Afleveringen
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I’ve had the distinct pleasure to host and produce Tasting Room Radio for 17 years.
Most weeks we consider featuring some of those stories on the podcast but music, arts and music history seem to carry the day.
These two interviews deserve to be featured because they tell the story of the current state of the BC wine industry.
The Okanagan has been burned by summer fires and choked by summer smoke, blocked by road closures at the peak of the summer season, deep frozen by two successive winters and disappointingly shunned by liquor governing bodies in Alberta.
All the while the BC wine industry is making better and better wines. So it all feels like three steps forward and two back
Kimberly Hundertmark, the GM of Okanagan Wine Festivals brings great news. Right now, they are kicking off the Spring Wine Festival all over the Okanagan Valley. It’s an amazing collection of events. Huge gatherings like 2024 BC Top 50 and the Wine of the Year. The TASTE series, carefully curated in locations North and South, the Naramata Bench this Sunday, June 2 and the District Wine Village in Oliver Sat-Sun June 8/9 and Saturday, June 8th at the Summer Sips at Spirit Ridge Osoyoos. Kimberly brings all the news and tips for making plans.
The complete list of events can be found at www.thewinefestivals.com
John Skinner is the co-owner/co-founder of Painted Rock Estate Winery, on the Skaha Bench in Okanagan Falls.
If you go to their website www.paintedrock.ca have a look at the wines and also the awards those wines have won over the years.
Pages and pages of awards and outstanding reviews.
John’s comments about his wines and two new releases – Rose and Chardonnay can be found on Tasting Room Radio. www.tastingroomradio.com
These comments by John are about the state of the BC wine industry – the good and not-so-good.
Above all, it’s John’s belief in BC Wine. He shows leadership and well-thought-out decision-making.
If you’re interested in supporting the BC wine industry – and I truly hope you are – then John brings clarity and commitment to all of us.
John Skinner reminds us that most of these wineries are owned by small farming families.
“support the little wineries first. Find your favourites and support them when you can”
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Wonderful article from Charles P. Pierce Esquire Magazine May 25
Let's get the whole gang together: Davey Moore, Hattie Carroll, Hollis Brown, Einstein disguised as Robin Hood, the motorcycle black Madonna two-wheeled gypsy queen, Ma Rainey, and Beethoven, John the Baptist, the Commander In Chief, Louis The King, Napoleon in rags, Lucille, Johanna, Sweet Marie, John Wesley Harding, St. Augustine, the joker, the thief, Big Jim, Lily, Rosemary, and most of all, the Jack of Hearts, Rubin Carter, Isis, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Blackjack Davey, Charlie Patton. All of them. Play me a song, Mr. Wolfman Jack, because if you want to remember, you better write down the names.
Bob Dylan turned 83 on Friday. All of him did. All of them did. All the personae, the entire kaleidoscope of masks, the false fronts and head fakes, and, finally, the last, and in many ways, best of them all. The travelling storyteller, the seanchai as the people in the old country would call him. Out on the endless tour, up the endless highway. I think of him and I think of Turlough O'Carolan, the legendary blind Irish harper who would travel the countryside, composing his songs on the spot for whomever would give him food and drink. Go back further. Go back to Homer. Sing to him, O muse. When Dylan dropped "Murder Most Foul," virtually out of a clear blue sky, blessing us with it as consolation for the years when America had gone so terribly wrong, it was Homer of whom I thought, poet and historian both, protector of the shadowland between myth and reality, chronicler of what Greil Marcus called "the old, weird America," a phrase I wish I'd written.
He'll be around all summer, travelling with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp and a whole clutch of other artists in something called the Outlaw Music Festival Tour. It's a high-priced extravaganza but, in a very real way, he's just on the road, heading for another joint. Move along, brother Bob. The highway, as you taught us, is for gamblers, and we take what we have gathered from coincidence.
Here’s a collection of comments and reflections from Dylan's artistic partners and others just sharing the same spaces with Bob. Interviews I’ve done over the years to be added to when Dylan turns 85.
Interviews with
David Bowie
Robbie Robertson
Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks
The Avett Brothers
Barney Bentall and Steve Dawson
Greg Keelor (Blue Rodeo)
And Colin Linden (Blackie and the Rodeo Kings)
Wine and Dine – Tofino June i/2.
The second story takes place next weekend June 1 and 2 in one of Earth’s most beautiful places - Tofino, British Columbia. The western edge of Canada on Vancouver island. The community includes surfing, golfing, fishing, underwater adventures and an unusual gathering of chefs. It is where they come to learn how to create seafood dishes and cook with what the forest and oceans give them – and surf their minds out.
It's the second annual Wine and Dine gathering on the front lawns of Best Western Plus Tin Wis Resort.
All of the details can be found at www.tofinowinedine.com
Our guests are the organizers and founders of Tofino Wine & dine
Ronnie Lee and Ryan Orr.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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We know Ottawa-born Sue Foley from the blues albums she’s created and released. Plus Multiple blues awards on both sides of the border.
Her new album is One Guitar Woman. A tribute to the female pioneers of guitar.This was/is a very personal journey for Sue. She’s studied the many women who played guitar before her and left their legacy to study and pass on.
Female singers and players like Memphis Minnie, Elizabeth Cotten, Maybelle Carter, Sister Rosetta Tharp, Geeshe Wiley, Lydia Mendoza etc.
Many tales and tunes are connected to the album.Four-time Blues Foundation Traditional Female Artist award winner, Sue Foley’s new album One Guitar Woman is a heartfelt tribute to the female pioneers of the guitar - including Memphis Minnie, Lydia Mendoza, Maybelle Carter, Ida Presti, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The album showcases the dexterity of Foley’s acoustic nylon string guitar skills as she expands on her blues playing into other genres like Piedmont fingerpicking, traditional country, the Carter Scratch, flamenco and classical.
“From the time I decided to be a professional guitar player, I’ve always looked for female role models. These are the women who were expressing themselves through the instrument as far back as the 1920’s, at the inception of radio and recorded music. They are the trailblazers and visionaries whose footsteps I walk in,”
Sue Foley.
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When Ron Carter's name comes up, one of the first things people write or say is – he’s played bass and cello on over 2500 albums.
That’s impressive and awe-inspiring. Totally agree.
When I hear the name Ron Carter I think of the bassist who played in Miles Davis’ second band, alongside Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams & George Coleman.
“The List” of bands and recordings would include Wayne Shorter, Blue Note recordings with Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, McCoy Tyner, Horace Silver, and 100’s of others.
I talked to Ron about his recordings in popular music. Roberta Flack, Eddie Harris, Aretha, Billy Joel, Bette Midler, Erykah Badu, A tribe called Quest, Phoebe Snow, The Rascals, Gil Scott-Heron, Carlos Santana.
Ron has taught music for many years at esteemed colleges and schools, his current documentary is Finding the Right Notes, also the name of his bio book.
Ron Carter turns 87 years old today – Saturday, May 4 !! we wish him WELL.
Enjoy the conversation – I sure did.
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Afie Jurvanen – more famously known as Bahamas!
A fascinating artist and human. Never satisfied to remain in the same groove or attitude. What’s constant is his ability to create memorable songs, surrounded by sonic texture that is his territory alone.
You know it's him as soon as you hear the song.
He’ll be doing summer festivals and supporting his album Bootcut - a heavily inspired classic Country record which has recently seen his catalogue surpass a billion streams. He was awarded a pile of gold/platinum/double platinum singles while attending the JUNOs this year. . Rolling Stone covered Bootcut saying that a Canadian indie rock kid made one of Nashville’s most Country records of the year: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/bahamas-bootcut-country-music-album-nashville-1234826097/
Oh..and he was featured on The Bachelor and released an album on Valentine's day called Repackaged Love Songs.
And best of all, he’s guesting on Mulligan Stew Saturday 4 Pacific / 5 Mtn at CKUA RADIO ckua.com
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Adrian is a Traditional Knowledge Keeper for the James Bay Cree of Attawapiskat First Nation. It may explain why he is such a fine songwriter and storyteller. As a singer, he's been described by producer Colin Linden as "open" sonically and spiritually. Adrian and Colin worked together on his first album When the Magic Hits. Although "together" doesn't quite describe their situation. Colin was in his home studio in Nashville and Adrian was in the frozen Far North in James Bay working in an old shipping container that he had turned into a studio. For Precious Diamonds, Adrian went south to Colin's studio in Nashville and the resulting album is now out, many months later. Adrian takes us through a number of songs he wrote and sung. His battle finding his place in the music world. His pride in recording two songs in his native Mushkegowuk Cree. As a surprise to Adrian, I had Colin Linden in the Zoom waiting room and he popped out at just the right time to congratulate his friend. Adrian brought many stories and spoke his truth.
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This is what Podcasts were created for.
Long, extended conversations between guests and hosts.
Deep dives into opinions on music, film, food, wine, books, travel, history etc.
One of the biggest and brightest podcasts today belongs to our guest Nardwuar, The Human Serviette!
Millions of people all over the World can’t seem to wait for his next interview with hip-hoppers, rappers, punks and metal artists.
Countless fans everywhere dress up as Nardwuar, every Halloween.
Have a visit to his website www.nardwuar.com
What he brings to the interviews are personal facts and rumours that only the artist would know. Pulling out posters, photos, handwritten notes and albums that only the artist would remember. Minds are blown. Records are played. Lifetime friends are made!!
Our first Podcast – co-produced by Elliott Garnier – Was 6 years ago. Nardwuar was the very first guest!!
On the occasion of Episode #300, we welcome back the original – the one and only – Nardwuar – The Human Serviette!!!
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Sandra Oldfield is one of the leading voices for and in the Okanagan Wine Industry.
Was team leader and winemaking leader at Tinhorn Creek in the South Okanagan.
Now, she and her husband Kenn lead a popular consulting firm called Elysian Projects. Sandra is also one of the leaders in BC Tourism.
She’s a highly respected spokesperson for the wine community in BC.
No one hired her, she just is.
Sandra is also a world-class troublemaker and people love her for that.
She speaks her mind but does it from knowledge and passion for who and what she’s standing up for.
Several years ago the Liquor Control bureaucrats would not allow wine fans to buy BC wine in BC and drive it back home to Alberta.
I drove a case of wine across the BC/Alberta border but was not detained.
Sandra ordered a shotgun from the prairies to show that a gun could be sent across borders but not wine. We’ve been friends ever since.
Now the same Alberta Liquor agency is telling BC Wineries that they cannot send their wines to wine club members in Alberta and if they do, all their wines will be pulled from store shelves in that province.
This is all happening just as many of the small BC farmers who grow the grapes are staggered from the almost complete loss of vineyards and fruit in the Okanagan from two Winter cold snaps that killed many many vines.
I found Sandra in Victoria on Vancouver Island and sat down for a frank talk about the state of her industry and possible solutions for all involved.
He also has revealed a video she shot with her husband Kenn. Boxes arriving from Alberta were sent directly to her house in BC.
Sandra will explain what that says about the playing field here.
Delighted to welcome Shotgun Sandra Oldfield
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Grant Lawrence (The Smugglers, CBC Podcast, multiple best-selling books) is on the road with his Stories and Song LIve.
Grant and Joel Plaskett, Ashleigh Ball, played Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney by the Sea north of Victoria Thursday night.
Friday on Galiano Island and Saturday in Maple Ridge with his love Jill Barber added.
We met at The Five and Dime Diner across from the venue and talked for 20 or so minutes about EVERYTHING.
He told the story of two teens, Grant and Nardwuar knocking on my front door Halloween night to ask questions about their favourite bands. I did the best I could and sent them along with extra promo records. Grant still has his.
We've been friends for 36 years. That’s the kind of podcast this will be. Corey Woods (Associate Producer) shot it on video as well..so it's also on terrydavidmulligan YouTube channel.
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Every once in a while there’s a week that goes by that is blessed with great conversations.
Somewhere down that road, I decided that instead of choosing one interview over the other, why not have them both share the podcast.
March 2, 2008, was the day gifted singer/songwriter and truly remarkable man Jeff Healey lost his battle with cancer.
We had a great long-distance friendship. Every time we reconnected, we fell into an easy chatter that always ended up in laughter. Good man.
I was gutted by his loss. Still am.
Roger Costa is the co-administrator/archivist of The Estate of Jeff Healey.
He’s currently leading the production team shooting the documentary
See the Light: The Jeff Healey Story.
That film and my interview with Roger will come later this year or early 2025.
In the meantime, I wanted to remember Jeff on March 2 with someone who knows him well. Roger Costa.
Harry Hertscheg is a regular listener to this Podcast. He listens to it while biking through busy Vancouver traffic to and from work.
Work is being executive director of the hugely successful VanWineFest which is just wrapping up.
Almost 20,000 wine fans have attended seminars, winemakers dinners and large and small tastings.
The feature region is Italy. 71 Italian wineries sent their best.
Next year the feature region is the USA.
Here’s a conversation with the completely engaging and informative Harry Hertscheg.
Enjoy the ride Harry. -
Corby brings new, acoustic, live off the floor music in his new album El Viejo (The Old One) in memory and tribute to his pal Ian Tyson.
Corby says that this album may be his best yet.
He brings memories of Ian and also how his audiences are different depending on where he’s playing,
For El Viejo Corb and the Hurtin’ Albertans played live, letting the songs reveal themselves. It was all captured by CKUA Alumni Scott Franchuck.
Corby describes it as “organic”.
We talked about his name “is that the name of the band?”
Touched on his time with The Smalls and how this music connects to those days. “half urban/indy and half cowboys/ranchers”
We touched on Hearts on Fire Michael Barclay’s book on “6 years that changed Canadian music” which in its promo mentioned cowboys who used to play speed metal.
“the alt-country music in the late 90’s and 2000’s was littered with x-punks who suddenly discovered acoustic guitar.”
That’s Corb. The Poet Laureate of the Albertan people.
March 5 Corb is in Vancouver at The Orpheum
March 7 Grey Eagle Calgary
March 9 Midway Edmonton
March 22 Zankel Hall / Carnegie Hall NYC
May 28 Amsterdam
And multiple dates in Europe with The Dead South.
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Dominique Fils-Aimé presents her fourth album Our Roots Run Deep.
Dominique Fils-Aimé is a JUNO Award-winning singer-songwriter from Montreal. Her new album invites us to deep dive into the roots of her soul with a strong desire to connect with one's higher self and the desire to surround you in a soothing aural embrace.
On stage, whether in Canada, in Europe or the USA, Dominique Fils-Aimé’s magnetic presence on stage leads the audience on a transcendent journey.
The Montreal-based JUNO award-winning singer-songwriter put the history of African-American musical culture into the heart of her work, reflecting on the social realities that influenced the genres of blues, jazz and soul. Her previous trilogy shed light on the history of Afro-American music, inspired by soul icons such as Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Etta James.
2018's Nameless, was about confronting historical silences and sorrows. This blues-tinged album led to two sold-out shows at the Montreal International Jazz Festival in 2018.
Her second album, Stay Tuned! was a call for revolution. This album won the 2020 JUNO Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year.
Dominique Fils-Aimé [FEES-em-AY] closed the final chapter of the trilogy with Three Little Words, a call for reconciliation. The record received rave reviews in prestigious publications all around the world. It made the Polaris Short List and claimed the #1 spot for best-selling album in Quebec and #2 in Canada.
In her fourth album entitled Our Roots Run Deep, Dominique crafts her latest album with a loose, dreamlike narrative structure that tells a story of growth. For Dominique, nature acts as an anchor and creates the unique but interconnected journey of a human being.
"Just as we cannot see the mycorrhizal network that allows trees in a forest to communicate with each other underground," says Dominique. "I believe our souls do the same and that music can be a fertilizer for this invisible communication network."
Dominique!
Saturday night Feb 17 Dominique is appearing at Calgary’s Block Heater festival at Central United Church. When she takes the stage at 8:55 Dominique will not only charm the audience in the Church but will be streamed live on the CKUA Radio Network. Province-wide in Alberta and heard on the CKUA App.
www.mulliganstew.ca
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Feb 9th Alan Doyle releases his next album Welcome Home
Feb 10 he guests on Mulligan Stew
“I have always struggled with the middle ground. I love playing live so much and I have rightly been accused of writing songs more for concerts than albums. Most people who come to my shows want that kind of night out. So, I have overlooked the lower and slower: The lower part of my vocal range and the slower songs. I’m letting myself do that for the first time on this record.”
Alan’s 6th solo album and 20th of his career. Alan is celebrating 30 years in music.
He’s been co-writing songs for Welcome Home with Donovan Woods, Jimmy Rankin and actor Oscar Isaac.
Alan starts a 45-night North American tour Feb 20 with 2 nights in Kelowna.
Feb 29 – Edmonton N Jube
March 1 Calgary S Jube
March 9 Massey Hall
Alan Doyle is a first-class storyteller who takes us through the songs and stories.
We talk about Tell Tale Harbour the play he produced.
Also was involved in The Tribute to Ron Hynes Album
And he has yet another best-selling book coming.
The beautiful Alan Doyle and his beautiful, beautiful band charging into 2024. At CKUA
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Making great whisky is serious business.
Whisky takes time. You can create it and leave it in barrel “while your kids grow up and head off to college” kind of time.
For example, Paradigm Spirits -The Heritage Collection - Whisky of the Year in Canada spent 19 years in barrels. Then along came friends and partners Michelle deBus and Irma Joeveer who were just beginning their whisky journey. They purchased the filled barrels to start Paradigm.
Then blended in some Oloroso Sherry and found a stunning balance between the corn whisky and sherry.
Davin de Kergommeaux Canada’s Whisky authority and founder of the Canadian Whisky Awards describes The Heritage as having
“sublime complexity and elegance with fresh fruity top notes”
This is a really nice story of people who dreamt a dream of making whisky and how it all led to being named Whiskey of the Year in Canada. Besting 200 other whiskeys.
Our guests are Irma Joeveer and Michelle Debus
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“Friendship is like Whisky – the older the better”
Yes, my friends, it's our annual trek to Victoria’s inner harbour for the 18th annual Victoria Whisky Festival and the Canadian Whisky Awards.
It was the founder of the awards Davin de Kergomeaux who whispered in my ear wondering why I wasn’t attending or tasting or writing about his Whisky Awards. On second thought I think the voice in my ear was me saying
“How could you possibly miss this?” just after I had missed the events about 6-7 years ago.
I knew almost nothing about Whisky but my thinking was the same as wine – 17 years ago – every interview is going to be a master class. Pay attention and you could learn all about wine and pass it on to the listeners.
I’m pleased to welcome to Tasting Room Radio –
Davin de Kergommeaux – founder of the Canadian Whisky Awards.
The Canadian Whisky Awards, held annually with the Victoria Whisky Festival, is the first and only competition dedicated solely to Canadian Whisky.
The Awards have become the first stop for whisky producers, distributors, retailers and fans looking for the very best Canadian whiskies.
Davin is the world’s leading authority on Canadian Whisky. He also has three books available on Canadian Whisky with a fourth coming in March!
Davin assembled 10 judges and sent them nearly 200 competing whiskies to blind taste. Davin announces the winner in his interview. We talk to the winners next week.
www.canadianwhiskyawards.com
www.canadianwhisky.org
[caption id="attachment_28306" align="alignnone" width="800"] Graeme Macaloney[/caption]
Dr. Graeme Macaloney PEng, PhD. – Macaloney’s Island Distillery (Saanich)
Proud owner of 5 world whisky awards including World best Potstill – Kildara. They are a non-chilled, filtered, no colour-added distillery.
In our 8-10 minute interview, I think I asked 3 perhaps 4 questions – Dr. Graeme handled the rest.
It was like a masterclass. A charming man in a Cameron Kilt.
He won Gold for his 54ppm Peat Project.
www.macaloneydistillers.com
Tish Harcus – Manager Canadian Club Whisky since 1988. Canadian Club itself since 1858.
www.canadianclub.com
James Neil – Bowmore Distillery. The oldest distillery in Islay. On the shores of Lochindaal since 1779. Also home to one of the world’s oldest Scotch maturation warehouses – The No. 1 Vault.
James poured Bowmore 22 Aston Martin
www.bowmore.com
They took part in the Great Whisky Debate with
Micah Dew from Maker’s Mark.
Words flew, one-liners were exchanged and they still remain long-time friends. Micah was busy with a masterclass but we thank Tish and James for coming by.
www.makersmark.com
Chris Read –Shelter Point Distillery. Campbell River.
Distinctly Vancouver Island. Uniquely Shelter Point.
By the time Chris sat down we knew Shelter Point had won 2 Bronze medals for their Oak Cask Single Malt (smoke, spices, honey, leather and a wiff of ocean)
and their flagship Evans Family Reserve.
(vanilla, tannins, dark chocolate, coconut, citrus, berries, cloves.)
Chris explained the unique influences in their island location. It was like poetry.
www.shelterpoint.ca
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Let the names tell the story –
With Waddy Wachtel, Danny Kortchmar, Leland Sklar and drummer, producer, and writer Russ Kunkel created and played music history.
Historic albums by Carole King, Jackson Brown, James Taylor, Warren Zevon, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Steven Stills, Neil Young, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Jimmy Buffet, JJ Cale, Ringo, Lyle Lovett, George Harrison, Dolly, Linda and Emmylou The Trio album, Stevie Nicks, Don Henley, Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt, Tracey Chapman, Joe Walsh, BB King, Steve Winwood.
On and On and ON.
Now, along with seasoned guitarist and vocalist Steve Postell, they’ve established the opportunity to be their band. The Immediate Family. Their new album Skin in the Game arrives Feb 16.
Skin in the Game references the fact that they aren’t sidemen here. It’s not a play-and-walk-away kind of thing. They’re taking the music they wrote and played, out on the road for themselves. No one else.
For the rest of the story, check out the documentary The Immediate Family. Screening now.
The annual Critics Choice Awards take place in LA Sunday at 7 PM Eastern.
Hosted by Chelsea Handler.
Ive gathered four opinionated critics (are there any other kind)
We met on Zoom and went at it.
Discussing the film year 2023 and who’s going to win what…
Shawn Edwards Kansas City
Hillary Atkin LA
Teri Hart Toronto
Bonnie Laufer Toronto
It’s a wild ride friends..come along.
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Mike Grgich – His 1976 Napa Chardonnay in USA/France blind tasting in Paris was The Shot Heard Round the World.
Winemaker Mike Grgich died Dec 13th 2023. He was 100 years old.
This is his story, as told to yours truly into a nasty microphone in the lobby of the Hotel Vancouver 2016.
He had just released his memoir A Glass Full of Miracles.
(Note – on his way from Croatia to Napa he travelled across the Atlantic and by train across Canada to Vancouver for a lumberjack job he had applied for. The job was gone by the time he reached the west coast. So, Mike washed dishes until he heard of a winemaking job in Napa and South he went)
Steven Spurrier, a wine expert from England who ran a fine wine shop in Paris, decided it would be fun to organize a blind tasting to coincide with America’s Bicentennial celebrations in 1976. For the tasting, he gathered together the best French judges, and the finest French wines, and to salute America on its 200th anniversary he added in a few wines from some upstart winemakers in California. Steven hoped the tasting would bring favourable attention to his wine shop. But he didn’t have any idea of the impact that his Bicentennial tasting would have on the world of wine.
André Tchelistcheff, along with Jim Barrett, had hand-carried an armload of California wines to Paris for the competition. The blind tasting was held at the InterContinental Hotel in the center of Paris. The morning competition was devoted to white wines and the afternoon to reds. And Steven Spurrier brought together the very best white wines of Burgundy: a 1973 Meursault-Charmes, a 1973 Beaune Clos des Mouches, a 1973 Bâtard-Montrachet, and a 1972 Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles.
Alongside these French legends, there was the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay crafted by Mike Grgich, and other Chardonnays from California that the French judges had never heard of either. The judges expected to sniff and gag when they tasted the California wines.
But it didn’t happen that way. The nine French judges blind-tasted the white wines and graded each of them. The winner was the Chateau Montelena Chardonnay that Mike Grgich had made, with 132 points, the highest total scored of any of the wines, red or white, in the tasting. It was the champion! Then, to add insult to injury, the third and fourth places went to Chalone Vineyard and Spring Mountain Vineyard.
In the afternoon tasting of the red wines, the French judges gave their top ranking to Warren Winiarski for his 1973 Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon, beating the best wines of Bordeaux, among them a 1970 Château Mouton-Rothschild, a 1970 Château Haut Brion, a 1970 Château Montrose from Saint-Estèphe, and a 1971 Château Léoville-Las-Cases from Saint-Julien.
The judges were shocked as was Steven Spurrier.
Upstarts from Napa Valley had won both categories, against the very best wines of France. The French judges were speechless and a few tried to suppress the results, but without success. The following week, George Tabor’s story in Time magazine announced the American triumph, and it sent shock waves throughout the world of wine. Mike received the news that they had won by a congratulatory telegram from Jim Barrett in Paris. That was the first he learned that his wine was even in the competition.
Soon, though, the importance of what had happened began to sink in..
On July 4, 1977, Mike Grgich and Austin Hills, of the Hills Bros. Coffee Company, broke ground to start Grgich Hills Cellar, which from the start sold wines that were in high demand, based on Mike Grgich’s reputation as the winemaker who won the Paris Tasting. Gradually, the winery purchased 366 acres, spread over five vineyards within the Napa Valley, allowing all Grgich Hills wines to be produced solely from estate-grown grapes. In recognition of that significant achievement, the winery changed its name to Grgich Hills Estate.
The Paris Tasting revolutionized the wine world, establishing Napa Valley’s reputation as a world-class wine region! First, it shattered the myth that only French soil can produce world-class wines. For decades New World winemakers had all been stuck in that mindset and this finally broke through it. Second, the victory pumped new energy into the California wine industry, particularly in Napa Valley. Vintners were proud to be part of what was a revolution in American wine but they still had a long way to go. So they redoubled their efforts to make better wines each year.
California’s victory also inspired other winemakers in different parts of the world. Breaking the myth of French superiority gave new hope and energy to winemakers in South Africa, Italy, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, and even in Mike’s native Croatia. Now they joined the race to make world-class wines, and as the years unfolded California winemakers also shared with them their technology and know-how. As part of that effort, Mike returned to Croatia in 1996 and started a new winery in order to share what he had learned with young winemakers in his homeland.
George Taber, the Time magazine journalist who first reported the tasting, in 2005 wrote a detailed account of the event and its impact in his book, “Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine.”
As a result of his historic contributions to making world-class wine in California, Miljenko “Mike” Grgich was inducted into the Vintner Hall of Fame in 2008.
A Hollywood version of this story was true but not by much. It was called Bottleshock.
We salute the great Mike Grgich.
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This Christmas Stew features the last Christmas in the Round recording we did.
The year was 2020 – full Covid lockdown. Many good people lost to this virus. Far too many.
We gathered online at Dan Mangan’s Sidedoor Access.
Shari Ulrich and Barney Bentall.
Both on Bowen Island. Opposite Horseshoe Bay!
Bill Henderson
Not too far down the Georgia Strait on Salt Spring Island.
TDM
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The Rounders are:
Shari Ulrich – iconic singer, songwriter, and musician.
Merry Christmas all! -TDM
Roy Forbes – Host of Roy’s Record Room and much-admired artist.
Barney Bentall – He’s everywhere and always making great music. Bringing joy!
Shaun Verreault – One half of Wide Mouth Mason. String Slinger. Sings like a bird
Jim Byrnes – St Louis born…West Coast raised. Carries the blues with him. Fine actor.
Craig Northey – co-founder of Odds. Touring with Steven Page Trio. Currently a member of Trans Canada Highwaymen. Solid Songwriter.
Everyone brings a favorite Christmas song and personal story to exchange.
Fun was had by all… Hope you like it.
Susan would have loved it -
Our guest is Matt Layzell from The Matinee. They have released a new album Change of Scene
They’ve been friends making music for 15 years. This feels like the album that pays off all the hard work.
Produced by Steve Dawson who brought with him into the studio Allison Russell and The McCrary Sisters.
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