News

Tasting Room Radio - November 11th, SWIRL 2023: Over 60 BC wineries pouring in one place

Interview with Chris Tolley – Co-Owner of Moon Curser, starts at ~14:44 to 19:22.

At 17:16, you'll hear Terry David Mulligan ask when people come up to the table at Swirl BC, can Chris tell which wine will be the star of the day, and what's the one wine that will blow their minds, that they are not expecting: Terry says Moon Curser Viognier 2022 & Chris agrees! Terry caps off by asking Chris what he wants to tell Moon Curser wine fans in general about the next couple years in the Okanagan and Osoyoos.

Listen to Terry David Mulligan Interview Chris Tolley of Moon Curser.

Tasting Room Radio - July 1, 2023 - "Another 'walk in the neighbourhood'"

Interview with Beata & Chris Tolley – Owners of Moon Curser, starts at ~32:14 to 47:56.

You'll hear updates from Beata about some of the big awards Moon Curser wines have won recently, like the 2021 Syrah, 2021 Contraband Syrah and 2021 Malbec that won Double Gold at the 2023 All Canadian Wine Championships. Starting at 38:13 hear them talk about our wines - Terry asks Chris about how sparkling wines Eclipse and Moonlit came to be, then chimes in that with the Eclipse Traditional Method Roussanne Marsanne he “Meant to taste, just the neck…I cleaned it out!”. Starting at 44:36 Terrys ask a question to Beata and Chris regarding Moon Curser celebrating 20 years since planting their vineyards…“What do you want to do with the next 20 years?”.

Listen to "Another 'walk in the neighbourhood'"

Tasting Room Radio - July 2, 2022 - "Checking in with The Neighbourhood!!"

Interview with Beata & Chris Tolley – Owners of Moon Curser, starts at ~37:17 to 53:30.

You'll hear updates on the 2022 growing season from Chris. Starting at 41:28 they chat about a small selection of Moon Curser's LARGE portfolio. Terry speaks about his favourite wine from Moon Curser's portfolio this year and he said it was Roussanne Marsanne. "I just love it. I just love it. I love it, I love it, I love it and if you keep making it on that level, it will just get better and better and better and better and it will become one of your true signature wines." Starting at 46:36 hear about Moon Curser's Syrah and Contraband Syrah and Chris and Beata speak about vintage variation.

Listen to "Checking in with The Neighbourhood!!"

Tasting Room Radio - Sept 18, 2021 - The 5th and final week of Okanagan Reconnect

Interview with Beata & Chris Tolley – Owners of Moon Curser starts off this episode.

Listen or watch the 5th and final week of Okanagan Reconnect

Tasting Room Radio - Dec 5th, 2020– The Hatch. Hillside. Moon Curser. Enrico. A new Season of TRR.

Interview with Beata & Chris Tolley – Owners of Moon Curser starts at approximately ~30:15

To listen to this episode click here.

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"Moon Curser – Beata.Chris Tolley  Founders. Chris is Winemaker.  (Osoyoos Bench)

 

In 2003 both Beata and Chris completed a Post Graduate Degree in Viticulture and Oenology at Lincoln University is Christchurch NZ.

In 2004 Beata and Chris started small and well under the radar after their move from Calgary. Chris a software designer, Beata a Chartered Accountant.

The Moon Curser name pays tribute to the Gold Smuggling history of Osoyoos which is right up against the USA Border.

 

Unlike almost anyone else in the Okanagan, they decided right from the beginning to grow, bottle, and sell premium wines from old World grapes.

Tannat, Dolcetto, and  Touriga Nacional.   Then they added Syrah, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Tempranillo, Arneis, Roussanne/Marsanne, Viognier.

Then they added AWARDS.  The latest is the greatest.

Moon Curser was recognized as #1 Best Performing Small Winery at the 2019 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada.

The award perhaps explains why so many of their wines are Sold Out.  Beta and Chris will let us know what’s left to order.

They have a great wine club and Beata will explain why club membership would make a great gift.

This is a truly great small winery with a big heart.

 

www.mooncurser.com"

Tasting Room Radio – July 18th, 2020 Rathjen Cellars. Jim Cuddy Wines. Moon Curser, The Best Small Winery in Canada

Interview with Chris Tolley – Co-Owner/Winemaker at Moon Curser starts at approximately ~39:58

To listen to this episode click here.

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"At the end of the competition, the winery walked away with several medals led by a Platinum for its remarkable ode to the Douro Valley, the 2017 Touriga Nacional. They followed that up with six gold medals for a 2015 Tannat, think Uruguay; 2018 Dolcetto, that’s Italy; a 2017 Malbec, that’s Argentina; a 2017 Tempranillo, a nod to Spain; a 2017 Petit Verdot a classic from Bordeaux; and one final gold for a 2017 Dead of Night, a blend of Syrah and Tannat.

 

“Well, you get the picture, this is one very different producer, and in many ways, a poster child for what we always hoped would be the kind of innovative, family estate winery that would grab the title of the Best Performing Small Winery in Canada.

All that is left for you to do is try the wine and eventually visit the winery to experience what the Tolleys did when they first got into the business, something new and intriguing and most of all different.”

Anthony Gismondi – Co-Head Judge

 

Moon Curser’s Medal Winning Wines

Platinum: 

Moon Curser 2017 Touriga Nacional, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Gold:

Moon Curser 2015 Tannat, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Moon Curser 2018 Dolcetto, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Moon Curser 2017 Malbec, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Moon Curser 2017 Dead of Night, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Moon Curser 2017 Tempranillo, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Moon Curser 2017 Petit Verdot, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Silver:

Moon Curser 2017 Carmenere, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Moon Curser 2018 Arneis, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Bronze:

Moon Curser 2017 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Moon Curser 2018 Afraid of the Dark, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

 

In 2006 they opened the doors to Moon Curser..except, at the time it was called Twisted Tree.

Rebranding brought the name Moon Curser.

The location has always been the same..very close to being the last winery in BC..right at the USA  border.

I had already done an interview with Chris when the awards were handed out..so here’s the update from Chris and the whole interview before they won the award.

Congratulations to Chris and Beata Tolley

Moon Curser Wines

https://www.winealign.com/awards/2019/07/31/2019-nwac-results"

Tasting Room Radio - August 31st, 2019 – Jim Cuddy doesn’t like Rosé ! Plus Moon Curser and Mayhem!

Interview with Chris Tolley – Co-Owner/Winemaker at Moon Curser starts at approximately 12:22

To listen to this episode click here