BC Food and Wine Radio

This week's show comes from the International Tasting Room at the 2026 Vancouver International Wine Festival. Joining us on stage is Jeff Guignard, CEO of Wine Growers BC, for a compelling discussion on the current state of wine, both at the storefront and in the vineyard. Since its founding, Bodegas Olarra has been recognized as the Great Cathedral of Rioja, Spain, or the ultimate example of Wine...

On this week's show, we come to you from the very busy International Tasting Room at the 47th annual Vancouver International Wine Festival, where this year's theme region is France. We speak with Laurent Gamonet, Export Area Director for Canada at Georges Duboeuf wines. Laurent talks about two labels you won't want to miss: the 2024 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages and the 2023 Duboeuf Pouilly-...

On this week's show, we have more from the floor of the 47th annual Vancouver International Wine Festival as we speak with Luigi di Majo, owner of Di Majo Norante. We're venturing off the beaten path—down to Molise, one of Italy's smallest and least-known regions, yet one that quietly produces some of the country's most honest, terroir-driven wines. Then, we head to northeastern Italy, to the Vene...

On this week's show, we continue reporting from the 47th annual Vancouver International Wine Festival, where we caught up with Mark Hopley, Winemaker at Hester Creek Estate Winery, to discuss his exciting new release, the 2022 Undici, a Super Tuscan blend made with 61% Sangiovese. The grapes were harvested from the Osoyoos East Bench vineyard, nicknamed Vineyard Eleven, which Hopley rates 11 out o...

This week's podcast is recorded live from the floor of the 47th annual Vancouver International Wine Festival. We speak with Riccardo Cugini, Senior Brand Manager at the renowned Tuscan icon, Ruffino, a winery that helped introduce Chianti to the world and continues to influence how Tu scany is understood today. We will discuss the Riserva Ducale Oro, a wine first produced in 1947, which represents...

On this week's podcast, join us from the 47th annual Vancouver International Wine Festival as we speak with Chris Hoffmeister, Chief Executive Officer of Select Wines. We discuss fine wines and even finer profit margins for international producers dealing with a sharp drop in wine consumption worldwide. Romain Chevrolat, Winemaker at Domaine Laroche, takes us to the south of France, where we taste...

This week's podcast acknowledges International Women’s Day on March 9 as we celebrate women in wine, starting with one of the biggest names in Champagne, Alice Paillard, CEO and Proprietor of Champagne Bruno Paillard. Alice is widely regarded as one of the most thoughtful and articulate voices of her generation in Champagne. She is also a founding member of La Transmission – Femmes en Champagne, w...

This week's podcast spotlights Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher, former Wall Street Journal columnists and founders of Open That Bottle Night, who join us to discuss why all of us tend to hold onto wines we own that we should have opened years ago and what to do about it. From Penticton, British Columbia, Master of Wine Geoffrey Moss, principal of Lithica Wine Marketing, offers an update on the...

This week's podcast explores the renowned Chianti Classico region of Tuscany, Italy, with a particular focus on the village of San Felice, known for its scenic vineyards. The episode includes insights from Leonardo Bellaccini, Head Winemaker and Technical Director at San Felice Estates, who discusses two notable wines you can buy: the San Felice Vermentino IGT Toscana 2024 and Il Grigio da San Fel...

This week's podcast spotlights Peter Gago, Chief Winemaker, Penfolds, who joins us for a Master Class on the Australian Wine Icon, Grange, from its humble beginning in the early 1950s to the world class vintages that continue today. Lee F. Mann, food writer, discusses the upcoming Lunar New Year, "Year of the ‘Fire’ Horse," and various ways to celebrate in Vancouver and across the province. Robert...

On this week’s podcast, join us as we travel to Verona to speak with Alessandro Pasqua, family member and president of Pasqua, USA, as the family celebrates its 100th year of making wine in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Bernard Retornaz, executive advisor at Louis Latour, expresses his deep appreciation for Burgundy’s winemaking heritage, which continues to shape the success of Louis Latour...

This week's podcast features insightful contributions from several distinguished professionals in the wine industry. Marie Pinceloup, Export Manager for Alain Brumont, discusses the pioneering achievements of Alain Brumont in positioning Madiran on the world stage and establishing Château Montus as a leading reference for Tannat-based wines. Charlotte Rawa, Senior Brand Ambassador for Penfolds Win...

This week's podcast features Alessandro Lunardi, Director of North America at Tenuta Luce, discussing the 30th Vintage Celebration and the significance of Luce 2022 as the 30th anniversary of Tenuta Luce’s flagship wine. Sandy Leier, winemaker at Laughing Stock Vineyards, shares insights on their award-winning wines following recognition as Canada's Small Winery of the Year at the Wine Align 2025...

This week's podcast features Jeff Guignard, CEO of Wine Growers British Columbia. Jeff officially stepped into the role on April 28, 2025. He is committed to member engagement and collaboration, and will lead advocacy efforts on behalf of the BC wine industry, which contributes $3.75 billion to the province's annual economic growth. We caught up in person with Olivier Humbrecht, MW, Consulting Win...

This week's podcast features some favourite BC Wine discussions from 2025, including Michael Bartier, co-owner, winemaker, and GM of Bartier Bros. Vineyard & Winery, who talked about the bounce-back happening across the South Okanagan for grapes of all varieties. We enjoyed a poolside chat with Daniel Bibby, co-owner of Nighthawk Vineyards, a boutique family farm gate winery overlooking the scenic...

This week's podcast features Sara d'Amato, Principal Partner, WineAlign wine consultant, educator, sommelier, and wine critic, who discusses rosé and a few other favourites as we try to warm up in the first week of January 2026. Shane Munn, Winemaker and GM at Martins Lane in Kelowna, gives us a Master Class on Pinot Noir. Shane has an in-depth knowledge of the intricacies of the Pinot Noir grape...

This week's podcast features lively discussions with DJ Kearney, a Global Wine Expert and Wine Director at the Terminal City Club in Vancouver, who shares her top recommendations for sparkling wines, including a curated list of the five best BC sparklers to enjoy during the holidays. Raymond Ringeval, Global Commercial Director at Champagne Palmer, joins us to talk about how Palmer & Co distinguis...

On this week's podcast, we catch up with Mark Sheridan, President of Hester Creek Estate Winery in Oliver, to discuss the passing of owner Curt Garland, the strong rebound and resurgence in wine consumption, along with a preview of a new Super Tuscan-style red wine at Hester Creek set to debut in spring. We also speak with Óscar Salas, winemaker at Viña Santa Rita, located in the foothills of Alto...

On this week's podcast, it is our genuine pleasure to welcome one of the brightest stars of the worldwide wine scene, Peter Gago, Chief Winemaker at Penfolds, who joins us to talk about the 75th Grange Anniversary and current releases that would delight any of your family and friends under the tree this year. Caren McSherry, Founder and President of Gourmet Warehouse in Vancouver, stops by with a...

On this week's podcast, we are on location at Mission Hill Family Estate in West Kelowna, just in time for the annual holiday celebrations. Over more than forty years of operation, Mission Hill has continued to evolve by adopting sustainable farming practices, creating exceptional tasting and culinary experiences at the estate, and making a significant contribution to the Okanagan’s reputation on...

This week's podcast explores the renowned Chianti Classico region of Tuscany, Italy, with a particular focus on the village of San Felice, known for its scenic vineyards. The episode includes insights from Leonardo Bellaccini, Head Winemaker and Technical Director at San Felice Estates, who discusses two notable wines: the San Felice Vermentino IGT Toscana 2024 and Il Grigio da San Felice Chianti...

This week on the podcast, Harry Hertscheg, Executive Director of the Vancouver International Wine Festival, joins us to share details about the upcoming festivities in March 2026. Tickets for the public tasting events are now available. This year's featured region is France. Jen Oishi, Winemaker at Gray Monk Winery, discusses the Gray Monk 2022 Odyssey Rosé Brut and the German Christmas Market hap...

This week's podcast spotlights Óscar Salas, winemaker at Viña Santa Rita—a winery established in 1880 by Don Domingo Fernández Concha, who introduced top-tier French grape varieties to Maipo Valley's fertile soils. Salas presents a new label featuring the Alto Maipo Cabernet Sauvignon. Joining him is Jean-Marc Enixon, Director of Winemaking at Phantom Creek Estates, who will recommend wines for th...

On this week's podcast, we catch up with Stacy Hornemann, Winemaker at Blue Grouse Estate, who brings a couple of signature Vancouver Island wines to the show, including the 2024 Ortega, Stacy's take on an Island classic, plus we taste the 2023 Pinot Noir. Then, it's off to the South Okanagan to reconnect with Michael Kullman, Winemaker and General Manager at Osoyoos Larose, to discuss the Le Gran...

On this week's show, we catch up with Mike Dowell, Vintner/Owner, Liber Estates who joins us with a recovery report on all three of the Liber vineyards in Similkameen, Osoyoos-US Border, and on Highway 97. Then to Verona where we speak with Alessandro Pasqua, Family Member, President, Pasqua, USA, as Pasqua marks its 100th year making wine in the Veneto region of Northern Italy. Bernard Retornaz,...