Michael Pinkus Wine Review - On the Road with the Grape Guy

Report from - Jackson-Triggs Twilight in the Vineyard with the Philosopher Kings August 3, 2007

09 Aug 2007

Details: Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

An event like no other you’ve experienced; when me and 500 (or so) of my closest friends brought lawn chairs and a love of music to the Jackson-Triggs amphitheatre, located behind the winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, to watch and listen to the Philosopher Kings. The amphitheatre is a beautiful, intimate venue, nestled at the back of the vineyard, where, as promised, “there isn’t a bad seat in the house”; and the canopy is the star-filled sky – which after dark was a sight to behold, unlike, say, at the Molson Amphitheatre in downtown Toronto where the closest thing to a star you’ll see is an airplane making its way slowly across the sky.

The night starts at about 5:30 when the venue opens and you can start to select your “seats” … (Read more)

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Report from - Finger Lakes Wine Festival July 21, 2007

08 Aug 2007

Details: Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

The Finger Lakes … an area loaded with summer homes and cottages, beautiful scenery and I don’t know how many wineries (it seemed like there was a winery on every corner). It’s also home to the Finger Lakes Wine Festival, held every July, and as the Irish Rovers are apt to say “Wasn’t That a Party!” My count from the official “Tasters Guide” puts the number in wineries in attendance at 98, plus the food venders, wine paraphernalia vendors and kitsch vendors … that’s a lot of booths and a lot of things to do; no wonder they sell three day passes to this event. The event itself is held at the Watkins Glen International Race Track, and it’s a good thing too, because they need all the space they can get. Three long tents house the wineries and a majority of wine related booths … the rest are outside the tent encircling the main area. There is also a seminar area where you can rest, relax and learn … I stopped in for a wonderful chocolate and wine presentation (and I’m not just saying that because I knew the presenter). We like to slag our neighbours to the south as loud, obnoxious and, in wine circles, we blame them for their predominantly sweet palate, but they sure do know how to put on a wine festival that: 1) everyone wants to attend and 2) all the wineries want to participate in … I’ll have more on that in an upcoming newsletter, but suffice it to say the liquor laws and the regulation of sales, aren’t governed by a lone monopoly who holds all the power.

So what were the highlights and my comments from the festival? In no particular order here they are: ... (Read more)

To check out the On the Road With the Grape Guy blog and all the other feature articles click here.