The VQEh Podcast

Episode 42 is about Pinot Gris! Pinot Grigio? Whatever you want to call it, we discuss this popular grape, its history, different iterations, and how it is expressed in Niagara. Featured Wines Fielding Pinot Grigio 2023 https://fieldingwines.com/ Big Head Pinot Gris 2014 https://bigheadwines.ca/ Strewn Pinot Grigio 2018 https://www.strewnwinery.com/

Hi wine people! Manny and Tash are back with another episode. In episode 41, your hosts are busting myths! Do sulfites give you headaches? Are organic wines better for you? Is expensive wine always better? Only reds can age, right? Answers to all these questions and more in this episode. Cheers! Featured Wine Stratus Red 2014 https://stratuswines.com/

Episode 40! Can you believe it? Manny and I sat down and discussed Niagara wines versus the rest of the world - how they're different, why they're different, comparable wines etc. We also try to trick each other with blind wines and end up choosing wines from the same regions... again! Great minds, right? We hope you enjoy! Cheers. Featured Wines Big Head Chenin Blanc 2021 https://bigheadwines.ca/...

Welcome back! On this episode, Manny and Tash discuss fortified wine. Fortified wine has a rich history and is often underrated. These wines include those like Port, Madeira, and Sherry. We talk about the different styles and taste one from Niagara. Enjoy! Featured Wine Southbrook "The Anniversary" https://www.southbrook.com/

Join Manny and Tash this week as they break down what exactly a vessel is. How does it affect fermentation? How does it affect ageing? Does oak really make a difference? What is amphora? Dive deep in this episode and listen in as your hosts taste two wines made in totally different ways. Cheers! Featured Wines Strewn "Barrel Aged" Chardonnay 2015 https://www.strewnwinery.com/ Big Head "Raw" Petit...

Happy 2024 everyone! We are starting the year off with an episode on virtual wineries. These are wineries that do not have a physical location but still make amazing wine! There are many Canadian virtual wineries and especially in Niagara. Join Manny and Tash as they talk more about local virtual wineries and taste some wine. Featured Wines Maenad Wine Co. Piquette 2021 https://www.maenadwines.com...

Tash and Manny are back after a brief break (life gets busy!). In this episode your hosts discuss the wine trends of the season and what to buy for holiday gifts and hosting. They also do a blind tasting of two wines and both get them wrong - but it was fun! Be sure to tag us on Instagram this holiday season and let us know what Canadian wines you're drinking. Happy listening! Cheers. Featured Win...

We've all seen it before: 91 points! 4 stars! Gold medal! on bottles of wine, but what does it really mean? Who awards these accolades? Is the wine really that good? Your hosts Tash and Manny sit down and dissect what wine scoring is all about and what it means for you as a consumer. Also, they blind each other on high-scoring Niagara wines, which hilariously are from the same producer. Enjoy! Fea...

Tash and Manny are back talking about Chardonnay... again! This time, your hosts focus on i4C and cool climate Chardonnay. Tune in to learn more about Chardonnay and its different expressions. Featured Wines 13th Street Winery Blanc de Blanc NV https://13thstreetwinery.com/ 16 Mile Cellar "Civility" Chardonnay 2020 https://16milecellar.com/

What is a vintage? Why does it matter? Do I need to pay attention to vintages on a wine list? How does it affect the wine? Get answers to all these questions and more in this episode. Manny and Tash discuss all things vintage and vintage variation while tasting a vertical of Niagara Riesling. Listen now! Featured Wines Flat Rock Cellars Riesling 2010 Flat Rock Cellars Riesling 2013 Flat Rock Cella...

Can you believe The VQEh Podcast has never done an episode on Cab Franc?! It's about time. This episode focuses on the Cabernet Franc grape that Canada, especially Niagara, does so well. Your hosts cover the history of the grape, its classic regions, tasting profile, and the great Canadian producers. Cheers! Featured Wines 2027 Cellars "King Street Vineyard" Cabernet Franc 2020 https://www.2027cel...

Greetings! We are back with episode 31. This time Manny and Tash discuss the life of a sommelier, the wine industry, wine education, jobs, etc. They discuss their unique experiences in the industry and what got them into wine education in the first place. They end the episode by tasting two "somm wines" - fun and funky Canadian wines. That's somm biz baby. Featured Wines: Queenston Mile Vineyards...

Episode 30, wow! Tune in as Manny and Tash talk about old wines and aging wines. They also discuss the spelling of the word aging (ageing?)... who knows. Manny and Tash discuss why and when wine is aged, the proper conditions for aging, and how old wines taste. They also taste some pretty cool wines dating back to 1995! Hope you enjoy - cheers. Featured Wines The Three Guys "Funk Vineyard" Pinot N...

Manny and Tash are back with another episode! In honour of the holidays, your hosts are exploring dessert wine. They cover the different kinds, how it's made, where it's made, and the best ways to enjoy it. Grab a glass of ice wine and tune in! Featured Wines Big Head Chenin Blanc B.A. 2017 https://bigheadwines.ca/ Cave Springs Riesling Icewine 2017 http://www.cavespringcellars.ca

Manny and Tash are back again with another blind tasting episode! Each host picked a wine without the other having any clue to what it was, and they had to blind taste their way to a guess. These ones are tricky! Spoiler: the wines are listed below. Featured Wines A Sunday in August Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon 2021 https://www.asundayinaugust.com/ The Foreign Affair "Abbraccio" Cabernet Sauvign...

In this episode, Manny and Tash cover another of their favourite grapes: Syrah! Perfect for the fall weather, this grape has a rich history and is making a name for itself in Canada. Tune in as your hosts discuss the grape and taste a couple Niagara examples. Featured Wines Creekside Syrah 2019 https://www.creeksidewine.com/ Big Head "Raw" Syrah 2017 https://bigheadwines.ca/

Join Manny and Tash as they discuss their favourite grape, Riesling! Although it can be a divisive grape, Canada makes some exceptional Riesling. Your hosts talk about the grape's history, where it's grown, and the best Canadian examples. Cheers! Featured Wines Flatrock "Nadja's Vineyard" Riesling 2019 https://www.flatrockcellars.com/ Ravine "Patricia's Block" Riesling 2021 https://www.ravineviney...

Manny and Tash have an exciting new episode for you! Your hosts interview winemaking duo Kelly Mason and Brooke Husband. The episode was recorded in a vineyard, so please excuse the background noise. Listen in as these four chat about Kelly and Brooke's journeys into winemaking, their current projects, and future ambitions. Cheers! Featured Wines Mason Vineyard Wild Ferment Viognier "Part II" Maso...

Your hosts are finally back with another episode! Listen in as Tash and Manny talk about the world's most popular grape: Cabernet Sauvignon. They deep dive into the grape's history, how and where it's made, and how it came to take over the world. Enjoy! Featured Wines Ferox Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 https://www.ferox.ca/ Five Rows Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 https://www.fiverows.com/

Manny and Tash are back with another episode and they are switching things up! This episode is all about beer. Ontario has a long brewing history and is home to some amazing craft breweries. Listen along as your hosts discuss the history of beer in Ontario, the different styles, and taste four examples. Prost! Featured Beer Bellwoods Bellweiser Pilsner https://bellwoodsbrewery.com/ Fairweather Dre...

This week Manny and Tash explore the Ontario wine region of Prince Edward County! They discuss the climate and geography, varieties grown, and the best wineries. As usual, two delicious wines are tasted. See below for details. Featured Wines Lighthall Chardonnay 2018 https://www.lighthallvineyards.com/ Huff Estates "Reserve" Pinot Noir 2017 https://huffestates.com/

Manny and Tash are back again with an episode on natural wine! This episode, they define natural wine, debunk myths, differentiate between organic, biodynamic, and sustainable wine, and all the other confusing terms. As always, they taste two delicious Niagara examples. Enjoy! Featured Wines Pearl Morissette "Oxyde" Riesling 2019 https://pearlmorissette.com/ Leaning Post "The Natural" Gamay 2019 h...

Join your hosts Manny and Tash as they discuss value wines. They explain what makes a wine cheap or expensive, why some value wines are better than others, and share their favourite local "cheap and cheerful" wines. Cheers! Featured Wines Tawse Sketches of Niagara Chardonnay 2020 https://www.tawsewinery.ca/ 16 Mile Cellar Renegade Rose 2020 https://www.16milecellar.com/ 13th Street Burger Blend Ga...

Join in as Manny and Tash dive into everything Sauvignon Blanc. We talk about why people love it, where it grows best, its history, and more. Your hosts also taste three Niagara examples from the same vintage side by side. Grab a glass and enjoy! Featured Wines Drea's Sauvignon Blanc 2019 https://www.dreawine.com/ Fourth Wall Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2019 http://www.fourthwallwines.com/ Five Rows Sau...

Join Manny and Tash as they sit down with Joel Wilcox of Fourth Wall Wines. They chat about the project, the current state of Ontario wines, and taste a couple delicious Niagara wines. Enjoy! Featured Winery Fourth Wall Wines