My guest on the 'Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People' Podcast is Andrew Carter, the Executive Chef & Owner of the famed Yorkville The Oxley Public House restaurant.  

A powerhouse of an interview!!

Andrew went from working as a teenager in food halls to working under Nico Ladenis, the first British chef to be awarded three Michelin stars to opening up arguably the best British style pub in Toronto.

The energy, the stories and the passion ... you will be hooked from start to finish.

My guest on the 'Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People' Podcast is Jeff Moote the founder and winemaker for Divergence Wines, a virtual winemaker based in Niagara.

Cool origin story about how Jeff went from working as an Engineer in the chemical process industry to making wine! 

A hell of leap of faith that has led to a rather impressive sparkling program!

The Podcast is heading to the Southern France wine region of Roussillon.

My guest is Moritz Bak, owner of Res Fortes winery.

A cool story about a young winemaker who fell in love with this part of the world and wanted to make world class wine. (I grabbed his last 6-Pack of Syrah!)

On the latest ‘Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People’ Podcast I’m joined by prolific Instagram star Cokie from Cokies World of Wine. (Find her here: https://www.instagram.com/cokiesworldofwine/)

I’ve met so many people who have committed so much of their life to the study of wine … I don’t think I have ever encountered anyone with the passion/ work ethic for all things vino like Cokie. 

She is so damn impressive and is a MUST FOLLOW for anyone who wants to learn about wine.

Seriously as you are reading this I can almost guarantee Cookie is studying a map of some random wine appellation. 

When a winery has the highest of aspirations to make the best wines from the Niagara terroir the Bat Signal will go out to winemakers Ann Sperling and Peter Gamble!!

They are the Batman and Batman of extracting the best out of the Niagara region.

On the latest ‘Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People’ Podcast I bring back Ann (Third time on the Pod) and Peter (Second time) to go over their latest project, Dobbin Estate Winery.

This passion project by Wade Dobbin started in 2018 after the acquisition of their prized vineyards needed some of the best minds in the land which Wade got with Ann and Peter.

This was an epic interview that also featured Assistant Winemaker Dave Brennan and Dobbin Estate General Manager Nathan Dobbin and included tasting their Chardonnay, two wildly different Rieslings and a Right Bank style Bordeaux Blend.

This is Julie Garton, the Wine Director for Liberty Entertainment Group.

This is Julie’s second appearance on the ‘Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People’ Podcast.

Julie oversees the wine program for one of Toronto’s newest restaurants Blue Bovine Steak + Sushi House.

We discuss her new project, just what are some of the big differences between a high end establishment and a Michelin Star level one … oh and when she climbed to the base camp for Mt. Everest.

You can find out more about Blue Bovine Steak + Sushi House here: bluebovine.com

The ‘Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People’ Podcast is heading back to the Okanagan Valley!

My guest is former Sommelier for The National Club and now the Guest Experience Manager for one of the best wineries in all of Canada, Checkmate Artisanal Winery.

We discuss the devastating environmental damage the 2024 winter had on the entire region.

As someone who has known James from his early days at the Club, I love his story from Toronto to B.C.

No better person to be representing some of the best Chardonnay and Merlot made in Canada.

*Bonus: Most emotional moment in the history of the pod (168 episodes in!) happens midway of this interview.

A wide-ranging conversation with one of the co-owners of Henry of Pelham Winery, Dan Speck.

I sat down with last in late 2018 and since then A LOT has changed.

We discuss the impact of COVID, the war in Ukraine and inflation has had on the world of wine.

I guarantee you'll learn something new from one of the most interesting people in the Ontario wine biz.

My guest is Steven Campbell, board member for the non-profit organization Grapes for Humanity who just launched their wine auction to help raise money for several important environmental charities.

You have until Monday April 22nd to get your bids in!

(Link: https://www.waddingtons.ca/auction/grapes-for-humanity-canada-fine-wine-auction-2024-apr-22-2024/)

We dive into Steven’s rich past that includes owning the famed Toronto restaurant, La Maison, opening one of the first wine bars in Ontario and the dangers climate change is having on wine all over the world.

(Also, his dogs make a brief appearance)

On the latest episode of the 'Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People' Podcast I speak with the most important wine journalist covering all things Ontario Wine, Rick VanSickle.

We discuss the politics behind wine production, how the LCBO is not doing nearly enough for Ontario winemakers and is there a future in designating specific vineyards with "Grand Cru" status?