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!

The Wine Diva reviews. Dunham and Froese plus others. We head for OK Falls and visit Covert Farms..also the home of Dunham and
Froese wines.

A repeat of an earlier interview with Tony Stewart from Quails Gate who had just returned from killer fires in Oz. Also John Schreiner talks about his latest book Wineries of BC.

Here we GO!!

It’s a small shack on wheels and a trailer hitch..with a great little porch and rigtht up front a beautiful BBQ oven..complete with smokle stack.

Right in the middle of a parking lot in Oliver..pulled pork and
chicken..Love this roadside kitchen.

A two part special on the legendary God’s Mtn above Skaha Lake, south of Penticton. www.godsmountain.com

Ian and Matt Mavety from Blue Mountain, Dana Ewert from Joy Road Catering and some 35 people gather under the shade trees and beside the Vines belonging to Wild Goose. We tatse, we listen!! www.bluemountainwinery.com www.joyroadcatering.com

The Wine Diva reviews Dunham and Froese and half a dozen other labels. www.winediva.ca

Hour Two

We visit the groundbreaking Covert Farms at McIntyre Bluffs and their land partners Dunham and Frose. www.covertfarms.ca www.dunhamfroese.ca

Repeats ahead…

Tony Stewart describes the recent fires in OZ

John Schreiner The Wineries of BC

AND…Rockin Ronnie ends the show!

Enjoy!

Things are happening in the Radio World for TRR. We’re now being heard on Long Beach Radio
CIMMFM 99.5 Ucluelet
CHMZFM 90.1 Tofino
… Saturdays at 5pm

Plus we’re heard throughout the Gulf Islands and major parts of Vancouver island on
CFSI Salt Spring 107.9 Saturdays at 4pm

THEN starting Wednesday August 4 at 6PM Tasting Room Radio will be heard Province wide in Alberta on the CKUA Radio Network.
Hellllooo Alberta!!

Check out this list of guests… Mike Raffan and The Queen, John Skinner from award winner Painted Rock, Anthony Von Mandl, Romers Burger Bar, The Wine Diva reviews Governor General Award winners… PLUS Alex and Geddy from RUSH, Jim Cuddy from Blue Rodeo and Alan Doyle from Great Big Sea.

THE SHOW

Mike Raffan is my neighbor as he’s the proprietor of Township 7 Wines. Naramata bench.
He’s also pretty pumped about the news that her Majesty Queen Elizabeth drank his wines with dinner in Ottawa. The fact that - of all the wines available - Ottawa chose T7 is just a great endorsement of his wines. We talk about this honour and then turn to the state of the wine business in BC.
www.township7.com

Great Big Sea have just released a fantastic new CD called Safe upon the Shore. Alan Doyle is the lead singer and one of the songwriters in a solid band.
We do touch upon the new music but Alan has also become an actor having just played the part of Alan-a-Dale in Russell Crowe’s Robin Hood.
Because Russell is our mutual friend, it became an RC love-in..
Alan and Russell are writing songs together as well.
I also wanted to know what wine Alan and Jim Cuddy were drinking at the 2010 Junos in St John’s. Alan tells us what he can remember.
www.greatbigsea.com

Romers is a very cool new Burger Bar in the 1800 block of 4th Ave in Vancouver.
It helps make that block one of the most interesting food destinations in all of the lower mainland.
Three veterans of the food wars Chef Jim Romer (Milestones) and brothers Scott (Browns, Milestones) and Steve Ward have joined forces to make this a dream, come true.
My first question is ..does the World need another burger bar?
And off we go!!

Daenna van Mulligen returns to her usual spot as The Tasting Rooms’ wine reviewer. She’s is after all The Wine Diva.
I wanted to know what she thought of the just released list of Governor Generals Best Wines of the Year in BC.
She has some very interesting thoughts about some of the choices.
www.winediva.ca
www.winescores.ca

HOUR TWO

BC’s Governor General’s Wine Awards were just announced and holding down two spots was the surprising upstart winery Painted Rock. It’s the 7 year vision of John Skinner and his very loyal staff, which includes Viticulturist Val Tait.
He’s won for his blend Red Icon and for his Cab Sauvignon.
You say you haven’t seen his label around?
That may be because the restaurants in BC and Alberta snapped up most of it, as soon as they tasted it and also part of John’s master plan.
Yes, John makes Chardonnay, Syrah and Merlot but its these award winners that will raise his profile for the time being.
I jumped in the car and found him in his cellar..enjoy!!

Here’s an interview that came out way in the past year. During our visit to the Niagara Fall Wine Festival, Ken Weir and I drove over to Tawse and found Geddy lee and Alex Lifeson from Rush raising funds for their charity.
I wish all interviews were this cool and funny… These guys know their wines but wait till you hear what was in the Rush backstage rider.
www.rush.com

Here’s another interview from the past year. A rare sit down Q&A with Mission Hill Family Estate winery owner and visionary Anthony Von Mandl.
Wait until you hear about his life in LA during the Watts Riots. It hasn’t all been wine and roses for this dreamer.
www.missionhillfamilyestate.com
FYI..yours truly is honoured to co-host the Okanagan Symphony Summer Gala with music director Rosemary Thompson tonight at the very same Mission Hill.

And our final re-visit is with a real pal… Jim Cuddy from Blue Rodeo. He talks wines, his cellar and as always we take shots at each other about East vs. West.

Enjoy!!

First hour we travel to Salt Spring Island and the first ever Chefs across the Water at the historic Hastings House.

Special guest Chef Pino Posteraro from Cioppinos. We also visit the three wineries that call Salt Spring home plus we go looking for the exclusive Chef Kelly.

Second Hour..its back to finish off our coverage of the annual Tofino Food and Wine Festival.

THE SHOW

We start our hour at Salt Spring Winery with new co-owner Joanne McIntyre and veteran winemaker Paul Troop.

Lots to talk about, such as winemaking on Salt Spring, new directions, new releases including a great bottle of bubble and more importantly, where’s Dev McIntyre. www.saltspringvineyards.com

Then its just down the road to the next driveway and a return visit to Garry Oaks Winery with grower Marcel Mercier and winemaker Elaine Kozak. What a great job they’ve done, taking this former sheep grazing farm and turning it into a jewel in this beautiful valley.

Marcel explains why they do so well in wine competitions in the USA and Elaine gives us valuable info on the portfolio.

We also talk about The Blatners..and new series of wines..named after a legendary Swiss grower who may have created wines that excel in these climates.

Wines include Prism, Zeta and the funky Fetish. A classic blend of 60% South Okanagan Merlot and 40% Cab Franc. It’s the only one of their wines not labeled Estate. That is an on-going subject over the full two hours. When is an Island wine not an island wine??
www.garryoakswine.com

Then its across the island, through Ganges and finally to the third winery on Salt Spring - the totally organic Mistaken Identity.

Ian and Wendy Baker have been on the show before, so we had some catching up to do.

What’s new is a unique white blend of Chardonnay and organic apples..called mel in Italian..so the result is Charmela. Killer with Salt Spring Blue cheese. www.mistakenidentityvineyards.com

The reason we came to Salt Spring was a very generous offer from the management at Hastings House on Salt Spring Island. www.hastingshouse.com

Chefs across the Water features star chefs from the Vancouver area. These events will also raise awareness of the health and economic benefits of using local, organic and sustainable ingredients and bring into focus how local farming is being challenged by changing regulations that favour large agri-businesses. The highlight of the evening is a 5 course dinner prepared by Pino Posteraro of Cioppinos.

His restaurant has been named best Formal Italian in Vancouver for the 8th year in a row..He’s also been named Chef of the Year and is always top 3 for best restaurant.

We also talk to Bonnie O’Conner co-owner and Millie Sinclair, food and beverage Manager.

Then it’s our regular visit from The Wine Diva, Daenna Van Mulligen. She’s just back from a weekend in London and an all day concert that ended with Sir Paul McCartney live on stage.

There’s also time for two wine reviews.

Hillside Muscat Ottonel, Castano Old Vines Monastrell Spain and a comment on Gulf Island wines. www.winediva.ca www.winescores.ca

The Wine Diva is brought to you by Passa Tempo Restaurant at Nk’Mip in Osoyoos.

HOUR TWO

Off to to Ucluelet and Tofino..on the outer edge of BC. It’s becoming a much talked about surfing destination but the far West coast of Vancouver Island has always been a food destination.

As the travelers and second home buyers have discovered this special part of the World..the food and wine community has followed.

We’ve already done a two hour special but I did so many interviews that there’s more than enough for a second hour.

(believe it or not, we’ll still find room soon to run our interviews with Rocky Creek Winery and John Waller, the Exec Chef at The Wick..plus a visit with Osyter Jim)

We start at Shelter Restaurant with owner Jay Gildenhuys and Manager and wine list guy Sam Maltby. Great place..check out the photos. www.shelterrestaurant.com

If you’re going to Ucleulet..you just have to go fishing..so we talk to Sam Vanderwalk about fishing charter company Salmon Eye www.salmoneye.net

Roger Dosman is a veteran owner/winemaker based in Duncan on Vancouver Island. As part of the Tofino Food and Wine Festival He was kind enough to pour a 10 year vertical of his Alderlea Vineyards Cowichan Valley Pinot Noir..

What a treat!

We cover why he believes that Vancouver Island may be the next best place on Earth for Pinots. Plus, he’s also passionate about the fact that everything he bottles is Estate grown..a pure Island Wine.
www.alderleavineyards.com

Then its straight into the annual Tofino Food and Wine Festival. As they pour in the forest and gardens for the masses, we talk to:

Brent Hayman - Blasted Church

Jay Drysdale - La Stella/Le Vieux Pin

Cassandra Anderton - http://twitter.com/goodlifevan

Mike Walk - Long Beach Resort - pouring Joie, Orofino and Pentage

Bob Ferguson - owner/winemaker pouring his Kettle Valley and drinking local beer.

That’s all folks.

NEXT WEEK

Cherry Point Winery.

A great new burger bar in Vancouver - Romer’s

Alan Doyle - Great Big Sea

Enjoy!!

Transportation to, and from the Pacific Rim provided by BC Ferries and Tourism Vancouver Island.

Accommodations provided by Black Rock Oceanfront Resort in Ucluelet and Long Beach Lodge in Tofino.

Special thanks to Tourism Ucluelet, Tourism Tofino and Kira Rogers -
Director of the Tofino Food and Wine festival, for organizing my trip to the west coast.

For more information on the Tofino Food and Wine Festival go to www.tofinofoodandwinefestival.com

Planning your trip to Ucluelet and Tofino? Visit
www.tourismucluelet.com and www.tourismtofino.com

An encore performance of one of our favourite wine events. The 2010 playhouse international wine festival.

Its the 32 Annual Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival. One of the Gold Standards. We set up a complete studio right in the middle of the Thursday Trade Tasting. Over 30 guests from all over the World. All brought to you by The Kambolis Group of Restaurants and Poplar Grove Winery.

The Show

We kick off with David Scholefield, Harry Herscheg and Hollywood favourite and Kiwi Winemaker Actor Sam Neill.

Then comes the feature Regions New Zealand and Argentina. Guests include Peter Yealands who uses plastic bottles, sheep and tons of sustainability to make his landmark wines, Edgardo Del Popolo from Dona Paula, the amazing winemaker /doctor Laura Catena (Catena Zapata), whose Great Grandfather first planted Malbec in Argentina in 1902 and Bill Spence, who along with his brother Ross, made the first commercially produced Sauv Blanc in NZ at Matua.www.donapaula.com.ar www.catenawines.com www.matua.co.nz

Next, our show sponsors..Harry Kambolis, founder and leader of his restaurant group Raincity Grill, C and Nu. His Executive Chef Robert Clark. www.raincitygrill.com www.crestaurant.com www.whatisnu.com

Also Ian Sutherland, winemaker at Poplar Grove on the Naramata Bench!! www.poplargrove.ca

A segment on a feature wine… Rosé. Almost 60 Rosé wines from around the World. DJ Kearney, Randy Ullom (Kendall Jackson) Judith Lane, food and wine writer and Grant Stanley, winemaker at Quails Gate. www.kj.com www.quailsgate.com

Hour Two

We start with one of last years feature regions..British Columbia.
John Simes (Mission Hill) John Schreiner, Writer, Gordon Fitzpatrick (Cedar Creek). www.missionhillwinery.com www.cedarcreek.bc.ca

Then comes The Ladies.

Daenna Van Mulligan, Kate MacMurray (MacMurray Ranch) The House Wine Girls Michelle Bouffard and Michaela Morris and DJ Kearney..all sitting talking about Women in Wine and a ton of other subjects.. This was an absolute Blast!! www.macmurrayranch.com www.winediva.ca www.housewine.ca

Next was California. Legendary wine stars Larry Stone (Coppola and Rubicon) Ted Seghesio, Rene Schlatter(Merryvale and Starmont)and again Kate MacMurray. www.rubiconestate.com www.merryvale.com

and finally..The World.

Paul Hobbs, California winemaker but also consults all around the World. Marc Kent from Boekenhoutskloof in South Africa and George Samios from Wolf Blass. www.boekenhoutskloof.co.za www.wolfblass.com.au

and thats all fffffolks!!

Next Week

Hour One - food and wine tasting on Salt Spring Island including special guest chef Giussepe (Pino) Posteraro from Cioppino’s cioppinos.wordpress.com. Hour Two - the remaining interviews from Tofino and Ucluelet.

The Canadian Culinary Championships arrive in Kelowna. We cover the press party. Special guest Simon Whitfield..Olympic athlete.

The Okanagan Symphony throw yet another Summer Gala at Mission Hill.

The Wine Diva does wines and varietals you might not be familiar with.

The friends, fans and family of the slide victims in Oliver are coming
together for a party Sunday. Bruce Fuller fills us in.

Ian Sutherland from Poplar Grove and Chef Roger Planiden have a food fight.

Eric Glomski is a winemaker who partnered with Maynard James Keenan, the lead singer of Tool. Location? Arizona!!

And Sook Yin Lee directs a film about Carnivores..perfect for this show.

THE SHOW

The Canadian Culinary Championships - The Gold Medal Plates..arrive in Kelowna. After looking at various possible homes, they decided on The Okanagan.

We talk to the founder Steven Leckie, Culinary boss James Chatto, the winemakers from Laughing Stock Cynthia and David Enns, competing chefs Roger Sleiman from Quails Gate, Dana Ewert and Cam Smith from Joy Road Catering and Stuart Klassen from Delta Grand.

Special guest - Canada’s greatest athlete Simon Whitfield.

It’s a three day affair in February. The best chefs in the country compete for the right to hold high the Gold Medal Plate.

The Okanagan Symphony throw the best summer party. Again this year its at Mission Hill Family Estates.

July 17th

Rosemary Thompson Music Director and my co-host on the night..teams up with one of the organizers Judy Burns. You simply won’t believe what’s up for auction.

The Wine Diva, Daenna Van Mulligen reviews wines that are less know and varietals that she thinks we should all know about.

You never know, we might just change your favourite pour.

Here’s the rundown:

Italy

Marotti Campi Orgiolo Lacrima di Morro d’Alba Superiore DOC

Coltiva Velletri Terre Dei Volsci DOC Riserva, Emilia Romagna

DeAngelis “Anghelos” Marche Rosso, Italy

France

La Vieille Ferme, Cotes du Ventoux Rose

Chile

Emiliana Adobe Carmenere Reserva, Colchagua Valley Chile

Austria

Schloss Gobelsburg Gobelsburger Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal, Austria

Portugal

Passion of Portugal, Lisboa Portugal

South Africa

Sebeka Cabernet~Pinotage, Western Cape South Africa

Bruce Fuller is the wild man owner and winemaker at Rustico Winery on Road 16 south of Oliver. The massive slide that ripped through 5 homes days ago..just missed his winery.

He and his neighbours are throwing a potluck party Sunday night at
Rustico..starts around 6PM..Bring whatever you can..food, drinks, treats!!

Chef Roger Planiden and Poplar Grove Winemaker Ian Sutherland were getting together in Ian’s kitchen to create recipes to go with his Wine Club wines..

Viognier-Pinot Gris, Viognier Syrah and Syrah.. They were kind enough to invite us along..it was kind of out-of-control but I learned a lot about food and wine pairing..Hope you do to.

Eric Glomski and Maynard James Keenan are the winemakers at Caduceus - Merkin and Arizona Stronghold.

Maynard is the lead singer and driving force behind Tool, one of rocks best.

Here’s a crash course in Arizona winemaking..
http://www.lanigan-edwards.com/LaniganEdwards/Caduceus.html

And finally my friend Sook Yin Lee. We both worked at Much Music, she also has had a music career. Then she turned to acting and now directing.

Her latest film Year of the Carnivore is just out now. It’s not about
food..it’s about love..in all its disguises.

She’s so clever and funny and a pal. You wont believe how open she is about her own romances..especially the first big one.

Enjoy!

TDM

NEXT WEEK

The 2010 Vancouver International Playhouse Wine Festival..

It’s the 2nd Annual Osoyoos Celebrity Weekend..Friday Night Beach Party. Saturday Black Hills Party and Wine auction and Gala.

Special guests Bruce greenwood, Jason Priestley, David Cubbitt (Medium) and musical guest Steven Page (X-Bare Naked Ladies).

Plus the first ever Judgement of Osoyoos..Pitting 4 BC Cabs against 4 Napa Cabs..blind tasting.

Winemaker Tom di Bello. Midge Wyse from Burrowing Owl.

The Wine Diva reviews at least 10 wines..

And finally Bill Eggert from Fairview Cellars and Sandra Oldfield from Tinhorn Creek fill in the story on the recent slide south of Oliver.

Enjoy!!

THE SHOW

Once again we find ourselves in the very heart of Canada’s only dessert..

It’s the Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Weekend..the brainchild of Producer Chad Oakes, Actor/Director Jason Priestley - my partners in our series Hollywood and Vines TV and Glenn Fawcett, the man behind Black Hills Estate Winery, the makers of Note Bene!!

Most of the show will be just a matter of me running into a room or party and turning on the microphone..very little planning involved, just as I like it.

We start at the Black Hills Winery party..Saturday afternoon..www.blackhillswinery.com

Great location..sunny day..double magnum playing on stage..a gaggle of beautiful people!

We start with David Cubitt from the Medium TV series..Chad Oakes, Emmy winning Producer from Nomadic Pictures in Calgary and Jason Priestley. Chad, Jason and I have shot two years of Hollywood and Vines TV. You know we love our wines..

Then its into the food tents with Chef Michael Lyons from The Eldorado in Kelowna:

Winemaker Tom diBello (formerly Cedar Creek)

Patt Dyck - Owner Cannery Brewing in Penticton

Graham Pierce, winemaker at Black Hills. The man who makes the Note Bene, Alibi and others and Jay Blackford, co-partner in Cabana Grille in Kelowna.

Then a short diversion into the World of the Wine Diva Daenna Van Mulligen reviews:

Lush and Aromatic Whites

Tinhorn Creek www.tinhorn.com

Black Hills www.blackhillswinery.com

Twisted Tree www.twistedtree.ca

Laughing Stock www.laughingstock.ca

Pinot Noirs

Quails Gate www.quailsgate.com

Mudhouse NZ www.mudhouse.co.nz

Montes Point Chile

Prospect www.prospectwinery.com

Firesteed Oregon www.firesteed.com

Gallo Sonoma www.gallo.com

Hour TWO starts with

Steven Page - formerly of Bare Naked Ladies. Now starting a solo career. He talks about the new CD he’s just finished mastering, his current favourite wine pours, The ladies and singing for all of us at the celeb weekend.

And then actor Bruce Greenwood takes a strip off me for not reviewing/talking about his latest film Mao’s Last Dancer. After he gets that from his system , we then go on to the rest of our discussion about food and wine, his next film Dinner for Schmucks. Also take a moment to talk music as he’s a really fine singer and player.

Then it’s the Judgement of Osoyoos. A blind tasting between 4 BC Cabs and 4 Napa Cabs.

Interviews with:

Jay Drysdale

Garritt van What’s his name

Harry Herscheg - Vancouver Playhouse

Midge Wyse - Burrowing Owl

We end the weekend with the all the chefs at Passa Tempo. Chef Michael from the El, Jeremy Luypen from Passa Tempo and Chef from Cabana.

And finally we get an update on the huge slide South of Oliver this week. I find on the phone Sandra Oldfield from Tinhorn Creek and Bill Eggert from Fairview Cellars.

Enjoy!!

Next week

The Midsummer Gala for the Symphony. Sook Yin Lee.

The Canadian Culinary Championships get announced in Kelowna.

Eric Glomski, Winemaker and partner with rocker Maynard James Keenan (Tool) of two Arizona wineries.

THE SHOW

OK..first things first.

I got carried away and did enough interviews on the West Coast to do two shows. That’s exactly what’s going to happen here.

This is the first two hour special.

I think there’s enough for at least another hour which we’ll run within 3-4 weeks..Maybe even sooner (depends how desperate I get).

We cannot possibly tell you everything about everyone here but we can give you names and website contacts..

Please enjoy the outstanding characters of Ucluelet and Tofino, throw in stunning beaches, rainforests, world class surfing, food, wine and accommodations..

And you get to meet Crazy Ron..from Tough City Sushi.

Here are just some of the guests..

Chef at Fetch Restaurant (Black Rock) – Andrew Springette
www.blackrockresort.com/vancouver-island-restaurants.html

General Manager – Canadian Princess Resort/Wickaninnish Restaurant – Brian Clarkson www.wickaninnish.ca www.canadianprincess.com

Chef at Ukee Dogs – Stephanie Deering

BC Liquor Store – Ucluelet Manager Gord Dunsmore

Jiggers Fish and Chips – Shane Greer and Shelly Fader

Owner/Manager of Majestic Ocean Kayaking - Tracy Eeftink
www.oceankayaking.com

Wine Steward and Restaurant Manager at Long Beach Lodge – Mike Wald and Jason Janisse www.longbeachlodgeresort.com

Chef at The Shelter Restaurant – Joel Aubie, www.shelterrestaurant.com

The Wickaninnish Inn & Pointe Restaurant Director, Chef – Charles McDiarmid, www.wickinn.com/restaurant.html

Sobo Restaurant Owner/Chef – Lisa Ahier www.sobo.ca

Tofino Food and Wine Festival Director – Kira Rogers www.tofinofoodandwinefestival.com

Tofino Botanical Gardens Founder and Executive Director – George Patterson www.tbgf.org

Cedar Creek Winery Wine Maker – Gordon Fitzpatrick www.cedarcreek.bc.ca

Sandhill Wines/Peller Estates Winemaker, Owner – Howard Soon, John Peller www.sandhillwines.ca www.peller.com/niagara/homepage.php

Tofino Sushi Bar – Crazy Ron www.toughcity.com/main.php

Marla Thirsk www.marlathirsk.com

Blue Mountain Winery Owner – Jane Mavety www.bluemountainwinery.com

Tofino TacoFino Truck –Jason www.tacofino.com

Scout Magazine – Andrew Morrison http://scoutmagazine.ca

Wildside Grill – Jay Micas and Jesse Blake www.wildsidegrill.com

Transportation to, and from the Pacific Rim provided by BC Ferries and Tourism Vancouver Island.

Accommodations provided by Black Rock Oceanfront Resort in Ucluelet and Long Beach Lodge in Tofino.

Special thanks to Tourism Ucluelet, Tourism Tofino and Kira Rogers – Director of the Tofino Food and Wine festival, for organizing my trip to the west coast.

For more information on the Tofino Food and Wine Festival go to www.tofinofoodandwinefestival.com

Planning your trip to Ucluelet and Tofino? Visit ww.tourismucluelet.com and www.tourismtofino.com

Next week

THE 2ND ANNUAL Jason Priestley Celebrity Weekend and Fundraiser in Osoyoos BC..

Special guests Stephen Page, Dean Cain, Bruce Greenwood and many more..

A half marathon in Osoyoos where you taste wines and food as you run. First visit to Penticton Farmers Market.The Wine Diva does South Africa.

Hour Two has Olympic poet Shane Coyczan, an update on next weeks Osoyoos Celebrity gathering and finally we present Naramata’s latest resident Sommelier of the Year Kurtis Kolt.

THE SHOW

It’s the first ever Half Corked Half Marathon through the wineries of the South Okanagan. Yes, you have to run for 13 miles but where the 7 watering stations are located..there also happens to be a winery.

So there’s food, wine, water and music. Different? You bet.

Interviews with:

Jack Wessel - Race Coordinator

Tim Martinuk - SOWA president www.sowasite.com

Claire Martin – CBC weather personality and runner

And a whole bunch of runners..dressed up in funny outfits.

Cameron Smith is one half of the very popular cooking team at Joy Road Catering in Penticton. Cam and his partner Dana are always in demand and always produce fantastic food under less than stellar conditions and locations.

Cam is also the President of the Penticton Farmers Market which has just started its season. Cam and I walk around and talk about what’s different this year and some of the foods and events we all can look forward to. www.joyroadcatering.com

The Wine Diva features the wines of South Africa. Most government liquor stores will display many South African wines in honour of their wine industry and the World Cup of Soccer which starts shortly. Daenna Van Mulligen knows her wines so have a listen to her recommendations and then head for your local store to try some..The Wine Diva is brought to you by Passa Tempo at Nk’Mip eat. Drink. Enjoy. www.winediva.ca

Hour TWO

Shane Coyczan is the hottest poet in the Land. It was Shane who blew everyone away while watching the 2010 Winter Olympic opening ceremonies with his spoken word presentation of We are More.

His life changed in the matter of an hour..and he’s been a huge demand ever since. He came back to Penticton, his home town, to two sold out shows at The Dream Café. www.houseofparlance.com/koyczan/index.html

In between shows he visited The Tasting Room and talked about his life before and after that magic day in Vancouver. This is a very different interview from a true current cultural icon in Canada and now the World. It’s also very funny and entertaining.. Enjoy!!

Next weekend brings the second annual Osoyoos Celebrity Weekend.
We get organizers Jason Priestley, Chad Oakes and Glen Fawcett to run down all the details, who’s coming and how you can still get last minute tickets. We’ll be recording interviews all next weekend and bring them to you June 19th.

And finally, a two part interview with the newest resident of Naramata, VanMag Sommelier of the Year Kurtis Kolt. He’s brought his considerable talents to Cobblestones at the Naramata Heritage Inn until at least October. www.naramatainn.com

In the final segment manager Quentin Kane gets into a food fight with KK..Quentin fires off a menu item and Kurtis just as quickly fire back a wine selection to compliment the food. We all benefit from the listening experience..

Enjoy!

Next Week

Complete coverage of the Tofino Food and Wine Festival. He has performed to full houses around the world - from university amphitheaters to the most respected music and literary festivals. He has rocked the stage at the Edinburgh Book Banks.

We welcome The Soup Nazi!

We go Prawn Fishing, welcome an Icon, the Diva does Summer Sippers and Eat Vancouver.

Speaking of Eat Vancouver, we welcome a bag of stars from the event..including Rob Feenie.

Andrew Morrison reviews the VanMag Awards.

We be rockin..

The SHOW

We’ve been talking and reading lately about the amazing social and culinary movement called Vancouver’s Spot Prawn Festival.

For two months we fish and eat local thereby easing the pressure on jumbo prawn overfishing half a world away. We used to ship 90% of our prawns to Japan..who would then freeze them and sell them back to us.

One of the leaders of this movement is fisherman Steve Johansen and we join his crew Frank Keitch and Trevor White just outside English Bay..

The two segments roll out in real time..at press time we’re trying to post some of the footage on the site.

Get connected to the prawns we eat on board Organic Ocean 1!!
www.organicocean.com

There’s a new powerhouse wine and spirit company in Canada..It’s called Icon. We talk to two of the three partners..Jay Garnett and Jack Segal.

They were serious competitors, Jay with Whitefish and Jack with Seacove. Now they’ve hooked up with winemaker Ray Signorello and everything is just swell!

Check out their portfolio..they cover all the bases.

We also touch on two issues: Taxation of wines and spirits.

And why the Government is still in the Liquor business.
www.iconwineandspirits.com

To wrap up the first hour with Daenna Van Mulligen-The Wine Diva. Brought to you by Passa Tempo at Nk’ Mip in Osoyoos.

She runs us through summer sippers for BBQ season and starts our feature coverage of the annual EAT! Vancouver.

HOUR TWO

For the next two segments we talk to the stars of the show.

Star chef Rob Feenie from Cactus Club

Larry Thomas - the actor who became famous on Seinfeld as The Soup Nazi, talks about fans getting his character confused with his real life.

Sharing the Food Network stage with Rob and “Soup” is Chuck Hughes, one of Montreal’s most popular chefs and the host of Chuck’s Day Off.

We also have Shannon Loeber and Mary Edwards, the writers of the bestselling book Wisewoman’s Cookery, Colin Jack from Just here for the Beer and Len Fragomeni..the Dean of Caesar.

And finally we finish off with Andrew Morrison, the sharp as a stick team leader at Scout Magazine. Andrew fills us in on the recent VanMag culinary awards and the amazing list of new restaurants in the East end of Vancouver. The city is changing block by block and food and wine are helping to lead the way. www.scoutmagazine.ca

NEXT WEEK

Jason Priestley and the organizers of the annual Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Auction..

The Queen Bee.

The Wine Diva talks all about the wines of South Africa.

Shane Koyczan..the poet who stole the show at the opening ceremonies 2010 Winter Games..returns to Penticton.

Scott McWilliams is the 6th generation of his Australian family to make wine for the McWilliams brand.

I find wine terms confusing at times. So apparently do a lot of you. The Wine Diva gives us all a master class in wineology.. What is a drip dickey?

What other show is going to give you this kind of excitement. TWO interviews with guys named Mike and Mike. The first are bloggers from BC, the second are the original MuchMusic road team.

A replay of our John Schreiner interview covering his latest edition of Wines of BC and finally..Backstage last Saturday at the Commodore Ballroom I corner singers Jim Byrnes and Rockin Roy Forbes (Bim).

THE SHOW

When chef Dino Renaerts recently moved from Diva at the Met to West Vancouver’s Fraiche and Beachside Forno i knew it was time to track him down and get the whole story.

Since we did the two part interview, Fraiche has been named Best North Shore Restaurant by Vancouver Magazine. Under Dino’s leadership, I imagine its only a matter of time before its named best restaurant in all of Vancouver.

We do talk about menus and wine pairings and stretching himself between two different restaurants. However, he also refers to his “inner chef”. Working on making sure his life is just as rewarding as his career. www.fraicherestaurant.ca www.craverestaurants.com/beachside

Scott McWilliams is the winemaker for the McWilliams’s Hanwood Estate range in Australia. He represents not only the 6th generation of his family winery but also represents the new generation of winemakers coming out of Australia.

Scott came to Vancouver to pour the four blends that go into his Chardonnay and to answer questions about his winery and Australia.
But first he sat down with us..www.mcwilliamswine.com

Ever wondered what guests mean when they talk about wines that are chewy or muscular, lean or fat, that a wine has legs, the difference between vertical or horizontal, some call wines stemmy or names that get mis-pronounced like Meritage, Reidel, Jerez.

The Wine Diva will explain AND we’ll all discover what a drip dicky is. Brought to you by Passa Tempo at Nk’ Mip Eat.Drink.Enjoy!

HOUR TWO

I had two guests in the barn this week. Mike Nierychlo is host of his on-line wine blog. His partner and shooter is Mike Rathjen.

They were cruising the Okanagan, tasting wines, getting spoiled and hiding out. I appear on their show and they will now guest on mine.
Here’s the story on how they got this whole scheme together and how the wine industry welcomed them to The Game!! Blog ON!!www.mnonline.ca

Talking to the above Mike and Mike reminded me that I knew the original Mike and Mike at MuchMusic..the smoothest road team Ive ever seen Mike Rhodes and Mike Campbell.

They’re now involved in their own restaurant and music room called The Carleton in Halifax. www.thecarleton.ca Campbell runs the room and books the bands. Rhodes smokes out front on the street and asks people to “keep moving”. Love these guys..

A lot of you are making plans to visit the Okanagan and live your wine dreams. So in honour of those plans we bring back our conversation with the Dean of Canadian Wine Writers, John Schreiner and his latest edition of Wineries of British Columbia. John and the information that he brings to all of us is always welcome on TRR. johnschreiner.blogspot.com

And finally. last Saturday at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver I got to again host the 8th Annual Motown Meltdown. A parade of singers, a great 12 piece band led by David Sinclair and Terry Townson..Kendra Sprinkling leads the background singers and the organization. www.livenation.com/venue/commodore-ballroom-tickets

Two of the artists backstage were blues king Jim Byrnes and Roy Forbes. Rockin Roy is not a drinker but he sure is a talker. and Jimmy B..knows his wines, just came back from the blues awards in Memphis (we talk ribs) and what he washed that Smokey flavour down with..you wont believe it. www.shootingstarsfoundation.org

Next Week..Highlights of the Van Mag awards. The Soup Nazi and other stars from Eat Vancouver. We head out on the water with spot prawn fisherman Steve Johansen.

How the heck do you make a Spot Prawn Festival sexy?? If its Vancouver you add star chefs like John Bishop, Dino Renaerts and David Hawksworth!!

Have them cooking on the Granville fishing docks when fisherman Steve Johansen brings the first prawns in with Andrew Morrison from Scout honking his air horn in the air.

Have a band playing, Ocean Wise on the docks, pour some Prospect wines..add a sunny day and Wanda from Go Fish..and NOW you have a sexy event.

The you add The Wine Diva to the show recommending wines for prawns, halibut and salmon season..and your first hour is almost complete..We add the other coast..The Maritimes, specifically wine writer Sean Wood from Halifax and we’re good to go.

Hour two includes:

Iron Chef Okanagan with Ned Bell and Paul Cecconi.

One of Tuscany’s finest wineries is Brancaia and we do a vertical tasting of Il Blu with owner Martin Kronenberg..

Mark Chisholm worked food and beverage at Penticton’s Hooded Merganser..now its Hotel MacDonald in Edmonton..we talk about the differences.

And we got back to Cawston to give everyone air-time and finish with Director Atom Egoyan.

THE SHOW

HOUR ONE

It’s the fourth annual Spot Prawn Festival on the fishing docks opposite Granville Island (right beside Go Fish..if you haven’t eaten at Go Fish, it’s time you did!!).

It started as a response to over fishing in other parts of the world and the realization that we had our own prawn fishery just off Vancouver harbor. Led by fisherman Steve Johansen and chef Robert Clark (C/Nu/Raincity Grill) it’s become not only a popular public event but because most of the great restaurants in Vancouver bought into the fishery and included Ocean Wise on their menus, The Spot Prawn Festival has become a key social movement.

Interviews include:

Chefs

John Bishop – Bishops www.bishopsonline.com

Dino Renaerts FRAÎCHE RESTAURANT CELEBRATES GOLD WIN FOR BEST NORTH SHORE RESTAURANT
At the 21st Annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards
- Beachside Forno www.beachsideforno.com

David Hawksworth - Hawksworth

Prospect Wines www.prospectwinery.com

Ocean Wise www.vanaqua.org

Steve and Wanda Johansen - Wanda runs Go Fish

Andrew Morrison - Scout Magazine www.scoutmagazine.ca

Wine Diva Daenna Van Mulligen runs down the wines you might want to serve with spot prawns or Halibut or salmon. (brought to you by Passa Tempo @ Nk’ Mip in Osoyoos) www.winediva.ca

And to finish off Hour One - a quick catch-up with Sean Wood. Halifax based wine writer..he gives us his thoughts on Playhouse and Nova Scotia Wine.

HOUR TWO

It’s the Iron Chef Okanagan showdown at Cabana Grille in Kelowna’s Mission District. Chef Ned Bell and Chef Paul Cecconi go head to head/spoon to spoon in a one hour cook-off complete with secret ingredient - oysters! www.cabanagrille.com

Ned represents Cabana Grille and Paul The Local Lounge and Grille Summerland. www.thelocalgroup.ca

While Jamie Maw and Jessica Samuels (AM 1150) MC’d, Tim Pawsey, myself and several others got to judge the three dishes they served.
Interviews with Ned and Paul, Jamie and Ned’s business partner Jay. Mark Chisholm. For 3 years Mark was the Asst Manager at The Hooded Merganser in Penticton.

The Hood has perhaps the best water location in the Okanagan..you look straight up Okanagan Lake. He’s now the food and beverage guy at Fairmont’s Hotel MacDonald in Edmonton and as such oversees their Harvest Room restaurant. www.fairmont.com/macdonald/…/Restaurants/HarvestRoom.htm

It was great to sit down with Mark and compare notes on the wines of BC and how they are received in Alberta, what kind of wine town Edmonton is and what’s unique and regional about his menu.

As part of Year Two of Hollywood and Vines TV, Jason Priestley and I found ourselves at Brancaia in Tuscany, just outside Sienna! www.hollywoodandvinestv.com www.brancaia.com

Winemaker Barbara Kronenberg has been on TRR but never her husband Martin until now. Martin Kronenberg brought a 13 year vertical of Il Blu their Super Tuscan to Vancouver and I had the opportunity to taste and then sit down with Martin. Interviews also include comments from two very opinionated wine guys Sid Cross and David Scholefield.

And finally, from the Lost and Found Dept of TRR…The lost Cawston tapes have surfaced..thus an interview with Kim Brind Amour www.forbiddenfruitwines.com

And Megan Mutch www.cerelia.ca

And from the Whistler Film Festival..Director Atom Egoyan and a sound bite from the vaults.

Enjoy!

This episode of Tasting Room Radio is all over the map friends.

Which is not a bad thing..

We start at Memphis Blues on Lonsdale in North Vancouver, then to glorious Mission Hill Family Estate on the Okanagan and an interview with visionary owner Anthony Von Mandl.

A very quick walk through the winemakers party in Osoyoos..The 2010 Banee, Hour Two is spent in the Cawston Community Hall in the Similkameen..talking to local winemakers and judging BBQ.

TSN host and funnyman Jay Onrait tells us who’s going to win the Stanley Cup and what wine he’d put in it and finally The Wine Diva, Daenna Van Mulligen completes the show with her review of wines for Mother’s Day weekend. The Wine diva is brought to you by Passa Tempo Restaurant at Nk’Mip in Osoyoos www.passatemporestaurant.ca.

THE SHOW

Park Heffelfinger and George Siu are the owners and heart and soul behind Memphis Blues BBQ House. They now have 5 locations in BC..and Alberta’s next.

George and Park, really know their smoke and how to give people a great time and location but for my money they are also one of my best hot wine sources. Park is a Sommelier and George is not far behind.

Every time I walk in I study the wine list on the chalk board. There’s usually half a dozen reds and the same for the whites.

But they’re all wines you want to know about. The wines are affordable and you know they go with BBQ. Great beer and bourbon list as well.

Did I tell you they’re funny? George laughs at his own jokes and there’s a lot of those. Great guys.

If you’re getting ready for BBQ season (and who isn’t) then here’s a primer on what to pour and how to Q.www.memphisbluesbbq.com

Mission Hills Family Estates is one of Canada’s finest wineries. They’ve won almost every wine and culinary award imaginable.

They invited TRR to the Chagall Room for the Spring wine releases. www.missionhillwinery.com

Given the opportunity I couldn’t pass up the tastes or the interviews..

Chef Matt Batey

Winemaker John Simes

And owner Anthony Von Mandl

Hour one ends with a drive through of the 2010 Banee in Osoyoos.
What had been a winemakers party at the Toasted Oak in Oliver has progressed into a much larger event, now in Osoyoos but at its core..speeches, auctions and cook-offs aside, it’s a winemakers party..just about the only time in the year when they’re all here and available.

Interviews with…

Christina Burridge Van Mag

Tim Pawsey Hired Belly

Tony Gismondi Van Sun, etc

HOUR TWO

Again another invite. This time from Wine Educator and first time grower Rhys Pender.

Cawston BC is in the heart of the Similkameen..on Highway 3 between Osoyoos and Keromeos.

It’s the organic farming capitol of Canada..stunningly beautiful..and the rising wine region everyone is keeping an eye on.

They had to raise funds to keep their community hall ship-shape so it turned into a valley wine tasting and BBQ rib competition.

All the answers to my questions were found at the hall and the lush lawn around it. What fun www.similkameenwine.com

Interviews and tasting notes with…

Sara Harker www.rusticrootswinery.com

Rhys Pender www.wineplus.ca

Tim Cotrell www.robinridgewinery.com

Dale Wright www.eauvivrewinery.ca

Anne Heinecke www.crowsnestvineyards.com

John Weber www.orfinovineyards.com

Tim Pawsey writer www.hiredbelly.com

George Hanson www.sevenstones.ca

Megan Mutch www.cerelia.ca

Kin Brind’Amour www.forbiddenfruitwines.com

Chef Mike Malloy

Chef Mike Hixson

Chef Darin Paterson www.bogners.ca

He’s strikingly handsome and sharply opinionated. He’s Dan O’Toole from TSN.

He wouldn’t return my phone calls so the marketing team behind The Sports Network said..I could get free cable for a month if I asked Jay Onrait to guest.

That’s pretty much why he’s on the show..Yes, his long suffering parents live in Kelowna and yes, he does seem to know his food and wine..and I’ll admit he’s one funny guy..but he’s no O’Toole.

If the interview weren’t so much fun, I’d say we made a mistake booking Jay. You decide!! www.tsn.ca

The Wine Diva returns and she’s brought to you by www.passatemporestaurant.com

Whether you’re gifting wine for Mothers day or pouring it for family, friends and Mom, Daenna Van Mulligen has just the right wines and bubble for you. www.winediva.ca www.winescores.ca

NEXT WEEK

Mark Chisholm - formerly of The Hooded Merganzer. Now Hotel MacDonald Edmonton Gourmet and Grapes..Chefs Ned Bell and Paul Cecconi cook off for Iron Chef Okanagan.

Martin Kronenberg..pours a stunning vertical of Brancaia’s il Blu. One of the best in all of Italy. 13 years of Supertuscan talent.

If its May, it must be time to hit the road..Every Spring my winery neighbours on the Naramata Bench hit the road and pour their new releases for the trade and the public in Vancouver and Victoria.

I get to go along as the Host and Auctioneer.

I took my trusty recorder along and just kept talking..

We finish the show with the Wine Diva talking about her trip to Rhone and her tasting notes on the Naramata wines.

Here we go!!

The SHOW

One of Canada’s leading wine growing regions is the Naramata Bench, outside Penticton just above Okanagan Lake.

It’s at the very tip of the Sonoran Desert so it enjoys big heat and cooling winds. There’s a LOT of great information contained in these two hours..

New releases explained by the winemakers themselves, chefs talking about food pairings with the wines being poured, release dates and
a real sense of why the Naramata Bench is a very special place.

We start in Vancouver at The Bayshore.

Ross Hackworth Nichol Vineyards www.nicholvineyard.com

Alex from Salt Tasting Room www.saltrastingroom.com

Dick Langcaster Black Widow Wines www.blackwidowwinery.com

Rob Van Weston Van Weston Wines www.vanwestenvineyards.com

Ian Sutherland Poplar Grove Wines www.poplargrove.ca

Bob Ferguson Kettle Valley Wines www.kettlevalleywinery.com

Miles from Goldfish www.Goldfishkitchen.com

Jeff Martin La Frenz www.lafrenzwinery.com

Mike Raffan Township 7 www.township7.com

Quentin Kane Norm Davies Naramata Heritage Inn www.naramatainn.com

Dan DeGryp Therapy Vineyards www.therapyvineyards.com

Gramercy Grill www.gramercygrill.ca

In Victoria

Olivia Street Café Brio www.cafe-brio.com

Ike Seaman Wickaninnish Inn www.wickinn.com

Luke Smith Howling Bluff www.howlingbluff.ca

Greg Hays Café Brio

Louise Wilson Peller/Red Rooster www.redroosterwinery.com

Brian Storen Sips/Spinnakers www.spinnakers.com

Chris Jones/Patrick Gaylor Inn at Lauren Point www.laurelpoint.com

The Wine Diva Daenna Van Mulligen has so much infomration to give us she has her first two parter. Daenna is just back from an extended tasting trip through the Rhone and also gives us her impressions of the naramata wines we’ve been talking about. www.winediva.ca www.winescores.ca

NEXT WEEK

Park and George from Memphis Blues BBQ.

Martin Kronenberg from Italy’s Brancaia, a 12 yr vertical with comments from David Scholefield and Sid Cross.

Sean Wood Halifax based wine reporter.

The Banee in Osoyoos.

And for some bizarre reason one of our guests is Jay Onrait from TSN. Plus a BBQ rib competition in Cawston.

And Gourmet and Grape at Cabanna Grille in Kelowna.

Its the 32 Annual Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival. One of the Gold Standards. We set up a complete studio right in the middle of the Thursday Trade Tasting. Over 30 guests from all over the World. All brought to you by The Kambolis Group of Restaurants and Poplar Grove Winery.

The Show

We kick off with David Scholefield, Harry Herscheg and Hollywood favourite and Kiwi Winemaker Actor Sam Neill.

Then comes the feature Regions New Zealand and Argentina. Guests include Peter Yealands who uses plastic bottles, sheep and tons of sustainability to make his landmark wines, Edgardo Del Popolo from Dona Paula, the amazing winemaker /doctor Laura Catena (Catena Zapata), whose Great Grandfather first planted Malbec in Argentina in 1902 and Bill Spence, who along with his brother Ross, made the first commercially produced Sauv Blanc in NZ at Matua.www.donapaula.com.ar www.catenawines.com www.matua.co.nz

Next, our show sponsors..Harry Kambolis, founder and leader of his restaurant group Raincity Grill, C and Nu. His Executive Chef Robert Clark. www.raincitygrill.com www.crestaurant.com www.whatisnu.com

Also Ian Sutherland, winemaker at Poplar Grove on the Naramata Bench!! www.poplargrove.ca

A segment on a feature wine… Rosé. Almost 60 Rosé wines from around the World. DJ Kearney, Randy Ullom (Kendall Jackson) Judith Lane, food and wine writer and Grant Stanley, winemaker at Quails Gate. www.kj.com www.quailsgate.com

Hour Two

We start with one of last years feature regions..British Columbia.
John Simes (Mission Hill) John Schreiner, Writer, Gordon Fitzpatrick (Cedar Creek). www.missionhillwinery.com www.cedarcreek.bc.ca

Then comes The Ladies.

Daenna Van Mulligan, Kate MacMurray (MacMurray Ranch) The House Wine Girls Michelle Bouffard and Michaela Morris and DJ Kearney..all sitting talking about Women in Wine and a ton of other subjects.. This was an absolute Blast!! www.macmurrayranch.com www.winediva.ca www.housewine.ca

Next was California. Legendary wine stars Larry Stone (Coppola and Rubicon) Ted Seghesio, Rene Schlatter(Merryvale and Starmont)and again Kate MacMurray. www.rubiconestate.com www.merryvale.com

and finally..The World.

Paul Hobbs, California winemaker but also consults all around the World. Marc Kent from Boekenhoutskloof in South Africa and George Samios from Wolf Blass. www.boekenhoutskloof.co.za www.wolfblass.com.au

and thats all fffffolks!!

Next Week

The annual Naramata Bench Spring Wine Tour of Vancouver and Victoria..which I was pleased to host. The Banee party in the South Okanagan. And other stuff I’ll remember after a sleep.

Bare Naked Ladies. Russel Peters. A roomfull of California winemakers. Those sneaky Kiwis. It’s a busy show.

The Show

A week to go before our annual Playhouse Wine Festival 2 hour special. Directly from the trade tasting room at Vancouvers new convention centre. Many many special guests.

What the heck are The Bare Naked Ladies doing playing the lobby of the new Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver. That’s my first question for Ed Robertson of BNL. My first question for Kevin Hearn is “how’s your health”?

He’s 11 years free of Cancer. Then the big question - what’s changed and what hasn’t since Stephen Page left the group. And yes we do talk wine and road food and other things.

Like re-upping, proveing themselves, throwing out the rule book.
Sounds like a hockey team. Funny boys, these ladies!!!! www.barenakedladies.com

It’s the annual California Wine Tour of Canada. We talk to:

Ehlers

Paul Dolan

Peachy Canyon

Alexander Valley Vineyards

Truchard

Nichols Wine Cellars

(Keith Nichols has been coming on this tour for 10 years and ages his wine in bottle. He was pouring 2001 Cabs)

Signorello

Tons of great talk and good Information. In most cases we’re talking to the owner or winemaker.

The Wine Diva - Daenna Van Mulligen - reviews the wines of the Rhone. She paints a beautiful picture of her trip through this bountiful and historic wine region. She will join our round table studio next week at Playhouse. www.winediva.ca

A quick visit back to Cornucopia in Whistler for talk about New Zealand wines one of the feature regions at Playhouse. Coleen Wilkinson from NZ Trade fills us in. Also a chat with Kimberly Collins manager and Carlos Lee president of the BC Reisling house Blackwood Lane.

And finally the very funny Russell Peters. On his chef days, wine and his off stage life. There’s a revealing moment on the first time he bombed on stage.

NEXT WEEK

The annual Playhouse Wine Festival in Vancouver 2 hours of roundtable discussion with the stars of the wine world. Presented by the Kambolis Group of Restaurants Nu/Raincity Grill/C and Poplar Grove Wines. Updates coming, enjoy!

Timely update on the Vancouver Playhouse Wine Festival, Mike and Fiona from Urban Rush, Chefs Rob Feenie, Ned Bell and Karl Gregg.

Also the best new family food idea I’ve seen in Years..Munch in Lynn Valley, the out-spoken Jeff Martin from La Frenz and we finish backstage in Kelowna with Barney and Dustin Bentall.

Giddy up!!

THE SHOW

Harry Herscheg, the director of the Vancouver International Playhouse Wine Festival give us a last minute update on this year’s event. He’s travelled to the two feature regions New Zealand and Argentina..plus there’s the rose event he wants to talk about.

Just a reminder..Tasting Room Radio will be right in the middle of their tasting room on Thursday April 22nd..talking to as many participants as possible..brought to you by Poplar Grove Wine and The Kambolis Group of Restaurants!!! That special airs Saturday April 24th.

For 13 years Mike Eckford and Fiona Forbes have been a fixture on Vancouver TV. They currently co-host the daily talk show Urban Rush.

They are kind enough to have me guest and co-host from time to time..lately it’s been a wine feature..as many as I can fit into 10 minutes..And they know their wine as well. Both like Big Reds..Because their Shaw Studios are right across from the new Convention Centre, it also meant they were right beside the Olympic Flame!! It’s a fun 10 minute romp with Mike and Fi!! Urban Rush

Rob Feenie is flat out a star..

He was the team leader at Feenies and Lumierre in Vancouver. Then all hell broke loose and he was gone..and in a surprising move became the food leader at Cactus Club restaurants. www.cactusclubcafe.com/rob_feenie

That’s been a big success.

He was also the BC Rep at this year’s Canadian Culinary Championships..the Gold Medal Plates Competition.

We talk about Gold Medal Plates, His effect on Cactus Club and he fills us in on the new Cactus Club coming to the beach at English Bay. Ned Bell and Rob Feenie have known each other and worked together off and on for many years.

His Cabana Grille in Kelowna is a wonderful food destination in the Okanagan. Ned fills us in on what Cabana is up to (its always more of a struggle for restaurants during the Winter when the tourists depart). www.cabanagrille.com

He’s a busy guy..lots to talk about. His new baby boy can be heard in the background in his first radio appearance.

Like Father. Like Son.

HOUR TWO

Karl Gregg has been on this show before.. He and his partner Allan Bosomworth opened 2 Chefs and a Table one of the very first top end restaurants in Vancouvers notorious East End..at the corner of Gore and Alexander just off Gastown. A brave move by any business.

They have a great room..beautiful open kitchen..almost like a stage.
The building used to be the diner that visiting sailors from the docks would get breakfast and coffee in.

Karl and I talk about the new southern menu they’ll start next Wednesday..their new butchers shop they intend to open in several months in the same area and how this area has come back from a dark dark period. www.twochefsandatable.com

Rachel and Ross Dempster have opened one of the best new food concepts I’ve ever had the pleasure of discovering. It’s called Munch and it’s in Lynn Valley Village on the North Shore.

It’s a combination kids play area and really good restaurant..

Yes you can bring the kids..but for parents there’s a full menu, a wine and beer list, great coffee and tea and the comfort of knowing they can relax and have a breakfast, lunch or dinner and still watch over their kids.

You cannot believe how great an idea this is..How many of us have not gone out because our kids wouldn’t be comfortable or sit still while the parental units had a meal and glass of wine.

And who can blame them..These kids get their own menu…and all food is local, as organic as possible and not a fryer to be seen.
Check out MUNCH.. www.munchmunch.ca

Two former guests make a comeback to TRR..The most outspoken winemaker in the Okanagan, Jeff Martin of La Frenz.www.lafrenzwinery.com

One of the consistently best wines in Canada is La Frenz, on the Naramata Bench..whether it’s a big red or their Pinot Noir or a smashing chard..Jeff and Niva Martin really know what they’re doing.

This is an interview from a year ago but the wine judging issues he gets emotional about and to why they came back from Australia are still talking points..Really like Jeff, hope you do too!!

And finally, From over a year ago..Canadian rock icon Barney Bentall and his son Dustin passed through Kelowna during a Western tour..

Dusty’s career is on the rise and people have always had an ear and a heart for Barney. We’re talking backstage wine and road food..

Enjoy!

On the road gang..this will be shorter and quicker.

Its Easter Long Weekend.. Extra time to partake of the good life. Count your Blessings. Here’s a TTR to add to the weekend of friends and family.

The Wine Diva checks in from Burgundy. We visit the guys running dbBistro (formerly Feenies) on West Broadway in Vancouver.
Our annual visit to our Naramata Bench neighbours. at Laughing Stock. and then an Hour talking about Napa wines..with the people who make them. Why and hour? Cause we’re crazy about Cali Juice.

Hour One

Daenna Van Mulligen phones in from Burgundy where she’s on a wine press tour of the various regions. She’s spilling out information of where to visit, the people and places of this legendary wine kingdom. Make notes if you ever intend/dream to visit someday.

db Bistro Moderne on West Broadway in Vancouver, BC, is one of Canada’s fine culinary destinations. It was once Feenies..named after Rob Feenie, who left in a highly publicized departure. (The Feenster will be on next weeks show). World famous chef Daniel Boulud is the db behind the name.

Joining me in the tasting room are Wine Master Kevin Hullenbush,
GM Chris Gonzalez and Exec Chef Stephane Istel.

We have a ball running down the menu, the wine pairings and the night the Canadian Olympic Men’s Hockey Team walked in..with their support staff and took over the Bistro. Its a two part feature interview..The wine featured in our evening visit was Cassini Cellars in Oliver. www.dbbistro.ca

One of the first winery visits I made in year one of TTR was to Laughing Stock on the Naramata Bench. I was made welcome by owners and winemakers Cynthia and David Enns. They have made me welcome a number of times since then..at least one a year for three years now.

Their winery started the same time as this show, so we’re linked somehow. This time we focus in on their new wines coming this year
Shiraz and Viognier. Here’s a heads up..the Shiraz is big.black and Grand..The white’s no slouch either. Their flagship of course is the Bordeaux blend Portfolio.

Also David is the President of the Naramata Bench Winery Assn..so we talk about the 7th annual Spring Wine Release tour which is coming through Vancouver April 12th and Victoria April 14th. All the info can be found at www.laughingstock.ca or www.naramatabench.com

It will be my distinct pleasure to MC and Host both road show evenings.

HOUR TWO

Last November the Napa Wine Tour rolled through Canada and ended in Vancouver.

I sent one glorious hour walking through the room and talking to the
winemakers and owners who were present..asking as many questions as they could answer between pours. We Canadians love our California Wine..let’s celebrate!!

Here’s the line-up:

Barr Smith - Barlow www.barlowvineyards.com

Leslie Russell - St Supery www.stsupery.com

Karen Cakebread - Ziata www.ziatawines.com

Jerry Comfort - Beringer www.beringer.com

David Landis - Pahlmeyer www.pahlmeyer.com

Jack Edwards - Miner www.minerwines.com

Chris Howell - Cain www.cainfive.com

Phillip Ross - Diamond Creek www.diamondcreekvineyards.com

Ray Signorello - Signorello www.signorellovineyards.com

Larry Stone - Rubicon www.rubiconestate.com

Michelle Oltman - Laird www.lairdfamilyestate.com

Next week

Chef Rob Feenie

Chef Ned Bell

The Spring edition of the California Wine Tour

Fiona and Michael Hosts of Urban Rush

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Rick Hansen celebrates his 25th anniversary of the Man in Motion World Tour. Premier Gordon Campbell has kind words for the Canadian Icon.

A great story about a Stone Soup Chef competition at Kelowna’s Gospel Mission.

Daenna Van Mulligen, The Wine Diva checks in.

The original Guest on this show..actor, director and dad Jason Priestley.

We visit Local, the great new lounge/bistro on the water in Summerland. (their chef won the Stone Soup event).

Mike and Hilary Powell run FlavourofSpain.net Find out how to find them in Spain..and what food and wine you might want to train with here.

And finally and fittingly, Saturday is Earth Hour 830 Pacific. We talk to Harry Kambolis, owner of C, Nu and RainCity Grill about how they’re going to turn off their lights and kitchen and still serve their guests..Harry also fills us in on his site Ethical Luxury.

The RUNDOWN

Everyone knows about Rick Hansen. His round the World Man in Motion Tour that lasted 2 years. 2 months. 2 days..it started march 21st 1985, so this March 21st was 25 years.

I was lucky enough to be on the radio in Vancouver then. Rick phoned me and said “I have a dream. I need your help”.

Well, we all pitched in. Some more than others but we all did what we could. Now, of course, there’s a Rick Hansen Foundation and Institute, which is where several hundred of his friends and supporters gathered last weekend, ironically on the closing day of the Paralympic Games!!

We talk to Rick Hansen and Premier Gordon Campbell, who was the Mayor of Vancouver at the time. The dream is not over..its just begun. www.rickhansen.com

What a great story this is. Kelowna’s Gospel Mission feeds 100’s of people each week. People who are just making ends meet and find hot soup always available on Leon Street.

These are people between jobs, recovering from various ailments and bouts of just plain bad luck.

The Missions walk in food cooler is on its last legs..so they decided to raise some money to buy a new one..($40,000) and hold a Stone Soup Competition.

They invited 8 of the best chefs In the region to bring their talents into their kitchen. All food at the Mission is donated overnight by restaurants and growers etc, so each chef walked into the cooler at 9am and had to decide what to make in his 3 hours with whatever was there.

I was there during the semi-final between Chef Bernard Cassavant from Manteo and Chef Jessie Croy from Summerhill Winery.

I was judging along with Jamie Maw and others.

Also included is a talk with Eric Frans from the Mission who created the event and several of the Missions own chef staff.

Its such a great story we’ve given it two segments..
www.kelownagospelmission.ca

The Wine Diva Daenna Van Mulligen checks in on the latest wines you may want to try..Just a heads up..next week she’ll be on the phone from Burgundy as she’s in the middle of a huge wine tour.

It’s the things Diva’s do with their day job.. www.winediva.ca

Hour TWO

Jason Priestley..that pretty much says it all. Actor, Director, Dad.
He’s been a busy guys lately..winter Olympics for NBC, co-hosting The Today Show, finishing a series for HBO Canada in Wolfville Nova Scotia and now back in LA.

We find him in his car on a freeway somewhere..yes he’s handsfree.
We talk wine and food but also Canada’s Gold Medal Win..and what he was doing during that amazing three hours.. www.officialjasonpriestley.com

There are two stories in one here.

We head for Summerland and the old Cove Restaurant on the water.
Its been completely re-done into a dynamite new restaurant and lounge called LOCAL..

Leading the team and living their dreams are Cameron and Christa-Lee Bond. It’s a success right out of the box and given the people involved..why wouldn’t it be.

Christa-Lee’s Father Harry McWatters is involved as well.

Here’s the other part of the story. The LOCAL Executive chef is Paul Cecconi..the winner of the Stone Chef Competition. How’s that for opening with a bang?? www.thelocalgroup.ca

Mike and Hilary Powell have a business called Flavour of Spain.

Art, Creativity, Spanish Food, Culture and History, these are the ingredients they bring together in all of their arts and culinary workshop vacations which take place at El Molino, a beautifully restored old mill, situated in a valley of olive groves near white villages in Andalucía, Southern Spain, midway between Granada and Malaga.

While Mike cooks a regional dish..which was inhaled…we talk about Spain and how romantic it is and what a glorious food and wine destination it is..They should know, they ran a restaurant there for many years.

All the information you need to think about a trip with them is contained in this segment.. Check them out at www.flavourofspain.net

And finally Harry Kambolis oversees three very successful restaurants in Vancouver. C, Raincity Grill and Nu. Today is the moment around the World for EARTH HOUR..830 Pacific Saturday.

Harry tells us about what they’ll be doing in their kitchens on Saturday because they’ll shut down lights and kitchens but keep serving a special menu..

Harry also has a great new website called Ethical Luxury and we’ll define what that is. Quite a guy!!! www.ethicalluxury.ca
www.kambolis.com

NEXT WEEK

A visit to dbBistro – the former Feenies.

Cynthia and David Enns of Laughing Stock talk about their new wines for this year and the Naramata Bench Road Show.

The Wine Diva checks in from Burgundy.

What’s a Mollydooker and how can I get some to drink?

Didn’t plan it this way but this show turned out to be a food lovers delight. Chefs Wayne Martin from Crave on Main, Alain Raye from La Regelade West Van. Evaleen Jaager Roy author of Four Chefs. One Garden.

A two part special on the three guys who run Chambar, Café Medina and the Dirty Apron Cooking School. All on Beatty St Vancouver.

Plus The Duke of Food, The Prince of Pepper and the Sultan of Salt, Andrew Morrison of ScoutMagazine.ca. And we wouldn’t be complete with a visit to the Wine Diva, Daenna Van Mulligen.

Enjoy!!!

(A reminder, that if you’d like to receive all this info mid-week, just leave us your email in the box provided on the right..thanks)

The SHOW

Andrew Morrison is a food leader. His on line Scout Magazine is a great read and I can guarantee that everyone in the business reads along to find out if he’s talking about them. We met at Cin-Cinin Vancouver, had a quick bite, compared notes and then stepped onto the balcony overlooking a very busy Robson Street to talk about the Winter Olympics and the latest news from the food and wine world. www.scoutmagazine.ca

Everybody’s talking about Chambar, Café Medina and The Dirty Apron Cooking School on Beatty St in Vancouver. They are all a great success and it’s easy to see why.

Top of the line food, a great vibe from the staff and the rooms and a new direction in dining. Lead by one of Belgium’s best chefs Nico Schuermans, Chambar draws rave reviews from food critics and paying customers.

Right next door is Café Medina. Long, narrow and deep in size its fairly bubbles with energy and room talk. Open for breakfast and lunch only, Medina offers up incredible food that’s alive with passion for the kitchen. Robbie Kane from Medina sits in and represents.

And just down the street is The Dirty Apron Cooking School. Its leader is David Robinson, former Chambar Sous-chef. He and his staff lead hands on and demonstration classes. The place is packed and David has some surprising stats about the ratio of men to women.

It’s a two-parter. www.dirtyapron.com www.medinacafe.comwww.chambar.com

There’s another Belgian restaurant in town. The District. A Social Establishment ..it’s in the LoLo district of North Vancouver..that’s right at the bottom of Lower Lonsdale. (Thus LoLo)

The owner is Paul Mon-Lau and he’s done a masterfull job taking a very old building and making it into a restaurant that you can’t help but notice, wether youre driving or walking by.

Paul fills us in on the explosion of construction and foot traffic that’s happened literally overnight. I grew up in North Van and lower Lonsdale was not a place you hung around in. Man, have things changed.

Heres a restaurant you want to at least check out. Great food, beer, cheese and a wine list that’s ALL BC Wines. www.thedistrictsocial.com

HOUR TWO

The Wine Diva and I have a special phone relationship. I call. She answers. I finally wrangled an invitation to visit her at the Diva Palace in Vancouver.

Once I got over the sight of her two hairless cats and they got over me smelling like a barn, we sat down and did what we always do, talk about the latest wine she’s tasted and compare notes.

Daenna also filled us in on what wines were being poured during the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Without a doubt, one of my all time favourite restaurants is La Regalade in West Vancouver. Very popular, it’s been a smash ever since it opened not too many years ago.

My wife Meg and I have spent many New Years Eves there with our pals The Dixons. It took us several visits to figure out how to order from the menu simply because there was always too much food.

I finally get to sit down and chat with the owners Chef Alain Raye and his wonderful wife Brigitte. (which left their son Steeve to man the kitchen. Thanks Steeve) www.laregalade.com

Wayne Martin is a really fine chef.

After years at The Four Seasons he opened Crave on Main and then Crave west Vancouver and Fraiche west Van.

He’s now come full circle and left his west Vancouver rooms to his partners and is back where he started Crave on Main.

Not the funky end of main near Broadway..or the trendy end of Main near all the antique stores.

All the way up to the 3900 block, where there was almost no cool dining to be had. The room is casual, friendly and very romantic.

However, since he’s opened Crave on Main, its been a success and its encouraged others to build and open there.

Lots to talk about with Wayne Martin..a great guy. (ps..check out the very cool patio in back..) www.craverestaurants.com

and finally…

There’s a new book out there that’s perfect for you if youre a foodie or a gardner. Its Evaleen Jaager Roy’s Four Chefs. One Garden.

The four chefs are Vikram Vij, Hidezaku Tojo, Umberto Menghi and Michel Jacob!! and there are great gardening tips from Brian Minter etc.

Here’s a cup of coffee and an interview with the author..

THIS was fun.

NEXT WEEK

A visit to the former Feenies – the new dbBistro Moderne.

There’s a new food and wine destination in the Okanagan, Summerland to be exact.

We drop in on Local. Lounge and Grille with Christa-Lee and Cameron Bond..plus chef Paul Cecconi (who is a finalist in the Stone Chef Competition..)

And a really fine story..Food Guru Jamie Maw helped to organize the first annual Stone Soup Competition at Kelowna’s Gospel Mission. 8 of the best chefs pair up to find the best ingredients in the very old walk in cool storage and then make soup for the Mission and judging in 3 hours.

The finalist was decided during our time there.. Battling chefs were Bernard Cassavant from Manteo and Jessie Croy from Summerhill.

The best pure story I’ve covered in 3 years.

And my good friend Jason Priestley joins me on the show as well!!

This week we spend an hour in Yosemite National Park at the longest continuous running wine festival in the USA..and track down the elusive winemaker Bill Dyer. The second hour we spend in Kelowna, re-connecting with Tantalus, Cedar Creek, Raudz and Howard Soon at the Winery of the Year!!

THE SHOW

Two memorable journeys for you this week.

First to Yosemite National Park..four hours East of San Francisco…the home of El Capitan and the Half Dome not to mention some of the most famous landmarks in the world!! It’s also the home for the 28th Annual Ahwahnee Vintners Holiday, a chance for a select few to meet their favourite Napa winemakers, taste verticals of their wines and exchange thoughts on the world of wine.

The Ahwahnee was built in 1927 and has served as a destination for millions of tourists. Remember the resort Jack Nicholson terrorized in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining? Some of the interiors of the hotel they built for the movie were directly copied from the Ahwahnee!! So, it’s in that timeless setting that we leaned on the grand piano and talked to the following winemakers:

Ron McNeill, VP Winemaking at Mumm Napa have released a bubbly co-created by none other than Carlos Santana

George Bursick, VP Winemaking at J Vineyards

Tom Rinaldi, Director of Winemaking at Provenance Vineyards

Ed Sbragia, Owner/Winemaker at Sbragia Family Vineyards

Plus interviews with Moderator Evan Goldstein – Master Sommelier. And the legendary Stu Good, who’s been at the Ahwahnee for over 40 years and has overseen the Vintners Holiday tasting for all 28 years.

We finish our trip to California by searching for and finding Bill Dyer, the winemaker who had a profound effect on the growth of winemaking in the Okanagan by establishing Burrowing Owl as one of its leaders. He’s now the wine consultant for Church and State, working alongside winemaker Jeff Del Nin their Coyote Bowl Syrah was judged to be the best red wine of the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival, tied with Jackson-Triggs Shiraz.

Hour Two

A single afternoon blitz through Kelowna, BC.

Starting with a long over-due visit to what’s left of Tantalus. They’ve taken down the old winery and are building a spectacular new building, so the interview takes place in a construction trailer. The carnage takes away nothing from the recent accomplishments by the winery.

Jancis Robinson’s quote about their Riesling, “Truly outstanding. Very pure, fine Riesling aromas. Great spread of tight but not austere character across the palate. Great balance and length. This one should run and run.”

Plus rave reviews from Vines Magazine, Northwest Palate, Beppi Crosariol and U Tubes Gary Vaynerchuk have all helped to make a lot of people sit up and take notice.

We talk to GM Jane Hatch and new winemaker David Paterson. www.tantalus.ca

We re-connect with one of the first guests ever on this show Winemaker and standup comedian Howard Soon. His “project”, Sandhill Wines has just been named Winery of the Year by the Canadian Wine Awards. Howard’s Sandhill wines won a total of 21 medals, including White Wine of the Year (Sandhill Small Lots 2007 Viognier) and Red Wine of the Year (Sandhill Small Lots 2007 Syrah). All of the wines he oversees won a total of 42 medals, now that’s making a statement. It’s something he’s been doing now for 25 years, it’s just that some people weren’t listening. They are now.

Then a long overdue visit to Cedar Creek Winery. Yes, we’ve seen them at various tasting but it was time to sit down with winemaker Tom DiBello and president Gordon Fitzpatrick. There’s lots of history behind the winery, lots of awards but I wanted to get to know the guys better. Know the makers, know the wines!! There’s lots of great info here, plus more than a few laughs. www.cedarcreek.bc.ca

And finally we finish the show exactly where we should – at a back table of Raudz in Kelowna, beer in hand, having a conversation with Executive Chef and star blogger Rod Butters!! Lots to talk about. New menu, influences, the gift of being a chef surrounded by the bounty of food and wine growers, and all about the fourth installment of his new blog…featuring - ta dah Howard Soon.

Enjoy TDM!

Wayne Gretzky, comedian Sean Cullen, a busload of Belgians are taking over Beatty street in Vancouver.

Shambar, Café Medina and Dirty Apron Cooking School.

Then its off to Victoria..Guests include Iron Chef/Thirsty Traveler Kevin Brauch, competing Chefs Ito from the Empress Hotel and Matt Batey from Mission Hill.

John Simes, winemaker at Mission Hill and the greatest little fish shack on Vancouver island as featured on NBC ..Red Fish Blue Fish.

THE SHOW

As you all know, The 2010 Olympic Winter Games just wrapped up in Vancouver and Whistler.

We take the microphone back into the very centre of the party..The Molson Hockey Centre.

Who do we find? Craig McDonald, The winemaker from Wayne Gretzky Wines and then the man himself Wayne Gretzky!! www.gretzky.com/wine

They were pouring their new wines but all anyone wanted to talk about was – HOCKEY.

Number 99 is in the Tasting Room.

Every Molson Beer Hall needs a Ringmaster..and the 2010 set-up demanded a seasoned pro – thus we find in a corner Sean Cullen.

I first met Sean as a member of Corky and the Juice Pigs, a brilliant improve trio. They were busking in Vancouver, trying to get people to their show at the Commodore..much like when Circus’ parade the sideshow “characters” down the main drag.

Sean is one funny man..but he’s also growing as an actor (The Producers/ Shaw Festival) He knows his wines too. Have a laugh with Sean.

I spent a number of years on Beatty Street shooting Much Music West..On the ground floor was a pool hall but not any longer.

There are three very successful restaurants down there..

Shambar, Café Medina and the Dirty Apron Cooking School.

All are the brainchild of owner/chef Nico Schuermans and his wife Karri. The concept of fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere has been wildly successful. www.chambar.com

Right next door is Café Medina, voted the best brunch in Vancouver.

Perfect for breakfast or lunch..it could easily be downtown Paris, London or New York. www.medinacafe.com and next door to Medina is The Dirty Apron Cooking School and store.

Classes have been swamped ever since they opened the doors. You’ll be surprised to know who’s signing up for classes. www.dirtyapron.com

A two part interview with Nico Schuermans, David Robertson and Robbie Kane!!

Hour Two

Off to Victoria and The Empress Hotel. www.fairmont.com/empress Mission Hill Estate wines along with the hotel organized a food and wine competition between The hotel’s executive chef Takashi Ito and Matt Batey from Mission Hill Estate.

We start in The Bengal Lounge with the Thirsty Traveler himself Kevin Brauch, from Iron Chef America. He gives us the rundown on what is about to happen.

Then Chefs Ito and Batey in mid-prep..

Then it’s the man himself, head Winemaker at Mission Hill Family Estates John Simes. www.missionhillwinery.com

Keep in mind, he’s running The Canadian Winery of the Year, not bad for a transplanted Kiwi.

Then its two blocks down from the hotel for a visit with Sebastian Lucero and Lesley Brown from Artisan Wine Shop. www.artisanwineshop.ca

For many visitors to Victoria, this is their one contact with the BC wine industry.

And finally its down to the docks at the foot of Broughton and the best little fish shack on the island Red Fish Blue Fish..yes, that’s the one featured on NBCs morning show last week.

The New Yorkers loved the food so much, they stood in line so long they missed their float plane flight back to Vancouver and then came back later to do a story on them.

Kunal Ghose and Simon Sobolewski take 10 minutes and explain why this great little kitchen on the docks is so popular.
www.redfish-bluefish.com

Next Week

Alain and Brigitte Raye from the incredible La Regalade in West Vancouver.

It’s a two parter.

The first two segments are about two of the surprise wineries named in the Olympic booklet from The Vancouver Sun/Province.

That’s the one that said The Games are 17 days long and here’s a list of 17 wines to try. Who are these lucky people?

George Hanson from Seven Stones and Bradley Cooper from Black Cloud. Then its off to The Niagara Ice Wine and Winter Wine Festival. We did so many interviews we had 6 segments left to run..These are they!!

THE SHOW

George and Viviane Hanson run the well oiled machine known as Seven Stones Winery. www.sevenstones.ca

Named after seven outstanding rocks in the Similkameen!!

Located on Highway 3 between Osoyoos and Keromeos (Cawston is closest) Seven Stones is the home of big blends, Big reds and award winning whites.

The Hansons are growers, delivering enough fruit off their acres to make their wines and supply others in the Okanagan.

But they’re also winemakers and serious self-promoters. (and there’s nothing wrong with that).

The second winery I visited is Township 7, right around the corner. www.township7.com

That’s because the winemaker Bradley Cooper was given a chance to become owners of a bunch of Pinot Noir when the winemaker he was consulting went under.

His wife gave the wines a name when she said referred to the boxes sitting in the driveway as a “Black Cloud”.

This Pinot is big, rich and pitch black.

Then its off to Niagara for their annual Ice Wine Festival, which is actually now featuring ALL the wines they make in Ontario.

Feature interviews include:

Paul Bosc – Chateau de Charmes www.chateaudescharmes.com

Mathew Speck – Henry of Pelham and Sibling Rivalry and Dr Mark Phillip Bradshaw..winemaker at Pillitteri. Funny Guy www.henryofpelham.com www.siblingrivalrywine.ca

Ann Sperling – Winemaker at Southbrooke. Leeds Gold Certified. www.southbrook.com

She has such a strong tale to tell and a voice to match.

Pleased to be going against the “flow”, her wines are clearly above the norm.

And finally…

Perry Johnson is, along with his wife Heidi, the owner of the hottest restaurant in Niagara, Stone Road Grille. It took three trips but I finally found him serving killer food at the announcement of the Canadian Jazz Hall of Fame in Niagara-on-the-lake. www.stoneroadgrille.com We also talk to Janice Thompson the Ex Director of the Chamber of Commerce.

Enjoy TDM!

On the road and visiting three of the best wineries in the Okanagan Valley. Meyer Family Vineyards, Osoyoos LaRose and Bill Eggert’s Fairview Cellars.

The Wine Diva talks about their wines and gives us her take on Vancouver during the Olympics and finally one of only three Master Sommeliers in Canada, James Cluer checks in.

THE SHOW

Its always been my wish to get in the car and drive down Highway 97 in the Okanagan, visiting favourite winemakers and labels along the way. And of course, take you along with me.

We start with Meyer Family Vineyards in Okanagan Falls. Owner Jak Meyer and Winemaker Chris Carson walk us through their outstanding Micro Cuvee Chardonnay, their Tribute Chard (this year dedicated to Steve Yzerman).

We also give you the goods on their about-to-be-released McLean Creek and Central Okanagan Pinot Noirs.

Winemaker Chris spent 8 years making wine in New Zealand and the great Chardonnay region of Montrachet. These wines are going to be snapped up..we give you all the information necessary to get to the front of the line. This is a two part chatfest!! www.MFVwines.com

Jumping into the car, we head south but only as far as Oliver..because just south of town lives The Legend..Winemaker, Grower, Educator and Troublemaker Bill Eggert.

He’s not really a trouble maker but he does speak his mind and he has lots of opinions. Bill will admit he’s a grower first and foremost but there’s no slack in his winemaking.

He’s also been a teacher in the local college and those growers he taught have gone on to become growers and winemakers all over BC.
But he does have his secrets and one them is making killer wines and blends. The names say it all: The Bear…Madcap Red…Two Hoots…His Cab and Cab blends are keepers for cellars…His Cab Franc is prime stuff…See if his Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon isn’t the juice of tall tales.

We find Bill playing his old piano in the small log cabin he calls his tasting Room. All the rest of this two parter is pure fun!
www.fairviewcellars.ca

HOUR TWO

Pascal Madevon is a true Winemaker. He was working in Bordeaux several years ago, making great wines when he was approached by two giants of the winemaking World, Vincor and Groupe Taillan from France.

Their plan was to have him make great wines in BC’s Okanagan Valley. After he looked it up on a map and then checked out the Terrior..he went to his wife and said “shall we go?”

Yes was the answer and we are all better for her decision. Two fine wines come from his small part of the Jackson-Triggs complex in the South Okanagan. Oyosoos LaRose – Le Grand Vin and Pétales d’Osoyoos.

Here’s a two part interview with one of the best in the business..Pascal Madevon.

Daenna Van Mulligen is The Wine Diva.

This week she gives us a report on how Vancouver is coping with the Olympic Games..plus she reflects on the three wineries we visit this week.. It’s a short report because she had events to attend and parties to crash. www.winediva.ca

And finally..

There are only three Master of Wines in Canada, James Cluer is one of them. He teaches, consults and moves through the World of Wine with class and distinction. He consulted on the first wines for the Meyer Family..

We cover a lot of ground here..there not much he doesn’t know about. “welcome James”. www.finevintageltd.com

Enjoy TDM