BC Food and Wine Radio BC Food and Wine Radio

This week's show from Summerland's Bottleneck Drive is supported by Buy BC’s partnership program. We're speaking with wine, cider, spirits and beer makers, organized by their location in Summerland, whether its on the Bottle Neck Drive's convenient North, East or West routes. Through it all you'll hear about upcoming events and a passport contest, and Sally Pierce, the Executive Director for Visit Summerland, drops by to talk about the other attractions in the town to complete your visit to the area.

This week, we're broadcasting from just north of the town of Oliver at District Wine Village, which appears to be flourishing since opening during the pandemic. Matt Kenyon, the developer behind the village, and Mike Daley, its Director of Operations, join us with updates, including a new store and their summer concert schedule; then we speak with people behind some of the micro-wineries on-site, Josie Tyabji, Co-Owner and new winemaker, Scott Robinson for Gneiss Wines;  Brett Thiessen, Manager of Foolish Wine, a new venture for those familiar with Yellow Dog and Neighbourhood Brewing, and Sarah Isaksen, Sales & Hospitality Manager and Matt Kenyon  Co-Founder of Canter Cellars. Ian Stilborn, Executive Chef for Ward's Wine Country Kitchen, explains how they work with the wineries in addition to being a full service restaurant on-site.

We're in the Okanagan Falls this week, enjoying the view of McIntyre Bluff from Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery. Visit Penticton's Paige Schulz kicks off the show listing some of the great events taking place in the region this season; Benoit Gauthier, Director of Viticulture & Winemaking for Noble Ridge shares a Blanc de Blanc that Anthony calls elegant; Ross Baker, winemaker for La Frenz Winery talks about their story on the Naramata Bench; Chistine Coletta and Ellen Walker-Mathews, Board Members for the BC VQA Wine Info Centre in Penticton, highlighting how features 150 wineries and 900 wines and wine related gifts; John Weber speaks on behalf of the Similkameen Independent Winegrowers and the charms of that valley and its growing accommodation and gourmet food offerings.

This week we're broadcasting from Painted Rock Estate Winery on the Skaha Bench. Listen for simple and honest updates on that bench and the Naramata Bench from our seasoned winegrower guests, and, most importantly, their solutions on how to move forward. We begin with John Skinner, co-owner of Painted Rock, who brings a 2017 Chardonnay and a 2011 Icon, both showing off the ageing potential of the region's wines; Tony Holler, co-owner of Poplar Grove Estate Winery reveals their first vintage of Pinot Noir and brings their latest rosé; Richard Da Silva, co-owner of Da Silva Vineyards and Winery, showcases their new 3-litre boxes of their popular Vinho Tinto and Vinho Branco, and discusses just how much people love the alternative packaging for portability and ease of use.

This week we are broadcasting from under the beautiful Pro Terra et Natura sculpture at Phantom Creek Estates, speaking with General Manager and Winemaker Mark Beringer; in a special appearance, consulting winemaker Olivier Humbrecht talks with Anthony about organic and biodynamic growing, his winemaking techniques and which grapes he and Mark Beringer are betting on for the Okanagan; Chef Alessa Valdez shares her excitement around the new season and her new menu and Tess Patterson, Phantom's Wine Club Manager lists the special access members have to exclusive spaces within the winery and most importantly, their library of wines.

We're broadcasting from the shores of Osoyoos Lake again this week, at the Watermark Beach Hotel; General Manager David McBean shoots the breeze with Anthony on their patio and sets the scene for what guests can expect this summer; Levi Gogolinkski the Director of Marketing for Montelvino, highlights the unique attributes of their Uppercase Winery in Okanagan Falls and the newer High Note Estate Winery on the Naramata Bench; Meyer Family Vineyard winemaker Chris Carson shares two of their popular chardonnays as he and Anthony discuss how the variety is flourishing in BC; Michael Kullman, GM and winemaker for Osoyoos Larose, shares an older vintage from their estate on the westside of valley; and we hear from Greg Borduzak, an Agri-Commercial Banking Advisor for Valley First Credit Union and John Olson, a Senior Director for Farm Credit Canada, on the challenges facing the BC wine industry.