Judgement Days: The All Canadian Wine Championships with Bev and John Carnahan

11/15/23 • 28 min

Canada's wine industry has been steadily gaining recognition globally for producing high-quality wines that capture the essence of the country's unique terroir. The All Canadian Wine Championships, spearheaded by wine enthusiasts Bev and John Carnahan, play a pivotal role in showcasing the diversity and excellence of Canadian winemaking. This episode delves into the world of Canadian wine, exploring the significance of the All Canadian Wine Championships in promoting and celebrating the nation's burgeoning wine industry. In this episode, you will be able to:

Discover why the All Canadian Wine Championships is the ultimate test of Canadian winemaking excellence.
Learn how winning awards can boost winemakers' credibility and sales - find out how a prestigious award can elevate their reputation and drive increased wine demand.
Explore the unexpected growth of the Canadian wine industry in new regions - delve into the expansion of winemaking beyond traditional areas and the exciting possibilities it brings for Canadian wine enthusiasts.
Dive into the rich history of the All Canadian Wine Championships - uncover the fascinating stories and milestones that have shaped this prestigious competition and its role in promoting Canadian wines.

Bev and John Carnahan are the organizers of the All Canadian Wine Championships, the most esteemed wine competition in Canada. With Bev at the helm for the past two decades and with John at her side, they have successfully managed the event, overseeing the evaluation of hundreds of bottles each year. The competition accepts entries from wineries nationwide, including grape wines, fruit wines, ciders, and mead. The judging process follows the 100-point system, ensuring a fair and thorough assessment of each wine. The competition takes place over three days, with a panel of experienced judges carefully evaluating and scoring each entry. The All Canadian Wine Championships has gained recognition for its commitment to celebrating the diversity and quality of Canadian wines. By providing a platform for both established and emerging winemakers, Bev and John have played a pivotal role in showcasing the best of what the Canadian wine industry has to offer. Contact Bev & John:

Discover why the All Canadian Wine Championships is the ultimate test of Canadian winemaking excellence.
Learn how winning awards can boost winemakers' credibility and sales - find out how a prestigious award can elevate their reputation and drive increased wine demand.
Explore the unexpected growth of the Canadian wine industry in new regions - delve into the expansion of winemaking beyond traditional areas and the exciting possibilities it brings for Canadian wine enthusiasts.
Dive into the rich history of the All Canadian Wine Championships - uncover the fascinating stories and milestones that have shaped this prestigious competition and its role in promoting Canadian wines.

Previous Episode

Upside Down and Inside Out: Wine and Food Pairings Re-imagined!

Nothing could be more monotonous than sticking to the same flavours and combinations, meal after meal. Keeping your palate interested and excited through varying wine and food pairings can lead to a much more enjoyable experience. That’s where experimentation and personal preferences play a significant role. Exploring new territory and challenging the palate can lead to beautiful discoveries you wouldn't have stumbled upon otherwise. My guest, Allison Pearce, a trailblazer in wine and food pairing, strongly advocates for this notion of experimentation. In this episode, you will be able to:

Discover unconventional pairing wine and food strategies to elevate your next dinner party.
Challenge traditional pairing norms and unlock new culinary experiences.
Learn how to pair wines successfully with tricky ingredients like garlic or tomatoes.
Find out how to cleverly use wines to complement missing flavours in your dishes.
Understand how personal taste shapes your enjoyment of wine and why it should be embraced.

With a career beginning at Canada's grand Post Hotel in the late 90s, Allison quickly learned all about wine, being trained by a sommelier. She not only embraced the discipline but revolutionized it with her unique approach. Over time, her understanding of wine pairing has evolved, breaking traditional rules and norms. Armed with her knowledge, she started experimenting with unorthodox pairings that caught people's interest. A firm believer in flipping traditional pairings on their heads, she confidently pairs whites with red meats and vice versa. Her daring approach extends to matching wines to complement or contrast the food's flavour, challenging common misconceptions. She emphasizes that enjoying wine and food isn't confined to the classic pairings we're used to. Her innovative ideas extend to pairing wines with side dishes instead of the main course, a move unheard of in conventional circles. This avant-garde approach has become Allison's signature style, making her a food and wine pairing pioneer. Contact Allison:

Next Episode

A Winemaker Who Loves to Create Culinary Magic (and Great Wine)

If you're feeling frustrated and disappointed with lackluster vegetarian and vegan dishes that fail to excite your taste buds, then you are not alone! Despite your best efforts to experiment with different ingredients and recipes, you may find that the flavors are falling flat and leaving you unsatisfied. Instead of achieving the result of enhancing your dishes with creative wine pairings, you might be stuck in a cycle of bland and uninteresting meals that lack the depth and complexity you crave. In the world of instant gratification, what can be better than eating food and drinking wine and having that work exceptionally well together and being able to do it again and again in the same meal? - Keith Tyers Keith Tyers is not only a highly regarded winemaker at Closson Chase Vineyards in Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada, but also a guest who always brings an exciting and fresh perspective to Wine Behind the Scenes. With a background in the restaurant industry, his approach to wine and food pairings is all about creating unique and memorable experiences. He believes that the wine should take the spotlight and the food should be tailored to complement and elevate its flavors. Keith's passion for wine and food shines through in his conversations with host Laurel Simmons, and he is always ready to share his knowledge and expertise. Whether it's exploring new flavors or experimenting with vegetarian and vegan dishes, his creativity and enthusiasm make him a fantastic guest for anyone looking to enhance their culinary adventures with creative wine pairings. In this episode, you will be able to:

Discover creative wine pairings that will elevate your vegetarian and vegan dishes to a whole new level of flavor.
Learn how to create delicious and satisfying plant-based meals that perfectly complement the unique characteristics of different wines.
Explore unconventional wine and food pairings to expand your palate and discover unexpected taste combinations that will surprise and delight your senses.
Master the art of incorporating hazelnuts into your vegetarian and vegan dishes, unlocking a world of rich and nutty flavors that will take your cooking to new heights.
Deepen your understanding of the concept of finesse in wine, and how it can enhance the depth and complexity of your vegetarian and vegan recipes.
Unleash your creativity in the kitchen by experimenting with new flavors and techniques, guided by expert tips on wine and food pairings that will elevate your vegetarian and vegan cooking to a whole new level.
Delight your taste buds with the perfect harmony of flavors and textures that come from pairing the right wine with your plant-based dishes.

Contact Keith Tyers here: