The Richmond Sentinel sat down in a filmed interview with Richard Goodine to talk about the holiday season. Richard Goodine is a man with decades of experience in the service and the wine industries. Of course, he's here to talk about some great wines for the holiday season. But also, we should also mention he's our newest columnist.

RS: We wanted to talk first about your career and why our editor and I were so keen to get you involved because of your great experience in the wine industry.

RG: It's funny, I didn't grow up in a wine culture. My parents, I think maybe once or twice when I was a kid, I might have seen a bottle of Baby Duck on the dinner table at Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

I moved to Vancouver, I guess, in 1988 after I worked in Alberta for the Olympics, and I was hired at what many people will know as the very famous Cannery Seafood restaurant on the waterfront. And I love telling this story. A gentleman named Kevin Chestnut sat me down at table 32, and he opened up a wine I'd never heard of. I still remember it vividly. It was 1985, Grgich Hills Chardonnay. And he explained what I was smelling and what I was tasting, and I was hooked. I started studying, traveling and researching to learn more about this craft. I managed to make an amazing life which has taken me all over the world because of my fascination for this great industry. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to drink a $50,000 a bottle of wine at somebody else's expense.

RS: One of the things Richard, you’ve accomplished is that you're a guy that restaurants love to bring in to increase their knowledge of wine. But you also, have a great sense of selecting a product for those who just want a nice happy-hour wine.

RG: I often hear, I was told to buy this wine or, some people like to add another substance to their wine or some just simply think it has to be expensive to be worthy. I believe It's your decision what you buy and how you serve it. Sometimes what's exciting is finding a really good value white or red wine that is served during happy hour. 

RS: And with friends like you who have been kind enough to pass on some great quality wines that are under $20 I’m learning to appreciate this advice.

RG: Most people don't believe this, but the average bottle of wine sold in British Columbia is about $16 and here’s a funny story. Years ago I was moving to Thailand and I couldn't take my wines with me and I had an amazing collection of Italian wines. Some of them three or four hundred dollars a bottle. I didn't want to leave them behind. So I had a big party at my house with a bunch of really dear friends. The next day one of my friends asked me to take him shopping for wine because the wines I poured at my party were amazing. So I asked, “what are you willing to spend?” He said, $25 a bottle. I said, “well, you're not going to be very happy then, compared to last night.” 

I think when people have the chance to drink a great wine, they're usually enamored by it. I've been on Rock Star private yachts drinking a thousand or fifteen-hundred-dollar bottle of Screaming Eagle, the truth is, I get as much kick out of a Grand Cru Burgundy or when I go to the store and I try out a $16 bottle of wine and it works, I'm happy.

RS: We're going to talk about a couple of wines that you brought with you, and I'm happy to say are from BC.

RG: The reason I brought two BC wines with me today is that, I was at Mission Hill about a week ago. First of all, an amazing facility and Anthony Von Mendel has done an amazing job of helping to put the Okanagan on the map and I've brought two excellent wines today that are at a pretty premium price point, but I think they're as good an example of quality as you will get anywhere in the world.

John Symes was a winemaker for many years for Anthony Von Mendel so there's a particular vineyard that's named the Simes Vineyard and Martin's Lane is considered to be one of these benchmark brands under their portfolio. And what we are sampling today is the Simes Vineyard Martin's Lane Pinot Noir.

This is as close as you're going to get to a Premier Cru Burgundy. It's about the same price point. This is about $105 a bottle retail. But, you know, going to that value discussion that we were having for the month of December, like at Sky, we're giving this for $23 for a 5-ounce glass. 

RS: We should mention, of course, your long-time connection as VP of Hospitality & Development for Sky Avenue in Surrey.

RG: We're in our third year now, but it's a relentless business, and it is one that people don't understand. When you are passionate about the industry you want to create great food, great wine and great experiences. Today is one of those experiences. I brought a white BC Chardonnay and I think you're going to be exceptionally impressed by this wine.

RS: I've always said to people, if you don't like Chardonnay, you haven't had a good glass. Am I right?

RG: You're sacrificing something if you don't allow yourself the opportunity to try it. I've done many seminars where I've said, “how many people hate Chardonnay?” And they raise their hands immediately. But the second question I ask,” how many like Chablis?” Their hands go up right away. And I have said, “that's Chardonnay, 100%.” So it just comes down to perception.

RS: I think this is as good a Chardonnay as you'll find in Canada. What would you pair this with?

RG: Oh, so many things. Scallops with Risotto. I do a Chicken Coq Au Vin with white wine instead of with red wine and an amazing Spaetzle, a beautiful Salmon or a Carbonara pasta.

RS: During the interview Richard talked about great ideas for Christmas gifts and why to choose the right glass for the right wine along with other interesting comments in the video interview which you can watch in full detail at: richmondsentinel.ca/videos/richardgoodine