Tasting Room Radio - October 3, 2012

Its the 9th Annual Tailgate Party on the Naramata Bench. Happy Thanksgivin' ALL!

THE SHOW

The Tailgate Party is the Naramata Bench Winery Association let-your-hair down, pop-some-corks and have lots of fun event. It’s become THE wine and food event for wine enthusiasts to plan an Okanagan Fall weekend around. The event took place in the heart of Naramata Village at Manitou Beach and Park, Saturday Sept 8th.


Twenty-one wineries were pouring their wines; there was great local food featuring 10 outstanding chefs; live music by Shane Philips; dancing; and the Salmon Showdown featuring the guest chefs. Along with the esteemed panel of celebrity judges, Tailgate revelers got to vote to crown the Okanagan's best wine and food salmon pairing. The fresh salmon was provided by Codfathers Seafood Market and the event was supporting Ocean Wise, a Vancouver Aquarium Conservation Program. The salmon dinner was topped off with signature fixings from The Bench Artisan Food Market.


The Chefs competing in the Salmon Showdown are from P. Inc. Patio at Red Rooster Winery; The Vanilla Pod at Poplar Grove Winery; Lake Breeze Vineyards Patio Restaurant; The Kitchen from Misconduct Wine Co.; Hillside Winery & Bistro; The Lakeside Hotel and The Bench Artisan Market from Penticton; The Naramata Heritage Inn; and The Eldorado Hotel and The Waterfront Bistro from Kelowna.  

It was my pleasure to return to my home for the past 5 years and host the Naramata Bench Tailgate party.
This week’s show features some of the friends I bumped in to during the night!!

Elephant Island - Del and Miranda Halliday
Chef Debora Linton - Bench Market
Tom DiBello - Winemaker at Perseus
Cynthia Enns - Laughing Stock
Chef Thomas Render - Naramata Heritage Inn
Charlotte Sherriff - Hillside Winery (Tasting Room Manager)
Chef Rob Cordonier - Hillside Bistro
Mike Raffen - Township 7 Owner         
Chef Derek Bendig - The Eldorado, Kelowna
Chef Mark Filatow - Waterfront Bistro, Kelowna
Judy Kingston - Serendipity Wines, Owner
Katie O’Kell - Judy’s daughter and Biotech lawyer in training
Chef Ryan Fuller - Vanilla Pod Poplar Grove
Ian Sutherland - Chief Winemaker and co-founder Poplar Grove

Segment 2

Shelly Boettcher - Wine Columnist Calgary Herald/Exec Editor Wine Access (Judge)
Pat Lund - TRR Contest Winner
Chef Rob Clark - Executive Chef C Restaurant (Judge)
Chef Abul Adame - The Kitchen, Misconduct Wines
Richard DeSilva - Owner/Winemaker, Misconduct
Rob & Tammi  Van Westen - Van Westen Winery
Karen Gillis - Red Rooster Winemaker
Chef Darin Paterson - Bogners Penticton & P.Inc Patio at Red Rooster
Bob Ferguson - Co-owner/winemaker Kettle Valley

BIG THANKS to Tina Baird.  Queen of The Bench

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

Banfi
Chappell Hill
Benjamin Bridge
Antonia Mantonakis Brock University
Hawksworth Launches a house wine with Orofino
Joy of Feeding
Hayley Hamilton – Dallas Sommelier
East meets West Quang Dang vs Jeremy Charles
Salt Spring Island revisited
Actor Mike Smith leaves Bubbles behind
Steamworks sends out the beer love
Summerland pours the juice
Putting on The Ritz in San Francisco
Summerhill debuts Ariel..14 year old bubble
Joe Avati – The Italian Galleon
The Lenarduzzis
A Spirits Special
Stags Hollow
Gray Monk 30-40-50
Woodward Canyon
Ruba Nadda – Film Director
Jay Jones – Mixology
Foxtrox and Blue Water Cafe