HOUR ONE
Jason Priestley and I co-host a weekly wine TV series called Hollywood and Vines (www.hollywoodandvinestv.com) that’s scheduled to air on Super Channel in Canada starting early in 2009. We have visited Nova Scotia, Niagara, the Okanagan and now Italy and Spain where we started our journey in the gorgeous Plaza Republica in Florence., with church bells ringing in the air. Also included is a quick primer on our first winery Castello di Gabbiano from Angela Lyons their Canadian contact.

In front of a castle built in 1142, with a view of Chianti unmatched anywhere, we talk with Ivano Riali, the man behind Gabbiano, one of the world’s great Chianti labels. Also a walk up a very long gravel road in the fading light with Dustin Dockendorf who describes himself as a “Hunter & Gatherer,” of wines,basically. He’s there representing Earls, Salt Lik and Joey’s restaurants.

Now south through the Chianti region to Brancaia, just North of Siena, run by owner/winemaker Barbara Kronenberg. She’s smart, she’s Swiss and she’s a woman in Chianti surrounded by a male dominated wine business. Her wine is considered by many as one of the best Italian releases anywhere.

Hour one finishes with a food segment. A phone visit to La Terrazza one of the most beautiful restaurants in Vancouver, BC, and the possessor of an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator and a 22 rating from Zagat. They are presenting an evening with Mario Bolag from Terr Al Sole. Gennaro Torio, Chef/Partner, and Giulio Miceli, Sommelier/Partner, take us through the menu and for your personal information tell us how to order Italian food and wine anywhere in the world and know you’re getting the best deal.

HOUR TWO
Off to Spain, hooking up in Madrid with Javier Arauz and Wendy Vallaster from The New Spain Wine Club, www.newspainwines.com. They take us through the wine region North of Madrid Aranda de Duero and along the way give you and I a great primer on Spanish wines.

Javier & Wendy, Part Two, at Bodegas Conde in Aranda de Duero. The maker of Neo, world class reds. The kind Robert Parker raves about. www.bodegasconde.com

Daenna Van Mulligan, www.winediva.ca , reviews Vega Sicilia, the pinnacle of Spanish wines and also gives us the info we need on some BC wines: 8th Generation, Laughing Stock and Road 13.

Finally we talk with Javier Ajenjo from Neo in Spain. Winemaker, owner, singer/songwriter, and the voice and face of the new Spanish wine industry.

Next Week…
Another visit from the artists at JOIE, Michael Dinn and Heidi Noble. What a year they’ve had. We’ll get all caught up.

Spirit of the West, Celtic/Punk/Roots band celebrate 25 years in the music business and get a Hall of Fame Award from yours truly. In return, I force them to talk about food and wine.

Vikran Vig returns for a visit. We talk about his use of crickets in his very popular restaurants and his attendance at Cookstock in Ontario.

Wine Diva Daenna Van Mulligen takes us through Chile. Cono Sur and winemakers Adolpho Hurtado, Vina Montes and Aurelio Montes.

And one of the world’s great Chefs and restaurant owner Daniel Boulud.

Georg Riedel, designer and leader of the Riedel glassware family.

Two events take centre stage Gold Metal Plates in Vancouver and the Adoptive Families event at the top of Grouse Mountain overlooking Vancouver. We talk to the chefs, winemakers and sommeliers making the nights happen.

There’s more but I HAVE to run…please keep checking the website