Mates on Crates Feat. Melanie Gagnon
G’day,
Those in the know, know where to go.
We’re excited to have just launched our latest episode of Mates on Crates, featuring Melanie Gagnon, Owner of Cork It Wine Making in North Vancouver. Cork It Wine Making has been operating on the North Shore since 2000, helping customers make their own wine, cider, sparkling wine, ice wine, and other fermented beverages. Guests can choose from a wide range of wines and customise everything from the beverage itself to the labels and packaging. Cork It Wine Making also offers a communal barrel-aging program and a boutique featuring products from local vendors. Moreover, the space has also grown into a community hub hosting events including yoga, sound baths, paint nights, clothing swaps, and private gatherings. The business has been recognised locally, including Melanie's 2019 North Vancouver Chamber Young Entrepreneur Award. Melanie is WSET Certified Levels 1 & 2, and has more than a decade of experience in the wine industry. With this expertise, she continues to grow the business while maintaining its community-focused spirit.
It was a pleasure to sit down with Melanie to chat about the winemaking process, barrel aging, sparkling wine, fruit wines, the many ways customers can customise their creations, Cork It’s role as a community gathering space, and the history behind the music and memorabilia throughout the space.
Each time we do a Mates on Crates interview, our guests share up to twenty of their favourites with us. For each episode, only a handful of those favourites make it into the final two minute cut. In order to highlight all of our guest’s favourites, we are happy to share the full list of favourites right here.
Melanie’s favourites at Cork It Wine Making:
Drink: “Just the Tip” Spruce Cider, Melanie’s dry apple cider made with hand-foraged spruce tips that add a citrusy, lemon-lime character to the cider.
Pairing: Grilled shrimp on the barbecue with a crisp summer salad.
The FULL LIST of Melanie’s Local Favourites:
Brunch: Tour de Feast
Cocktail Bar: The Flamingo Room
Coffee: Moja Coffee
Dying to Try: Fishworks
Food Neighbourhood: Main Street
French: Tour de Feast
Fried Chicken: DownLow Chicken Shack
Hidden Gem: Deep Water Tacos (Deep Cove)
Last Meal That Blew Them Away: Dachi
Once a Week Stop: Wildeye Brewing
Outside of Vancouver: Fox Mountain Brewing Co. (Williams Lake)
Pizza: Ravenwoods (Deep Cove)
Pub: Bridge Brewing Co.
Sushi: Osaka Sushi (Deep Cove)
Take an Out of Town Guest: The Shed at Cypress Mountain, Stanley Park
Thanks for joining us, Melanie!
Watch Melanie’s full Mates on Crates Episode below.
