Watch for the latest App update!

Published on by Ingrid Sapona Category: App Info, Miscellaneous Musings

I’m just putting the finishing touches on over a half-dozen new entries and so the App will be updated in the next few days — so watch for it. Because we use dynamic updating, most updates don’t go through the iTunes App store (which means there’s less delay). IMG_0344
You can always tell that the App information has been updated because the next time you open it you’ll be asked if you want to update the content. Then — when you say “yes!” — the new content will download and you’ll be up-to-date.

So — keep an eye out in the next few days for the update and let me know what you think!

A Day of Bonuses!

Published on by Ingrid Sapona Category: Lake Erie/Pelee Island Region, Miscellaneous Musings

IMG_0302I’m just back from a day of visiting wineries in the Lake Erie/Pelee Island area. One of the biggest surprises was how tall and full of leaves the vines are out there already. I know the area is the southern-most wine region in Ontario and so it has a slightly longer growing season than elsewhere in the Province, but seeing how far along the vines are really drove home the climate difference.

The weather was perfect for the drive from Toronto, which was much quicker than I thought it would be. Since the drive was shorter than I expected, I had more time to spend at the wineries, which was great.

I stopped at a number of wineries. Because it was mid-week, none were too crowded, which was also a bonus, as that means folks at the wineries had more time to chat and show me around. At Erie Shore Vineyard, for example, Harvey Hollingshead, who owns the winery along with his wife Alma, took time to answer my questions about the winery. Even better, when I asked him about the young grape plants that looked like they were ready to be planted, he did a bit of show-and-tell for me. You can watch Harvey’s explanation in a short video I shot of him.

The Lake Erie/Pelee Island region (which the local wine tourism association has branded EPIC: Essex Pelee Island Coast Wineries) has a number of long-established vineyards and wineries and a number of lovely new ones. In the next App update you’ll find entries for the six I visited this week, and there’s more I’ll be visiting in the future.

Terroir in Prince Edward County

Published on by Ingrid Sapona Category: Events and Festivals, Prince Edward County Region

I’m just back from a GREAT long weekend in Prince Edward County where a friend and I visited a lot of wineries and attended Terroir 2013. The only complaint I have is there is so much going on in The County that we didn’t get to all the placed I had hoped to visit. The up side of that complaint, mind you, is that I’m already planning my next trip.IMG_0195

The themes for the weekend are easy to summarize

  • Commitment — the winemakers and industry folks that I spoke with are clearly committed to making The County a fantastic destination for wine lovers and explorers. All of them saw the potential of the unique terroir of The County and in the early 2000s they went all in, buying properties and planting. (And, because of the climate and conditions, most of them have the additional task of burying the canes, which means there’s even more work.) Thankfully, their work and vision is paying off now, with lots of terrific wines on offer.IMG_0199
  • Enthusiasm — every person I talked with shares an unbridled enthusiasm — for their vines, their wines, and The County. They’re anxious to share their stories and their wines.
  • Pride — The County winemakers are proud of their work and so they should be.

IMG_0157So, my current task is to add entries to the App for the wineries and other interesting places there are to visit in PEC (like The Carriagehouse Cooperage and 66 Gilead Distillery). So, stay tuned