Of vultures and the aesthetic of July
A rattle-sound from my bike is about all that seems to ground me as I travel the rugged quiet of Closson Road. Red-winged blackbirds and four cranky crows tell of news—something maybe I oughta know? Something in the back-fields? Deer maybe, a fox? The man on the bike with the noisy fender? The sky at […]
Passion and pride
In the course of your tasting room visits you have probably heard of wines—in most cases chardonnay—undergoing malolactic fermentation. This week, I will attempt to define this process and its impact on wine. Malolactic fermentation occurs after primary fermentation. Malic acids—the tart acids found in Granny Smith apples—convert to lactic acids (found in buttermilk, butter, […]
The silent woodwhistle
“Chuck Tangello here for the new Silent Woodwhistle. Ever tried blowing a dog whistle and having every dog in the neighbourhood start yapping?” Cue scene with completely hapless couple blowing whistles, turning red in the face and being set upon by mob of angry dogs.) Chuck Tangello, Chuck Tangello; where have I heard that name […]
Speedo envy
Well, the first of the skimpily-clad shoppers have hit the local grocery and retail stores. After more than 40 years of observing this summertime phenomenon, I realize I’m not really angry or disgusted by the outfits some vacationers wear when they come into town to stock their coolers. I think I’m a bit jealous. Yup, […]
Hockey Hall of Fame 2014
They covered the bases with this year’s group of inductees into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Four players will be inducted: Rob Blake, from Simcoe, Ontario; Domink Hasek, from Pardubice, Czechoslovakia; Mike Modano, from Livonia, Michigan; and Peter Forsberg, from Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. Add to that list a coach from Quebec, Pat Burns, and a referee […]
True County spirit
The stainless steel tank had a huge influence on white wines. People tired of the excessive use of oak—and its vanilla and butter/cream palate—delight in the flavour profiles uncovered by this relatively new technology. Inspired by its success in the dairy industry, Emile Peynaud first promoted the use of stainless steel tanks as fermentation chambers […]
Needle art
Even with a background in Museum Studies and experience working in community museums, what I know about quilts you could probably push through the eye of a quilter’s needle. Of course, you know many of Ontario’s community museums have quilt collections. You knew that, right? I thought I’d write something profound, even witty, to let […]
Hall of Fame 2014
Two halls of fame are in the news this week. On Monday, the Hockey Hall of Fame announced its inductee list for 2014. Four players, one coach and one on-ice official made the grade this year: Rob Blake, Peter Forsberg, Dominik Hasek, and Mike Modano are the players. An interesting sort, as they all hail […]
La Methode Champenoise
The French government has recently made concessions to the EU, in order to protect regionally exclusive wine names. The European Union prohibits any region, other than Champagne, from calling a sparkling wine by that French provincial name. Some unexpected consequences have ensued. There are truly exquisite wines from the Champagne region, but more often than […]
By comparison
Seems as if there are mornings when it is not so much the light before dawn wandering through the window that speaks to me; some mornings I feel the earth turn. Like this one. Me, lying here below the skylight that opens to the morning star; lying here under clothes-line-dried sheets pulled to my chin. […]