We spent the afternoon and early evening at the EAT! Fraser Valleyevent at Abbotsford's Tradex on Friday. While there, we took in the vendors, restaurants offering samples (the seafood chowder from Ravens on the Beach was a killer once again), and tasted our way through wine, beer, and rum.
You still have time to take it all in. The event runs until 9:00 tonight and again tomorrow, Sunday, September 13 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Rick and I spent some time with Abbotsford-South MLA John van Dongenand his constituency assistant Sherri Wacker at the front of the class learning how to taste wine from Vancouver's own Wine Diva, Daenna Van Mulligen. Before the formal presentation, and for our entertainment, she sliced the top off a bottle of bubbly with a sabre.
I tasted some beer from R & B Brewing and quite liked the Bohemian Lager, which I found to have a slightly bitter aftertaste that refreshed and cried out for some food. Now, I don't know anything about beer so these are simply my uneducated observations.
Art Hornel, a.k.a. The Dynamic Sales Guy pulls levers for thirsty patrons
We made a pleasant discovery while at the event: Mt. Lehman Winery. All their grapes are B.C.-grown, although they aren't all grown on their own estate. And, while they grow organically, they aren't yet certified organic. Donna Redekop poured us the red, an eight-grape blend called Pioneer Red that was juicy and earthy with red cherries and light tannins. This is an easy-sipper that would be super with spaghetti, pizza, or barbequed pork chops. The eight grapes that make up this blend are Zweigelt, Dornfelder, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, and two I've never heard of, but will research further: cabernet libre and cabernet foch.
Donna Redekop of Mt. Lehman Winery pours their Pioneer,
an eight-grape blended red
You can find Mt. Lehman Winery at the south end of Abbotsford, just north of Townshipline Road and you can reach Vern Siemens—farmer, winemaker, and proprietor—by phone at 604-746-2881 or by e-mail at [email protected] for wine information and tasting-room hours.
Salut!
Copyright © 2009 Kathleen Rake. All rights reserved.