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Cassoulet at Thirty Bench
My Mom and I generally have a weekly visit. It revolves around a walk. Her love for walking has rubbed off on me. A day walking in nature is a good day, and over the years she has hiked a large portion of the 900 km Bruce Trail. For over 20 years she organized a weekly hiking group which involved scouting out trails and leading her group of 10-12 ladies on the hike. It seems to be in her DNA to always be looking out for new trail options. In her eyes she has “slowed down” since turning 80 but you wouldn’t know it walking beside her. We have covered…
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Touring Flat Rock Cellars and beyond
A peak behind closed doors
A river of flowers
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White trail markers
I do enjoy an outing that combines a walk with a tasty destination. A Bruce trail hike PLUS a winery EQUALS one fine day. On one of these fine days, I was looking quizzically at a Bruce trail marker (cover photo) trying to figure out which way to go. I heard someone holler, “Are you looking for the trail?!” Well yes I was. The gentleman kindly pointed me in the right direction, which also happened to be the driveway to a winery: Locust Lane Winery. Perfect. The trail head was at the end of the winery’s driveway. From there, the trail passed by abandoned vines, alongside a small pond, across…
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Back out there
A look at year 3
An entertaining tasting at Creekside Estate Winery
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Bellissima
Gosh the peaches and nectarines have been excellent this summer. We have eaten baskets and baskets of these delectable stone fruits. Freestone. Clingstone. Baby gold peaches. White nectarines. Give me a moment please to wipe the nectar off my chin. To make the most of the short season I have taken several trips to Niagara’s Twenty Valley. I like to get close to the source. The fruit out there is beautiful. Rows and rows. Acres and acres. Bunches and bunches. Oh hang on. Let me have a closer look. I suppose peaches aren’t the only reason to drive out to Niagara. The vineyards are at their peak! The vines are…
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A tour of Europe in Bronte
To feed my travel appetite I have been listening to Travel with Rick Steves from time to time as I walk. In his entertaining weekly podcast he talks to tour guides, travel writers and other travel enthusiasts. It’s fun to hear their stories, get inspired and discover interesting travel themed books (this is how I heard about Eric Weiner’s Socrates Express). There are hundreds of episodes and I have merely scratched the surface. Anytime I listen though, I am ready to book a plane ticket to Europe. Maybe not right now. My appetite for travel inspired foods however, can be satisfied. I love trying the local cuisine when I travel.…
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Back out there
“The first couple days I felt like I was stuttering and stumbling over my words. I have basically been talking to only three people for months. It’s like I had to warm up,” our server at Back 10 Cellars said this about her first days back at work. “I’m good now.” She was smiling behind the mask. My husband and I were sitting in the stylish new Smit-ten Summerhouse. A gentle breeze wafted through the airy open structure that affords lovely views of the vineyards. The pavilion sits alongside rows of Riesling and Chardonnay. Up close I could see the tight bunches of green grapes taking shape and getting bigger.…
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Summer sunshine in a bottle
By most accounts, 2020 was not a great year. One bright spot was the nice weather. The relatively warm winter and plenty of summer sunshine was uplifting for my spirits, and more importantly, ideal conditions for plants to flourish. The vegetables from my summer garden are long gone of course but there is one crop to be enjoyed long after the summer rays are gone. Grapes. It was a great year for growing grapes in Ontario. Warmer than average temperatures through the entire growing season produced juicy and flavourful grapes. Winemakers are excited about this 2020 vintage. Say. No. More. I have been eagerly watching out for the 2020 wines…
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A peak behind closed doors
We may be staying at home, but we can still indulge in some virtual exploration. I thought it would be fun to peak inside some closed doors. Winery doors specifically. It turns out I have a lot of photos from past visits to the Twenty Valley (in the fall 2019). I have written posts on some, but there are many wineries I never wrote about. So please join me on a photo tour. Get comfortable, grab a glass of wine if you wish, and let’s go see what’s behind these inviting doors. Our first stop is Kew Vineyards. You’ve already had a glimpse at their delightful outdoor patio on the…
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A sparkling memory
Pop. The gentle popping of a cork to open a bottle of sparkling wine is a joyful sound. The pop releases effervescent vapors in a delicate swirl around the narrow opening, as if freeing the magical bubbles trapped inside. This particular pop releases a nice memory as well from my visit to De Simone Vineyards in Niagara. De Simone Vineyards was one of the wineries that Eleacia circled on my Niagara wine map when I visited Southbrook Vineyards in February 2020. The neighbouring winery was just down the street on Niagara Stone Road. Luckily I took her up on her recommendation. That very same day. The tasting area at De…
