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This week we're checking in on the 2026 B.C. harvest with two winemakers. Taylor Whelan, Senior Winemaker at Mission Hill Family Estate, tells us how the vintage unfolded, and we taste a couple of wines that would make stellar Christmas Gifts for wine aficionados. Then Black Sage Vineyards winemaker Jason James joins us to talk harvest and one of Canada's warmest vineyard sites, and we will taste his 2022 Merlot and Shiraz. Next, we head to Portugal to meet Diogo Lopes, Chief Winemaker at AdegaMãe, a family-run winery, founded in 2010 just eight kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean, that brings together Portuguese wine traditions and a decidedly modern wine outlook. And to finish, we're off to Australia where veteran wine professional and storyteller Jane Ferrari joins us for a mini-master class on the Barossa Valley, exploring the people, places and wines that have made it one of Australia's premier wine regions.

This week on the show, Shane Munn, Winemaker/GM at Martin's Lane Winery in the Okanagan Valley sub-GI of East Kelowna, shares an update on current B.C. releases and explains why and where he searched Oregon for replacement Pinot Noir grapes to make wine in 2024. Still in East Kelowna, we stop by to talk with CedarCreek winemaker Andrés Gálvez Pizarro, who joins us to discuss his journey to the top of winemaking at CedarCreek and what changes, if any, he will make to some of Canada's most northern wines. Next we head offshore to speak with Sam Pfeiffer, owner and director of Whistler Wines in Australia's Barossa Valley. The Pfeiffer family's long association with the Penfolds winery led to a unique gift his father received upon retirement. And finally, we are joined by 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 to run the estate, tending their vines with care and precision, following biodynamic principles.

This week, we speak with Emily Faulconer about her move to British Columbia and her passion for winemaking. Formerly chief winemaker at Chile's Arboleda winery and Viña Carmen, Emily became technical director and head winemaker at Viñedos Chadwick in 2023, overseeing the iconic Viña Chadwick and Seña labels. This year, she relocated with her family and became Vice President and Technical Director of Iconic Wineries of British Columbia. Next, we head to the Fraser Valley to meet Mary McDermott, Winemaker at Township 7 Vineyards & Winery, and taste two new rosés she created. Luca Inama, a third-generation member of the Inama family, joins us from the family's Veneto estate. One of three brothers working at the winery, Luca brings a background in agricultural technology, international cellar experience, and a strong interest in sustainable viticulture. We discuss Inama's territory-driven wines from volcanic Soave Classico and the limestone-and-clay soils of the Colli Berici. Finally, La Rioja Alta Export Manager Stéphane Desmarquest introduces one of Rioja's founding wineries, established in 1890, and presents the La Rioja Alta 2020 Viña Alberdi Reserva Rioja and the La Rioja Alta 2022 Lagar de Cervera Albariño.

This week on the show, we head to the South Okanagan’s Golden Mile Bench, joined by Caroline Schaller, winemaker at Culmina Family Estate. We talk about the 2026 harvest and taste the 2020 Hypothesis and 2025 Gruner Unicus. Then we chat with Van Doren Chan, a Vancouver-based Private Chef and sommelier, about dumplings and other culinary insider tips. We are joined by Stephen Leroux, CEO of Charles Heidsieck, as we learn more about the famous champagne house founded in Reims, France, in 1851 by Charles-Camille Heidsieck, later to be known as "Champagne Charlie". Finally, 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 Ser Lapo Chianti Classico Riserva and the Mazzei Zisola Nero d'Avola made some 624 years later.

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 and a 2022 Merlot from the Da Silva Vinhedo Series. Darcy Hagan, Director of Weddings and Luxury Events at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, and Nicholas Hall, Director of Food & Beverage at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, join us in the studio to talk about the spooky season at Vancouver's legendary downtown hotel. We talk about last-minute turkey delivery for Thanksgiving and upcoming events, including the Spirit of Scotland Dinner Series. Then we are joined by Stephanie Duboudin, CEO of Australia's Wine Victoria, who shares insights on this captivating region near Melbourne's lively food scene.

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 regions. We begin at the newly renovated The Restaurant at Unsworth, where Chef Dan Bain and Chris Turyk explore the powerful connection between wine, food, and place, and why the Cowichan Valley has become a destination for culinary and wine lovers alike. Then, Dan Wright, Winemaker at Unsworth Vineyards, joins Chris to taste the acclaimed 2024 Chardonnay while discussing the 2026 harvest, cool-climate viticulture, and the many ongoing improvements at Unsworth, where the winery and the vineyards are expanding and evolving as they continue their quest to produce some of North America's finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The journey continues a few kilometres north at Blue Grouse Estate Winery, where we sit down with Winemaker and Head of Production Stacy Hornemann and General Manager Michael Abbott. Together, we uncover the unique soils, terroir, and growing conditions that shape the character of the Blue Grouse wines, including the vibrant 2025 Pinot Gris and the elegant 2025 Charme de l'Île. Join us for an inspiring tour of Vancouver Island wine country, featuring passionate people and the stories behind one of Canada's most distinctive wine regions.

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, and a passion for crafting wines that will endure for generations. Joining us is Jacq Kemp, viticulturalist and winemaker at Foxtrot, who discusses the winery's growing sparkling wine program as we taste here 60 months on the lees Foxtrot Blanc de Noirs, the fresh Chablis-style 2026 Luminous Unoaked Chardonnay, and the 2025 Foxtrot Pinot Noir. From nearby Skaha Lake, Lauren Skinner, Managing Director of Painted Rock Estate Winery, joins us with two benchmark wines that continue to define the South Okanagan: the beautifully aged 2019 Painted Rock Chardonnay and the powerful, cellar-worthy 2022 Red Icon. Next, we travel to Oliver to meet Christian Scagnetti, winemaker at Moon Curser Vineyards, whose adventurous approach to winemaking shines through in two captivating reds: the bold 2022 Touriga Nacional and one of his favourite labels, the 2022 Malbec. To wrap up the show, Nicole Hackworth, board member of Discover Naramata and co-owner of Nichol Vineyard, shares her insider's guide to experiencing the Naramata Bench during one of its most beautiful seasons. From tasting-room visits and vineyard walks to harvest excitement, local dining, and unforgettable lake views, she highlights why early fall is the perfect time to visit wine country. Join us to celebrate passionate people and the spectacular places that make the Naramata Bench one of Canada's premier wine destinations.

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 Cellars, Quinton Bennett, Culinary Director O’Rourke Family Estate and Peak Cellars and Carlos Melayes, Manager, Event Operations-Accommodations. We talk about the award-winning wines and the attention to a full customer tasting experience at the winery. Stephanie Stanley, Winemaker, OFE and Peak Cellars, and Amy Paynter, Associate Winemaker. O'Rourke Family Estate joins the conversation as we talk about several O'Rourke Family Estate wines, along with the dining experience and then head to O'Rourke Peak Cellars in Lake Country for a full tour of their wines and dining experience at the Garden Bistro. We close the show with Ian and Carlos, who describe the upscale accommodation experience and the new O'Rourke project on the Skaha bench.

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 regions. Ben Tombs, Head Winemaker at Craggy Range, joins us from Hawke's Bay. Ben’s wine journey has seen him complete numerous vintages across renowned wine regions, including Burgundy, Oregon, Yarra Valley, Hermitage, and the Hunter Valley, and he became Chief Winemaker at Craggy Range during their 25th vintage. We’ll talk about how Ben is balancing his respect for the winery’s legacy with his own stamp on the wines. Our regular contributor, Geoffrey Moss MW and Owner of Lithica Marketing, stops by to talk about what makes Summerland wines unique. Then we head to the Bolgheri coast of Tuscany with Marco Balsimelli, Technical Director at Ornellaia. It's Marco's first full vintage at the estate, and globally the conversation around this release is all about "La Vitalità" - the idea of energy, balance, and freshness driven by the coastal Bolgheri terroir.

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 known for its numerous small, family-owned wineries, many of which are multi-generational, distinguished by their innovation, craftsmanship, and strong sense of place. Stephanie Duboudin, CEO of Wine Victoria, shares insights on this captivating region near Melbourne's lively food scene. Federico Colombo, Brand Ambassador for La Celia in Argentina, joins us to discuss what makes Valle de Uco's Malbec so remarkable today, over a century after the first plantings. Our final guest, David McBean, GM of Watermark Beach Resort, reflects on support efforts during challenging times and shares his optimistic view on visiting the Okanagan Valley as the harvest and autumn unfold.

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 benefits and challenges of growing grapes so close to the Atlantic. Then we are joined by Stephen Leroux, CEO of Charles Heidsieck, as we learn more about the famous champagne house founded in Reims, France, in 1851 by Charles-Camille Heidsieck, later to be known as "Champagne Charlie". Then we head to the South Okanagan for a sparkling chat with Jacq Kemp, Winemaker at Foxtrot Vineyards, who discusses the Boyd family’s (new owners) commitment to producing sparkling wine and top-flight chardonnay and pinot noir on the Naramata Bench. From the Naramata Bench, we head to the picturesque Okanagan Falls and Green Lake region to speak with Daniel Bibby, Owner of Nighthawk Vineyards. This family-run business is setting the pace for its wines, restaurant, and incredible Luxury Tent House Suites, a one-of-a-kind luxury experience immersed in nature.

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 Awards of Canada, where judges and panel captains Janet Dorozynski and Michael Godel share their perspectives on this year's competition. This week we focus on the sparkling wine and rosé categories and examine how B.C. wineries performed against the national field. We wrap up the show with an update from Summerland as Okanagan Crush Pad co-owner Christine Coletta discusses what is happening behind the scenes in Summerland and at Haywire Winery and Garnet Valley Ranch Winery, and how consumers can support the region moving forward.

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 us on a magical wine journey to Burgundy and then directly south to talk about the Domaine Laroche project, Mas La Chevalier, in the heart of the Languedoc. Also, Nicholas Villalon, General Manager, Canada, Advini Wines, stops by to share the story of the JeanJean family, a renowned, sixth-generation French winemaking dynasty celebrated for shaping the viticultural landscape of the Languedoc region of France.

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 Inama Wines, a 3rd-generation family Soave producer and now one of three Inama sons running the business, producing harmonic wines from volcanic soils. David Lawrason, Critic, WineAlign.com, Co-Chair of the Wine Align National Wine Awards of Canada, is here to talk about his new venture called Lawrason’s Guide to Canada’s Best Wines. We talk about wine in general with someone who has tasted tens of thousands of wines over a storied career. Chris Turyk, Director of Marketing & Sales at Unsworth Vineyards, stops by for a refreshing discussion on the state of wine today and, moving forward, the opportunities to reach new markets with wine that continues to improve in quality.

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 National Wine Awards of Canada, which took place in Niagara in mid-June. Laurent Gamonet, Export Area Director, Canada, Georges Duboeuf is here to feature the 2024 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages and the 2023 Duboeuf Pouilly-Fuissé Premier Cru Le Clos Reyssier. Finally, we catch up with James Leonardo De Sa, Export Manager, Canada, M. Chapoutier, France, who pours an established favourite, the Meysonniers Crozes-Hermitage from Chapoutier, as well as a new label, Rouge Clair by M. Chapoutier 2024, a lighter, fresher Rhône red.