Category Archives: Terroir

I grew up with Barbera

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She was tall, and leggy, gorgeous and a skiing buddy.


Ooops.  We’re supposed to be talking about wine, not girlfriends of my misspent youth!


In my defence, I did grow up with that grape too.  It was the grape of choice for home growing of the Italians in Trail.


But, I digress.


1858 was when these properties started producing wine and they have constantly worked to increase the quality of their wines and to ensure sustainability.  By bringing together grapes grown in two different soil types (heavy clay in one and chalky limestone in the other), they bring out the rich fragrant tones from one and deep body from the other. They have a zero chemical program and only use natural methods for fertilization and pest control.


 This Fontanafredda has lots of spicy tones with very nice fruits characteristics. It’s crisp and has a beautiful finish.


Drink in the next year or two to enjoy the juicy fruit.

This is our second bottle from the 4th Mystery Case. I’m going back for more to enjoy with a cheese and charcuterie plate. It would work well with something spicy to start dinner too.

Skål to Barb-er-a where ever she might be all these 55 years later.

PIEMONTE BARBERA – FONTANAFREDDA BRICCOTONDO 2018


UPC: 08000174004127


13% Alcohol


$15.99, regularly $18.99

Pitsa would be impressed

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the Hummingbirds fly in a Figure 8 formation in their vineyards. 


The founders of Burrowing Owl Winery in Oliver are behind the new venture of Calliope Wines.


Calliope in Greek means ‘beautiful Voice’.  Calliope Amagolapitsa would be happy that they’ve chosen her name for the wine.  They market the wine for casual get togethers. Pitsa’s all for that!


Not a wine your’e going to put down for a few years – it’s meant to be enjoyed now. So we are.


Each year the blend is a bit different – this year’s varietal is Gewürztraminer and Viognier. It’s crisp with lovely fruit flavours and a really fresh finish.


Keeping it light, we served shrimp and scallops in a tomato/onion broth with freshly baked bread and an orange salad.


It would also go well with something like homemade pizza or chicken cordon bleu. If it’s still available in the summer, it would be great to take on a picnic or to enjoy on the deck.


This is a marvellous start to Mystery Case #4

Calliope – Figure 8 White 2019
UPC: 00688229105197
Alcohol: 13%
$15.99 regularly $16.99

It’s all about change

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Influencer, the power to change anything, Patterson Grenny Maxwell McMillan Switzler, ISBN 978-0-07-148499-2


Suite Francaise, a Novel, Irene Nemirovsky, 978-1-4000-9627-5


Good Day!: The Paul Harvey Story, Paul J Batura, 


Everything is Miscellaneous, David Weinberger, ISBN 978-0-8050-8043-8

1927 Revisited

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Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata is very much still relevant today.

GO PLACIDLY amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.


And here is the 1971 Audio Version by Les Crane https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yNJaKF9sXA

An Inland Adventure

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North-west of the province of Zaragoza, in the Campo de Borja region, this is home to several large cooperative wineries, owned collectively by farmers, Garnacha wines of Campo de Borja are highly regarded as excellent values with great availability.

About 40% of the vines are between 30 and 50 years old with low production. Cold winters, long hot summers with dry winds give us lovely complex tastes.


From first taste to the long finish, we’re impressed.


First night was with lamb shanks, and I’m thinking it would go beautifully with pork chops and scalloped potatoes.


Borsao Granache 2018
14.5% alcohol
UPC:  08412423120036
$13.49 regularly $14.99

I am allowed out unchaperoned

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We were in a different hood for our daily hoof and I thought I would check out what the Caddy Bay Private Liquor Store had to offer. 


I chose it because the blend looked interesting.  Grenache Blanc (part of the Chateauneuf du Pape blend), Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin, Vermentino, Chasan and Mauzac


This Paul Mas vineyard hails from the Aude Valley of Languedoc and produces good value at a reasonable price.


It’s not citrusy, not sharp.  It went very nicely with baked halibut steaks.


Claude Val white.  $12.99

For WHEN, not IF

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When we can travel and interact with others more, we will want to be prepared for any eventuality. This is the ultimate guide for surviving disasters, kidnappings, animal attacks, and other Nasty Perils of Modern Travel. The author also wrote “The World’s most Dangerous Places“.

Welcome to the Art of Survival.

Come Back Alive, Robert Young Pelton, ISBN 0-385-49566-8