This episode is about disruption and just getting out there and doing it - whatever that “it” is for you.

Wineprenuer (and self-described “anarcho-libertarian”) Laura Milnes (@crushablewineclub) joins Tania to discuss:

• Laura’s “Pan-Canadian” online wine club “Crushable” and mission to introduce us to “under the radar” wines made by very small producers from across the country.

• How we can, and should re-think our “wine buying patterns” to embrace local, buy small and step away from the mainstream to support our own supply chains and recapture “small town” ethos.

• “Influencing” through content which Laura creates through her Instagram platform, “rants” and newsletters, and wines which she selects for the Crushable Wine Club.

• Examples of local, artisanal producers from British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland which Laura highlights with Crushable (which you may never have heard of before listening to this episode) and revisiting hybrid grapes.

This discussion is about changing the channel on some of the “wine talk” swirling around us, and an industry player who brings a totally different and un-orthodox voice to the party.

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References from this episode:

• For more on Laura Milnes and Crushable, find her on Instagram @crushablewineclub or go to her website www.crushable.club

• Wineries discussed: Lightening Rock; Whispering Horse Winery; Venturi Schulze; Zanatta Winery; Fogolar Wines; Liebling Wines; Vignoble de la Bauge

• TT Wine Explorer Podcast - Episode 10: Blocking Our Own Wine - What Happened to Free Trade in a Federation? (Mark Hicken, WineLaw.ca): https://ttwinecounsel.com/podcast/episode-10-blocking-our-own-wine-what-happened-to-free-trade-in-a-federation-the-legacy-of-prohibition-part-2-with-mark-hicken/

This episode is about wine, tariffs and trade relations.

Public policy expert and business commentator on the Canadian wine industry, Karen Graham (KMG Strategy and www.winedrops.ca) joins Tania to discuss:

• How tariffs levied by the United States on Canadian goods may affect the wine and alcohol beverage industry and consumers (both in Canada and the US).

• Potential knock-on effects of counter-veiling measures which Canadian levels of government may take in response to US tariffs.

• The different approaches taken (to date) by Ontario and BC regarding American alcohol products in response to potential US tariffs.

• Possible “silver linings”, including whether tariffs threatened by the US could instigate the dismantling Canada’s inter-provincial trade barriers.

• Consequences of potential US tariffs levied against the EU, and the role of the WTO (if any) in bilateral trade wars flowing from US tariffs.

Camaraderie around wine is borderless. And ultimately no one wins with tariffs.

It’s a time to look back at the history and rationale of free trade. But it’s also a time for Canada to look forward and unleash more of its own innovation, productivity and potential.

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References & Articles from this episode:

• For more on Karen Graham, go to www.winedrops.ca

• BC Liquor Distribution Branch Quarterly Sales: Q3 2024-25 Liquor Market Review December 2024

• Eric Asimov article, American Wine Trade Steels Itself for Possible Tariffs, Nov 13, 2024, New York Times.

• California Wine Institute Statement Press Release: Wine Institute Urges Resolution of US-Canada Dispute, Feb 2, 2025

• WineDrops post on the Comeau Supreme Court of Canada decision: One ticket for 354 bottles of “imported” beer, September 2017.

• WineDrops post: WTO Wine Trade Challenge Implications, February 2017.

• TT Wine Explorer Podcast - Episode 10: Blocking Our Own Wine - What Happened to Free Trade in a Federation? (Mark Hicken, WineLaw.ca): https://ttwinecounsel.com/podcast/episode-10-blocking-our-own-wine-what-happened-to-free-trade-in-a-federation-the-legacy-of-prohibition-part-2-with-mark-hicken/

• TT Wine Explorer Podcast - Episode 18: Cross-Border Crush: Importing Grapes & Moving Forward (Alison Moyes, Solvero Winery): https://ttwinecounsel.com/podcast/episode-18-cross-border-crush-importing-grapes-moving-forward-alison-moyes-solvero-winery-okanagan-valley/

This episode takes us “front of house” with Josh Carlson, Wine Director of Provence Marinaside in Vancouver, British Columbia.

During this wide-ranging conversation, Josh and Tania discuss:

• Josh’s path into the restaurant and wine world, and how he has built Provence’s deep cellar and one of Vancouver’s longest “by the glass” wine lists.

• The relationship between restaurant and patron, and striking the right balance so that each guest feels comfortable and finds a wine for them.

• Wine preservation systems, “wine in keg”, the Covid-19 legacy for “take out” dining and other business tool shifts.

• The growing non-alc and low-alc space, Provence’s diverse “sans alc”/ zero-proof beverage list, and how non-alc drinks can pair with food.

• Exploring Napa & Oregon for new gems on the list.

In its convivial and relaxed space, Provence hosts a wide range of winemaker dinners and a special private cellar series. Josh chats about their upcoming “Exploring Wines of Croatia” wine dinner (taking place during the 2025 Vancouver International Wine Fest) and an exclusive private experience with Burgundian winemakers Pierre-Yves Colin and Caroline Morey.

You can learn more about Provence, their food and wine program and Josh Carlson at: www.provencemarinaside.ca.

Or better yet, just head to Provence for brunch, lunch, happy hour, dinner or one of their weekly Jazz night to enjoy a glass and chat with Josh and his team.

This “roundup” episode is about the key BC Wine Industry news stories from 2024 - from a legal perspective.

It’s a “101” on certain rules and regulations which govern how we make, market, sell, buy or taste wine here in British Columbia - and how these rules operate as the wine industry navigates serious challenges not only around farming, but also running a business in the current economic climate.

Megan O’Neill joins as episode guest to navigate this 2024 Roundup. Megan is a Senior Associate at Farris LLP, a Vancouver-based law firm, which also has an office in wine country Kelowna. Megan is a corporate M&A lawyer who has a depth of experience working with BC Wine Industry matters.

Tania and Megan discuss 2024’s “replacement vintage”, BC’s wine trade war with Alberta, onsite tastings at wineries or on restaurant outdoor patios, the potential of developing wine country into a more integrated tourism destination, and the overall state of the industry from a transactional M & A point of view. And more.

This episode is for wine industry people, everyday consumers or anyone interested in business.

Articles/links mentioned during this show:

• About Megan O’Neill: LinkedIn and Farris LLP Profile

• Selling a California Winery? Get Ready for a Reality Check (Felicity Carter) https://www.meiningers-international.com/wine/insights/selling-californian-winery-get-ready-reality-check

• Cross-Border Crush: Importing Grapes & Moving Forward (Alison Moyes, Solvero Winery)(Episode 18, TT Wine Explorer Podcast)

https://ttwinecounsel.com/podcast/episode-18-cross-border-crush-importing-grapes-moving-forward-alison-moyes-solvero-winery-okanagan-valley/

• Blocking Our Own Wine – What Happened to Free Trade in a Federation? (Mark Hicken, WineLaw.ca)(Episode 10, TT Wine Explorer Podcast) https://ttwinecounsel.com/podcast/episode-10-blocking-our-own-wine-what-happened-to-free-trade-in-a-federation-the-legacy-of-prohibition-part-2-with-mark-hicken/

• Putting (and Keeping) the Okanagan Valley on the Wine Map (John Skinner, Painted Rock Estate Winery)(Episode 9, TT Wine Explorer Podcast) https://ttwinecounsel.com/podcast/episode-9-putting-and-keeping-the-okanagan-valley-on-the-wine-map-john-skinner-painted-rock-estate-winery/

This episode is about the anti-alcohol movement and efforts by certain advocacy groups who claim that there is “No Safe Amount” of alcohol which we can enjoy.

There’s been increased discussion in the news and health publications recently about the risks of drinking alcohol, and how we shouldn’t drink more than two alcoholic drinks PER WEEK (despite current recommended guidelines which suggest no more than two drinks per day). What’s going on here?

Canadian liquor law and policy expert Mark Hicken (www.WineLaw.ca) returns to the show to discuss what (and who) is driving the “No Safe Amount” position, and how we should assess the veracity of information relied upon by anti-alcohol advocates who are making health claims.

Tania and Mark discuss the role of scientific methodology in the context of liquor policy making and public health guidance, the potential resurgence of “nanny state” intervention, how much our provincial government’s coffers (and monopoly arm) gets from the sale of each bottle of wine which we buy, the role of individual risk assessment, and more.

Articles mentioned by Mark:

• Anti-Alcohol Nonsense Part 1: Only Pay Attention to Good Science (Mark Hicken) https://www.winelaw.ca/2024/10/18/3-reasons-to-ignore-anti-alcohol-nonsense-1-only-pay-attention-to-good-science/

• Anti-Alcohol Nonsense Part 2: Don’t Listen to Biased Sources (Mark Hicken) https://www.winelaw.ca/2024/11/19/anti-alcohol-nonsense-part-2-dont-listen-to-biased-sources/

• The Wine Gourd - There are NO scientific experiments saying: don’t drink alcohol https://winegourd.blogspot.com/2024/10/there-are-no-scientific-experiments.html

• The Wine Gourd - Has the WHO lost its way regarding alcohol? https://winegourd.blogspot.com/2024/08/has-who-lost-its-way-regarding-alcohol.html

• What the Headlines Get Wrong About Alcohol and Health (Dr Laura Catena) https://daily.sevenfifty.com/what-the-headlines-get-wrong-about-alcohol-and-health/

• Is Alcohol Good or Bad for You? Yes. (Harvard Public Health) https://harvardpublichealth.org/policy-practice/is-alcohol-bad-for-you-or-is-alcohol-good-for-you-yes/

This episode is about the trending NOLO space - the world of “non-alc” and “low- alc” drinks.

Returning guest Graham MacLennan (creator and producer of the Cheftimony Podcast) joins Tania to discuss their respective explorations in the NOLO world, and to share their observations about what’s working (and not working) in the non-alc and low-alc landscape.

What’s driving the expansion of the “no” and “low” markets? How do we look at pricing and value in the context of a non-alc or low-alc drink (as compared to a libation containing alcohol)? How does this all work in the art of pairing food and wine, if you’re looking to swap out the wine part?

And importantly, what’s the future of wine’s place in the context of an exploding non-alcoholic product market? Tania discusses some of the “existential angst” being felt in parts of the alcohol beverage sector arising from very strong Neo-Prohibitionist currents seeking to push wine off our tables.

Ultimately, it’s all about balance, choice and human connectivity. Graham and Tania discuss how all three of these elements may be achieved, no matter what we choose to pour into our glass, through continuing to embrace our stories and rituals.

In this episode, we return to Tania’s native British Columbia to discuss how, in the wake of significant crop losses due to extreme winter freeze in January 2024, many “land based” wineries here are importing grapes or juice from Washington State, Oregon, California or Ontario to produce wine this year.

Wine is about farming, viticulture, Mother Nature, art and science - but it’s also about business and your consumers. It’s about finding your best way forward when you don’t have all the “inputs” you need to make your product, and when you want to keep going, to keep creating. It’s about how wine, and the passion to make and taste it, transcends borders.

Tania’s guest is Alison Moyes, Winemaker and General Manager of Solvero Wines, a small family-owned boutique winery located in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. A lover of Pinot Noir, Alison has worked her craft with premium BC wineries which grow that grape, such as Liquidity Wines. (Long time listeners will recall Tania’s discussion with Ian Macdonald, founder of Liquidity Wines in Episode 7 - “Building a Brand”).

A relative newcomer to the local scene, Solvero sees an exciting future for the “heartbreak” grape in their little pocket of Garnet Valley wine country.

But this episode is about the immediate,“real time” story of importing grapes (or juice) to keep the business going this year, and while vines of Solvero and other local growers recover from the devastating 2024 growing season. Alison discusses how Solvero has imported juice from select vineyards and AVAs in Oregon, what Solvero will be making with that juice, and a few examples of the many practicalities around this process (such as transporting the precious cargo from Oregon up to their winery, and the voluminous “red tape” which small BC winery businesses have had to navigate to try to make this all work for them).

And then there’s the taster’s side of things. What does this all mean for the consumer? How will these wines made in British Columbia (by a local business and a local winemaker using imported inputs) be labelled and marketed? How will this story be told?

Tania and Alison discuss how this is an opportunity, for both winemakers and consumers, to continue to embrace the passion and curiosity for exploring wine, and the connection we feel through a shared story of wine adventure and the clinking of glasses.

It’s this universal power of wine and passion which continues to drive the wine industry globally, and can help support our small businesses to keep going when times are tough.

This episode is a flight to Napa Valley. It’s about bucking the status quo, and how the past can help move us forward.

Tania’s guest is Billy Davies, a California wine industry “lifer” who grew up at renowned American sparkling wine house Schramsberg Vineyards (which Billy’s parents took over in 1965). Billy has been part of that historic place from the ground up - from getting his hands dirty picking grapes, digging their storied wine caves, directing sales and marketing, to being on the Schramsberg Board (where he sits today). Billy has also worked with other premium California brands, taught wine business at the university level and, in 2020, launched his own Billy D. Wines and Ramble wines.

This episode is about “Old School New”. Billy discusses how he brings his memories and experience from growing up in 1960s and 70s Napa to his new wine project. It’s about taking a ramble in time through old vines (going as far back as 1911) and rediscovering legendary grapes such as Chenin Blanc (from 80+ years vines), French Colombard and Charbono to make “wine for all”.

How do we keep wine on the table? How do we keep wine fresh and energetic, and appeal to a new generation of consumers - especially at the crossroads at which we find ourselves today?

Using grapes from Mendocino, Russian River and other Napa neighbours, Billy produces low alcohol, natural wines poured into clear, light-weight glass bottles in maverick sizes of 500ml, 750ml or 1 litre (closed with caps or sugar-cane corks) and priced under $40USD.

In light of increased drought and shifting consumer desires, Tania and Billy also discuss the future of Napa Valley - where Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, heavy glass bottles and ultra-luxe offerings have ruled since the 1980s. Maybe there will be more Carignan? Perhaps more expansion into Mendocino, Sierra Madres or the Delta? Sustainability measures will need to move to the forefront, as will a diversity of consumer experiences to help expand the table.

Wine matters. And so does the place from which it comes. It’s for living now.

In this episode of the TT Wine Explorer Podcast, we delve into the world where art meets wine.

Tania chats with Lara Tomaszewska, an expert fine art consultant, appraiser and founder of ArtRow (an online digital art marketplace).

Together, Tania and Lara explore how art and wine can serve as powerful vehicles to the world of the senses, transporting us to different places and moments - and how this can occur in the hands (and palates) of us everyday people, and outside of the framework of hierarchical connoisseurship.

Lara shares her journey into the art world, discusses her methodology of art appraisal and valuation, and offers insights into the integration of art in wineries, with a special focus on Phantom Creek Estates in British Columbia’s spectacular Southern Okanagan Valley as a specific case study.

The conversation also touches on the democratization of the art market through vehicles such as ArtRow, and how technology like blockchain and AI can bring potential new avenues for transparency, trust and consumer involvement in both the art market and wine industry.

This episode is about how we as everyday consumers, artists, wine producers and business owners can be part of both “place-making” and our own “practice” of experiencing expressions of art and wine.