Wrapped Up in 2012

Wine to me is passion. It's family and friends. It's warmth of heart and generosity of spirit. Wine is art. It's culture. It's the essence of civilization and the art of living.

Robert Mondavi, American vintner (1913-2008) in his autobiography, Harvests of Joy

It's that time again; time for sampling good wines accompanied by tasty morsels: it's Wrapped Up in the Valley 2012. The Time Traveller joined our wino threesome on another enjoyable tour up and down Twenty Valley.

Joe at Kacaba Vineyards and Winery was a highlight of today's tour. Never before have we been offered a taste direct from the stainless steel tanks. In addition to this preview of Kacaba's 2012 Sauvignon blanc, Joe offered a delightful commentary on various aspects of wine-making from hand-picking grapes to the bottling operation inside a flatbed truck. It's obvious he loves his work. And the wine? Suffice it to say that we pre-ordered a case of that Sauvignon blanc. It should be ready come Easter.

Visiting the home/winery of Sue-Ann Staff is always a pleasure. We love her big, friendly collie-cross dog, Bricks (or is it Brix?), who greets visitors with a wagging tail and a big smile. We love her stunning chandeliers. We love her mom's flavourful artistry with grilled cheese sandwiches (today's creation featured delicious, homemade spicy peach chutney). And we also love her wines. The 2011 Riesling "Loved by Lu", so-named in honour of the grandmother who taught Sue-Ann how to care for the vines, glistens with fresh fruitiness. Its sparkle is matched only by Sue-Ann's friendliness. Meeting the vintners and learning the stories behind the wines is what really makes the "Wrapped in the Valley" event so much fun.