< PreviousFlavours of Africa28pairs with Dukkah Sweet Potato Salad SANDHILL CHARDONNAYBC VQA $18.99 541193 Slightly rich and creamy in texture, with lingering flavours of red apple, Anjou pear, peach, pineapple and melon accented by vanilla and spice, this is a beautifully balanced Chardonnay with a long finish.pairs with Dukkah Sweet Potato Salad THE BEACH HOUSE SAUVIGNON BLANCSouth Africa $12.29 120972 Zesty lime pulp, gooseberry and lemongrass notes are fresh and bright on a light frame, with vibrant citrus acidity and a hint of chive that lingers.Dukkah Sweet Potato Salad29bcliquorstores.comfor recipes, see index on page 96TARYN WATaryn is passionate about creating and sharing beautiful and delicious food. She learned the importance of nourishing others from her mother and grandmothers, and fell in love with cooking at a young age. Don’t forget to plan for a Safe Ride Home.Don’t drink and drive.WHO’S GONNA DRIVE YOUHOME? www.bcliquorstores.comFLAVOURS OF AFRICA CONTINUEDDid you know?South Africa’s first recorded wine vintage was in 1659, marking this year as 360 years of winemaking.pairs with Moroccan Chicken and Almond Pie THE GRINDER PINOTAGESouth Africa $14.29 883991 Alluring aromas of freshly brewed coffee and mocha lead to a medium-bodied palate with dark chocolate notes tincturing the plush red and black fruit flavours towards a silky finish.pairs with Moroccan Chicken and Almond Pie ROBERT MONDAVI NAPA VALLEY FUMÉ BLANCUSA $24.49 221887 Meyer lemon, grapefruit and peach notes with a hint of gooseberry mark this iconic wine. Barrel fermentation and a dollop of Sémillon lends textural depth and richness along with an exotic flair.Moroccan Chicken and Almond Pie31bcliquorstores.comfor recipes, see index on page 96FLAVOURS OF AFRICA CONTINUEDDid you know?Injera is a crêpe-like flatbread, usually served whole on a platter as a communal experience. Stews or sauces are served overtop and pieces are ripped off and used to scoop up the sauces.pairs with Doro Wat served with Injera SPIER SIGNATURE CHENIN BLANCSouth Africa $13.99 659037 A bright mix of yellow apple, peach, pear and honey notes, laced with citrus and white flower accents, keep this juicy wine bright and fresh through the fairly plump-textured finish.pairs with Doro Wat served with Injera GEHRINGER RIESLINGBC VQA $13.99 171488 Fresh and lively, with plenty of green apple, peach and lemon notes, plus wafts of blossoms and honey, this delicious Riesling is off-dry on the palate, with food-friendly acidity and a lip-smacking finish.Doro Wat served with Injera33for recipes, see index on page 96bcliquorstores.comGettig to KowWayne GretzkyThe transition from filling out hockey score cards to racking up wine scores might seem awkward. But then again, we are talking about The Great One: you don’t become the leading scorer in NHL history (both goals and assists!) without having a telepathic read of the rink and seeing two steps ahead of the competition. That said, associations of Wayne Gretzky with wine (as well as spirits, and now also beer) may not be the first pairings that spring to mind. Which is why it was exciting to speak with Mr. Gretzky to learn more about his interest (both old and burgeoning) in potables. And though he readily admits that he is not the winemaker for Wayne Gretzky Estates (nor the distiller or brewmaster), he is involved in business planning, packaging, as well as promotions and has all wines sent to him for tasting. “If they don’t tell me how to play hockey,” Gretzky quips, “I won’t tell them how to make wine.”WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GET INTO THE BEVERAGE BUSINESS?My grandparents came over from Russia and lived on a 30-acre farm. They rented out land to a guy to grow hay; they grew it all. Cherry trees, pear trees… My grandpa also grew his own grapes and would make his own wine – barrels and everything – down in the basement. A big night on the farm would be having friends over to play euchre and pouring a glass of homemade wine. Grandpa passed in ’72, but we found some barrels in the late ‘70s.WAYNE GRETZKY ESTATES BEGAN WITH WINE, BUT HAS EXPANDED TO WHISKY (AND MORE RECENTLY, BEER). WHAT PROMPTED THE EVOLUTION? While we started with wine, we then saw an opportunity for unique whisky using our wine barrels and casks to add innovative twists. In hindsight, we could have started with beer! We worked with Niagara College to develop trials and are brewing locally in Ontario. We took inspiration from the rye used in our whisky to create a unique twist on a classic Canadian lager by using rye grain to make the beer. Joshua Beach, our whisky Master Distiller, is also a Master Brewer and I worked with him to create the No. 99 Rye Lager. It was a natural move for us.34photos courtesy of Wayne Gretzky EstatesMy grandparents came over from Russia and lived on a 30-acre farm… My grandpa also grew his own grapes and would make his own wine – barrels and everything – down in the basement.ARE THERE ANY SIMILARITIES IN MAKING WINE/SPIRITS AND PLAYING HOCKEY? In my career I have always trusted experts, and in hockey, my teams trusted me to be an expert. I don’t tell our Master Distiller (and brewer) Joshua Beach how to make whisky or beer, or our winemakers – Sydney Valentino in BC and Craig MacDonald in Ontario – how to make wine. Being on a great team means letting people play their positions, and we’ve been very successful on our team with this approach.In retired life, I have been lucky to meet many good people, like John Peller [Chairman and CEO of Andrew Peller Ltd. and grandson of founder Andrew Peller]. I have a great deal of faith in his family. I am a big believer in history and branding, whether in sports or the beverage business.WHAT ABOUT SPIRITS. WHAT IS YOUR GOAL WITH THE RED CASK WHISKY?The goal in creating Red Cask Whisky, our first whisky, was to create a truly Canadian whisky made the Canadian way, but with an unexpected and added element – finishing in our red wine barrels from the winery. We use locally sourced grains, individually distilled, matured and blended, then finished in red wine casks from our 35bcliquorstores.comJAMES NEVISONJames Nevison is an award-winning wine writer, educator and the co-founder of HALFAGLASS. He is the wine columnist for The Vancouver Province, where his column “The Wine Guy” appears each Thursday. James is the co-author of seven best-selling books on wine in Canada, including Had a Glass: Top 100 Wines for 2015 Under $20. Follow his wine musings @hadaglass.GREATNESS NOW COMES WHISKY OAK AGED.Aged with Wayne Gretzky whisky oak, this chardonnay andred Bordeaux blend have an amplified and smooth taste.Please enjoy responsibly.GETTING TO KNOW: WAYNE GRETZKY CONTINUEDCheck This Out!Looking to try something new? Pick up a bottle of Wayne Gretzky Estates’ Ninety-Nine Proof Canadian Whisky at the upcoming annual Premium Spirit Release taking place in select BC Liquor Stores. Quantities may be limited, so check our website for availability. For more information on this event see the article on page 74.Wayne Gretzky winery. We finish the whisky in Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot barrels to create a unique flavour. It’s the Canadian tradition of rye and corn whisky, finished off with red wine spice.WAYNE GRETZKY ESTATES OFFERS A NUMBER OF WHISKY BARREL-AGED AND FINISHED WINES, AND THE RED CASK WHISKY IS FINISHED IN RED WINE CASKS. WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THIS APPROACH? We are unique in being able to leverage our whisky, ice wine and wine barrels across our products – it’s all done in-house with the team, so they can create the best matches between products and try new things. The new Whisky Oak Aged wines, both a Red Bordeaux blend and Chardonnay, have an extra layer of depth and flavour from being aged with Red Cask Whisky oak casks.WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE DRINK FOR FALL? ARE YOU MORE OF A WINE, BEER OR WHISKY PERSON?Admittedly, I’m more of a beer guy. You know, hockey players hanging out after a game and all that.WHAT ABOUT A FAVOURITE FOOD AND WINE PAIRING?Right now, I think the Pinot Grigio is the best wine we make. It’s light, refreshing and enjoyable. I enjoy it with chicken and fish dishes. Nowadays I lean towards lighter food; have to think about these things; it’s not like when I was playing, doing cardio four hours a day and could eat all day!WHAT ARE THE FUTURE PLANS FOR WAYNE GRETZKY ESTATES WINERY AND DISTILLERY? We continue to add new products to the lineup in BC – the Whisky Oak Aged BC VQA wines this fall, and we have more new products coming to BC next year. We just opened a Beer Garden on the property at Gretzky Estates in Niagara-on-the-Lake and so far, people are loving it. And through it all I plan to make sure [The Wayne Gretzky Foundation] is involved, which John Peller is 100 percent behind. WAYNE GRETZKY PINOT GRIGIOBC VQA $14.99 5934 Pouring a light golden in the glass, this Pinot Grigio offers aromas of pear and orchard fruit in a fresh and fruity style, ready to pair with everything from grilled fish to fried chicken. WAYNE GRETZKY CABERNET SAUVIGNON SYRAHBC VQA $16.99 835348 This medium ruby-red blend offers a bright and sweet nose with flavours of spice, vanilla, tobacco leaf, blackberries and dried herbs. The lighter tannins give the wine a refreshing palate that is nicely balanced with acidity. Enjoy now or cellar for up to five years. WAYNE GRETZKY RED CASK WHISKYCanada $39.99 6291 Locally grown grains are distilled, matured, blended and then finished in red wine barrels from the winery to produce a smooth, citrusy whisky complemented by warm notes of vanilla and oak with a warming finish. WAYNE GRETZKY NINETY-NINE PROOF WHISKYCanada $101.99 64822 In this premium small batch offering, locally sourced grains are finished in Cabernet Sauvignon casks from the Wayne Gretzky winery, adding rich oak and baked fruit notes, along with a pronounced rye-forward spice.37bcliquorstores.comNext >