Burgundy and Provence…

So if the few hints I left yesterday weren’t enough for you to figure out, here it is. Yes, Kasia and I will be traveling to France this summer. Obviously we are very excited to visit a country that evokes such strong images of wine, food, culture and romance. After spending a few days in Paris, we will be heading out to the French countryside and two famous regions that you may already be familiar with.

The first is Provence, known for its rolling hills, beautiful estates and endless fields of lavender. It is also known for its hearty food and use of fragrant herbs in many of it’s regional dishes.

What it is lesser known for is its wine. Although not a wine powerhouse like Bordeaux or the Rhone Valley, Provence is most associated with delicious rosés. They are said to make a nice counterpoint to the sharper flavours of garlic, herbs and peppers that are prevalent in the local cuisine.

Along with good dry rosés, Provence is starting to also produce increasingly notable reds. I am hoping that in our time there we will be able to discover some of these, as well as some great local cheeses and other delicacies.

Moving north from Provence (on the high speed train, of course), we will be heading to one of the most historic and very often overlooked regions of France.

Burgundy is a area most have heard about, but few could point out on a map. Located in the north-east, this area was once the home of number of Dukes. They are, of course, long gone, but some of their castles and estates remain. The province’s capital, Dijon, still retains a good portion of its medieval town wall.

Besides great mustard, the local dishes of Burgundy include coq a vin and boeuf bourguignon; both of which are made with local red wine. The beef is provided by Charolais cattle (see picture) which are the local breed. Another resident is the humble vineyard snail, which is used to make their famous escargot.

And what about the wine? Well, in Burgundy it is easy to know what varietals you are enjoying, as almost all reds are made from Pinot Noir, with the whites being Chardonnay. But just because the vines are all the same doesn’t mean that the end products will be. With some of the best wine-growing terroir in all of France, Burgundy can produce some truly amazing wines. I cannot wait to try as many of them as I can find/afford.

As mentioned yesterday, this trip is part of the reason I started this blog. I wanted to allow a decent lead-up to this major journey and do my best to bring all who care to read it along with us as we venture into the heart of France. I think the results are going to be great, and I will do my best to bring those moments to you here.

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The Colours of Summer…

Red is always in fashion, at least as far as I’m concerned. Check back tomorrow, when I’ll reveal some big plans for my summer which just happen to coincide with one of the major reasons that I started this blog.

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Spring Plans for the Okanagan…

Looking forward to the spring and summer (which can’t get here fast enough), I will be out in Kelowna several times. Every time I return to the Okanagan, I am tempted to go back to the handful of my favorite wineries over and over. This is, of course, a bit of a bad habit. I do have to make a point of going to those few places which don’t ship wine out of the province to restock my cellar once in a while. Other than that, I have started to make a list of a few wineries that I have not yet visited and which have grabbed my attention recently.

Here is the list so far:

Painted Rock Estate Winery – Located just outside Penticton on the Naramata Bench, this winery is quite new to the scene. Even though the first vines were only planted in 2005, this boutique winery has arrived to huge acclaim, with great reviews and a number of awards already rolling in.

Their signature wine, Red Icon, has been hailed as one of the best B.C. reds; with the first offering (2007) selling out in record time. I, quite luckily, have a bottle in my collection that was provided my by lovely wife Kasia.

La Frenz Winery – Another smaller scale operation with a large following in the wine community, they are also found on the vineyard-perfect Naramata Bench. Run by a winemaker who practiced his craft for a number of years in Australia and later at Quails’ Gate, this winery has been producing award-winning wines since the mid 2000s.

With a full portfolio of wines including some less common whites, I am eager to see if they are all as good as the Cabernet Sauvignon that I have tried.

Tantalus Vineyards – Away from what is looked on as the typical wine producing area of the Okanagan, this winery is in the Lake Country district. That obviously hasn’t stopped them from producing top-notch wines. They also recently opened a new visitor centre and tasting room, so now seems like a great time to go see their operation.

If you’ve been reading this blog, then you’ve seen the review I recently did on their Old Vines Riesling, which I pronounced as one of the best wines I have ever tasted.

Between these wineries and the many others I have been to previously I should have many more interesting tidbits to bring to you about the Okanagan wine scene over the next several months. As well, please feel free to let me know in the comments if you have any other suggestions regarding interesting wineries in the area.

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