A gathering of the Pinot Noir Family, hosted by Quails Gate; writer Juliana Hayes talks The Okanagan; Dan Zipponi exits Mission Hill; The Diva does Pinot; and TDM does Dallas; and oh one other guest…Wolf Blass himself visits The Tasting Room.

Hour One

We start with a 2 part interview with the participants taking part in Quails Gate’s New World Legends, a collection of some of the best New World Pinot Noir producers showcasing their styles with The Heartbreak Grape. Clive Paton (Ata Rangi), Kathy Joseph (Fiddlehead), Ken Wright (Ken Wright Cellars) and Quails Gates own, Grant Stanley. Also questing are John Schreiner, Tony Gismondi, Bruce Stephen and David Scholfield. www.quailsgate.com

The Wine Diva Daenna Van Mulligen reviews the wines from the Pinot Tasting and others. Very informative!! www.winediva.ca

Dan Zipponi has been the President of Mission Hills Family Estate for the past 2 years and under his leadership the winery has shown wonderful growth and released its best wines yet, however Dan’s heading back to Napa from whence he came. Today we find out why he’s leaving one of the premier wineries in Canada.

www.missionhillwinery.com

Hour Two

Starts with a 2 part interview with the legendary Oz winemaker, Wolf Blass and his beginnings in East Germany and his building of Wolf Blass Wines. Charming, funny and informed, quite a guy.

www.wolfblass.com.au

Wine writer Juliana Hayes, lives and works in Kelowna, BC. As a result, she’s as informed about all things Okanagan, more than many of her peers. We cover a lot of ground in this segment, including the future of BC wines.

And finally we head south to Dallas, Texas to talk to Sommelier Hayley Hamilton and Star Chef Andrew Ormsby. We’re asking the question, “What kind of a food and wine town is Dallas? Then we get into our version of a food fight.

Enjoy!!