Vancouver Island Sparkling Wine. Plus, why is everything so expensive?

June 22, 201790 Points, Averill Creek, Beer, France, Garnacha, Languedoc, Rosé, Spain, Sparking Wine, Spinnakers, Vancouver IslandB.C., BC, beer, British Columbia, CFAX, CFAX 1070, Rod Phillips, Ryan Price, Vancouver Island, Victoria, VQA, winedorkuncorked

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0:00 – 14:13: A trip to the baseball game at Royal Athletic Park leads to a quick review of Spinnakers’ “Original Pale Ale,” which in turns leads to a good old fashion bitch session about why alcohol costs so much at restaurants and… well… ball parks. Resident cork dork Rod Philips gives us answers.

14:13 – 23:40: Wine gifting etiquette. When giving, or receiving, a wine at a dinner party of other function, is it expected that the wine be used as part of the night? Don’t do what Ryan did and horde the good stuff when he gets a wine gift, like he did with a bottle of 90-point “Monasterio de Las Vinas” Garnacha-Tempranillo from Spain (which we review, since it came up).

23:40 – 38:26: We feature Vancouver Island sparking wine. Apparently, the region’s climate is perfect for this style and some wine makers are trying to capitalize on that with under the name “Charm de L’ile.” We try the Averill Creek “Charm de L’ile” from Duncan. Thumbs up! And, hot tip, buy it as a farmer’s market for $18.

38:26 – 44:25: Pick of the Week! It’s the Cote Mas Rosé from France’s Languedoc region. $13.99 for 1-litre at BC Government Liquor Stores.

Call-in Show #1

June 17, 2017Bulgaria, Cabernet Carménère, Cabernet Franc, Call-in, Carménère, Chianti, Chile, France, Gamza, Gehringer Brothers, Hester Creek, Italy, Loire Valley, Okanagan, Paxis, Portugal, Riesling, Rosé, Tinhorn CreekB.C., BC, British Columbia, CFAX, CFAX 1070, Rod Phillips, Ryan Price, Vancouver Island, Victoria, VQA, winedorkuncorked

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Live call-in show! We talk about all kinds of stuff with help from listeners on the phone… such as:

•Rod recommends Lovico Gamza from Bulgaria. Gamza is a grape you might never have tried, but you can find it for less the $10 and we’ll just call it our “Pick of the Week.”

•Luz Del Sur Carémère-Cabernet Franc from Chile. It’s a secondary label you find at Everything Wine, often on sale for $8.99. Ryan recommends it as a nice, smooth, easy drinking fruity wine for a good price. However, it was missing something. Turns out that something is “structure.” Rod explains what “structure” means.

•Tips for Cabernet Franc: apparently Tinhorn Creek, Hester Creek, and Gehringer brothers make some great B.C. versions. Or, from France, many blends from the Loire Valley contain primarily Cabernet Franc.

•We recommend A Chianti Classico from the 2012 vintage in response to a question about a father’s day gift. Apparently 2012 is the year to look for!

The rosé show. Plus, pairing with dark chocolate

June 8, 201790 Points, Corsica, Paxis, Portugal, Rosé, Wine PairingB.C., BC, British Columbia, CFAX, CFAX 1070, Rod Phillips, Ryan Price, Vancouver Island, Victoria, VQA, winedorkuncorked

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0:00 – 20:45: All about rosé wines.

20:45 – 28:00: When somebody calls/texts/tweets/emails Rod Phillips with a wine question, Rod calls it a “Wine-1-1” call. Here’s his latest — what wine pairs well with dark chocolate?

28:00 – 38:47: We revisit the 90-point Paxis red blend from Portugal, a previous pick of the week. A wine so good it made Ryan confused.

38:47 – 41:57 Since this is the rosé show, the Pick of the week is a rosé. Domaine Fazi from Corsica.

Great Canadian Beer Episode!

June 1, 2017Beer, Great Canadian Beer Festival, Phillips Brewery, Special GuestB.C., BC, beer, British Columbia, CFAX, CFAX 1070, Great Canadian Beer Festival, Rod Phillips, Ryan Price, Vancouver Island, Victoria, winedorkuncorked

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The co-founder of Victoria’s Great Canadian Beer Festival Gerry Hieter is our special guest for this special episode! We talk all about this year’s 25 edition of the GCBF, the history behind the festival, and Gerry’s journey in the evolving craft beer industry.

This week’s Pick of the Week is appropriately themed – Phillips’ “Short Wave West Coast Pale Ale.”

Prosecco pairings! And, the big companies behind the lables

May 25, 2017Cellared in Canada, France, Italy, Languedoc, Portugal, Prosecco, Rosé, Vinho Verdedorkuncorked

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0:00 – 22:45: We dive deep into prosecco! It all started when Ryan made a paella style dish for dinner and didn’t know what wine to pair with it. Rod’s suggestion was prosecco. We discuss why and learn more about the Italian sparking wine.

22:45 – 34:50: There are three giant companies in Canada behind the plethora of “Cellared In Canada” wine labels you see on store shelves. We peel back the curtain and examine who owns what.

34:50 – 43:52: Pick of the week! Casal Garcia Rosé from Vinho Verde Portugal. Also, we revisit a previous pick of the week – the Paul Mas Valmont Rouge red blend from France’s Languedoc region – that is a great wine for a great price but is kind of hard to find right now. We help out.

What’s the deal with wine points? Plus, weather woes and B.C. gin

May 18, 201790 Points, California, Gin, Long Table, Paxis, Pinot Noir, Portugal, WeatherB.C., BC, bcpoli, beer, British Columbia, CFAX, CFAX 1070, gin, Rod Phillips, Ryan Price, Vancouver Island, Victoria, VQA, winedorkuncorked

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0:00 – 9:25: More weather woes. A cold wet spring persists for many parts of the world (Vancouver Island as well), what does that mean for wine producers?

9:25 – 20:05: And the best gin is from… B.C.? Long Table Cucumber Gin, made in Vancouver, has just won a best gin award in the United Kingdom.

20:05 – 36:24: “Pick of the Week!” Paxis Red Blend from Portugal. A 90 point wine that should go on sale for $13 or $14 at private liquor stores. This gets us into a discussion on the point system used to rate wines.

36:24 – 43:08: A California pinot noir that made Ryan go “meh.”

What is siegerrebe? Plus, Rod drank a beer

May 12, 2017B.C. Election, Beer, Emandare, EnvyFol, France, Siegerrebe, Steamworks Brewing Co., Vancouver IslandB.C., BC, bcpoli, beer, British Columbia, CFAX, CFAX 1070, Rod Phillips, Ryan Price, Vancouver Island, Victoria, VQA, winedorkuncorked

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0:00 – 9:23: The B.C. election is over… well… not really. After weeks of Dork Uncorked covering what the election means for liquor policy, we scratch our heads and ask what next?

9:23 – 20:40: Siegerrebe is a white wine grape that is commonly grown on Vancouver Island. We learn more about it.

20:40 – 31:22: Pick of the Week! EnvyFol’s grenache-syrah-carignan blend.

31:22 – 41:54: Rod drank a beer.

Election booze update. Plus, 2017 weather woes

May 5, 2017B.C. Election, Chardonnay, Five Vineyards, Garnacha/Grenache, Okanagan, Spain, Tinhorn Creek, WeatherB.C., BC, bcpoli, British Columbia, CFAX, CFAX 1070, Rod Phillips, Ryan Price, Vancouver Island, Victoria, VQA, winedorkuncorked

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:48 — 29.0MB) | Embed

0:00 – 20:30: Booze in the news! First, both leading parties in the B.C. election propose a change to liquor rules that might improve the drink menu at some restaurants. Second, we learn that many of the world’s wine regions are suffering from terrible spring weather. What will that mean for the 2017 vintage?

20:30 – 34:30: Buying by the case update.

34:30 – 41:48: Pick of the Week! Mission Hill’s 2015 Five Vineyards Pinot Noir from the Okanagan. We also get a follow up review of the 2015 Tinhorn Creek Chardonnay and try a Spanish Garnacha from El Circo.

Pinot noir, saison beers, and special guest Terry Moore

April 28, 2017Australia, Beer, Box Wine, Chardonnay, Okanagan, Pinot Noir, Special Guest, Vancouver Island BreweryB.C., BC, bcpoli, beer, British Columbia, CFAX, CFAX 1070, Rod Phillips, Ryan Price, Vancouver Island, Victoria, VQA, winedorkuncorked

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0:00 – 4:00: Introducing radio host Terry Moore, who previously hosted a wine talk program with Rod.

4:00 – 27:40: A winding Pinot Noir discussion eventually leads us a Pick of the Week from guest Terry… Burrowing Owl Pinot Noir 2012, which you can only find in restaurants. Terry gets a second pick of the week (because he’s special) Valdo Prosecco.

27:40 – 29:50: Rod’s turn for Pick of the Week is the Renmano Chardonnay from Australia… in the 2-litre box for $18.

29:50 – 42:58: Beer talk! Rod says saison is a beer to watch. We get the history of this brew and Rod suggests you check out Unibroue’s “La fin du Monde” from Quebec, or the “Saison Dupont” from Belgium. Since everyone else got a Pick of the Week, Ryan tags on Vancouver Island Brewery’s new “Sombrio Citrus Session Ale,” a nice pale ale with some hops and a twist of orange peel.

Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon

April 21, 2017Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chile, Okanagan, Tinhorn CreekB.C., BC, British Columbia, CFAX, CFAX 1070, Rod Phillips, Ryan Price, Vancouver Island, Victoria, VQA, winedorkuncorked

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:11 — 27.8MB) | Embed

0:00 – 12:00: Pick of the Week! Tinhorn Creek 2015 Chardonnay, from the Okanagan.

12:00 – 19:25: We review the Invictas Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, from Chile. Why? Because it showed up at the house during an Easter weekend gathering.

19:25 – 31:14: Cork Dork Rod gives us the basics about Cabernet Sauvignon

31:14 – 40:11: Booze in the News!