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Tasting Room Radio-Award Winning Wines from Moon Curser. Winemaker Christian Scagnetti

August 9th, 2025-Listen in to "Award Winning Wines from Moon Curser. Winemaker Christian Scagnetti"

Terry David Mulligan does full-length interview with Winemaker of Moon Curser, Christian Scagnetti.

You'll hear updates from Christian and Terry about some of the big awards Moon Curser have won recently, like being ranked in the Top 10 Small Wineries in Canada, Top 10 Wineries in BC and Top 25 Wineries in Canada lists and our largest medal haul EVER with 13 medals🏅 at the WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada 2025 - including the first and only Platinum medal awarded in the library wine category to Moon Curser’s Malbec 2020.

To start things off Terry asks Christian about his Winemaking background, how long he’s been at Moon Curser and about the new owners, Sukhvir Dhaliwal, Gurjit Dhaliwal & Harjit Dhaliwal, a local family who has been in the grape growing industry for the last 20+ years and owning a winery has long been a dream in the making for them.

Starting at 9:52 - Terry talks about stumbling into one of the great stories of 2025 and asks Christian if he has a particular favourite he wants to talk about. At 12:27 they get into the rest of the wines, Moon Curser Eclipse ’22 traditional method Roussanne Marsanne Terry chimes in “ahhh wonderful, my favourite blend” “Those are two of my favourites… flat out. I follow that path.” Starting at 15:49 Terry asks Christian about “Crafted in BC” and if Moon Curser wanted to go south to look for like-minded growers to get through 2024. Christian talks about the grapes we got only two hours south of us from Lake Chelan.

Starting at 24:33 Terry highlights “certainly one of the stars of the show the 2022 Malbec and just wanted to remind people that Malbec won 3 gold medals” and the Moon Curser “2020 Malbec won the only Platinum at the WineAlign 2025 library wine category”. Regarding Moon Curser Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Terry says he was “going to write a whole bunch of stuff about the tasting notes and aromas and whatever and I just wrote WOW. Wow this is incredible!” and then Moon Curser Dead of Night Terry comments “Hands down…walking by if I see it, that’s it, that’s what I’m buying, cause it won me over years ago.” Thanks for all the lovely reviews Terry David Mulligan!

Vancouver Sun - Platinum Award winners well worth a pour

Anthony Gismondi lists Moon Curser Malbec 2020 in Platinum Award winners list from WineAlign National Wine Awards 2025 in Vancouver Sun article.

Castanet - Mission Hill Estate Winery in West Kelowna named Canada's top winery in 2025

Moon Curser Vineyards cracked the national top 25 wineries in Canada, along with 11 other wineries from the BC Interior that were listed in this Castanet article.

Ask Sid - ...an interesting Rosé for me to drink this Summer?

Sid Cross recommends Moon Curser Vineyards Confiscated Rosé 2024

Global News - Local Escapes: Discovering the summer beauty of Osoyoos

Moon Curser's winemaker Christian Scagnetti was interviewed by Liem Vu for Global News Local Escapes segment on Osoyoos, BC.

"Liem Vu returns to Canada's desert-like destination of Osoyoos in British Columbia to experience the beauty of equines, wines, and so much more."

Moon Curser's clip on Global News starts at 2:05.

 

Globe & Mail - Three Canadian white wines to discover

Christopher Waters highlights Moon Curser as a producer to watch for Viognier in his "Three Canadian white wines to discover" article.

New Ownership at Moon Curser Vineyards; Tell No One

NEW OWNERSHIP AT MOON CURSER VINEYARDS; TELL NO ONE

For Immediate Release

Osoyoos, BC, December 12, 2024

Moon Curser Vineyards, a family-owned winery located on the East Bench in Osoyoos, BC, has some exciting news to share, even though, as you might know, our preferred modus operandi is “shhh, tell no one.” They have found new kindred spirits in Sukhvir (Sukhi) Dhaliwal, Gurjit Dhaliwal and Harjit Dhaliwal, a family of accomplished South Okanagan grape growers, and are proud to welcome them as the new owners of Moon Curser Vineyards.

Chris and Beata Tolley, the winery's founders, plan to retire in 2025 after two decades of shaping Moon Curser into one of Canada’s most celebrated wineries. In the meantime, they will continue working alongside the new owners and the winery’s dedicated team to ensure a seamless transition and a bright future for the winery.

"Chris and I are incredibly proud of what we have accomplished as Smugglers-in-Chief over the past 20-years and are excited to pass the torch to Sukhi, Gurjit and Harjit who share our passion for farming and family," said Beata Tolley. "We are excited to see Moon Curser thrive under their stewardship."

The Dhaliwals bring decades of viticulture expertise and a deep connection to the South Okanagan terroir. As the new owners, they are committed to preserving Moon Curser's legacy of producing world-class, award-winning wines.

Known for their playful, clandestine narratives and distinctive wines, operations at Moon Curser will continue as normal, with plans already underway for bottling in March and an exciting 2025 season ahead. Fans of the winery can expect the same exceptional wines, outstanding experiences and moon-lit shenanigans that Moon Curser has become famous (or infamous) for. 

For more information on Moon Curser Vineyards and its award-winning wines, visit MoonCurser.com and be sure to follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for regular updates.  

Images Available. Please click here to view the Media Kit and Image Gallery.

ABOUT MOON CURSER VINEYARDS

Moon Curser Vineyards is a boutique, family-owned winery on the East Bench of Osoyoos, BC, a South Okanagan border town known for its hot summers, lakeside fun and vineyards. Moon Curser has been in operation since 2004, when Chris and Beata Tolley purchased an old orchard in need of replanting, and set about converting it into what is now the Moon Curser Home Vineyard block, winery and tasting room.

The Moon Curser name pays tribute to the gold smuggling history of Osoyoos. The Moon Curser wines, however, break from tradition – the winery’s focus has always been on making premium wines from old-world grape varieties not previously planted in the Okanagan such as Tannat, Dolcetto and Touriga Nacional. These varieties have not historically been a part of the South Okanagan viticulture, but thrive in the distinctive terroir of the Osoyoos East Bench and continue to deliver unique, world class interpretations of these wines.

Moon Curser has a long history of consistently creating award-winning wines, and was recognized as #1 Best Performing Small Winery at the 2019 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Sukhvir (Sukhi) Dhaliwal (New Co-owner/Operations)
sukhi@mooncurser.com
250.495.5161

Crystal Coverdale (General Manager)
crystal@mooncurser.com
250.495.5161

Decanter - Moon Curser Touriga Nacional 92 points

We're delighted to see Moon Curser Touriga Nactional '22 rated 92 points in Decanter, tasted by Michaela Morris. It was also in Michaela's 26 top scoring wines in her "Okanagan Valley 2022: A unique vintage in British Columbia" article.

"Exuberant aromas of nutmeg, blueberry pie with toasted crust and candied lilac back the saturated purple hue. The fleshy core of dark cherry and blue plum effortlessly absorbs sweet oak. Tannins are soft but give definition and luscious acidity quenches. A crowd-pleasing red, impossible not to like."

Michaela also rated Moon Curser Roussanne Marsanne '22 90 points.

"While there are subtle notes of toasted nuts and honey, the fragrant, fresh floral fragrances take centre stage. Lavender and orange blossom are joined by cantaloupe in syrup on the palate. Lees stirring augments the smooth, flattering texture. Well-endowed with concentration yet still juicy and refreshing."

 

 

Gismondi on Wine - Top 10: Best of NWAC

"Geoffrey Moss MW shares his top scoring wines from this year's National Wine Awards of Canada. ...

here are my top 10 scoring wines from the competition (all tasted blind). ...

Moon Curser 2022 Touriga Nacional
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia"

Read Top 10: Best of National Wine Awards of Canada

WEBOUEST - Episode's in French about Dolcetto, Malbec, Dead of Night and Syrah

For our francophone conspirators; pour nos conspirateurs francophones, salut!

"Guidé par le sommelier Jérémie Gosselin, nous partons à la decouverte de vins et de cidres locaux de l’Ouest du Canada. Nos dégustations suscitent invariablement des discussions captivantes, offrant une expérience enrichissante aux amateurs de vin avides d’approfondir leur connaissance de cet univers vaste et passionnant."

22 Mai 2024 - Dans cet épisode, Jérémie nous fait découvrir le Sirah et le Dead of night de Moon Curser.

15 Mai 2024 - Dans cet épisode, Jérémie nous fait découvrir le Dolcetto et le Malbec de Moon Curser.

Listen to both Webouest episodes.