Scribblings from
a wine-stained

notebook...
WINE FEST PACKS ‘EM IN

tional festival of wines armed with a photographer,

ai THE 12th Annual Vancouver Playhouse Interna-

pen and paper and Hugh Joknson’s guide tor the

vinously vacant:
@ General scribblings frora a
wine-stained notebook:

The festival is now as much a
rip-roaring social event as it is an
informal wine tasting. It began in
1978 and drew approximately
1,000 people; it now draws thou-
sands and bears a gold star on the
day-timers of wine fans every-
where.

TIMOTHY
RENSHAW,

table hopping

Dress at the event has become
predominantly formal, and con-
versations are sprinkled with the
high-brow jargon cf vocabulous
vinous.

Most who attend begin with the
best intentions of separating the
noble rot from just plain rot, but
most end up ditching earnest
estimations for straight swilling.

@ Notable wines from a sampling
that also began in earnest, focus-
ing primarily on whites:

Cedar Creek Estate Winery’s
1988 fJohannisberg Riesling
($7.95). This Okanagan winery’s
Gewurztraminer Reserve won a
bronze medal at the festival, but
its Riesling, a gold medal winner
last year at an international wine
festival in Atlanta, Georgia, was
also very good. Lots of spicy Ries!--
ing flavors, refreshing with plenty
of character for the price.

Golan Heights Winery’s 1987
Yarden Sauvignon Blanc ($15.95).
Good, clean white wine, full of
vibrant fruit flavors from this Israeli
winery. Kosher.

Calona Wines’ 1988 Sovereign
Opal ($6.25). Surprise showing (for
me) from this renowned slinger of
jug wines. A big, soft white wine
featuring an instantly likable blend

Mon.-Sat. 10-6

128 East 14th Street, N.Vancouver

of B.C.-grown Golden Muscat and
Marechal Foch grapes. Simple of
character, but with enough depth
to keep things interesting on hot
summer days.

Hainle Vineyards Estates Winery
1988 White Riesling ($7.25). A
bone-dry Riesling from Peachland,
B.C. that is guaranteed to bea
good accompaniment to any meal.

Saintsbury Winery’s 1987
Carneros Pinot Noir ($20.20). Ex-
cellent Pinot Noir from California.
Complex, rich, with hints of
French oak.

@ Any Port ina Storm?:

Smith-Woodhouse 1979 Late
Bottled Vintage ($23.75). A rela-
tively young vintage in the regal
world of port, but full of rich car-
amel and honey flavors.

Quinta Do Noval 10-Year-Old
Tawny Port ($25.40). Deep amber
color. Rich black grape flavors,
spicy, with hints of honey.

Quady Winery’s 1985 Vintage
Port ($9.95). Bronze medal winner
in the festival's dessert wine cate-
gory. Big, soft flavors with Quady’s
characteristic black muscat over-
tones.

@ just Desserts:

Back again to the Quady booth,
which was one of the busiest dur-
ing the Friday night | was at the
festival, aflock with folk thirsting
after the nectar of the 7986 Essen-
sia Orange Muscat ($20.90). This
dessert wine has a glittering deep
orange color, rich muscat flavors
and a refreshing character that
might not be as deep as a good
port, but for an after-dinner affair
who needs depth?

Amity Vinyard’ 1987 Late
Harvest Riesling ($9.50 per half
bottle). Not blessed with the noble
rot of the Botrytis Cinerea, but this
product from Oregon has a lot of
fruit and spicy Riesling flavors. Not
too sweet, the wine is a light
yellow color. An excellent finish tc
any meal.

See Wine
Page 24

: : Fda *
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cluding taurentin area dl ok 3 |
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ch 14, 1990 - North Shore News

NEWS photo Neil Luconte
d red wine stare upon a