purchase.  Special wine shop “only” wines are also available, including the new Muscat release, Morio and Friends!  One of the true “originals” in BC wine..we salute Wild Goose. Chef Rob Walker – The Bistro at Liquidity   www.liquiditywines.com It was opening day at Liquidity Bistro..and still Chef Rob Walker took time to talk to us. I was expecting a small 10 table bistro. What we all got was a sensational restaurant..with windows on three sides..and one of the best views in all of the Okanagan. The culinary side of the Okanagan Experience is finally starting to show signs of catching up to the wines. Liquidity is a prime example.         Culmina           www.culmina.ca The  life history of Don Triggs is also one of the main stories  of the Canadian Wine Industry. After leaving Labatts, he partnered with Alan Jackson..to form Jackson-Triggs..one of the biggest success stories in all of Canadian wine. Don now leads Culmina as Co-Proprietor & Principal.. He’s supported and strengthened by his wife Elaine and the former winemaker at Osoyoos Larose ..Pascal Madevon and consultant Alain Sutre.  That’s one great team. Don, Elaine and Pascal join me on Tasting Room Radio.           Chef Roger Gillespie – Hester Creek www.hestercreek.com   Roger Gillespie was born and raised in Winnipeg, but has worked throughout Canada in the restaurant business over the past 20 years including stints in Jasper Park, Alberta and Tofino and Whistler in BC. He eventually moved to the valley as food and beverage manager at the Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna. In 2004, he moved to Summerland and worked for Sumac Ridge Estate Winery and See Ya Later Ranch until he opened his own restaurant in Summerland, the Victoria Road Deli & Bistro, in June 2008. If you’re looking for info on what wine pairs with what food..Roger’s your guy!! Road 13 http://road13vineyards.com/     For 6 years we’ve been interviewing Mick and Pam Luckhurst – The owners of Road 13. Now comes the NEXT generation – Joe Luckhurst The younger of the two Luckhurst sons, Joe, has been involved in Road 13 from Vancouver for several years. In 2012 Joe left Vancouver to throw himself into the everyday operations of the family business and early in 2014 he took the helm as General Manager. With a work ethic that is oddly familiar to the rest of the team at Road 13,

  Now an Officer of the Order of Canada along with his co-founding partner Greg Keelor, Jim Cuddy checks in from the road. Blue Rodeo has released their Live at Massey Hall LP and Jim is on the CP Holiday train from Calgary to Vancouver – all the while on crutches. Lots to talk about including what wine he’s travelling with. John Clerides (Marquis Wine Cellars) knows his wines and speaks his mind. If he recommends a wine, you know it’s good. And we re-visit a great Texas BBQ  truck on Vancouver island near  Parksville!!  THE SHOW Jim Cuddy     It’s been quite a year for Jim Cuddy. First Blue Rodeo released Live from Massey Hall, a landmark recording for one of Canada’s best loved bands. Then Jim and his partner Greg Keelor were made Officers of the Order of Canada. There’s no higher award.  Jim talks about how he felt on the night. He also reveals that the Massey Hall recording wasn’t going to be used until it was compared to the one what was to be used and everyone agreed that Massey Hall was the best. And right now the 17th year of the CP Holiday Train is on its way across the USA and Canada. It sees two trains travel across Canada and the U.S. bringing entertainment and helping local food banks along the way. This year, Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo will be on board, along with his musician son Devon and the CP Holiday Train band which is made uo on members of The Odds. Also travelling along for the Western leg of the Canadian tour will be Kelly Prescott. The Local Food Banks  will be on hand to collect donations and to pass out hot chocolate etc. Believe  or not Blue Rodeo then tours Canada in January We welcome back Jim Cuddy. www.cpr.ca/en/community/holiday-train    John Clerides  - Marquis Wine Cellars   There’s a certain pattern to my week..somewhere near mid-day Wednesday I start to get stopped by someone wanting  a recommendation on a wine and wine store then it gets crazier  as the weekend approaches. The wine recommendations change from week to week but as far as the STORE is concerned that’s a no-brainer..Marquis Wine Cellars on Davie in Vancouver. Great staff, remarkable selection and a solid leader in  John Clerides. Some of the regulars simply walk in, the staff know their tastes so well they just put certain bottles together with the customer and they’re  out the door. John has the singular ability to not only know what he’s talking about when it comes to all things wine,  he shares that view to anyone standing in front of him. Sometimes it’s the actual winemaker. This conversation covers the odious liquor laws in BC and the manipulation by the BC Government.  John gets on a  classic rant then calms down to talk about BC wines and how the industry must up their game. We welcome back John Clerides..first class troublemaker.  First Class  Guy! www.marquis-wines.com   Lynn and Rick Allen  Texas BBQ Parksville   If you take the island Highway North of Nanaimo, Vancouver Island ..one of the first off ramps takes you to Parksville..beautiful town right on the Beach. If you’re lucky, there’s a truck doing BBQ off to the right…and you have to drive through a cloud of BBQ smoke.  If you turn follow the smoke , this story is  for you. If you just see it as smoke – keep driving. The sign on top says Traditional  Texas BBQ and its owned by Lynn and Rick Allen. Not only is the BBQ bang on but Lynn makes and sells fabulous sauces..available only at the truck. Loved talking to these guys..my kind of people. Their twitter handle is BBQ_Texas FB is Texas-BBQ  

Looking for that perfect wine for your Holiday plans?  Canada’s youngest  Master of Wine Rhys Pender runs down a great list of wines with a two part interview. James Nevison brings his latest edition of Had a Glass 2015. The best  selling wine reference book in BC. All under $20.00 And Ellen Walker Mathews gives us all the info on The Winter Wine Events this weekend and next in The Okanagan. THE SHOW Rhys Pender – Master of Wine and co-creator at Little Farm Wines Similkameen (TwoParter)   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 his wife, winemaker Alishan Driediger. After following his wife-to-be back to Canada, Rhys pursued his food and wine passion by completing a Professional Culinary Diploma and working in a top Vancouver restaurant. At the same time he took his first wine course, something that gave him an insatiable appetite for learning about wine. Rhys and Alishan moved to the Okanagan in 1999 to pursue the food and wine culture. Rhys spent time working in the vineyard, the cellar, wine shops and catering events before moving back to Vancouver for a two-year stint to manage a specialty retail wine store. Back in the Okanagan 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 the grueling Master of Wine program of study 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. 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. Besides the wines below which you can also find on Wine Align website , Rhys will also touch on his involvement in the BC Wine Appellation Task Group http://littlefarmwinery.ca/   http://www.wineplus.ca/     http://www.winealign.com/    # WINE 1 Ch. De la Gravelle 2013 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie Muscadet, Loire, France ($15.79, LDB 411066) 2 L'Ormarine Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc, France ($14.79, LDB 124834) 3 Chapoutier 2013 Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Villages, France ($15.79, LDB 40790) 4 Laughing Stock  2014 Amphora Viognier Roussanne Okanagan, BC ($24, 500ml, Winery) 5 McWilliam's 2013 Chardonnay Appellation Series Tumbarumba, NSW, Australia ($20.99, LDB 526988) 6 Poplar Grove 2014 Pinot Gris Okanagan, BC ($17.29, LDB 676650) 7 Louis Jadot 2013 Beaujolais-Villages Combe Aux Jacques Beaujolais, France ($19.29, LDB 469924) 8 Cedar Creek  2012 Platinum Block 4 Pinot Noir Okanagan Valley, BC ($53.99 , Winery 746016) 9 Zind-Humbrecht 2013 Muscat Alsace, France ($29.99, LDB 615583) 10 Laughing Stock 2013 Syrah Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada ($38, Winery) 11 Le Vieux Pin 2013 Cuvée Violette Syrah Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada ($29.90, Winery) 12 Raffault 2013  Chinon, Loire, France ($19.29, LDB 75440) 13 Losada 2011 Bierzo, Spain ($22.99, LDB 651471)   14 Tantalus 2013 Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley, BC ($29.90, Winery 114884)

Kendall-Jackson and their labels  make 5 Million cases of wine..Head Winemaker Randy Ullom reveals how he survives the year and what wines to  watch for. Canada loves KJ. It’s the Battle of the Sommeliers.  Three of Vancouver’s best Somms match Chilean wines with Chef Ned Bells food. The winner gets to go to Chile. The  winner of The Judgement of BC Red Competition  CC Jentsch -  On the Golden Mile Bench.  THE SHOW  Kendall-Jackson/Winemaker Randy Ullom  "I look at all of the vineyards we own, and all of the individual lots of wines that we make, and the thousands of barrels we have sitting in our cellar and sometimes I think, you gotta be kidding me! After I've sufficiently recovered from my daily panic attack, I take off my coat, dig in my heels and take it one barrel at a time. It's a rewarding job that I love."     Hired by Jess Jackson in 1992 as Winemaker for some of our smaller and international vineyards, Randy was handed his most prestigious assignment in 1997 - Winemaster for Kendall-Jackson Winery. A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Randy became interested in wine during a three-year stay in Chile, while on sabbatical from college in the early 1970s. His stay inspired a cross-country trek through Chile's vast wine-growing regions. On his return to the United States, he entered Ohio State University to study crop production with a specialty in Viticulture and Enology and received his degree in 1975. After six years as a vineyard manager and Winemaker in Ohio and upstate New York, Randy moved to California to become associate Winemaker at De Loach Vineyards in Sonoma County. He was promoted to Winemaker and Vice President in 1991. The wines produced during his tenure were consistent gold medal winners at wine competitions. Dude looks like a Sherriff from Dodge City..Oversees the growing and creating of 5 Million cases of wine from 35 labels. (check their website below) His job includes  working with wines grown in Sonoma, Chile, Bordeaux, Australia and Italy. This is a fun interview..with lots of information on their wines.  We love these wines..and why not?  They take such great care in their craft!! www.kj.com    Battle of the Sommeliers  It’s a great line up  in the Vancouver studios of Roundhouse Radio. Chef Ned Bell from Yew at the Four Seasons. Three of the best Sommeliers in Vancouver all compete to pair Ned’s food with Chile’s Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Carmenere.   This is a fabulous round table discussion about the very subject that most wine fans wants to know about.. Pairing food and wine to make a sensational blend.  Our Sommeliers are: First Course – Lisa Haley – Boulevard/Sutton Place Hotel / Chardonnay Second Course –  Steven Lane – Yew at Four Seasons – Pinot Noir Third Course – Sean Nelson – Vij’s Vancouver –  Carmenere Everyone who attended was considered a judge. Looking for three elements – creativity, flavour harmony and complexity. The Winner was – Sean Nelson, who wins a trip to Chile.  Congrats!! If you’re looking for food and wine pairing tips..this is your segment. www.winesofchile.org    CC Jentsch – Syrah wins The Judgment of BC   The spelling of Judgement aside..it truly was a momentous event. Steven Spurrier..from London’s Decanter magazine and the man who set in motion The Judgment of Paris in 1976. “The shot heard round the World” That event became the basis of the film Bottle Shock.Now comes BC’s turn. 12 Chardonnays and 12 Syrah were tasted head-to-head and judged by some of the very best experts available. 6 of those Chards and Syrah were from BC. The highest ranking BC wine – white or red – was the 2013 Syrah from CC Jentsch Cellars on the Golden Mile south Okanagan.

We visit the winemaker of  Villa Maria NZ, Harry/Christa-Lee McWatters and their winemaker and two wine loving music friends Colin Linden and Royal Wood. Music and Wine friends for your weekend.   THE SHOW  Josh Hammond - Villa Maria Villa Maria is one of New Zealand’s highest profile wineries and certainly the most awarded.   Their sustainable practices are exemplary and consistent. So...how are the wines? Given their commitment to the land and the vineyards it’s not surprising how good they are. What may surprise is that their wines – white, red and bubble – are consistent. From one year to the next which all  wine fans  want from their winery. Production winemaker Josh Hammond passed through Vancouver and most of Canada,  pouring his latest portfolio. Josh was born and raised in Marlborough, becoming the 5th generation to grow up on the family sheep farm situated next door to where the Villa Maria Marlborough winery now stands. The land, which was considered too fertile for growing grapes by his grandfather, now produces Sauvignon Blanc for Villa Maria. An early interest in law led Josh to the University of Otago to study a double degree in Law and Chemistry. During this time he also spent six months in Europe on a law exchange studying at Charles University in the Czech Republic. Then  to California and Burgundy where he gained valuable experience working with a range of grape varieties. Returning back to his roots Josh joined the Villa Maria Marlborough team as Assistant Winemaker in 2013 and was promoted to Production Winemaker in December of that year. With the Marlborough Sounds on his door step he enjoys spending time in the outdoors, diving, water skiing and sailing. He also enjoys recreating local dishes from the countries he has visited and matching these with New Zealand wines, for friends and family.   Yours truly had the pleasure of joining others at a tasting in Gastown that was a pleasure from beginning to end. I had to wait until Josh got back to Marlborough before he had time to talk and give us the full background on the wines below. Some you can find now..the others marked as “spec” hopefully in the new year.  Just thought you might like to know what’s possible from this fine company down the road. http://www.villamaria.co.nz/ *  Private Bin Lightly Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, spec, $16.99 plus tax+dep * Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc, listed, $16.99 plus tax+dep * Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc, spec, $21.49  plus tax+dep * Private Bin Pinot Gris, listed, $17.79 plus tax+dep * Private Bin Pinot Noir, spec, $18.79 plus tax+dep * Cellar Selection Pinot Noir, spec, $30.49 plus tax+dep * Private Bin Merlot Cab Sauv Hawke's Bay, spec, $13.99 plus tax+dep      Harry McWatters – Time/McWatters Wineries Christa-Lee McWatters-Bond -      Encore Vineyards and Local Lounge and Grill.  Vintage Consulting Group Lawrence Buhler, Director of Winemaking     Harry McWatters is a leader in the British Columbia wine industry, and has been involved in it for more than 40 years. In 1980, he founded BC’s first estate winery, Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, and later started See Ya Later Ranch Estate Winery in 1995. By spring of 2000, the Sumac Ridge Estate Wine Group was sold to Vincor Canada and Harry continued as the winery president as well as Vice-President of Vincor Canada. Harry “retired” in April 2008, and on May 1 established Vintage Consulting Group Inc. and the Okanagan Wine Academy. Harry is the founding chair of the British Columbia Wine Institute. In addition, he is the founding chair of the British Columbia Wine Information Society. He is also a Director of the Canadian Vintners Association, founding Chairman of VQA Canada and is the founding Chairman of the British Colu...

Welcome to Savour Cowichan in the Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island!! THE SHOW   It’s the annual gathering of all the culinary and liquid arts in the Cowichan Valley. Yes, the Okanagan Valley gets most of the headlines. Frankly,  they earned them. Which is exactly what The Cowichan intends to do as well. The wineries, cider makers, craft beer group and the chefs all want Vancouver to be aware that there are other choices, other destinations to consider!! On Vancouver Island. Savour Cowichan is held on the spectacular pier in Mill Bay. The locals may take the setting for granted but anyone arriving for the first time will simply pull out the camera and start shooting memories. The dinner and drinks showcase is a fundraiser for the Canucks Autism Network. Attending on the night were Noah Morantz, Director of Development and hockey hero Kirk McLean.   Our guests include: Paul Brunner – Blue Grouse Estate Winery  http://www.bluegrouse.ca/ Tim Turyk – Unsworth Vineyards  www.unsworthvineyards.com Merridale Estate Cidery – Rick Pipes  www.merridalecider.com Andy Johnson – Averill Creek Vineyards www.averillcreek.ca Mark Holford  - Rocky Creek Winery  www.rockycreekwinery.ca Simon Spencer – Enrico Winery  http://enricowinery.com/ Jeremy Schacht – Ampersand Distilling http://ampersanddistilling.com/ Marilyn and Michelle Venturi – Venturi Schulze Vineyards  www.venturischulze.com Noah Morantz  -  Canucks Autism Network   www.canucksautism.ca Kirk McLean – Canucks Alumni   www.savourcowichan.com www.canucksautism.ca STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON Harry McWatters Randy Ullom – Kendall-Jackson Colin Linden Royal Wood Jim Cuddy Sommelier Challenge      

TOP DROP Vancouver..Year 2. THE SHOW It’s the return of Top Drop Vancouver, a unique, two-day event bringing together international, terroir-focused wineries, craft breweries, cideries, gastronomy & more. Top Drop Vancouver continues its focus on sustainably-farmed, handcrafted wines offering a distinct sense of place, without heavy-handed winemaking trickery to get in the way. Now in its second year, Top Drop Vancouver is a two day trade and consumer event being held at the Roundhouse in Yaletown and various Vancouver restaurants  bringing together a collection of small, hands on wineries, craft breweries, cideries and food purveyors who are passionate about their craft. We quote Our Host Kurtis Kolt:   (from his column in the Georgia Straight) “Our focus is terroir-influenced, handcrafted wines, and the people behind them.   “We believe in the importance in farming one’s own fruit and/or being constantly engaged with grape-growers to ensure sustainability and a high standard of viticultural practices. We believe in wines that reflect their vintage, and wines that aren’t suffocated by vinicultural trickery. We believe in winemaking decisions that are made by a winemaker, and not by a board of directors or marketing team. We believe in those who take chances. We believe these kinds of wines, honest wines of integrity, need a time and place to have their story told. We also believe craft beer, cider, along with authentic and sustainable produce, dairy, meat and seafood are part of the same conversation, which is why we're proud to showcase some of our best in those areas.”   The event took place at the Roundhouse in downtown Vancouver. In the limited time and resources we had at hand..I was able to talk to and get stories from the following guests:   Kurtis Kolt – Organizer,  fearless leader and Wine Expert  http://www.kurtiskolt.com/ Kate Durisek – Co-Owner Howling Moon Cider House   Oliver BC www.howlingmoon.ca David Lancelot – Wine Buyer Cask and Barrel  Kelowna BC   www.thecaskandbarrel.ca Shawn Bachynski - Red Truck Beer - Vancouver, B.C.  www.redtruckbeer.com Mark Davidson – Global Education Director  Wine Australia  www.wineaustralia.com Tyler Harlton – Owner/Winemaker TH Wines  – Okanagan Valley, B.C.   www.thwines.com José Lovaglio Balbo    Winemaker   Vaglio Wines – Salta Argentina   http://www.joselovaglio.com/ Anthony Truchard - Truchard Vineyard – Carneros, California  www.truchardvineyards.com Jean Benoit DesLauriers – Wine Maker Benjamin Bridge   Gaspereau Valley Nova Scotia   https://www.benjaminbridge.com Shirley Brooks – Elk Cove  Willamette Valley Oregon  www.elkcove.com Paul  M  Brunner   Owner Blue Grouse Estate Winery  Duncan BC  www.bluegrouse.ca     http://www.topdropvancouver.com/   STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:   The wines of the Cowichan Valley Harry McWatters – What Next? Garth Eichel  - A new book on the Naramata Bench Colin Linden Royal Wood Jim Cuddy Garagiste Wines in BC

Tasting Room Radio has found a new home. It’s Roundhouse Radio 98.3  Vancouver’s brand new FM Station. Welcome to the first show!! Guests include Rhys Pender, Kurtis Kolt, Sandra Oldfield (Tinhorn Creek) and Wine Lawyer Mark Hicken. THE SHOW Our first two guests  are two of the best known and most respected wine educators in Canada. Kurtis Kolt and Rhys Pender.  This week they kick off TRR talking about their favourite wines of the summer and what wines to watch for this Fall. Plus a bunch of other cool stuff. The third member of this group,  they don’t have a name yet, is The Queen of the Vines DJ Kearney. Here’s some background on Rhys and Kurtis and the list of wines they’re talking about. Enjoy!! Rhys Pender -  Master of Wine   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. After following his wife-to-be back to Canada, Rhys pursued his food and wine passion by completing a Professional Culinary Diploma and working in a top Vancouver restaurant. At the same time he took his first wine course, something that gave him an insatiable appetite for learning about wine. Rhys and Alishan moved to the Okanagan in 1999 to pursue the food and wine culture. Rhys spent time working in the vineyard, the cellar, wine shops and catering events before moving back to Vancouver for a two-year stint to manage a specialty retail wine store. Back in the Okanagan 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 program of study 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. 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. His wines are called Little Farm and they’re outstanding. www.wineplus.ca www.littlefarmwinery.ca   Kurtis Kolt – Master of Everything   KK is a Vancouver-based wine consultant who writes about wine, presents seminars, hosts events, judges wine competitions, works with restaurants on their wine programs and so on. His  background is in running restaurants around Vancouver, including  managing Gastown's Salt Tasting Room until 2010 when he received the 'Sommelier of the Year' award at the 2010 Vancouver International Wine Festival. He’s  been profiled by Wine Enthusiast Magazine, run the wine program for an evening at James Beard House in New York and been a tasting panel participant at Wine & Spirits Magazine.

  It’s the return of Australia’s First Families of Wine!! 10 iconic wineries who shaped Australian wines. Yalumba / Henschke / d’Arenberg / Tahbilk / McWilliams / De Bortoli / Tyrrel’s / Brown Brothers / Howard Park / Wakefield   THE SHOW  Australia’s First Families of Wine Wakefield Wines 10 multi-generational wine families unlocked rare and revered wines from their private cellars to showcase Australia’s rich wine heritage, modern diversity, and the celebrated wine stories that have become the foundation for future generations. Get a sneak preview of a limited number of wines that are being released from each winery at BC Liquor Stores. Through these exclusive interviews, you will have the rare chance to meet the people behind the wines. Family members from each winery will share wines that provide a glimpse into the past, present and future of Australia’s most iconic winemaking families.   And they are all great storytellers..with outstanding stories to tell.   Their message is all about the farms and rich soils that they work, the quality of the wines they craft and the pride they have in their  history and how it has shaped who they are and what they  stand for.         Together, they are the custodians of over 5000 hectares of land that includes some of Australia’s most iconic vineyards, creating premium quality wines that proudly bear their  names.     Australia’s First Families: (and the years they first planted)     * Yalumba (1849) – Robert Hill Smith  www.yalumba.com •             Tyrrell’s Wines (1858) – Bruce Tyrrell  https://www.tyrrells.com.au •             Tahbilk (1860) – Alister Purbrick  www.tahbilk.com.au •             Henschke (1868) – Stephen Henschke  https://henschke.com.au •             McWilliam’s Wines (1877) – Scott McWilliam  www.mcwilliamswine.com •             Brown Brothers (1885) – Ross Brown  www.brownbrothers.com.au •             d’Arenberg (1912) – Chester Osborn  www.darenberg.com.au •             De Bortoli Wines (1928) – Darren DeBortoli  www.debortoli.com.au •             Taylors (1969) & Wakefield – Justin Taylor  www.wakefieldwines.com •             Howard Park (1986) – Jeff  and Amy Burch   https://www.burchfamilywines.com.au    www.australiasfirstfamiliesofwine.com.au     STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON Tasting Room Radio will return to the airwaves Saturday October 17th at 10am On Vancouver’s Newest FM station Roundhouse Radio 98.3 www.roundhouseradio.com  Guests include:  Kurtis Kolt – Wine Consultant – Sommelier of the Year 2010 Rhys Pender  Master of Wine. Winemaker Little Farm (Similkameen) DJ Kearney – Wine Expert Colin Linden    In the coming weeks: DJ Kearney Savour Cowichan Singer/Songwriter Royal Wood partners  with Therapy Vineyards The Garagiste Wineries of BC John Clerides – Marquis Wine Cellars DK Kearney, Kurtis Kolt Judgement of BC Top Drop Vancouver Terroir and Craft    

Garagiste North  - The small guys wine festival The Show GAR-aH-Jeest NOrTH… the coolest wine festival ever   What is a garagiste? (gar-ah-jeest).  It started out in France (of course) where it was a derogatory phrase for those avante garde and crazy mavericks making wine in their garage and outside the highly regulated system. Gradually and grudgingly came the acknowledgement that something really interesting was happening with these small case lot artisan wines, and a movement was born.   Anarchist. River Stone. SEVEN DIRECTIONS. NAGGING DOUBT. CoRCeleTTes. Roche. SynCHROmesh. Kraze Legz/Skaha  ROCHE. Niche.   Couldn’t fit everyone in but we are committed to bringing you all these stories over the course of the year. They are all driven, passionate winemakers who qualify by producing under 2000 cases a year and use only BC Fruit. Small they may be but these wineries have an effect on the future of BC wines. They take the time and commitment to grow different varietals, use experimental methods and take chances in the cellar that few others would or could. When you find one you like it’s best to buy and hold because all productions are small.   Our guests are: Terry Lynn Meyer – Organizer and pouring Anarchist Mountain One of the smallest wineries with the biggest view.  Anarchist is owned by Andrew Stone and Terry Meyer Stone and sits overlooking Lake Osoyoos on Anarchist Mountain.  At an elevation of 1700 ft, their micro terroir brings cool evening temperatures and some of the longest degree days in the valley to their small case lot production of old vine Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. www.anarchistvineyard.com   Ted Kane  - River Stone River Stone is a small, family owned and operated vineyard and winery near Oliver. Winemaker, owner and garagiste Ted Kane started making wine when he was 18. He and his wife Lorraine moved to Oliver to fulfill his long held dream to grow Bordeaux red varietals and one day own their own winery. Check out their two Bordeaux blends: Stones Throw and Corner Stone and for the white lovers don't miss out on Splash! www.riverstoneestatewinery.ca   Rob Westbury – Winemaker Nagging Doubt Nagging Doubt is a small artisan winery located in South East Kelowna on a 5.8 acre vineyard. Winemakers Rob Westbury and Mark Simpson create the wines by hand using a combination of modern and centuries old techniques to produce unique small case lot wines. Not to miss is their Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and red blend--The Pull. www.naggingdoubt.com     Gerry Thygesen – Co-Owner and winemaker of Skaha/KrazyLegz   Gerry and Sue Thygessen are the Proprietors of a beautiful vineyard above Skaha Lake in Kaleden. Steep slopes of shale and fossilized sandstone with lake influences encourage the vines to concentrate flavours in the ripening fruit resulting in elegant, well-balanced fruit forward wines.  For this pour Gerry is talking about his Skaha Wines.  www.krazelegz.com   Daniel Bontorin – Seven Directions. Rose` Specialist   Daniel was the winemaker at Le Vieux Pin before be departed to consult and make his own rose. With a total case production of 375 cases, this Small Guy virtual winery has a big heart. There's no winery to visit, which makes the opportunity to sample in person rare.  Daniel remarks that you can buy his Rose at Volcanic Hills, West Kelowna .  Specializing in single vineyard, single variety Rose wines, Daniel Bontorin and Kritine Witkowski use 100% BC grapes, are 100% VQA and 100% cool.  They  have made  their 2013 Zweigelt Rosé and 2014 Pinot Noir Rosé with two more new roses coming.

TOP DROP Vancouver..Year 2. THE SHOW   It’s the return of Top Drop Vancouver, a unique, two-day event bringing together international, terroir-focused wineries, craft breweries, cideries, gastronomy & more. Top Drop Vancouver continues its focus on sustainably-farmed, handcrafted wines offering a distinct sense of place, without heavy-handed winemaking trickery to get in the way. Now in its second year, Top Drop Vancouver is a two day trade and consumer event being held at the Roundhouse in Yaletown and various Vancouver restaurants  bringing together a collection of small, hands on wineries, craft breweries, cideries and food purveyors who are passionate about their craft. We quote Our Host Kurtis Kolt:   (from his column in the Georgia Straight) “Our focus is terroir-influenced, handcrafted wines, and the people behind them.   “We believe in the importance in farming one’s own fruit and/or being constantly engaged with grape-growers to ensure sustainability and a high standard of viticultural practices. We believe in wines that reflect their vintage, and wines that aren’t suffocated by vinicultural trickery. We believe in winemaking decisions that are made by a winemaker, and not by a board of directors or marketing team. We believe in those who take chances. We believe these kinds of wines, honest wines of integrity, need a time and place to have their story told. We also believe craft beer, cider, along with authentic and sustainable produce, dairy, meat and seafood are part of the same conversation, which is why we're proud to showcase some of our best in those areas.”   The event took place at the Roundhouse in downtown Vancouver. In the limited time and resources we had at hand..I was able to talk to and get stories from the following guests:   Kurtis Kolt – Organizer,  fearless leader and Wine Expert  http://www.kurtiskolt.com/ Kate Durisek – Co-Owner Howling Moon Cider House   Oliver BC www.howlingmoon.ca David Lancelot – Wine Buyer Cask and Barrel  Kelowna BC   www.thecaskandbarrel.ca Shawn Bachynski - Red Truck Beer - Vancouver, B.C.  www.redtruckbeer.com Mark Davidson – Global Education Director  Wine Australia  www.wineaustralia.com Tyler Harlton – Owner/Winemaker TH Wines  – Okanagan Valley, B.C.   www.thwines.com José Lovaglio Balbo    Winemaker   Vaglio Wines – Salta Argentina   http://www.joselovaglio.com/ Anthony Truchard - Truchard Vineyard – Carneros, California  www.truchardvineyards.com Jean Benoit DesLauriers – Wine Maker Benjamin Bridge   Gaspereau Valley Nova Scotia   https://www.benjaminbridge.com Shirley Brooks – Elk Cove  Willamette Valley Oregon  www.elkcove.com Paul  M  Brunner   Owner Blue Grouse Estate Winery  Duncan BC  www.bluegrouse.ca     http://www.topdropvancouver.com/   STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON Finding a new Vancouver radio Home at Roundhouse Radio Harry McWatters – What Next? Garth Eichel  - A new book on the Naramata Bench Wine Laws in Canada – Mark Hicken (Lawyer)  & Sandra Oldfield  (Tinhorn Creek)              

The Winner of the Judgement of BC – Reds.   CC Jentsch, Amber Jones and their Syrah It’s a Sommelier Showdown..with Chef Ned Bell and the Wines of Chile. The Wines of Chile’s Santa Carolina  Takes a Mulligan Chef Michael Smith – The Latest Book - Family Meals!!   THE SHOW  Battle of the Sommeliers  It’s a great line up  in the Vancouver studios of Roundhouse Radio. Chef Ned Bell from Yew at the Four Seasons.     Three of the best Sommeliers in Vancouver all compete to pair Ned’s food with Chile’s Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Carmenere. This is a fabulous roundtable discussion about the very subject that most wine fans wants to know about.. Pairing food and wine to make a sensational blend.  Our Sommeliers are: First Course - Lisa Haley – Boulevard/Sutton Place Hotel / Chardonnay Second Course -  Steven Lane – Yew at Four Seasons – Pinot Noir Third Course – Sean Nelson – Vij’s Vancouver -  Carmenere   Everyone who attended was considered a judge. Looking for three elements – creativity, flavour harmony and complexity. The Winner was – Sean Nelson, who wins a trip to Chile.  Congrats!! If you’re looking for food and wine pairing tips..this is your segment. www.winesofchile.org   CC Jentsch – Syrah wins The Judgment of BC      The spelling of Judgement aside..it truly was a momentous event. Steven Spurrier..from London’s Decanter magazine and the man who set in motion The Judgment of Paris in 1976. “The shot heard round the World” That event became the basis of the film Bottle Shock. Now comes BC’s turn. 12 Chardonnays and 12 Syrah were tasted head-to-head and judged by some of the very best experts available. 6 of those Chards and Syrah were from BC. The highest ranking BC wine – white or red – was the 2013 Syrah from CC Jentsch Cellars on the Golden Mile south Okanagan. It beat out syrah from Barossa, France, Santa Barbara, Hunter Valley, Walla Walla. "For me wine is the three 'P's': the place, the people and the product. British Columbia ticks all these boxes with exuberance, elegance and conviction." noted Steven Spurrier.   "It was a courageous tasting. The point was about discovery and learning, not about winning or losing. It's about pushing ourselves in our wine regions" noted DJ Kearney, curator of the event. "The global benchmark wines were of a very high caliber. It was important to be challenged by high quality international wines, and we were. And we will do it again. We must do it again."   I tracked down co-owner  Chris Jentsch (yench) and his winemaker Amber Jones and we had great fun reliving the event, the results and what it all means for them, the BC wine industry and for us..the consumer. This just in - the Syrah 13 won a Decanter Gold as well as the North American Regional trophy winner for the Best Red.   Keep a close eye on these guys..pssst..they have a wine club..   www.ccjentschcellars.com www.winediva.ca   Santa Carolina – Takes  A Mulligan...   Santa Carolina is an integral part of Chile's wine history, with a tradition of 140 years. It was established in 1875 by Luis Pereira Cotapos, who named it after his wife Carolina Iñiguez. Today, more than a century later, Santa Carolina is owned by the Larraín family and has become one of the country's most important and recognized wineries. Among its facilities located in the heart of the city of Santiago, the colonial-style house and underground cellar stand out.  Built by the French architect Emile Doyère using bricks and a mixture of lime and egg whites known as 'cal y canto', they were declared a national monument in 1973. With over 2,