The Dork Uncorked, Rod Philips, gives tips form planning the drinks at a wedding, including what kinds of beer and wine to pick and how to handle the cocktails. And, since it fits into the wedding theme, we follow up with Ryan's anniversary picnic and the wine that went with it.

Wine and drinks discussed:

•"Single Vineyard Viento Mar Block 21" Pinot Noir from Cono Sur (as discussed last week).

•Sheringham Distillery Seaside gin

And two picks of the week:

•Pippins Apple Cider from Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse

•Villa Teresa Organic Prosecco

0:00 -  15:31: Ryan drank the Louis Latour "Bourgogne Gamay" 2013 from France (about $23), which provided an excuse to explore this variety. For those who also want to explore Gamay, Rod recommends trying an Okanagan option from producers such as Beaumont Family Estate Winery or Volcanic Hills Winery, both in the Kelowna area. Both should be $20 or under.

15:31 - 31:58: Catching up on good wines Rod has tried. We start with the Family Perrin "Cote du Rhone" 2014 for $16. Then we get into Cono Sur from Chile and their "Viento Mar" Block No. 21 Single Vineyard Pinot Noir. Lot's to get into here.

31:58 - 36:19: Booze in the news -- how B.C. wine on grocery store shelves made national and international news... as a NAFTA trade irritant.

36:19 - 38:19: Speaking of Cono Sur from Chile, the pick of the week is their Pinot Noir Rose in a 1-litre bottle.

Interview show: Greg Hayes is the man behind Cafe Brio. Before that he helped shape the local restaurant scene with the Herald St. Cafe. He also has a lot of stories that you've gotta hear!

The pick of the week comes from our special guest. The winery is "Nals Margreid" in Italy. The wine is their "Sirmian Pinot Bianco." You might find it at government liquor stores in the mid $20 price range.

0:00 - 14:13: A trip to the baseball game at Royal Athletic Park leads to a quick review of Spinnakers' "Original Pale Ale," which in turns leads to a good old fashion bitch session about why alcohol costs so much at restaurants and... well... ball parks. Resident cork dork Rod Philips gives us answers.

14:13 - 23:40: Wine gifting etiquette. When giving, or receiving, a wine at a dinner party of other function, is it expected that the wine be used as part of the night? Don't do what Ryan did and horde the good stuff when he gets a wine gift, like he did with a bottle of 90-point "Monasterio de Las Vinas" Garnacha-Tempranillo from Spain (which we review, since it came up).

23:40 - 38:26: We feature Vancouver Island sparking wine. Apparently, the region's climate is perfect for this style and some wine makers are trying to capitalize on that with under the name "Charm de L'ile." We try the Averill Creek "Charm de L'ile" from Duncan. Thumbs up! And, hot tip, buy it as a farmer's market for $18.

38:26 - 44:25: Pick of the Week! It's the Cote Mas Rosé from France's Languedoc region. $13.99 for 1-litre at BC Government Liquor Stores.

0:00 - 9:23: The B.C. election is over... well... not really. After weeks of Dork Uncorked covering what the election means for liquor policy, we scratch our heads and ask what next?

9:23 - 20:40: Siegerrebe is a white wine grape that is commonly grown on Vancouver Island. We learn more about it.

20:40 - 31:22: Pick of the Week! EnvyFol's grenache-syrah-carignan blend.

31:22 - 41:54: Rod drank a beer.

0:00 - 20:30: Booze in the news! First, both leading parties in the B.C. election propose a change to liquor rules that might improve the drink menu at some restaurants. Second, we learn that many of the world's wine regions are suffering from terrible spring weather.  What will that mean for the 2017 vintage?

20:30 - 34:30: Buying by the case update.

34:30 - 41:48: Pick of the Week! Mission Hill's 2015 Five Vineyards Pinot Noir from the Okanagan. We also get a follow up review of the 2015 Tinhorn Creek Chardonnay and try a Spanish Garnacha from El Circo.

In this week's episode, Rod talks about the virtues of box wines and that leads up to the pick of the week: Radio Boca's Garnacha in a box.

Also, a listener question about Merlot leads us to the fascinating story of "Carménère," a grape variety lost to history after disease devastated vines in Europe in the 1860's. But then it was rediscovered in Chile where it had been brought by accident long, long ago. If you want to try it, Rod suggests looking for the Falernia Carménère.

Other wines discussed: Tinhorn Creek Merlot and the Tsantali Retsina

 

(Originally recorded March 3, 2017) On this week’s show, Rod reports after attending the launch of Vancouver Island Breweries re-launch. Among the highlights is a new look, new recipes, and a new “Juan de Fuca Cerveza.” And the pick of the week! A Portuguese wine - Periquita

(Originally recorded February 24, 2017) In this week’s show, Rod and Ryan tell the BC Government what they should have done in their recently budget – and that's reduce liquor mark-ups. They also discuss the coming of cider in grocery stores, “BEV-X,” and Rod's pick of the week is "The Cover Drive" from "Jim Barry in Australia, a Cabernet Sauvignon from the Coonawarra region.

(Originally recorded February 17, 2017) In this episode, Rod explains to Ryan how the BC Budget might change prices at the liquor store. We learn that sparkling wine and rosé wines a coming trend? And Rod recommends a barley wine.