BC Food and Wine Radio

This week on the show, Mike Dowell, owner of Liber Estates, joins us to talk about the 2026 harvest and how things look in his vineyards. Fresh off picking grapes, Mike presents us with (add 2 wines). We go one-on-one with Richard Da Silva, vigneron and proprietor of Da Silva Vineyards and Winery on the Naramata Bench. We talk about the vines and taste two of his wines, including a 2025 Viognier a...

This week, BC Food & Wine Radio heads to the heart of Vancouver Island wine country for a special on-location broadcast from Unsworth Vineyards in the beautiful Cowichan Valley. Our guests include Nick Bevan, President of Jackson Wine Estates International, and Chris Turyk, Sales & Marketing Director at Unsworth Vineyards, who share insights into one of Canada's most exciting cool-climate wine reg...

This week, BC Food & Wine Radio takes you to the heart of the Naramata Bench for a special on-location broadcast from Foxtrot Winery, one of British Columbia's most exciting wine destinations. We begin with Mike Boyd, owner of Foxtrot Winery, who shares his vision for the future of this iconic estate and what it means to become the next steward of a property built on excellence, sustainability, an...

On this week's show, we are on location in British Columbia's Lake Country, at O'Rourke Family Estate. We have the pleasure of welcoming Dennis O'Rourke, Owner of O'Rourke Family Estate and Peak Cellars, to share how his unique vision for a winery, accommodation, and culinary experience has come to life at O'Rourke Family Estate. Also joining us are Ian Scromeda, General Manager, OFE and Peak Cell...

On this week's show, we are pleased to welcome Peter Kelly, Chief Winemaker at Thorn-Clarke Wines and the 2025 Barossa Winemaker of the Year. Peter has spent nearly two decades helping shape the modern Barossa wine story. We'll taste two standout wines: the Milton Park Cabernet Sauvignon and the Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Shiraz, and discuss what continues to make Barossa one of Australia's great wine...

On this week's show, Rhys Pender MW, owner of Wine Plus+ wine school and Little Farm Winery, discusses the long aging potential of B.C. wines after bottling. We also review the results from the Library Wine Category at the National Wine Awards of Canada. Next, we travel to Victoria, one of Australia's most vibrant wine regions, home to 21 distinct wine areas and over 800 wineries. Victoria is know...

On this week's show, Diogo Lopes, Chief Winemaker at the AdegaMãe winery in Portugal, joins us to discuss how AdegaMãe has blended the old with the new to become one of the most exciting Portuguese wineries in the export market. The family-run winery was founded in 2010 by one of the world's largest cod fisheries and is located just 8 kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean. We discuss the biggest bene...

On this week's show, Sam Pfeiffer, owner and director of Whistler Wines, discusses his family's long association with Penfolds and the unique gift his father received upon retirement. We taste two outstanding value wines, the 2024 Atypical Shiraz and 2023 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, both worthy additions to your shopping list. We also take you inside the tasting room at the 2026 National Wine Award...

On this week's show, there is an international flair as we speak with Stéphane Desmarquest, Export Manager, La Rioja Alta, who introduces us to one of the founding wineries of the Rioja region, with a history dating back to 1890. We talk about the La Rioja Alta 2020 Vina Alberdi Reserva Rioja and the La Rioja Alta 2022 Lagar de Cervera Albarino. Romain Chevrolat, Winemaker, Domaine Laroche, takes...

On this week's show, Giovanni Mazzei, owner of Mazzei Wines, is here representing one of the oldest families in Tuscany. The earliest written record of Chianti as a region is the purchase of a barrel of Chianti from Ser Lapo Mazzei in 1398. We tasted the 2022 Ser Lapo Chianti Classico Riserva and the 2022 Mazzei Zisola Nero d'Avola. Then we are joined by Luca Inama, Cellar Master & Winemaker, at I...

On this week's show, Geoffrey Moss MW, Lithica Wine Marketing, Wine Critic at Gismondi On Wine, is here with results from the Best of the Bench, a recent Naramata Bench wine competition. Geoff also talks about why the Naramata Bench is such a great spot to grow grapes and shares his thoughts on the strongest varieties in the ground. We also speak to some of the results of the 2026 Wine Align Natio...

This week's episode comes to you live from Langley-based Township 7 Vineyards and Winery. We discuss with General Manager Mike Raffan the many reasons to visit the rapidly growing wine region of Greater Langley. We highlight the 2023 Seven Stars RIGEL, an award-winning Riesling-based sparkling wine, and preview upcoming seasonal events. Mary McDermott, Winemaker at Township 7, joins us to introduc...

This week's show comes to you from the deck at Laughing Stock Vineyards in the middle of the Naramata Bench. Laughing Stock captured the Best Performing Small Winery of the Year in Canada at the 2025 Wine Align National Wine Awards and was recently acknowledged by Wine Growers British Columbia and the Okanagan Wine Festival Society as the 2026 Winery of the Year. Our guests include Sébastien Lafor...

This week's show comes to you from the Penticton Visitors Centre. Our guests include Paige Schulz, Marketing Manager for Visit Penticton, who will share details about several late-summer and fall events planned in and around Penticton. Owners Gavin and Shana Miller join us with tales of cheese and wine from Upper Bench Winery. At the same time, Tightrope winemaker Lyndsay O'Rourke stops by to disc...

This week's show comes to you from Phantom Creek Estates, a premier, family-owned winery on B.C.’s Black Sage Bench, focused on producing exceptional organic and biodynamic Bordeaux-style reds and Alsace-influenced whites. 2026 marks the 10-year anniversary of Phantom Creek Estates, which has added two new Estate tours: the Grand Cellar Experience and the History Room Terroir Tasting Experience. O...

This week's show comes to you from District Wine Village in Oliver, British Columbia, the first wine village of its kind in Canada. It is a vibrant hub that showcases the flavours of the South Okanagan. The village is not just a wine destination but also a cultural and entertainment venue, with regular live music, events, and seasonal festivals. We learn about the Village today, including 8 wineri...

This week, the episode comes to you from the patio at 15 Park Bistro, within Watermark Beach Resort in Osoyoos. We chat with General Manager David McBean about their distinctive Wine Passport, special events, and the Watermark Wine Series. Jesse Harnden, General Manager of Rust Winery, visits with samples of the new Alsace-inspired 2025 White Crush and the 2025 Rust Cabernet Franc, a pure Cabernet...

This week's show comes to you from the patio at 15 Park Bistro at the Watermark Beach Resort in Osoyoos. We speak with General Manager David McBean about how this South Okanagan resort continues to renew its Food, Beverage and Hospitality programs each year, seeking small but steady incremental gains. Mike Dowell, Owner of Liber Estates, and Gustav Allander, Winemaker/Vineyard Manager, stop by to...

This week's show was recorded on the patio at 15 Park Bistro, Watermark Beach Resort, Osoyoos. We chat with General Manager David McBean about the Music Series on the Patio and the newly introduced wine list at 15 Park Bistro. Christa-Lee McWatters, Vice President of Adega on 45th Estate Winery in Osoyoos, joins us to extend a special invitation to experience their Portuguese-inspired hospitality,...

This week's Okanagan Falls-themed show is filmed on the scenic patio at Nighthawk Vineyards, a boutique family farm-gate winery overlooking Green Lake. Owner Daniel Bibby joins us to discuss the family connections that sustain the winery, vineyard, and restaurant. We also explore their unique, luxurious Tent House Suites, perched high above the vineyard, offering views of the entire property. Toge...

This week's show comes to you from the Penticton Visitors Centre. Our guests include Kevin Pearce, Executive Director of Visit Penticton, who shares everything you need to know about upcoming events in Penticton this spring and summer. Matthew Mikulic, Winemaker and Co-owner of Three Sisters Winery, talks about celebrating ten years of production on the Naramata Bench. Mireille Sauve, Director at...

This week's show comes to you from the deck at Poplar Grove Winery on the Naramata Bench, British Columbia. Our guests include Owner Tony Holler and General Manager Chris Holler. We discuss the quality of the just-released 2025 vintage and taste their flagship white, the 2025 Pinot Gris. We also open the Poplar Grove 2025 Rosé, a Double Gold "Best In Class" winner at the Pacific Rim International...

This week's show comes to you from the deck at the Summerland Waterfront Resort, where we speak with General Manager Lisa Jaager about why you should consider staying a few nights in Summerland. With numerous fruit stands, wineries, and a stunning waterfront, Summerland is an emerging gem in the Okanagan Valley. Christine Coletta, co-owner of Okanagan Crush Pad Winery, stops by our poolside locati...

This week's show spotlights Frédéric Chaudière Vigneron at Château Pesquié and Président de l'AOC Ventoux. For fifty years, three generations of the Chaudière family, who own the Château, have worked with the same desire to explore and fully express the terroir of AOC Ventoux. Frédéric and his brother Alexandre are the latest generation in charge of the estate, tending their vines with care and pr...

This week's podcast spotlights Jessica Dolan, General Manager of Balcomo Ramada Penticton, our new Hotel Partner in Penticton. Jessica joins us to discuss booking now for the busy season ahead and to introduce the many reasons Balcomo is your perfect place to stay when visiting South Okanagan wine country. Charles Bouthillier, Managing Director, North America at Famille Gassier, joins us to talk a...