The VQEh Podcast

Listen this week as Manny and Tash talk about the beautiful Okanagan Valley. Located in British Columbia, this is Canada's second largest winemaking region! Your hosts discuss the region's history, plantings, and wineries of note. As always, they also taste a couple of delicious wines from the region. Bonus: below is a list provided by a sommelier who works in the Okanagan of his favourite winerie...

We're back with a new episode! Join Manny and Tash as they discuss the infamous grape, Merlot. They discuss its history, the different style, and why everyone hates it so much. They also taste examples from Ontario and British Columbia. Take that Sideways! Featured Wines: A Sunday in August Merlot 2019 https://www.asundayinaugust.com/ Featherstone "Red Tail" Merlot 2018 https://featherstonewinery....

In the last episode before the New Year, Manny and Tash talk about holiday wines. These are wines that are perfect for host gifts, for your big holiday meal, or for when those unexpected guests drop by. Join us as we discuss and taste sparkling, rosé, and red wines all form Niagara. Happy holidays! Featured Wines Kew Vineyards Pinot Meunier 2018 https://kewvineyards.com/ Malivoire "Vivant" Rosé 20...

Join Manny and Tash as they discuss blends. Your hosts discuss why and how blends are made, traditional and unconventional blends, and why they're so good. As always, they also taste two delicious Niagara examples. Enjoy! Featured Wines Stratus White 2016 https://www.stratuswines.com/ Icellars "Arinna" 2017 https://www.icellars.ca/

Manny and Tash discuss "weird varieties" in episode 13. These are grapes that are not commonly seen outside their Indigenous countries, especially in Niagara. Your hosts taste two delicious wines, talk about their histories, and confuse the words variety and varietal. Featured Wines Big Head Savagnin 2019 https://bigheadwines.ca/ Southbrook "Whimsy!" Zweigelt 2019 https://southbrook.com/

This week, Manny and Tash each blind taste a Canadian wine chosen by the other person. Blind tasting consists of determining what the wine is by sight, smell, and taste. Listen and guess along - maybe you'll get it right, because the hosts sure didn't! SPOILERS BELOW Featured Wines: Big Head "Select" Sauvignon Blanc 2019 https://bigheadwines.ca Adamo Estate Winery "Edgerock Vineyard" Petit Verdot...

In honour of Canadian Thanksgiving, Tash and Manny discuss everyone's favourite grape: Gamay Noir. From its history to classic regions to enjoying it with turkey, the two chat about what makes Gamay so good and taste a couple Niagara examples. Featured Wines: Malivoire "Farmstead" Gamay 2019 https://malivoire.com/ Hidden Bench "Rachis & Derma" Gamay 2019 https://hiddenbench.com/

Tash and Manny chat with Jakub Lipinski of Big Head Wines about everything from family feuds to espresso. Of course, they taste two delicious Big Head wines as well.

Tash and Manny discuss the wines of Vancouver Island in this episode, including its climate, soil types, grapes grown, and taste wines from some of the island's best wineries. Featured Wines Rathjen Cellars Auxerrois 2019 https://rathjencellars.com/ Averill Creek "Somenos" Pinot Noir 2018 https://www.averillcreek.ca/

Join Manny and Tash as they discuss the polarizing grape Chardonnay. Your hosts talk about the rise, the fall, then the rise again of Chardonnay, and why people hate it or love it. Chardonnay's classic regions and varying styles are discussed as well as two benchmark Niagara wines. Featured Wines: Hidden Bench "Felseck Vineyard" Chardonnay 2018 https://hiddenbench.com/ The Farm "Green Label" Chard...

Join Manny and Tash as they interview an absolute legend in the Ontario wine industry - Daniel Speck. In the Henry of Pelham Barrel Cellar, the three discuss Ontario winemaking's past, present, and future, including the Speck Bros. Family Tree wines. Featured Wines: Speck Bros. Family Tree "The Goat Lady" Chardonnay 2020 Speck Bros. Family Tree "The Bootlegger" Baco Noir 2020 Speck Bros. Family Tr...

Manny and Tash discuss all things orange wine! Also known as skin contact wine, the two talk about its history, winemaking techniques, and two delicious Ontario examples. Featured Wines: L'Imparfait Negociant "La Soupe Populaire" 2019 https://hinterlandwine.com/ Stratus "Trials Vol. 2" Skin Contact Viognier 2019 https://stratuswines.com/

In Epsiode 5, Manny and Tash interview Shauna White, the winemaker at Adamo Estate Winery. Listen to hear about Shauna's journey in wine, what it's like to grow grapes and make wine in Ontario's Hockley Valley, and why Shauna loves Ontario wine. Featured Wines: Adamo Estate Winery "Estate" Riesling 2019 Adamo Estate Winery "Estate" Pinot Noir 2018 Adamo Estate Winery

Manny and Tash get nerdy about rosé. They talk about the history of the style, how it's made, iconic regions, and taste two benchmark Niagara rosés. Featured Wines: Two Sisters Vineyards "Margo" Rosé 2020 https://twosistersvineyards.com/ Pearl Morissette "Roselana" Rosé 2020 https://pearlmorissette.com/

Manny and Tash discuss the theories behind food and wine pairing, including what grows together goes together, touch on some of our favourite pairings, and taste two food-friendly wines. Featured wines: Cave Spring CSV Riesling 2018 http://cavespring.ca/ 13th Street Whitty Vineyard Gamay 2019 https://13thstreetwinery.com/

Manny and Tash dive deep into the world of sparkling wine, discussing both classic and Canadian regions, including their various grapes, styles, and methods. Featured wines: Benjamin Bridge Nova 7 Sparkling 2020 https://benjaminbridge.com/ Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Brut NV https://henryofpelham.com/

An introduction to the Canadian wine scene and your hosts where we taste two benchmark wines from the Niagara region. Featured wines: Flat Rock Cellars "The Rusty Shed" Chardonnay 2014 https://flatrockcellars.com/ Hidden Bench "Estate" Pinot Noir 2019 https://hiddenbench.com/