The 41st VanWineFest Part One – The Californians!

By the Numbers..

• Over 25,000 wine fans

• 16 countries

• 160 wineries; including 53 from featured region California

• 50 participating restaurants, hotels, caterers

• 1,450 wines.

• 42,000 bottles poured and/or purchased (2018 stats)

• 82,000 wine glasses used (2018 stats)

Our Numbers …

32 interviews..

25 winemakers

7 CEO’s or General Managers.

Sleepless nights – 2

Hours budgeted for all interviews – 3

Minutes to missing last Harbour Air flight – 1

THE SHOW

41 years ago the Vancouver International Wine Festival opened their doors to the World’s wineries.

Only one showed up. Robert Mondavi brought his California wines to pour that day.

Some say California saved the show.

And so, here we are 41 years later and California is the feature region at the 41st VanWineFest.

What a line up. We couldn’t talk to them all but we did do pretty well.

Seventeen Californians and one certain Washington Red Mountain newbie.

Have a favourite California wine? Check the list below. See if it’s there or see if it’s there but go looking for a new California pal.

FYI – Next Week Gina Gallo. Jean Charles Boisset and 15 Canadian winemakers

Jon Bonne – Keynote Speaker. Author of The New Wine Rules

Here’s why I immediately liked Jon Bonne.

“ Not all pink wine need be Summer water But Whispering Angel should be cast into some Miltonian iteration of Hell”

Jon Bonné is one of the most influential American voices on wine. He is the senior contributing editor for PUNCH, and the author of The New California Wine and The New Wine Rules.

www.punchdrink.com

Bob Blue – Founding Winemaker at Bonterra, 1000 Stories and Elysian Collection.

In 2016 the Wine Enthusiast awarded Bonterra as its American Winery of the Year because of its commitment to organic farming and it’s quality of affordable wines. Bonterra is the most popular organic wine in the USA.

Fetzer’s bourbon-barrel-aged Zinfandel 1000 Stories debuted in 2014. In the five years since, production has exploded from 5,000 cases to more than 140,000 annually!

www.bonterra.com

www.fetzer.com

Craig McAllister – Winemaker at La Crema

A New Zealand native, McAllister earned a bachelor’s degree in viticulture and enology from Lincoln University in Christchurch, New Zealand. His deep passion for winemaking has taken him all over the world, from New Zealand to Australia, Chile and Cyprus. Since moving to California, in addition to his work with La Crema, McAllister has also made wine for Wild Ridge, crafting elegant Pinot Noir from vineyards on the rugged Sonoma Coast.

www.lacrema.com

Randy Lange – Owner Lange Twins

Randy Lange is a fifth-generation winegrower.

During the 1870’s his Great-Grandparents, Johann and Maria Lange, settled in Lodi. By 1916 they had the family’s first grape-ranch. It was on this ranch where their dad, Harold, was born in 1920.

In 1974 they decided to farm on our own. They finally built Lange Twins winery in 2006.

FYI – Lange Lodi vineyard produces spicy old-vine Zinfandel, concentrated Bordeaux-style wines and lively Rhone-style reds and whites—many from organically or sustainably farmed vineyards.

www.langetwins.com

Ondine Chattan –

Chief Winemaker Share a Slash/Cannonball/Cowboys and Angels

High Dive and Astrolabe

Ondine is a passionate Sonoma County winemaker with experience ranging from cult boutique producers to notable household name brands. Her love of the diversity of Sonoma and California at large fuels her enthusiasm for makin...

41st Van Wine Fest features California Wines – So Do We!

THE SHOW

Thursday Feb 28 Tasting Room Radio sets up a mobile studio at Vancouver International Wine Festival to record 35 winemaker interviews.

It’s the wine version of an All-Star Game.

First half: all Californian

Second half  Canada, mostly BC.

Those interviews will run for the next several weeks.

We’re starting by going back to last week’s wine stars.

In order to get everyone into the show plus include The Somms and Oscar specials I had to edit their interviews down to a hand full of minutes.

Not This Week.

Here are the feature interviews with:

Joel Peterson – Ravenswood. Chief Winemaker & The Godfather of Zin.

Inducted into the Vintners Hall of Fame.

One of the leaders in preserving the heritage Zin vines of California. Joel is a true California winemaking Icon and a tremendous person.

https://www.ravenswoodwinery.com/

#VIWF IS ON

Melissa Stackhouse – Meiomi. Head Winemaker

The name Meiomi means “coast” and the brand’s winemaker, Melissa Stackhouse works with coastal vineyards to create one of the most popular Pinots in Canada (and of course The USA)

 

Born and raised in Michigan, Melissa worked for a number of years at a newspaper in Bellingham, so she’s familiar with Vancouver and its food scene.

Graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Viticulture and Enology at the University of California Davis and her wine career was started. She worked her way through cellars at La Crema, J Vineyards Winery and Clos de Bois. That’s a lot of harvests.

I’m really looking forward to her plans for Meiomi Bubble.

https://www.meiomi.com/

Tom Gore – Farmer and Winemaker Tom Gore Vineyards

Tom Gore is a second-generation grape farmer from Sonoma County and from the time he learned to walk, he was stomping alongside his dad, getting dirty and taking care of the grapes.

For Tom Gore, farming isn’t a profession, it’s a way of life. His family helped develop the vineyards of Northern California into a world-class winemaking region, and Tom’s childhood was spent among the vines.

 

 

He has worked every harvest since he was seven years old, and has always known farming grapes would be his life’s work.

He also has a wicked sense of humor. He’s funny. His wines are serious.

https://www.tomgorevineyards.com/

Mark de Vere Robert Mondavi Wines

Who better to speak to the history and legacy of Robert Mondavi than Master of Wine Mark de Vere?

Robert Mondavi was one of just a handful of California winemakers who became a household name in the 20th century. He and his wife Margrit were one of the founding families of the wine culture in the Napa Valley. Some would argue, the founding family.

One of their original vineyards To Kalon is considered equal to a Grand Cru vineyard.

Google Robert Mondavi. It’s a huge story.

And even though it’s not yet imported into Canada, try to get your hands on their Cab Franc. WoW!

NEXT WEEK –

12 of the very best wine stars from California (Part One)

STORIES WE ARE WORKING ON:

41ST Vancouver international wine festival

18 Californians. Winemakers and Owners

And 15 Canadians. Winemakers and owners

Uncorked and Untapped in Parksville

Black Hills pours new releases.

La Stella leans Italian!

Vancouver Somms

Okanagan Falls Wineries pour new releases in Vancouver

Brigitte Raye Orto Astisan Pasta (bad dog bread) North Vancouver

Here Come “The Californians” and The Oscars

 

THE SHOW

 

This edition of Tasting Room Radio has a little bit of everything.

Interviews with the wine stars of  Mondavi, Tom Gore, Ravenswood and Meiomi.

Four Sommeliers have recommendations for 41st Vancouver International Wine Festival (starts Saturday)

Kurtis Kolt (Georgia Straight) Kristi Linneboe (L’Abattoir) Kelcie Jones (Chambar) and Somm of the Year Matt Landry (Stable House Bistro)

And we finish with Film and Wine. It’s Oscar weekend (Sunday).  Gary and Hayley Hamilton Cogill created a Podcast that focuses on film and wine because that’s what they both specialize in.

Gary’s picking the winners and so is Hayley.

 

Melissa Stackhouse  

Chief Winemaker  Meiomi

https://www.meiomi.com/

  Melissa brings a unique vision and spirit to her role at Meiomi.

 

With as much zeal and enthusiasm as when she first started out in the industry, Melissa aspires to create wines that are meant to be enjoyed while laughing and sharing a delicious meal with friends and family.

While laidback and easygoing by nature, Melissa has an extensive and impressive background at some of California’s top wineries, including:

La Crema, J Vineyards & Winery, Jackson Family Wines, and Clos du Bois.

 

 

Tom Gore

Owner/Winemaker Tom Gore Vineyards

https://www.tomgorevineyards.com

 

 Tom Gore is a second-generation grape farmer from Sonoma County and from the time he learned to walk, he was stomping alongside his dad, getting dirty and taking care of the grapes. For Tom Gore, farming isn’t a profession, it’s a way of life.

His family helped develop the vineyards of Northern California into a world-class winemaking region, and Tom’s childhood was spent among the vines.

He has worked every harvest since he was seven years old and has always known farming grapes would be his life’s work.

As Tom is most proud of explaining what he does as a farmer—connecting people to the earth and telling the story of where the wine comes from. The work of a farmer.

 

 

Joel Peterson

Founder  Ravenswood Zins

The Godfather of Zin

https://www.ravenswoodwinery.com

In 1976 Joel founded Ravenswood in partnership with fellow wine lover Reed Foster, a Harvard MBA. In 1977, he’d left his job in San Francisco and moved to Sonoma to work in the clinical lab at Sonoma Valley Hospital.

He didn’t quit that job until 1992, a few years after the winery turned its first profit and Robert Parker pronounced Ravenswood wines “first class – bold, dramatic and complex.” Today, Joel works with 100+ northern California growers who provide grapes for Ravenswood.

Ravenswood is one of the few wineries that has had the philosophical and winemaking skill of one winemaker for over 30 years.  That  contributes to a consistency of quality and style rarely found in California.

Joel is a current member and former president of the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance (S.V.V.G.A.) and is on the Board of Directors for the Sonoma County Vintner. He is a founding Board member and former two-time President of Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (Z.A.P.). Joel is also a Senior Vice President with Constellation Wines US. He is also a member of the Vintners Hall of Fame.

A great guy and a true friend to all of us.

 

Mark de Vere – Master of Wine

For Robert Mondavi Winery.

https://www.robertmondaviwinery.com

 

 

41 years ago, when the first wine festival took place… Robert Mondavi was the first and only winery attending.

We have four  stories for you.  A primer of the next VanWineFest, also advance notice on the 3rd BC Cider festival and a check in on the  wildly popular Oyama Sausage at Granville Market.  Joanne Sasvari editor of Vitis will pair wines with Oyama’s legendary offerings.

 

And we finish with Bob Blue, Winemaker at Bonterra plus winemaker of a Bourbon aged Zin called 1000 stories.  He’s one of the stars at this year’s Wine Festival.

 

 The SHOW

 Harry Hertscheg  – (Executive Director of 41st Vancouver International Wine Festival)

 

 Vancouver International Wine Festival has been described as “the largest wine festival in the Americas” with 25,000+ admissions. It is Canada’s premier wine show and widely considered to be one of the best wine events in the world. At age 41, it is also among the oldest. Its slogan is “The Wine World is Here”. For the past six years, VIWF has been voted the #1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Event in Canada by New York’s BizBash.

This is Harry’s second visit in row. It’s because he can now talk about The Stars who will be appearing and pouring.

From Gina Gallo and Jean- Charles Boisset to Joel Peterson (Ravenswood) Genevieve Janssens (Winemaker Mondavi) Randy Ullom (Kendall Jackson) Christine Coletta(Haywire) John Skinner (Painted Rock), the first pouring on Aquilini Red Mountain Wines and many more.

Harry has the goods.

 

By-The-Numbers

 41st annual (founded 1979)

8 days, Feb 23-Mar 3 (Bacchanalia Gala, Feb 23)

25,000+ admissions

16 countries

160 wineries; including 53 from featured region California

54 events (20 are California events)

1,500 wines projected, including an estimated:

42,000 bottles poured and/or purchased.

 

https://vanwinefest.ca

Shawn Pisio – (Organizer/Co-Founder of BC Cider Week)

 

 When he’s not organizing BC Cider Week, Shawn and his team run TXOTX – (pronounced Choech)  which is Basque for “to drink cider from a barrel”

One of the  highlights of 2018 was attending, tasting and doing interviews at The Pipe Shop, foot of Lonsdale in North Vancouver.

It’s one of the few shipbuilding rooms still standing.

30 plus cider makers all pouring their very best. So many stories and tales.

Cider has just exploded in popularity.  One of the people responsible is Shawn Pisio (and Rich Massey) who has a passion for cider than knows no bounds.

So, just like the VanWineFest, the BC Cider Week is fast approaching from April 26th to May 5.  The last day,  May 5th,  is the third gathering of cider makers at The Pipe Shop

300 Vancouver early bird tickets sold out in 45 minutes.

Shawn is here to tell you all about it.

http://bcciderfest.ca/

Jerome Dudicourt  (Manager of Oyama Sausage. Granville Market\

Joanne Sasvari (Editor of Vitis and Vancouver Eats cookbook)

 Most line-ups are a pain but at Oyama you need the wait time to check out every square inch of food displayed in the coolers..glorious cheeses, amazing sausages, pate to-die-for, smoked wild Boar, Porcini Mushroom pate, Toulouse Sausages, sweet ham, game everywhere. The signage is fun and informative.

Our first guest is Jerome Dudicourt, the manager & trained chef who speaks of his store  like it’s priceless, which it is.

And then Joanne Sasvari the editor of Vitis  comes into the picture with her wine choices to go with Jerome’s specials.

From Vancouver Island to the Okanagan Valley, B.C. wine is rapidly gaining global attention for its quality, diversity and innovation.

Vitis aims to capture the excitement by telling the stories of wineries and the passionate people that own and operate them, as well as offering accessible insights into the finer points of wine and current ...

The debut of Aquilini Red Mountain Wines.THE SHOWWe start with Harry Hertscheg  Executive Director of the 41st Vancouver International Wine Festival.Harry HertschegHarry brings the first of two updates on this years event. (Feb 23- March 3)https://vanwinefest.ca/Barry Olivier – President/Brands Aquilini WinesBarry Olivier – AquiliniBackbreaking days laying bricks and hauling mortar up rickety scaffolds; young Luigi Aquilini knew he had to find a better means of supporting his family. In 1957, Luigi left his hometown of Brescia, Italy and travelled to North America seeking a new life.Through strong relationships, saving his wages, and a legendary work ethic, the bricklayer struggled up the ladder – wooden and corporate – doing whatever it took to provide for his wife and three young sons. As his children came of age Luigi brought Francesco, Roberto, and Paolo into his now-thriving construction company.For three decades they grew the business as a family; diversifying from building skyscrapers, to farming blueberries, to purchasing NHL Hockey Team, the Vancouver Canucks in 2006.Francesco and LuigiFor these four entrepreneurs, fine wine was a lifelong passion and a natural unity of the pillars on which they’d built their empire: construction, farming, and entertainmentFrancesco Aquilini sought out Barry Olivier, a fine wine importer notorious for scouting up-and-coming producers.Francesco and his brothers had trusted Olivier to build their own cellars for years, and now they recruited him for the ultimate task: create the World’s Next Great Wine.The opportunity suddenly emerged in November 2013 with the most high-stakes land auction in Washington Wine History.670 acres of completely unplanted former Government Land on Red Mountain was on the block, and competition was fierce.Over 40 wineries from across America came to Washington looking for a piece of the Mountain.Though this was the last virgin acreage on Red Mountain, to acquire and develop that much vineyard all at once was risky.Luigi and his sons made the call. The Aquilinis outbid the room for the entire 670 acres.In just 24 hours, the family had become the largest landowner in the AVA.An overnight turn that left the Pacific Northwest wine community wondering “Who is Aquilini”? Philippe Melka joined as Consulting Winemaker. Heralded as one of the most influential wine consultants in the world. Bordeaux-born, Melka apprenticed at Chateau Haut-Brion and Chateau Petrus, then crossed the Atlantic to electrify the Napa Valley, working with icons like Quintessa, Bryant, Fairchild and Hundred Acre.Philippe Melka – WinemakerAquilini Wines are  headed to the Vancouver Wine Festival to introduce themselves to Canada.They’ll be pouringAquilini Horse Heaven Hills Syrah Rose 2017Aquilini Red Mountain’s Grand Vin is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon The Second Wine, Aquilini Red Mountain Family Blend,. The Family Blend is constructed of varying levels of Cabernet, Syrah, Merlot and occasionally Petit Verdot. Here’s a first taste with Barry Olivier. www.aquiliniredmountain.com STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON Vancouver Wine Festival The CaliforniansBC showcases at Wine festBC Sommeliers speak out Okanagan Falls wineries pour new releasesUnplugged/Uncorked 

THE SHOW

It’s Super Bowl Weekend!

Jay Onrait and Dan O’Toole from Sports Centre at TSN are paying their annual visit to The Tasting Room.

They began as a humble sports pairing at TSN and we heard from them 7 years ago before yet another Super Bowl.

Then they headed for Fox Sports One in LA only to be shown the door several years later but not before guesting on yet another Super Bowl Tasting Room Radio.

 

There are some saying that it was their appearance on TRR that hastened their exit.  Not True.

It was Jan and Dan’s appearance on Hollywood&Vines TV with Jason Priestley and myself that did them in.

Upon returning to TSN, we were told by their “people” that J&D would never again guest  on Tasting Room or H&V.

Several weeks ago I reached out to Onrait and O’Toole in the hopes they would relent.

They didn’t exactly relent but they simply forgot ever having been on either show.  So we’re good.

Jay and Dan will take us through:

The Game

The Food

The Swill

The Odds

Their Podcast

The Jannies

Jay and Dan Direct.

I was going to ask them for some of their favorite music tracks but when Dan said “Play Dean Martin”  I shut that down Right Away.

https://www.tsn.ca/jay-and-dan/podcast

 Mira Tusz and Daniel Dragert–  Co-owners/Winemakers at Kutatas (Salt Spring Island)

 This is the first in a series of features on new wineries around the Province that we think you may want to know about.

(working title The Chase)

Mira and Dan realized a dream when they recently bought Mistaken Identity Vineyards on Salt Spring Island.

Dan had been the winemaker at Averill Creek in the Cowichan Valley and Mira had been working in the vineyards at Unsworth, also in the Cowichan.

I discovered their wines at last year’s Locals Only event that Rich Massey throws at Edible Canada, Granville Island.

The wines were outstanding.

I mumbled something like “who ARE these guys and how did they pull this off”?

Currently,  a majority of their small production comes from 3 acres of Pinot Noir and Ortega in  Deep Cove/North Saanich, on Vancouver Island. These blocks are managed sustainably.

Most of the vineyard is dry farmed to limit yields, restrict berry size and express terroir. They personally hand tend the vineyard to ensure they achieve the highest possible quality.

Now they have their own vineyard and we’re the lucky ones who’ll be tasting their wines in years to come.

Mira and Dan are redesigning their new Tasting Room … so we huddled in the cellar and tasted the whites and reds.

Pinot Noir Rose

Ortega

Pinot Gris

Plus 2 different Pinot Noirs  (Clone #114)

(whole cluster and de-stemmed)

Also, a Bubble program is in the works.

Keep an eye and nose on  Kutatas (Koo Tah Tash)

They hope to be open on Valentine’s Day  Feb 14th

https://www.masseywines.com/kutatas-wines/

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

The Californians

Vancouver Wine festival

OK Falls pours in Vancouver

Aquilini. Red Mountain Wines

 

 

 

2019 Victoria Whisky Festival and Awards –  Year 14“This year’s Victoria Whisky Festival occurred just as Canadian officials were conducting prohibition-style raids, confiscating whisky bottles in bars in Vancouver and Victoria.Beyond this, however, the festival features top-level whiskeys and master classes, and serves as a focal point for the latest revival of Canadian whiskies from large and smaller independent operations alike now gaining momentum.”Forbes Magazine ( 10 Whisky Festivals that you have to go to if you love whisky) This special is another journey of discovery for me.Growing up I had no idea that whisky even existed and now I’m trying to discover what makes whisky such a favorite to millions of people worldwide.It helps that there are no dog whiskeys in Victoria. Quite simply they showcase some of the very best whiskeys ever made.Canada is right in the middle of the whisky boom. They have retaken their place in the whisky world after years of so-so releases.A number of our guests are directly responsible for bringing back Canadian Whisky to World-class levels. My thanks to Heather Leary for her support with this project.

 Our pal Corey Wood recorded all of the interviews and bottle shots As seen below:Iain HooeyIain Hooey is a founder and organizer of the Victoria Whisky Festival.Davin de Kergommeaux Davin is Chairman of the Judges for the Canadian Whisky Awards and author of Canadian Whisky: The New Portable Expert. A certified Malt Maniac he has been writing and talking about whisky for over two decades.Don Livermore      J.P. Wiser’s Master Blender Don Livermore has an MS and Ph.D in Brewing and Distilling from Edinburgh’s Heriot Watt University. Don’s whiskies received numerous medals at the  Canadian Whisky Awards and J.P. Wiser’s was awarded Distillery of the YearJohn HallMaster Distiller John Hall founded Forty Creek Distillery, pioneered Canadian Whisky’s return to prominence in the United States and Canada. Hall was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Canadian Whisky Awards in 2015.
Tish Harcus  Tish Harcus is brand ambassador for Canadian Club, marking 30 years of bringing this whisky to the world. Canadian Club was a finalist for Canadian Whisky of the Year – their 41-year-old received the award for best Connoisseur Whisky Domestic at  Canadian Whisky Awards. They also took home several medals.Allisa Henley        Distiller –  Sazerac  TennesseeSazerac  owns Buffalo Trace and Barton 1792 in KentuckyJust a few years ago Henley was employed as distiller at the George Dickel Distillery in Tullahoma, Tennessee, a facility still capable of making more than two million proof gallons of whiskey each year.But in 2015, Allisa accepted a position at a new distillery in northeastern Tennessee, built to make Popcorn Sutton’s whiskey.There, Henley and partner John Lunn made distillate according to a recipe developed by legendary moonshiner Popcorn Sutton, essentially a bourbon mash bill (corn, rye,

Winter White Wines – If they exist, what are they? 

THE SHOW

It was a comment about a year ago. Almost blew by me. A winemaker used the phrase “I’m making Winter Whites”.

I’m sorry – what?

 

“A Winter White – what is that?

Well,  it’s a white wine that has enough texture and mouth feel to pair with Winter roasts, stews, soups, root vegetables etc.

OK..what whites have that ability?”

That’s where the whole idea got started.  This hour is dedicated to focusing in on white wines than can carry their weight through the Winter.

I sought out winemakers and wine experts who could explain Winter Whites and then recommend wines we could get our hands on.

Our guests include:

Chris Rielly – Head Sommelier at (David Hawksworth’s)  Nightingale Restaurant in Vancouver

https://hawknightingale.com/

Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson – Drinks Editor Winnipeg Free Press https://www.winealign.com/profile/43820-Ben-MacPhee-Sigurdson

Kurtis Kolt – Georgia Straight Wine Writer http://www.kurtiskolt.com/

Rhys Pender – Master of Wine  https://www.mastersofwine.org/en/meet-the-masters/profile/index.cfm/id/dfb8a043-5e4b-e211-a20600155d6d822c

Michaela Morris – Wine writer and judge  https://michaelamorris.ca/

Jason Parkes – Winemaker The Hatch https://thehatchwines.com/ 

Valeria Tait – GM and Winemaker at Bench 1775  https://www.bench1775.com/

Kathy Malone – Winemaker at Hillside https://www.hillsidewinery.ca/

If you join us for the hour you will indeed find out that Winter Whites do exist and we’ll tell you which wines to look for.

Here’s Chris Rielly’s List

2016 Clos du Soleil Capella Sauvignon Blanc/Semillion Similkameen Valley

2013 Haywire Vintage Bubb Okanagan Valley

2016 Gustave Lorentz Pinot Gris Alsace France

2016 Pietradolce Carricante Etna Bianco Sicily Italy

2017 Yalumba “Y” Series Viognier South Australia Aus

Here’s Ben’s List:

 

Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson

d’Arenberg The Hermit Crab Viognier Marsanne (McLaren Vale, Australia)

$23 Everything Wine

Guigal 2016 Cotes du Rhone white (Cotes du Rhone, France)

$29 Everything Wine

60% Viognier, 15% Roussanne, 10% Marsanne, 8 % Clairette, 5% Bourboulenc, 2% Grenache blanc.

Torres 2017 Esmerelda (Catalunya, Spain)

$16.99 BCLDB

Moscatel and Gewurztraminer, spice and stone/tropical fruit with a hint of sweetness.

Testalonga Baby Bandito “Keep on Punching” Chenin Blanc (Swartland, South Africa)

The Winemakers have lots of suggestions. FYI – One name that pops up three times is Ava from Le Vieux Pin.

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

New small wineries to watch.

Van Wine Festival

The Californians

Aquilini Family . Red Mountain wines.

Victoria Whisky Festival

Kutatas- Salt Spring Island

 

 

The Wine Diva Brings The Lists

VanWineFest & Randy Ullom: Kendall Jackson (Sonoma)

  

THE SHOW

  

Daenna van Mulligen is The Wine Diva.

Daenna tastes over 2000 wines throughout the year and reviews many of them for her website and various publications.

All of the wines we’ll talk  about on this episode can be found  tasted and rated at www.winediva.ca and www.winescores.ca   There are many more to be found there.

(For your convenience we’ve added the wines we talked about below, as well)

Daenna loves her lists.  As long as I’ve know her she’s been making sensational wine lists.

Daenna Van MulligenFor this week’s show she’s ready to talk about

* Top 100 (under $20)

* Top 50   (Over $20)

* Bubbles

 

Top 100 ($20 and under)

*  Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery Gewurztraminer, British Columbia

* Harper’s Trail ‘Thadd Springs Vineyard’ Rose, British Columbia

* Santa Carolina ‘Carolina’ Reserva Pinot Noir, Calsablanca Valley, Chile

* Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Muscat ‘Rock Pocket Vineyard’, Okanagan Valley BC

* Masi Passo Doble, Tupungato Argentina

 

Top 50 (Over $20 & 91 pts)

*  Rust Wine Co. Syrah, Okanagan Valley, BC

* Vanessa Vineyard Meritage, Similkameen Valley BC

* Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California

* Tantalus Vineyards Old Vines Riesling, Okanagan Valley BC

* Bartier Bros. Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley BC

 

Bubbles (From The Queen of The Bubbles)

* Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Blanc de Blancs, Okanagan Valley $40

* Meyer Family Vineyards Method Traditionnelle Extra Brut, Okanagan Valley $40

* Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards ‘Fitz’ Brut, Okanagan Valley BC  $33

* Chandon Rose Brut, California  $32.99

* Vaporetto Brut Prosecco DOC, Veneto Italy  $18.99

* Bride Valley Vineyard Brut Reserve, Dorset, UK  $47.00

 

www.winediva.ca

www.winescores.ca

  

Harry Hertscheg  – (Executive Director  41st Vancouver International Wine Festival)

Vancouver International Wine Festival has been described as “the largest wine festival in the Americas” with 25,000+ admissions. It is Canada’s premier wine show and widely considered to be one of the best wine events in the world. At age 41, it is also among the oldest.

Its slogan is “The Wine World is Here”. For the past six years, VIWF has been voted the #1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Event in Canada by New York’s BizBash.

41st annual (founded 1979)

8 days, Feb 23-Mar 3 (Bacchanalia Gala, Feb 23)

25,000+ admissions

 

16 countries

160 wineries; including 53 from featured region California

54 events (20 are California events)

 

1,500 wines projected, including an estimated:

42,000 bottles poured and/or purchased.

 

Harry Hertscheg is the perfect guy to guest here as he loves his VanWineFest numbers  plus he’s been on TRR many times and we seem to have developed a “shorthand” in getting through all the information the festival contains.

Most importantly, California is the featured wine region this year.  After all the fires, droughts then  floods they could use all the love we have to offer.

They were the first ever featured region via Robert Mondavi Wines and Vancouver is the closest international market to California.

Remember, one of the ways we can help them recover from the disasters is to buy their wines and send our support.  California is the single most popular wine region in BC.  Now is when they need us most.

But first,

Two of BC’s best Fitz Family & Tantalus plus Two Women who should run the World Jane Ferrari and Jann Arden

 

THE SHOW

 

Jane Ferrari –  The voice of Yalumba (Barossa, Australia)

 

Jane is one of the World’s great storytellers and Yalumba is one great story. Yalumba is Australia’s oldest family owned winery.

Right off the top, Jane tells the gripping story of how the family and staff saved the winery many years ago.

The very best part of this story is that Yalumba make sensational wines – for the world.

Canada’s has been a Yalumba fan for years. The other story to watch for is when its founder Samuel Smith left Dorset England  in 1847 and found himself in Victoria, BC.  He  fell in love with the location but felt he had to move on to find a land for his vines.

In 2010, Wine Enthusiast named Yalumba ‘New World Winery of the Year.’

“The world of wine is a big family and I like it for many reasons.

It’s hellishly competitive in a commercial sense, but the Antinoris, Dujacs, Faiveleys, of the world and the Pol Rogers, Browns, Tyrells, Felton Roads, – they are all inspirations.”  Robert Hill Smith – Yalumba –  Fifth Generation Owner

 The world of wine is a big family and I like it for many reasons.

 https://www.yalumba.com/

 Gordon Fitzpatrick – Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards (Summerland/Peachland. Take your pick)

 Gordon Fitzpatrick is well known to  Canadian wine fans.

 In 1986 his family started Cedar Creek  Estate Winery and 8 years later they bought Greata Ranch located on the  main highway between Peachland and Summerland.

In 2014 Cedar Creek was sold to the Von Mandl Family and Gordon made serious plans for Greata Ranch, which had been somewhat forgotten over the years.

A mere 4 years later Fitzpatrick Family Wines have become a destination for fresh whites and a serious house of bubble.

I found Gordon on the back deck overlooking the Chardonnay and Pinot Vineyards and Okanagan Lake.

Congratulations again to the complete team that helped to create a rising star in Canadian Wine.

 

At the 2018 national Wine Awards Fitz won 5 Gold Medals

Gold – 2014 Fitz Brut Sparkling Wine, $32.99

Gold – 2015 Fitz Brut Sparkling Wine, $32.99

Gold – 2014 Fitz Sparkling Rosé, $42.50

Gold – 2014 Fitz Blanc de Blancs, $42.50

Gold – 2017 Pink Mile Rosé, $19.50

 

 www.fitzwine.com

Jann Arden – Feeding My Mother: Comfort and Laughter in The Kitchen as my Mother lives with Memory Loss

“Jann Arden is one of the most honest and talented women I’ve ever met, and her love for her mother is so rich.” —Chef Lynn Crawford

Even though Jann and I have known each other for 30 years it didn’t make the book any easier to read.

The pain of watching her Mother fade away commands each and every page of this cookbook and then you turn the page and it’s

a recipe for split pea soup.

 

 

We talk about dealing with the slow loss of her Mother and Candy Grams for Mongo.

That’s exactly what a Jann Arden concert is like..crazy fun one moment and heart wrenching  the next.

 

As each day steals more and more of her Mother’s  memory, it’s her  kitchen  and the food in it that connects her Jann and her Mother.

Amazing book.

Fascinating performer.

Wonderful friend.

www.jannarden.com

https://penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/562454/feeding-my-mother#9780735273924

 

 

David Paterson – GM and Winemaker at Tantalus (Kelowna)

 

Tantalus is situated on the eastern slopes of the Okanagan Valley,