The VQEh Podcast

Welcome back! On this episode, Manny and Tash discuss fortified wine. Fortified wine has a rich history and is often underrated. These wines include those like Port, Madeira, and Sherry. We talk about the different styles and taste one from Niagara. Enjoy!Featured WineSouthbrook "The Anniversary"https://www.southbrook.com/

Join Manny and Tash this week as they break down what exactly a vessel is. How does it affect fermentation? How does it affect ageing? Does oak really make a difference? What is amphora? Dive deep in this episode and listen in as your hosts taste two wines made in totally different ways. Cheers!Featured WinesStrewn "Barrel Aged" Chardonnay 2015https://www.strewnwinery.com/Big Head "Raw" Petit Verdot 2017https://bigheadwines.ca/

Happy 2024 everyone! We are starting the year off with an episode on virtual wineries. These are wineries that do not have a physical location but still make amazing wine! There are many Canadian virtual wineries and especially in Niagara. Join Manny and Tash as they talk more about local virtual wineries and taste some wine.Featured WinesMaenad Wine Co. Piquette 2021https://www.maenadwines.com/2027 Cellars "Falls Vineyard" Cabernet Franc 2019https://www.2027cellars.ca/

Tash and Manny are back after a brief break (life gets busy!). In this episode your hosts discuss the wine trends of the season and what to buy for holiday gifts and hosting. They also do a blind tasting of two wines and both get them wrong - but it was fun! Be sure to tag us on Instagram this holiday season and let us know what Canadian wines you're drinking. Happy listening! Cheers.Featured WinesCreekside "50% Shiraz, 46% Merlot, 4% Viognier" 2010https://www.creeksidewine.com/Two Sisters Merlot 2018https://www.twosistersvineyards.com/

We've all seen it before: 91 points! 4 stars! Gold medal! on bottles of wine, but what does it really mean? Who awards these accolades? Is the wine really that good? Your hosts Tash and Manny sit down and dissect what wine scoring is all about and what it means for you as a consumer. Also, they blind each other on high-scoring Niagara wines, which hilariously are from the same producer. Enjoy!Featured Wines:Domaine Queylus "Tradition" Chardonnay 2019Domaine Queylus "Reserve du Domaine" Cabernet Franc 2019https://queylus.com/

Tash and Manny are back talking about Chardonnay... again! This time, your hosts focus on i4C and cool climate Chardonnay. Tune in to learn more about Chardonnay and its different expressions.Featured Wines13th Street Winery Blanc de Blanc NVhttps://13thstreetwinery.com/16 Mile Cellar "Civility" Chardonnay 2020https://16milecellar.com/

What is a vintage? Why does it matter? Do I need to pay attention to vintages on a wine list? How does it affect the wine? Get answers to all these questions and more in this episode. Manny and Tash discuss all things vintage and vintage variation while tasting a vertical of Niagara Riesling. Listen now!Featured WinesFlat Rock Cellars Riesling 2010Flat Rock Cellars Riesling 2013Flat Rock Cellars

Can you believe The VQEh Podcast has never done an episode on Cab Franc?! It's about time. This episode focuses on the Cabernet Franc grape that Canada, especially Niagara, does so well. Your hosts cover the history of the grape, its classic regions, tasting profile, and the great Canadian producers. Cheers!Featured Wines2027 Cellars "King Street Vineyard" Cabernet Franc 2020https://www.2027cellars.ca/Honsberger Estate Winery Cabernet France 2020https://www.honsbergerestate.com/

Greetings! We are back with episode 31. This time Manny and Tash discuss the life of a sommelier, the wine industry, wine education, jobs, etc. They discuss their unique experiences in the industry and what got them into wine education in the first place. They end the episode by tasting two "somm wines" - fun and funky Canadian wines. That's somm biz baby.Featured Wines:Queenston Mile Vineyards Pet-Nat Pinot Noir Rose 2017https://www.queenstonmilevineyard.com/A Sunday in August Pinot Gris 2021https://www.asundayinaugust.com/

Episode 30, wow! Tune in as Manny and Tash talk about old wines and aging wines. They also discuss the spelling of the word aging (ageing?)... who knows. Manny and Tash discuss why and when wine is aged, the proper conditions for aging, and how old wines taste. They also taste some pretty cool wines dating back to 1995! Hope you enjoy - cheers.Featured WinesThe Three Guys "Funk Vineyard" Pinot Noir 1995https://www.lakeviewwineco.com/site/homehttps://marynissen.com/https://www.stoneyridge.com/Kacaba "Proprietor's Block" Syrah 2013https://kacaba.com/Stoney Ridge Late Harvest Vidal 1999https://www.stoneyridge.com/

Manny and Tash are back with another episode! In honour of the holidays, your hosts are exploring dessert wine. They cover the different kinds, how it's made, where it's made, and the best ways to enjoy it. Grab a glass of ice wine and tune in! Featured WinesBig Head Chenin Blanc B.A. 2017https://bigheadwines.ca/Cave Springs Riesling Icewine 2017http://www.cavespringcellars.ca

Manny and Tash are back again with another blind tasting episode! Each host picked a wine without the other having any clue to what it was, and they had to blind taste their way to a guess. These ones are tricky! Spoiler: the wines are listed below.Featured WinesA Sunday in August Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon 2021https://www.asundayinaugust.com/The Foreign Affair "Abbraccio" Cabernet Sauvignon 2013https://foreignaffairwinery.com/

In this episode, Manny and Tash cover another of their favourite grapes: Syrah! Perfect for the fall weather, this grape has a rich history and is making a name for itself in Canada. Tune in as your hosts discuss the grape and taste a couple Niagara examples.Featured WinesCreekside Syrah 2019https://www.creeksidewine.com/Big Head "Raw" Syrah 2017https://bigheadwines.ca/

Join Manny and Tash as they discuss their favourite grape, Riesling! Although it can be a divisive grape, Canada makes some exceptional Riesling. Your hosts talk about the grape's history, where it's grown, and the best Canadian examples. Cheers!Featured WinesFlatrock "Nadja's Vineyard" Riesling 2019https://www.flatrockcellars.com/Ravine "Patricia's Block" Riesling 2021https://www.ravinevineyard.com/

Manny and Tash have an exciting new episode for you! Your hosts interview winemaking duo Kelly Mason and Brooke Husband. The episode was recorded in a vineyard, so please excuse the background noise. Listen in as these four chat about Kelly and Brooke's journeys into winemaking, their current projects, and future ambitions. Cheers!Featured WinesMason Vineyard Wild Ferment Viognier "Part II" Mason + Husband 2020Mason Vineyard Pinot Noir "The Matriarch" 2020(Not yet released)https://www.masonvineyard.com/

Your hosts are finally back with another episode! Listen in as Tash and Manny talk about the world's most popular grape: Cabernet Sauvignon. They deep dive into the grape's history, how and where it's made, and how it came to take over the world. Enjoy!Featured WinesFerox Cabernet Sauvignon 2019https://www.ferox.ca/Five Rows Cabernet Sauvignon 2018https://www.fiverows.com/

Manny and Tash are back with another episode and they are switching things up! This episode is all about beer. Ontario has a long brewing history and is home to some amazing craft breweries. Listen along as your hosts discuss the history of beer in Ontario, the different styles, and taste four examples. Prost!Featured BeerBellwoods Bellweiser Pilsnerhttps://bellwoodsbrewery.com/Fairweather Dream City Vienna Lagerhttps://fairweatherbrewing.com/Collective Arts Guava Gosehttps://collectiveartsbrewing.com/Dominion City Karmic Pardon Pale Alehttps://www.dominioncity.ca/

This week Manny and Tash explore the Ontario wine region of Prince Edward County! They discuss the climate and geography, varieties grown, and the best wineries. As usual, two delicious wines are tasted. See below for details.Featured WinesLighthall Chardonnay 2018https://www.lighthallvineyards.com/Huff Estates "Reserve" Pinot Noir 2017https://huffestates.com/

Manny and Tash are back again with an episode on natural wine! This episode, they define natural wine, debunk myths, differentiate between organic, biodynamic, and sustainable wine, and all the other confusing terms. As always, they taste two delicious Niagara examples. Enjoy!Featured WinesPearl Morissette "Oxyde" Riesling 2019https://pearlmorissette.com/Leaning Post "The Natural" Gamay 2019https://leaningpostwines.com/

Join your hosts Manny and Tash as they discuss value wines. They explain what makes a wine cheap or expensive, why some value wines are better than others, and share their favourite local "cheap and cheerful" wines. Cheers!Featured WinesTawse Sketches of Niagara Chardonnay 2020https://www.tawsewinery.ca/16 Mile Cellar Renegade Rose 2020https://www.16milecellar.com/13th Street Burger Blend Gamay Pinot Noir 2020https://13thstreetwinery.com/Big Head Red 2019https://bigheadwines.ca/#home