Michael Pinkus Wine Review - On the Road with the Grape Guy

Report from - Fiesta Buckhorn ... July 18, 2009

22 Jul 2009

Details: Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

The morning threat of rain actually turned into a nice day, 20° partly cloudy with enough sun and breeze to make it comfortable. "This place is usually blisteringly hot this time of year," one patron said to me, "but because and this lousy summer …” his sentence trailed off as he took a sip of wine, “… delicious” he concluded. I suspect he wasn't talking about the summer. On the other hand, it was a delicious day full of wine, food, beer and a variety of other distractions at this year's 14th annual Fiesta Buckhorn. "I found the crowd to be lighter than last year," said one winemaker; while another winery owner said he thought they had the same traffic as in previous years. Just to break the tie I checked in with another winery principal who said, "I wasn't here last year and truth is I can't remember; seems about the same - but people come in waves ... here comes one now." She said walking to the center of her booth to greet a gaggle of glass toting folks (a gaggle is more than five but less than twelve).

I started my day off right, with a pulled pork sandwich at noon, from Archibald Estate Winery and a glass of their hard cider (apple). I asked Fred Archibald if he makes it himself and he told me it was with the help of a place called Buster Rhino’s in Whitby - a southern barbecue restaurant whose menu looks very tasty, especially for all those pork lovers.

There was a couple of new wineries on hand - (click here to see my wine selections, including wine of the day and a few pictures )

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

Report from - Matt Dusk at Chateau des Charmes ... July 12, 2009

22 Jul 2009

Details: Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

It was quite the jazz filled weekend … first it was the Jazz Festival at Hillebrand, then Sunday to Chateau des Charmes for a double bill of Cates-Fomin and headliner Matt Dusk in support of the St. Catharines General Hospital Foundation. Where Hillebrand’s jazz was more free form in nature and with a much larger crowd; the Chateau was a more intimate (210 people) old school smooth jazz affair under the tent. Stephen Treadwell catered the delectable lunch of beef short rib and risotto, before Cate-Fomin took the stage for a 30 minute two man show that had the crowd grooving to their kind of soulful jazz. Matt Dusk appeared in a cream colored pinstriped suit to lay tunes upon us like Back in Town, Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off and my personal favorite (and request) Miracle. All culminated in the grand finale of the Paul Anka-penned, Frank-Sinatra-famous “My Way” encore, which Matt said he would do only if the crowd came up onto the dance floor. It truly was a magical, fun filled afternoon - and what a place to hold it, staring out at the beauty of the vineyards, in the shadow of the escarpment, and sipping on Gamay Noir ‘Droit’ , Estate Chardonnay and a plethora of other Chateau des Charmes wines. (See article with pictures )

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