Mark Hopley WM  Hester Creek/Elan Morris GM Okanagan Wine Festivals

 

THE SHOW

 Every Spring is a like a gift. If you’re any kind of a wine fan, this Spring is going to be something special.

You can expect wineries all over BC to be proudly releasing their Spring wines.

For the wine fan, after  two years of lockdown,  we can’t wait to get out, visit the wineries, go to wine festivals and discover our next new wine.

With that in mind our two guests are primed and ready.

Mark Hopley Winemaker at Hester Creek (Golden Mile)

Elan Morris GM of The Okanagan Wine Festival Society (Kelowna)

 

Welcome to Tasting Room Radio – Spring 2022

Mark Hopley  – Winemaker Hester Creek (Golden Mile)

Hester Creek Estates is celebrating its 54th year of winemaking.  One of the originals.

Winemaker Mark Hopley has been waiting almost 6 months to release many of his Spring releases. That takes us back to harvest last Fall and 6 months in tank, barrel and bottle.  What a wonderful line-up.

2021 Pinot Blanc – as predicted, it’s finding its place in our hearts and fridge. $17.99

2021 Pinot Gris – at the BC LDB, online, select grocery stores and private liquor stores, as well as in Alberta; $17.99 plus tax

2021 Pinot Gris Viognier – at Save-On-Foods; $19.99 plus tax

2021 Old Vine Trebbiano – at the Winery and online; $23.99  (Hello Joe)

The 2019 vintage  of The Judge will be available this summer.  We passionately discuss. $45.99 –  6 pack available.

 

Also some  discussion about the fine red blend Garland.

Also of note, with most of the COVID-19 restrictions now lifted Hester Creek Estate is back to offering many of their guest experiences: Tasting Room is open daily for tours and tastings.

As well,  the  Terrafina Restaurant and Villa accommodations are available for bookings. And they have resumed their  popular cooking classes at the winery.

www.hestercreek.com

Elan Morris – General Manager Okanagan Wine Festival Society

 Elan returns with welcome news of the 26th Spring Okanagan Wine Festival.  May 5-15

70 events in 10 days.

Highlights include

Valley First Spring Wine Tastings – 130 wines from 35 wineries. (May 7)

From Cellars to Classics – classic wines and music (May 12)

Blush and Bubbles – A new event featuring  a happy choice of Rose and Sparkling Wines. (May 15)

Elan brings lots of information and stories. Have a listen and make your plans before the tickets are gone, gone, gone!

 

 

www.thewinefestivals.com

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Top Drop 2022

Spring Releases

Monte Creek

Sponsor Fest

-Unsworth

-Hillside

-JPCustoms (Hatch)

-Moon Curser

 

 

Exec Director Harry Hertscheg on 43rd Van Wine Fest plus A visit with  Winemakers Cut

 

THE SHOW

 The last time VanWineFest gathered it was early  March of 2020.

Days  after they closed the doors,  the World would be dealt a monumental blow by a global pandemic.

So, here we are two years later. Our lives have been changed in so many ways. Covid 19 has been controlled to such an extent that masks are optional and the 43rd Van Wine Fest will be allowed to open their doors once again.  May 16-22.

101 wineries from 14 countries. 41 of those wineries will be from British Columbia.

 

Happy to say 18 producers from Italy and 14 from the USA.

View the winery list here.

. The festival has been named the #1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Event in Canada by New York’s BizBash for seven years running and was named the Best International Wine Festival – North America by LUX Life Magazine

The festival is headquartered at the Vancouver Convention Centre; in addition, restaurants and venues around the city will host winery dinners, lunches, seminars, and wine minglers. The sumptuous Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction, presented by National Bank Private Banking 1859, and benefiting Bard on the Beach, will take place on Tuesday, May 17 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The heart of the festival is the Tasting Room, where all 101 wineries will gather for four International Festival Tastings and two Trade Tastings.

Tickets for the International Festival Tastings are now on sale. Ticket prices range from $109-$129 all in. Festival-goers looking to enjoy a vacation or staycation in Vancouver over the Victoria Day long weekend can get a free Tasting Room ticket if they book a downtown hotel via StayVancouverHotels.com. The promotion is available until May 6, or while supplies last.

For more information about the Vancouver International Wine Festival go to VanWineFest.ca.

 

As always, when we need the complete story on all things Vancouver Wine Festival we find the Executive Director Harry Hertscheg.

Harry and I did this interview days before the line up was announced. It’s one big Tease.

@vanwinefest

#VIWF

 

VanWineFest.ca.

 

 Michal Mosny.  Co-founder /Winemaker at Winemakers Cut (Oliver)

Several years ago Jason Priestley and I were sitting in the back of a pick-up truck shooting Hollywood and Vines TV on our way to Nik’Mip Winery.

Watching in Slovakia were winemaker Michal Mosny and his wife Martina.

They liked the vineyards going by and the varietals being grown.

Michal was a cool climate winemaker and he felt at home here.

They moved to the Okanagan, found a vineyard at Deadman Lake south of Oliver and the rest is history.

Now, you can find Winemakers Cut all over the West.

Michal’s been on the show before but I thought it was time to get caught up..

Talking about which of his wines are currently on our shelves and what’s coming this Spring.

Here is their current selection:

FIDELIA – Charmat sparkling Sauvignon Blanc

2020 Gruner Veltliner

2020 Muscat Canelli

 

812 Wines.  20 Platinum. Here’s 5 of the very best 2021 BC Lt. Gov Winners.

 

THE SHOW

 The press release said..

“A panel of judges from Canada and the US tasted more than 800 wines, and awarded gold, silver, and platinum medals to 90 British Columbian wineries”

I know most of these judges. They cannot be fooled or influenced. They take great pride in getting the winners right.

12 of the 14 judges have been guests on Tasting Room Radio. I pay attention to what they have to say.

On and off the air.

Congratulations to all the wineries and to Tim Pawsey – Winner of the Harry McWatters Award.

There simply wasn’t time to talk to all 20 Platinum winners but we were able to stalk and corner…

 

 

Wine of the Year winner David Patterson – GM & Winemaker of Tantalus 2018 Old Vines Riesling (East Kelowna)

 

Grant Stanley – Winemaker at Spearhead Winery. . (East Kelowna) 3 Platinum Pinot Noirs

 

Lorin Inglis – GM at ENRICO Winery (Cowichan Valley) 2020 Shining Armour Pinot Gris

 

Jeff Hundertmark – Head Winemaker Mt Boucherie  (West Kelowna) 2020 Original Vine Semillon/2018 Reserve Syrah

 

Gaurev Maan – Maan Farms Estate Winery – 2020 Raspberry Table Wine (Frazer Valley)

 

Elan Morris – GM OK Wine Festivals. (Kelowna)

Here is the complete 2021 Platinum List – Congratulations All.

* Arrowleaf Cellars – 2019 Riesling

* Burrowing Owl Estate Winery – 2019 Syrah

* CedarCreek Estate Winery – 2020 Platinum Home Block Rosé

* Chain Reaction Winery – 2019 Tailwind Pinot Gris

* ENRICO WINERY – 2020 Shining Armour Pinot Gris

* Inniskillin Okanagan Estate Winery – 2018 Estate Riesling Icewine

* Kismet Estate Winery – 2018 Cabernet Franc Reserve

* Liquidity Wines – 2020 Rosé

* Maan Farms Estate Winery – 2020 Raspberry Table Wine

* Mission Hill Family Estate – 2019 Terroir Collection Vista’s Edge Cabernet Franc

* Mission Hill Family Estate – 2019 Perpetua

* Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery – 2020 Original Vines Sémillon

* Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery – 2018 Reserve Syrah

* Silhouette Estate Winery – N/V Boyd Classic Cuveé

* Silkscarf Winery – 2017 Syrah-Viognier

* SpearHead Winery – 2019 Pinot Noir Saddle Block

* SpearHead Winery – 2019 Pinot Noir Cuveé

* SpearHead Winery – 2019 Pinot Noir Golden Retreat

* Tantalus Vineyards – 2018 Chardonnay

* Three Sisters Winery – 2019 Rebecca

The full list of medal winners can be found on the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society website.

Tantalus.ca

Enricowinery.com

Spearhead.ca

mtboucherie.com

maanfarms.com

thewinefestivals.com

 

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Checking out Festival Season

Harry Hertscheg – Exec Director Vancouver Wine Fest

Kurtis Kolt – Top Drop Vancouver

 

 

 

 

8 of the finest Proseccos in the World with Treve Ring and the state of  BC Restaurants with Ian Tostenson and Kelly Gordon.

 

Hello… Hoping you are safe and well!

Loving this show.

The feature guests are  Wine Judge and Writer Treve Ring pouring 8 Prosecco’s from the legendary Conegliano Valdobbiadene region of Italy and then  a check in on the state of BC’s restaurants following two years of lockdown with Ian Tostenson BC Restaurant and Food Services Assn and Kelly Gordon  Romer’s Restaurants.

 

THE SHOW

 

Treve Ring  –   Cru-Consultancy. Speaker, writer, judge, traveler, Sommelier. Self-confessed geek.

The amazing Treve Ring is a wine writer and editor, judge and speaker, and perpetual traveler. A certified sommelier, WSET diploma holder, French wine scholar, instructor, and Sherry instructor, she is based in Victoria,  Vancouver Island,  though is most often found on a plane or in a vineyard.

Treve has been writing professionally since 2001. Her work is regularly seen in numerous publications including World of Fine Wine, Meininger’s Wine Business International, Wine & Spirits, Sommelier Magazine, Wine Enthusiast, WineAlign, The Alchemist, Quench Magazine, Vitis, Lonely Planet Travel, and others.

In addition to her role as Correspondent Anorak at WineAnorak, she is the executive editor and senior critic at Gismondi on Wine, and editor at large for SIP Northwest Magazine. She tastes thousands of wines each year, and is an established wine judge in Canada, the UK, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United States. In 2012, she co-founded Cru Consultancy, a boutique wine education, and consultation company. Though her travels take her all over the wine world, Treve has spent the last few years concentrating and researching sparkling wine globally, with a focus on Champagne.

This story began in Conegliano Valdobbiadene, a hilly area in North-East Italy, 50 km from Venice and around 100 from the Dolomites. Here, for over three centuries, people have grown the grapes that produce Prosecco Superiore, whose success began with the founding of Italy’s first School of Winemaking in 1876. The production area covers 15 communes and represents the heart of the world of Prosecco; it is one of Italy’s historic denominations, recognized in 1969. In 2009, with the reorganization of the denominations for Prosecco, the Ministry of Agriculture classified it as a Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin (D.O.C.G.), the highest level of quality for Italian wines.

Treve brings 8 Proseccos from Conegliano Valdobbiadene. The heart of Prosecco Superiore  D.O C.G.

 

Below are the wines we tasted  (with Treve’s guidance and storytelling). Surprisingly, few if any are represented in BC.

 

* La Farra Rive di Farra di Soligo 2020 Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Brut

* Conte Collalto Ponte Rosso NV Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Brut

* Bellenda San Fermo 2021 Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut

* Perlage Canah NV Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut

* Valdellövo ZeroNove 2021 Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut

* Bianca Vigna Rive di Collalto 2020 Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Dry

* Cantina Bernardi Terra De Rù 2021 Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Dry

* Riccardo NV Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Dry

www.cruconsultancy.com

@treve_ring

#ConeglianoValdobbiadene

 

Ian Tostenson – President and CEO of BC Restaurant and Food Services Assn

Kelly Gordon – President/Partner  Extra Mile Services Assn and Romer’s Burger Bars

The 2-year lockdown and Covid Pandemic hit the restaurants of...

Discovering outstanding  wines at 2House & Gold Hill plus  Little Engine on Naramata Bench

THE SHOW

 In 2007, when Tasting Room Radio began in a barn studio on the Naramata Bench,  I went looking for the most interesting people making the most interesting wines.

The very first of those guests were Val Tait and Ian Sutherland.

Valeria was consulting a number of wineries/vineyards and Ian was making wine as the founder of Poplar Grove. They took me to wine school every time we talked. They’ve become great friends.

Ian sold Poplar Grove but continued to consult. Val recently said goodbye as GM and Head Winemaker at  Bench 1775.

Now, 15 years after first meeting them,  they return to Tasting Room Radio as their own winery – 2House. Making singular wines but each with its own expression.

For example, they both make a Cab Franc. One in Val’s cool style and another with  Ian’s passion.

Here’s the problem.  They have yet to SHARE that Franc with me and frankly you as well. I hear it’s coming.

What they did send to taste and talk about were their collaborative efforts with –

2House  2018 Chardonnay (think Montrachet)  WOW!

2House 2017 Tempranillo (one of the very best BC reds I’ve tasted.)

Good grief these are good wines.!

 

Val Tait is also consulting  Gold Hill Wines for the Gill Family.  That means she has access to the very best vineyards for the  Gold Hill label and at the same time can grow the  2House label into the future.

 

This time we sample –

Gold Hill

2020 Cab Franc Rose

2020 Sauvignon Blanc

2014 Merlot –   A 2014 Merlot is one of their releases. It’s huge.

Same with 2015 Cab Franc.

 

Trust me on this.  When Val gets her hands and talent on those vineyards,  in the years ahead the wines at Gold Hill will be keepers.

 

 

 

https://www.goldhillwinery.com/

Instagram: @2housewine

 

 

Steven French  co-founder of Little Engine Wines (with wife Nicole)

 Steven and Nicole met at the University of Western Ontario and upon graduation moved to Calgary where they spent twenty years, Nicole in education and real estate development and Steven in oil and gas.

Successful entrepreneurs with an inherent family motto of will and determination it was their desire to create that beckoned them to an industry steeped in creativity.

They purchased their first vineyard site in 2011 with the foresight of combining their love for both wine and the rich tradition and culture of winemaking into a brand that would deliver excellence without compromise, the Little Engine brand.

Their family motto: “Dreams don’t come true, dreams are made true.”

This two-part interview started when I saw a mention of a virtual tasting Little Engine was offering online.

I liked the idea because you could playback Stevens commentary – pause and make notes – then carry on.

Three small piccolo bottles showed up.

2018 Little Engine Chardonnay

2018 Little Engine Pinot Noir

2018 Merlot

I got Steven to turn off his front-end loader and get in touch. No easy task.

I had a bag full of questions about Little Engine and he answered all of them and more.

Because of the commitment by Nicole and Steven, Little Engine Wines are always going to be singular, outstanding, and better each year.

Thoroughly enjoyed this conversation with Steven.  I hope it shows.  Cheers!!

Congratulations to the winemaking team, led by Scott Robinson. Well Done!

 

 

www.

Barclay Robinson   Winemaker  Road 13 and Graham Pierce Winemaker & GM Kitsch

 

THE SHOW

 

Barclay Robinson   Road 13   Golden Mile.   (Also on video)

 

Barclay’s been busy. A Calgary based Sommelier who began his wine education at Brock University. (Bsc)

Then came working classrooms at Foreign Affair, Ridgepoint, Vineland, Tawse and Henry of Pelham. All in Ontario.

Barclay now finds himself 2 years into a fine career as head winemaker at the iconic Road 13 on the Golden Mile.

I was interested in finding out his thoughts on Okanagan winemaking and the different elements and varietals he’s working with.

We end the two part conversation with a clever and fun Blind Tasting feature the team at  Road 13 has created.

The titles alone should capture your attention – Love is Blind. Featuring Heavyweight Whites/Bold Reds

The Perfect Pair!

A Sea of Red

The Dynamic Duo

but First – we start straight into current releases.

A fabulous 2019 Viognier. Totally yummy. An Instant favourite! $26

A 2019 Jackpot Chardonnay –  The iconic Castle Vineyard.  Pear Everywhere.$52

A 2018 Syrah – 15.1%. Hot/smoky  year. 30% new oak. A beauty blend of Black Sage, Golden Mile and Similkameen vineyards. $35

A 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon.  14.3%.  Cawston area in Similkameen Valley.  $33  Ripe black fruit and spices. Nice balance and barrel aging.$33

www.road13vineyards.com

 

Graham Pierce –  Winemaker and GM at Kitsch Wines. (also on video)

If you’re a fan of BC Wines then you certainly have heard about or enjoyed the wines that Graham has created.

Summerhill, Mount Boucherie, Black Hills, Time Family Wines and now Kitsch Wines in East Kelowna.

Graham proudly walks us through his first vintage of  wines at Kitsch. Each wine tastes  like a celebration.

Cellar Door pricing..

2020 – Riesling $26 Pair: Curry, Thai anything,

2020  -Esther’s Block Riesling $32. Both from Family Estate. Esther’s has neutral French Oak 4 months. Veggies. Tacos

2020 – Pinot Noir $43  a blend of earth and fruit. Duck. Caprese Salad

2020 – 5 Barrel Pinot Noir.  Both a blend of Clones 115 and 777. $69 (releasing later this Spring. FYI  2019 available as well)  Berries, spice, fennel!  Memorable!!  Crab. Blue Cheese, Parma Pasta.

www.kitschwines.ca

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

2022 Van Wine fest

Top Drop 2022

New Releases from EVERYBODY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hatch becomes Jason Parkes Customs/Emily Walker Wine List/New Emandare pours

 

THE SHOW

 Jason Parkes is….

* A  former member of a punk band whose van broke down and he needed money to fix it – so he made wine.

* the hub of an ever-expanding wheel.

* The dark star at the center of a distant universe

* Lead singer of the house band Proper Man

* Founder,  winemaker, visionary winery owner who surrounds himself with like-minded thinkers and doers.

Actually,  his greatest talent is being a husband and father.  From that family base comes his strength to start The Hatch, then create, build, open, or buy  Hatching Post Brewery, Crown and Thieves, Black Swift Vineyards, Screaming Frenzy, Truck 59 CiderHouse,  Smoke Show by JPC, Gobsmacked, and Jason Parkes Customs.

JPCustoms will become the new name of the overall company.

That’s why it was time to slow the man down long enough to talk things through and get a sense of what the road ahead looks like.

There are very few BC wineries expanding at this rate. Not just creating new wines and new destinations but whole new concepts in how to reach people, how to entertain them, and at times speak an entirely different language.  Best of all, the wines are as memorable as the man.

“do you feel lucky?  Well do ya,  punk?” 

“Dirty” Harry Callahan

 

www.jpcfanclub.com

 https://www.facebook.com/jasonparkescustoms/

 

Emily Walker  – Wine Director Naramata Inn

(a video of Emily’s interview and her wines can be found below)

 Imagine you’re Emily Walker and you are the Wine Director of the historic Naramata Inn in the village of Naramata.

The Inn is surrounded by 100’s of wineries. As far as the eye can see.

Every one of those wineries would like to be on Emily’s wine list but only a select few are chosen.

It’s those choices I wanted to know more about.  Many of the wines she chooses are small lots. Perhaps as few as 25 cases.

But in between those hard-to-find wines, you’ll find gems that we can all search for. They’re all worth the chase.

Emily Walker is up to the task. Running wine programs at The Four Seasons Vancouver, the group Sommelier at all Tap and Barrels, and the opening of the Fairmont Pacific Rim in time for the Winter Olympics. Emily Walker brings all that big room experience into a dining room built-in 1907. You are going to love the experience.

I asked Emily to choose a handful of wines to tell us about.

Lightning Rock  –  2021 Rose Pet-Nat  $29 (Summerland)

No sugar. No yeast. Whole cluster & double pressed. One night on skins. Fermented in concrete tanks. Cloudy. Lower alcohol. Yummy!

www.lightningrockwinery.com

CoolShanagh  2018 Chardonnay (Naramata Bench)

Pedro Parra,  renowned soil expert proclaimed their soil conditions Top 15% in the World.  Matured in a combination of new oak, concrete, and stainless steel… Notes of nutmeg and caramel. Mighty texture and finish. Award-winning chardonnay!!

www.coolshanagh.ca

 

Scout Vineyards  Syrah  $39 (Similkameen)

Made in Georgian Clay Vessels.  Neutral oak. Unfined and unfiltered. A very different wine. Unpolished. Layered and textured.

And gorgeous. Special Syrah from a very special spot.

 

Nichol Vineyards  St Laurent.  A medium-dark red. The oldest St Laurent in Canada. Ripe blueberry and cassis on the nose.  Tannins, acidity, and pepper in the mouth.  Unfined & unfiltered. Cellared in Neutral French Barrique.

www.nicholvineyard.com

 

THE NARAMATA SHUFFLE

(Foxtrot. Moraine. Four Shadows)

 

THE SHOW

We hope you enjoyed our five week, 25 interview road trip through the Okanagan.

Along the way we ran into our pal Tina Baird from the Naramata Bench Wineries Association.

We’ve known each other a long time. Through film sets, festivals and movie premiers.

During our day on the Naramata Bench Tina somehow got us a table at the Naramata Inn for dinner.

As we departed an incredible meal, Tina  let me know that if I had any extra time she had three stories she thought wine fans  would appreciate.

Her suggestions became this show. Thank you Tina!

 

This weeks guests are:

Dwight Sick.   Chief Winemaker Moraine Winery (Naramata Bench) www.morainewinery.com

 

Really fine winemaker. 10 years at Stag’s Hollow. Now the Chief winemaker at Moraine on the Bench.

Pouring 2018 Reserve Riesling. Clone 49 (elegant. beautiful long finish)  2019  Pinot Noir Clone 777. (Classic Bench Pinot. Bliss)

“this bench is like Goldilocks. Not too hot. Not too cold. Just right”  Dwight Sick

 

Nathan Todd  President and GM  Foxtrot Winery (Naramata Bench) www.foxtrotwine.com

Even though he made his name working in very serious wine sales out of  New York City he did have a early connection to the Okanagan Valley.  Harvesting  fruit to make ends meet.

Years later  he blind tasted a Foxtrot Pinot. It may have changed his life. He never forgot that wine and years later convinced his wine friend Douglas Barzelay to eventually buy the winery from the Allander family.  Barzelay is one of the  World’s leading authorities on Burgundian wines. Their wine consultant is Veronique Drouhin from Domaine Joseph Drouhin. Torsten Allander’s son Gustav was retained as winemaker. Quite a team.

Nathan poured:

2 versions of Foxly Rose 2019/2020 (both instantly likeable. $24)

An Estate Vineyard 2019 Pinot Noir.  (everything a great Pinot should be. texture. balance. Defines a long finish.)

 

Wilbert and Joka Borren – Co-founders/Co-owners of Four Shadows. (Upper Bench . Naramata) www.fourshadowsvineyard.com

What a great story. Joka and Wilbert were pig farmers in Lacombe Alberta with four growing sons. They dreamed of moving to the Okanagan and being farmers there. That’s exactly what they did. They bought a forgotten vineyard on Upper Bench and decided to bring back the vineyards and plant their own vines to then sell the fruit to wineries.

Along the way it made much more sense to become a winery and Four Shadows was born. The name is from a photo of their four sons.

Did I mention they had no wine knowledge but they knew how to farm pigs. I mean, how tough can it be to grow grapes?

They had amazing mentoring from Lindsay and Graham O’Rourke at Tightrope and consultant Pascal Madevon.  It paid off. They learned well.

You say “Pigs to Pinot”  They say “Swine to Wine.”

They poured

20o20 Rose 2020  Riesling Classic, 2020 Riesling Dry, 2020 Riesling sparkling, 2018 Pinot Noir  and 2018 Merlot.

 

Thank you Tina Baird, Naramata Bench. Thank you Barry and Carol Beecroft for “the swim”.

 

 

STORIES WERE WORKING ON:

 

The 5th and final week of Okanagan Reconnect

Presented by The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association

 

THE SHOW

We come to the last show in a series that started August 21st (you remember August, right?)

The master plan was to reconnect with the people,  wineries and food of the Okanagan after a two-year hiatus.

So many changes, many Covid related.

 

Thankfully we found an excellent  supporting partner in TOTA – The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association. They sure know their territory. Top shelf management.

To my delight, I also got to re-connect with long-time friend  CEO Ellen Walker-Mathews and discovered the invaluable assistance of Rob Grifone. My thanks to both.

 

For week five we find ourselves back at our home base at Moon Curser Vineyards in Osoyoos. Got to stay and do the interviews at their fabulous Hideaway.

The whole thing is on Corey Wood’s video. (see below)

 

 

 Our final guests are:

 Beata and Chris Tolley – Our hosts at their gorgeous winery and the co-founders of Moon Curser Vineyards  www.mooncurser.com

 

Pouring  2020 Arneis (the little rascal of Piedmont. A flinty white)  and 2019  Dead of Night

(a spectacular blend of Tannat and Syrah. Spicy/Opulent)

 

Paula Cooper – It was Paula’s  last day as winemaker at CC Jentsch (Golden Mile). Now she’s at  Lakeside.  (Osoyoos)  www.lakesidecellars.ca   www.CCJentschcellars.com

 

Just a note that Paula came by at my request,  as I wanted to salute her work at CC Jentsch and to honor her mentor Chris Jentsch who passed away recently.

The vineyards are up for sale now and likely the new owners will rebrand. This week’s Tasting Room Radio is dedicated to Chris and CC Jentsch.

Things got  emotional on both sides of the microphone.  We thank Paula for hanging in. Thanks also to Michael J McCoy for keeping CC Jentsch open until the end.

Dan and Carol Scott – Co-founders of Lariana Cellars (Osoyoos)  www.larianacellars.com

At first taste, I knew these were special wines. When I discovered their mentors were Richard Cleave and Senka Tennant, that explained everything.

Dan and Carol listened and learned well. They brought and poured 2020 Viognier (one of the very best expressions in all of Canada) and 2018 Carmenere (glorious pepper heaven. 70% French Oak 27% new)

 

And that’s it –  25 interviews captured in one week and spread out over five weeks of shows. Now it’s time for you to do your own reconnect.

When it’s safe to do so please consider making plans to do your own week in the Okanagan Valley.

Remember to check out www.totabc.org  All the safety and planning info is there.

 

Thank you TOTA.  Thank you, guests, Corey Wood and Meg.

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

A visit to Four Shadows

Dwight Sick at Moraine

Nathan Todd at  Foxtrot

 

Week Four of our Okanagan Reconnect (OK Falls)

Presented by The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association

The SHOW

 

Because…

Tasting Room Radio started its audio life in a studio in a barn on the Naramata Bench and…

Hadn’t been back to the Okanagan since  Fall 2019 and

the pandemic kept us from returning,  it was time to Reconnect to the Okanagan.

(The Vista in OK Falls)

Week Four finds us with a  home base at the very popular Noble Ridge in Okanagan Falls.

All the interviews are on video. On our website and our YouTube Channel.

Our guests this week include:

John Skinner – co-founder of Painted Rock www.paintedrock.ca (OK Falls)

John poured the aptly named 2018 Red Icon and truly wonderful 2020 Chardonnay. Both are world-class.

Terry Meyer Stone – co-founder of Mayhem Wines and family member of Meyer Family Wines. (OK Falls)

www.mayhemwines.com

www.mfvwines.com

For Meyer Family Terry pours:

2019 Meyer Family Vineyards Chardonnay (again World Class) and 2019  McClain Creek Pinot Noir (simply marvelous)

For Mayhem Wines Terry pours

2019 Pinot Gris (better? – you bet)  and 2019 Anarchy (Wow. Huge Merlot with a touch of Cab Franc. Oak heaven)

Leslie D’Andrea – co-owner of Noble Ridge (OK Falls)

Benoit Gauthier – Winemaker Noble Ridge

(My apologies to Benoit for calling him Bernard.  A Senior moment!)

www.nobleridge.com

Leslie/Benoit pour

2016 The One Sparkling (sublime)   and 2017 Kings Ransom Pinot Noir (what a beauty)

Thank you Noble Ridge for hosting and putting on A SHOW. Thank you, Okanagan Falls!

And Thank you to Ellen, Rob, and all at The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association.

www.TOTABC.org

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Okanagan Reconnect Week Five

Beata and Chris Tolley  – Moon Curser

Paula Cooper – CC Jentsch

Dan and Carol Scott – Lariana Cellars