The real thing
The idea came to me after reading a short article in the winter edition of Watershed magazine. In the article, the proprietors of the Hinterland Wine Company (located here in the County) explain that early harvesting of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes both captures a “jolt of fresh acidity” suited to a sparkling wine and […]
Mulling wine
Once again, it is the time of year to remember our family heritage and their old world traditions. Mulling wine is a custom found across Europe, with each country contributing a different name and recipe variation of this wonderful winter beverage. In A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, for example, Mrs. Cratchit prepared mulled wine […]
Two snowbirds with one stone
It’s half past December. Yes it is. Yet, we’ve barely had a couple of flurries and a bit of frost on the windows of our trucks and cars. Even though the meteorologists have predicted a warm and green week or two to come, I’ll bet the real winter is just around the corner waiting to […]
Angelo Mosca – tell me to my face!
Angelo Mosca is 74 years old. He walks with the assistance of a cane, on well-used knees. He has seen his share of pain and suffering in his years, after decades of football and professional wrestling. Many of us remember Angelo from his days as a fierce player in the Canadian Football League. He began […]
How I relaxed and learned to enjoy a real parade
There’s nothing quite like a good Christmas parade or three to get a person deeply entrenched in the holiday spirit. The very first time I can remember going to see a Christmas parade it happened to be the Eaton’s Santa Claus Parade in Toronto. I might have been about three or four years old and […]
Château Petrus
We are all familiar with the name Château Petrus as one of the world’s most sought-after wines. Château Petrus is usually made from Merlot grapes, but—depending on the vintage—is occasionally produced from Cabernet Franc. These grapes come from a Bordeaux vineyard enjoying the Pomerol appellation, although it is also close to the Saint-Emilion region. The […]
The bell of Glenora
Waiting for the ferry at Young’s Point in Adolphustown, the bisque waters of the bay anchor the shaggy crest of North Marysburg in Prince Edward County. A dusting of snow reveals the hidden places of the long bolt of limestone that climbs 30 storeys high to the plateau of Lake of the Mountain. Peaking through […]
First, second, third and fourth
For most of his career my late uncle devoted his life to people living in the Third World. In 1952 I vaguely remember attending his ordination into the priesthood at the Scarborough Foreign Mission House. At the time I was, of course, a bit too young to understand what “ordination” meant and how we would, […]
Turn your radio on
I’ll admit I’ve sounded this theme before. But heck, there are only so many fields you can hit the ball to. I’m drawn to the subject of ‘community’ once again after seeing the wonderful Community Theatre Group’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore at the Regent Theatre. I have seen the play several times, […]
At the extremes
Wine grapes, as we know, usually grow between the latitudes of 30 degrees north and 50 degrees south of the equator. But there are always exceptions to the rule. The South Island of New Zealand boasts the most southerly vineyards in its Central Otago region, at 45 degrees. In the northern hemisphere, Sweden has vineyards […]