On the Road with the Grape Guy

Report from - Prince Edward County Tour with the Wine Writers – Day 2 … August 22, 2009

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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

Day 2 saw us criss-crossing the County to visit four wineries and taste wines from 9 different wineries.  How is that possible, you ask? Simply put, with our limited amount of time in the County (Saturday and Sunday) and more than 20 wineries, there is no way a large inquisitive group such as ours could hit that many places – so, some wineries were invited to pour at alternative locations.  For example, we visited Amy Mumby (winemaker) and Ed Neuser (owner) at Waupoos Winery first thing in the morning, here we tried Waupoos wines as well as wines from 33 Vines and Fool on the Hill (a label produced by the County Cider Company).  Best wine at this stop was from the Fool, delivering up a delicious and tasty 2008 Pinot Gris .

Black Prince Winery was another winery where other wines were being poured, this time wines from Harwood Estates also hit our collective glasses.  The big news here wasn’t the wine it was what they are putting the wine into:  the Prince has an interesting barrel program.  An Ontario company called The Carriage House Cooperage are currently making Prince Edward County barrels (Canadian oak barrels sourced from wood grown wild in the County), which Black Prince is experimenting with.  Here we tried a Chardonnay using the new kind of barrel and a double shot of Cabernet Franc – one aged in French wood the other in Prince Edward County wood – with dramatically different results.  Terence Van Rooyen (consulting winemaker for the Black Prince) proclaimed “this redefines local”.

Our next stop was at The Grange of Prince Edward County where a delicious lunch of ... (see the rest of the story with pictures)

Report from - Prince Edward County Tour with the Wine Writers – Day 1 … August 21, 2009

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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

Arrived in style (at 5:00pm), by train, and picked up in a white stretch limo, felt like a rock star as we piled into the back and drove through town; and why not – Prince Edward County is the new “in” place where winemakers, winery owners and chefs mingle and have made PEC the hot bed of culinary activity it is.

The limo took us to Waring House, an incredible inn that I have passed on the highway driving from winery to winery, but never stayed at, now I’m not sure why.  I was put up in the new wing (Quaker Lodge) room 202, which was absolutely beautiful and spacious with a sitting room, bed room, and bathroom you could play football in; two televisions (one for each room, but not the bathroom) and a soft, luxurious bed big enough for 6.  My understanding is that each room is decorated differently and furnished with the last placed and delivered order by the now defunct Gibbard & Sons furniture company from Napanee, Ontario.

Dinner was scheduled for Clara’s restaurant in the Claramount in, but first it was a hop skip and a jump over to the pub for a quick pint with fellow wine writers David Lawrason and Alan McGinty.  David enjoyed the local bitters from Barley Days Brewery, I opted for the dark ale … I had a sampling of both and thought them good, but my leanings this hot afternoon was for something with fuller flavour.

Whisked off by same limo to Clara’s … (see rest of the story with pictures )

To read about more interesting adventures thru the world of wine check out the On the Road With the Grape Guy blog.