My Uncle gave me homemade wine from the relatively obscure wine region of Northwestern Ontario. Is that considered a local wine? He is my Uncle (that’s kinda local), it was made in Ontario (a two day’s drive from where I live but still in Ontario), and it does fit in with the 1200 mile diet that I am trying out this week (well today).
My Uncle Art, the original “most Harrowsmith man in the world”, gave me a High Bush Cranberry Wine from Dryden ON - vintage August 2009. Usually that’s not a good sign on a vintage when they also tell you the month, but for this wine it seemed perfect.
The nose is of sweaty socks – exactly what high bush cranberries smell like – so I guess it’s off to a good start. The colour is a lovely hue of light rhubarb, and it tastes like those stinky cranberries. Also, it drinks like a grappa and my Uncle doesn’t tell me what the alcohol content is - so user beware.
Seriously though, I literally ran around my neighbourhood pouring glasses for 3 of my neighbours who I knew would be as excited about it as I was.
Thanks Uncle Art – you’re part Uncle, part winemaker to me. This may be how Tio Pepe got his start.
