On the Road with the Grape Guy

On the Road with the Grape Guy is a on-going feature that follows me from event to event ... I post my thoughts, feelings and reviews of what happened and what I tasted ... basically it is here that I review the events I attend and the things that thrilled me.

Report from - Twilight in the Vineyard with Chantal Kreviazuk … Saturday June 27, 2009

01 Jul 2009

 

A fairly lazy day turned into a very lazy, and music filled, night - and as the old saying goes, a day without music is like a day without sunshine, and trust me, this day had plenty of that too.

Our day in Niagara began with a mid-afternoon trip to Lailey Vineyard to try a couple of 2008 whites (Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - not yet released), 2007 Chardonnay (set for bottling in July) and a peak at a couple of Pinot Noirs (2007 – awesome – & 2008 – coming along nicely).  In the late afternoon we found ourselves at Cattail Creek, where we sampled the 2008 Unoaked Chardonnay, Serendipity Rosé, Gewurztraminer and got a sneak peak at the soon to be released Select Late Harvest Meritage (a real winner in my books).

But the piece-de-resistance (as they say), and our reason for being in Niagara in the first place, the opening of the 9th Annual Twilight in the Vineyard concert series at Jackson-Triggs, starring Chantal Kreviazuk.  Now, for those who have read my previous Jackson-Triggs Twilight write ups, you’ll know that I seem to be a jinx for the caterers’ performance.  One year the caterer ran out of food, the following year the caterer was late; this year I decided to give the concert a fighting chance of getting a good review, and not even bother with signing up for the dinner.  As I walked into Jackson-Triggs and was presented with my tickets I was told, “The Vineyard Grill is going wonderfully well”, not once, not twice, but at least three times by three different people.  And it was true.  Smiles were on the faces of those sitting or standing with plates and there was no griping.  I wandered over to the food tent to get a glimpse of what was on the menu, there seemed to be plenty of food to choose from and many stations you could wander up to to fill your plate.  A J-T staff member (Stacey) offered me a sampling of the night’s fare, as I stood in line for water and wine.  I’ll never say “no” to a light bite.  What she put together for me was a small plate with a bean and pea salad, grilled veggies, roasted mini potatoes, salmon and pork loin – all delicious, and served at just the right temperature.  I wandered back into the food tent to get some pictures and bumped into the man behind tonight’s delicacies, chef Michael Olson.  We spoke for a bit about the food and the evening.  Michael told me he had done his homework, “there are two things you never do in the catering business,” he said in his usual jovial tone, “arrive late or run out of food.  You can get drunk, start a fight, set fire to a table - but never arrive late or run out of food.”  He gave out a jovial laugh as he finished reciting his rules of catering and with that we shook hands and he was off to tend to one of the food stations, to talk with his staff.  I caught up with him about 5-minutes later doing some hands on work with the pork loin (see picture).  I should also mention the delicious desserts, of which the mini-strawberry shortcake was a personal favourite.  Now it was time to wait for the night’s main event.

Finally, the wait was over, Del Rollo appeared on stage, as he does every year, to welcome us all and hype the night, and the upcoming season.  With a cheer Del turned and was hugged by the emerging Chantal K, who took her seat at the piano, pulled the mike in close, and tinkled the first few bars of ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’, which was greeted with an appreciative roar from the crowd; she began singing just as a single-engine jobbies flew over-head. Music and banter filled the amphitheatre, wine flowed and people sang along with the songs they knew (and head-bobbed to those they didn’t - including a sampling of some new material from her upcoming album).  It was the perfect end to a perfect lazy day in Niagara.  Chantal called the Jackson-Triggs venue her favourite “and I get to play Massey Hall,” she said.  “With the crowd, the wine, the beautiful Niagara location in the vineyard, what more could you ask for?”  What more indeed.  I now find myself looking forward to the 10th Annual Twilight series.


To see pictures of the event, or read my wishlist for the 10th Annual Twilight series, click here


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

 

 

Report from - Archibald’s Fruit Wine & Food Festival ... May 30, 2009

31 May 2009

Hot dog (probably the only food not available for tasting today) a wine and food festival with a twist.  The twist?  It’s fruit wine, the 10th Annual Archibald’s festival that brings local area eateries (in and around Bowmanville) together with Ontario fruit wineries.  This year there were 10 participating wineries.  Some, like Southbrook, Muskoka Lakes and Rush Creek are annual attendees, while others like Countryman’s and Moon Shadow are relatively new to the festivities.  This is by no means all the fruit wineries of Ontario – for that Archibald’s would have to clear out their entire parking lot and set the tents up there … but it is a good representation of fruit wineries in the area, and from a little further.  I have to hand it to Archibald’s, this year’s event was well thought out and spacious as compared to last year’s.  Last year there was one long tent with wineries and foodries up and down each side, causing a over-crowding situation where you always felt like you were in the way and stepping on your neighbour-taster, combine that with the heat and flash of a heavy downpour and the tent became stifling at times.  This year the tents, yes plural, were set up in a “U”-shape with the wineries and food stations on the outside perimeter, and the interior had lots of tables, chairs and plenty of room to move about and enjoy your sample without feeling rushed or in the way; kudos to the organizers (Archibald’s) for realizing the need for a much better set-up.

So Who Was There …

Applewood, Countryman’s, County Cider, Kawartha Country, Moon Shadows, Muskoka Lakes, Ocala, Rush Creek, Southbrook and of course the host, Archibald’s.  My foodie took the day off, so I was on my own for food selections, and those who know me know that food takes a back seat to a good glass of wine, but there were some interesting and tasty dishes to be had – keeping in mind that sometimes simple is best.

Food First …

Chanterelle Bistro (Bowmanville) served delicious mini lamb burgers that were succulent and juicy topped with a mint jelly.  Everything from the bun to the jelly was homemade.

A gentleman by the name of Eben Vanderstam, who goes by the moniker “Chef Eben”, had the most sought after treat of the day:  Durham Pork and Beef Meatballs Walsaka.  Everybody was carrying at least one of these delicious squash ball sized meatballs around, smothered in a delicious sweet and tangy sauce; if you were unlucky enough not to be carrying one around (or hadn’t tried one yet) you sooner or later found yourself asking someone, “where did you get that?”

Steamers Catering (Newcastle) had the dessert of the day to die for:  Chocolate Crunch Trifle … chocolate cake, chcolate pudding with toffee-almond crunch mixed in, all topped with whipped cream and a cherry.  I suffered through one, but would have gladly suffered through a dozen more.

Now, The Wine …

Ten wineries pouring a minimum of three wines each, though many were pouring more, and the choices of what to try seemed endless.  But the wine of the day went to Applewood Farm Winery for their Mac Meade ($12.95) – there is no doubt as to why this wine won it’s Double Gold status at this year’s All Canadian Wine Championships (its second in as many years).

Other delights included ... (Read more)

 

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

 

 

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