The Tasting Room seemed to me to be a no brainer. I take the daily conversations between chefs, sommeliers, wine growers/owners/makers, writers, artisans and throw in the occasional celebrity and see how the mix works. The Tasting Room is the radio version of an audio blend, a Meritage for the soul.

I am talking about the art of wine and food and how almost all of us, whether we know it or not, are connected to their creation. I know a little bit about wine and food, but like to think I know a lot about people and my own art - conversation. So, if you want to join in, listen and demystify the world of wine along with me as I learn, you can learn too.

The Tasting Room is produced in association with…

www.barkleyhaven.com

www.deepfreezepro.com

Hollywood and Vines Season 2 - click on link to watch trailer! www.hollywoodandvinestv.com

Jason Priestley, TDM and Producer Chad Oakes

Check out this video interview between Mike Nierychlo from Wine Garage TV and TDM. www.mnonline.ca

Eric McCormack returns to the stage and the show. Matt Batey and John Simes at Mission Hill. The Wine Diva does Cali. Pay what you think the meal is worth at Rogue. Larry Wilmore from Dinner for Schmucks. Luke Smith Winemaker at Howling Bluff. And the Pepper King of Togo (and Nelson) Edmund Segbeaya.

The SHOW

Eric McCormack builds a home in Vancouver for his family and then takes to the Stanley stage in David Mamets Glengarry Glen Ross. It will be a glorious run as the cast is an all star group and Eric’s good friends. www.artsclub.com

This is Erics third time on TRR and each one gets better and funnier.
It takes 2 segments to get it all out. All the venom, pain and angst.
And the good stuff too. Have a laugh with us.

Then it’s in to Mission Hill Family Estate wines in West…um Kelowna (Bank). We do a seriously upscale food and wine pairing with Chef Matt Batey and Winemaker John Simes. www.missionhillwinery.com

Daenna van Mulligen -The Wine Diva is back from Napa and she’s loaded with wine reviews.

Hour TWO

Larry Wilmore is the Senior Black Reporter for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He’s also a producer, writer and actor. This weekend he stars in the Paramount summer comedy Dinner for Schmucks with Steve Carrell and Paul Rudd. We talk about what’s funny, chocolate (not the food) wine and the movie.

Luke Smith is the winemaker/visionary at Howling Bluff Wines on the Naramata Bench outside Penticton in BC’s Okanagan Valley. That also makes him a neighbor. Great guy makes great wines. What’s not to like? Have dreams of getting into the winemaking business? Listen to Lukes story and then decide. www.howlingbluff.ca

And finally this week outside The Bench Market in Penticton I heard a voice cutting through the hot air saying ” hot peppers here. Pepper sauce that makes you feel like you’re in Africa” Edmonds story is compelling. He was born in Togo West Africa.

He now lives in Nelson BC. How he got there is part of the interview but it includes running for his life in Togo, years in Germany, church support and a re-unite with his wife and twin girls and finally creating a killer pepper sauce that’s beginning to make him famous.
It got him invited to CBC’s Dragons Den as well. Check out his story!

Next Week we begin broadcasting province wide in Alberta on CKUA. Wednesday Aug 4th at 6pm Mountain. 5 Pacific. www.ckua.com

Both shows will include our new sponsor guests:

MetroVino

The River Cafe

100 Wines

Noble Ridge

Vinomania

And Ruths’ Chris

Also Sommelier of the Year in Vancouver Kurtis Kolt cohosts a segment from his summer gig at the Cobblestone Wine Bar in Naramata BC.

Guests include:

The Van Westens

The Hallidays from Elephant Island

Plus Ross and Nicole from Nichol Vineyards.

The Wine Diva reviews their wines.

Have a great long weekend!