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 - Port and Douro Wine Tasting - October 22, 2007

03 Nov 2007

 

Port … to wine lovers it has nothing to do with fish, boats or huddled masses seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time.  It’s about sweet, supple wines with 20% alcohol.  Words like Tawny, Vintage, Ruby, 10-, 20- and 30-years old adorn the labels.  Names like Fladgate, Graham’s, Warre’s, Dow’s and Sandeman get palates salivating for dark chocolate, almonds and blue cheese.  Flavours of cherries, plums, tangerine, hazelnuts and countless others fill both the nose and the mouth.  And, of course, real Port means Portugal – like Champagne, Sherry, Tokay and Sauternes, Port has a particular region of the world to call home … and that’s where they make those potent, delicious and intoxicating elixirs.  But Portugal is not just about Port wines, as the Port and Douro tasting proved – though some of the most memorable moments are of sipping the sweet red and amber nectars.

Portugal is not only about red wines they do make whites wine too, but when 85% of your show is stained red, those are the wines you concentrate on.  We’ll kick off this look at Port and Douro wines with the still table wines then move onto the Ports themselves.  Finally, I will tell you my best of show winner … a table that was a must visit.  (Read more)

 

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

Report from - Taste! The County – October 6, 2007

09 Oct 2007

 

On a rainy, muggy Saturday afternoon 47 different vendors, restaurants, wineries, breweries, et al got together for Taste! in Picton.  Billed as “a celebration of regional cuisine” Taste! has come a long way from a 6 winery  / 6 restaurant show.  Now the wineries (9 were in attendance) are far outnumbered by the restaurants, chocolatiers, mustard and dip makers and a variety of other vendors selling and showcasing their wares.  This is the show where the whole of Prince Edward County gets to shine.  You can sample foods like ravioli, pulled pork, apple fritters, Italian fish and chips, County-style fish and chips, mini-burgers, cheeses and countless other delicacies all made fresh on the spot, or within the County, and focusing on local:  local produce and local products.  It’s at this event that the wine has really taken a backseat to all the other draws of the County:  although they still have throwback awards for the best wine and food pairings.

The event is held on the grounds of, and inside, Picton’s Crystal Palace, which is a beautiful venue ... (Read more)

 

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

 

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