IT happens in the aurumn all over B.C. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and in-laws finish making jam fom fruit harvested in the summer, and the leftovers are taken down into the subter- ranean reaches of the base- ment and turned into fruit wine. We've all been forced to try it — usually cloving and sweet, overwhelmingly alcoholic or a few notes short of fruity vine- gar, it’s a challenge in diplo- macy to choke it down and find something kind to say" about it. ’ But times are changing. In November, Fruit Wines ’ “of Canada brought a selection of their best bottles to Cornucopia, Whistler’s annual Celebration of Food and Wine. : *. Titled “Feeling Fruity?” the tasting featured wines made in B.C. and Ontario, from fruits "as diverse as cherries, cranber- . ries, black currants, raspberries, ; apples and peaches. Counter Culture “It's a delight to work with fruit,” said Elephant Island winemaker Christine Leroux. She's worked for years as a consulting winemaker all over the valley — but in the past, she's worked with grapes. “(The fruit) has so much intensity — so much to offer.” The styles of the wines were varied -- the dry, fairly intense-flavoured Elephant Island Black Currant wine from the Okanagan would be perfectly suited for enjoying ith pork tenderloin, while the sweet, Dich Archibald’s Spiced Winter Apple wine, & from Ontario, can really be described best as a dessert From page 26 521 Lonsdale Ave, NY 984-7411 $55 Paspares Taverna 132 W. 3rd Sz, HV 980-0331 $$$ _ Flavour of India, 75 E. 3rd St, MY 985-5477 SS * Mother india (aizout, Home ditty) #2106-900 W léth St, WY 985-8660 $$ Palki Indian Restaurant .WV6 EL 15th St, NV 986-7555 $5 “We' ve had a wonderful response from the : Commatunity & we thank them for their con wine. One commonality between all of them though, is that they are intensely aromatic. *f thought about tasting them blind, but then thought “What's the point” As soon as you stick vour nose in the glass vou know.” said Christine Coletta, of Coletta Consultanis. The North Vancouver cesident has been charged with the task of spreading the word about Canadian truit wines, and set up the Whistler seminar. “With fruit wines we're about where VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) was nine Years ago,” she said, compar- ing the industry to the Canadian winemaking indus- try. But fruit wines have an even tougher hurdie to clear than our grape wines did. They must overcome their made-in-the-basement stigma to be accepted by consumers. If they can do it, the payoff for growers and the agricultur- al economy will be significant, since fruit wines are quicker, . 1560 Marine Dr, WY 926-4228 SSS Bravo Cucina $209 Lonsdale Ave. Nv 985-3006 SSS Buona Sera 1238 Ross 84. RY 988-4462 $55 Carmelo's Ristorante 1448 Marine Or, WY 922-4719 $5 Chianti Cafe 1340 Marine Dr. W¥ 926-2422 $$ Colosseum Pizza- : 107 E, [2th St, RV 987-5622 $$ Da Gino Ristorante Italiano 1995 Lonsdale Ave. NY 985-9115 $$$ Gusto di Quattro #2 Lonsdale Ave. NY 924-4644 $355 la Cucina Itasiano See Dining page 2B MEA YT “NORGATE CENTRE Our busy lifestyles don't on allow people mich time inthe kitchen, so M&M Meat Shons des - ‘that for them. Their huge test Kitchen in Ontario is constantly tying out new recipes and the 308 _ locations across Canada offer samples for everyone to taste. 8 te ee ne neh Snes andbemae you canbe nh its a great lunch to take to work explains James. wo ofthe other foods James can't keep inthe store are his fash frozen boneless, skinless chicken - ecats ei the enon beter sole Apostate of yoo: "eeny foods ave eealy fying cheaper and in some ways, ¢as- ier to make than grape wines. The maturation period is much shorter than with grape wine (one to six months, as opposed to eight to pwenty- four months) and fruit wine producers also have the added benefit of multiple harvest periods (cherries ripening in early July and apples in September). The winemakers can also use frozen product in many cases without sacrificing, quality. This extended harvest and short fermentation period allows producers to maximize use of their equipment and facilities. Plus — they're actually good. With smooth, fresh ent flavours and without the biting tannins found in great red wines, these are easy drinking and sure to be a hit with novice wine drinkers, or those looking for a change. The only drawback to Canadian fruit wines, is their near-impossibility to get. Ontario's Southbrook Farms’ Frambvuise, a sweet raspberry wine, is available locally at some government liquor stores, but most of the others will be available directly from the wineries in the spring. Want better access? You have to request it. Tell your focal liquor store that you'd like to see more of these products on their shelves. NEWS photo Deana Lancaster FRUIT wines: not like the ones Grandma made in her basement. PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING A development is being proposed for the property at 3201 Edgemont Blvd. and you are invited to join David Birch and DBA Edgemont Villa Development Ltd. at a meeting to discuss the project. Date: Tuesday November 28, 2006 at 7:00 pm Location: Cupitano Branch of North Vancouver Pubtic Library 3645 Highland Bivd. “Potlatch Room” Forma! Presentation will begin at 7:30 pm Viewing of plans at 7:09 pm The project description is as follows:.20 suites designed for seniors with emphasis on “adaptable - design” to allow aging in place. Two substantial public amenities are provided: a public plaza | located at the Edgemont frontage and a stream purifying “wetland” in the adjacent ravine, . : The meeting is being held by the applicant in compliance with | the District of Nerth Vancouver council policy. The applicant will present details of the proposal and discuss any concerns ° residents may have. Information packages are being distributed to residents within 350m of the site. If you would like to receive a copy or if you would like more information, contact the Planning Department at 990-2322 or David Birch of DBA’ Edgemont. Villa - Development Ltd. at 985-5427 cr bring your questions and .. comments to the meeting. This is not a Public hearing. Council will receive a report from staff. on issues: 5 raised at the | : meeting and will formally consider the proposal ata. jater date. : SHO P S®@.