In the Spirit

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas . . . but if the white runs out I'll drink the red.

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Day Two of the Four Winos 2016 Wrapped Up tour had us  relishing the warmth and cheer inside the wineries of the western half of Twenty Valley. The temperature outside was bone chilling and the few flurries certainly heralded Christmastide.

We learned that roasted chestnuts pair very well with a Vieni Winery riesling. The chestnuts were an added bonus: we also enjoyed the pancetta wrapped chicken with pesto with the winery's 2013 Red Trillium Ripasso. Yummy.

Fielding Estate Winery is another favourite stop. Today, we broadened our horizons beyond their "G" wine (Gewürztraminer) to their riesling that came paired with an apple, goat cheese and honey tart.

We all loved the warmth and decor of the new tasting area of Rosewood Estate Winery. Sitting amidst beeswax candles, casks, stained glass and under a stenciled and beamed ceiling we experienced a new flavour combo of a savoury brownie with a merlot. It works.

We can always count on the chefs at Vineland Estates Winery to create something outstanding. Today it was morsels of southern fried chicken with buttermilk waffles and pickled icewine cabbage. They created the pairing for the 2015 "Castaway" Rosé.

Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery warmed us with another delicious soup: a butternut squash soup topped with duck confit and pumpkin seed oil that they paired with the 2013 Falcon's Nest Pinot Noir.

And at Angel's Gate Winery, while the Cuban Ropa Vieja stew presented hearty repast to take the chill out of our bones, looking over a pool of cabernet merlot to the terrace below one could almost imagine that it was spring again. Ah spring . . . that will bring the next opportunity to travel Twenty Valley with the Get Fresh passport. The 2016 Wrapped Up programme was another winning weekend for the Four Winos!