Summary: <br> THE SHOW <br> <br> <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002006/?ref_=tt_ch">Jack </a>: If they want to drink Merlot, we’re drinking Merlot.<br> <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0316079/?ref_=tt_ch">Miles Raymond </a>: No, if anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I am NOT drinking any f#*king Merlot!<br> <br> Somewhere on this website is the famous Merlot scene from the film Sideways, spoken with outrage and indignation by the sublime Paul Giamatti as Miles Raymond, failed writer and wine snob.<br> The film came out in 2004 and the sales of Merlot dropped like a stone. In some markets it has never really recovered.<br> (Director and Writer Alexander Payne starts the show)<br> <br> I had this nagging question hanging over me for a while now.<br> Is BC Merlot being taken for granted? Has it lost its luster and ranking to the wine fan?<br> The most planted grape in BC is Merlot but, except for Vancouver Sun wine writer Tony Gismondi, I’m not seeing a lot articles or headlines on BC Merlot.<br> <br> <br> <br> In the next hour you’ll hear from many of BC’s Best Merlot winemakers. Many of the questions are the same…<br> Is Merlot being taken for granted?<br> What was the effect of Sideways?<br> What makes BC Merlot outstanding?<br> When did you fall in love with this grape?<br> Have we all changed our wine tastes?<br> Many of the questions were the same ..but the answers were all wildly different.<br> Our 12 Merlot guests include:<br> Alexander Payne – Screenwriter and Director of Sideways <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0668247/">https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0668247/</a><br> Rhys Pender – Master of Wine <a href="http://www.wineplus.ca/">http://www.wineplus.ca/</a><br> Mary McDermott – Winemaker at Township 7 <a href="https://www.township7.com/">https://www.township7.com/</a><br> Mike Raffan – GM at Township 7 <a href="https://www.township7.com/">https://www.township7.com/</a><br> Phil McGahan – Winemaker at Checkmate Wines. (Winner: 2017 Judgement of BC) <a href="https://www.checkmatewinery.com/">https://www.checkmatewinery.com/</a><br> Jeff Harder – Co-Owner Ex Nihilo <a href="https://exnihilovineyards.com/">https://exnihilovineyards.com/</a><br> Peter Lindenlaub – Wagner Family Wines (Napa) <a href="http://www.wagnerfamilyofwine.com/">http://www.wagnerfamilyofwine.com/</a><br> Kane Morgan – Co-Owner Rust Wine <a href="https://www.rustwine.com/">https://www.rustwine.com/</a><br> Joseph Luckhurst – Managing Partner Road 13 <a href="http://road13vineyards.com/">http://road13vineyards.com/</a><br> Larry Gerelus – Co-Owner Stags Hollow (OK Falls) <a href="https://stagshollowwinery.com/">https://stagshollowwinery.com/</a><br> Rob Summers – Senior Winemaker at Hester Creek <a href="http://hestercreek.com/">http://hestercreek.com/</a><br> Michael Bartier – Co-owner and Winemaker at Bartier Bros <a href="http://www.bartierbros.com/">http://www.bartierbros.com/</a><br> <br> STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON<br> Vintage 2019 – featuring<br> Senka Tennant Terra Vista<br> Grant Stanley Spearhead<br> Howard Soon Vanessa<br> Bailey Williamson Blue Grouse<br> Meet the Makers – Victoria<br> Kristen Needham – Sea Cider<br> Jenny Garlini – Blue Grouse<br> Stags Hollow – Keira Le Franc<br> Roche Wine – Penelope Roche<br> Fitzpatrick Family Wines – Gordon Fitzpatrick<br> Ricco Bambino – Sebastien Hotte<br> Sheringham Distillery – Jason MacIsaac<br> A visit to Blue Grouse<br> Ben Bryant- Chief winemaker Mission Hill<br> Colin Linden – Singer and sipper<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br>
