Robert K. Stephen – Page 182 – A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity

RKS 2023 Wine: It Seems Portugal’s Alentejo is Coming on Strong

Is there an offensive launched by Portugal’s Alentejo region these days in Ontario? Is the Douro taking it on the chin? Alentejano reds completely outnumber whites and while they may utilize mostly indigenous grapes the Alicante Bouschet grape features predominantly in the red blends. Alicante Bouschet is a cross of Grenache and Petit Bouschet crossedContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: It Seems Portugal’s Alentejo is Coming on Strong”

RKS 2023 Film: “Americonned”

The American documentary “Americonned” is an attack on the tiered economic system of the United States which is tilted heavily in favour the rich and highlights those attempting initiatives to “even out” the disparities in that system. The Bezos, Musk, Branson romps of the obscenely rich versus the unemployed and struggling! The goal of manyContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: “Americonned””

RKS Literature: A Russian’s View of Politics

“He, to whom so called politics (that ridiculous sequence of pacts, conflicts, aggravations, frictions, discords, collapses and the transformation of perfectly innocent little towns into the names of international treaties) meant nothing, would sometimes immerse himself into the vast bowels of Vasilev and live for an instant actuated by his, Vasilev’s inner mechanism where nextContinue reading “RKS Literature: A Russian’s View of Politics”

RKS 2023 Wine: Primarius Oregonian Pinot Noir: Meaty and Intellectual?

I reviewed an Iranian-French film last night, titled “Subtraction” and my take was that it was meaty and intellectual as to content. Can a wine be meaty and intellectual? I have had a few wines that have had some meatiness to them often with notes of smoked meat. It is interesting that both red winesContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Primarius Oregonian Pinot Noir: Meaty and Intellectual?”

RKS 2023 Wine: More Good Ontario Gamay? Di Profio 2019 Gamay Noir

Aroma: Cherry, raspberry and a bit of mocha. Simple and delightful. Palate: Modest tannins. Light and smooth with Niagara cherry, blackberry, almonds and a bit of red pepper jelly. Short finish. Personality: OK I might not be bursting with fruit on the palate but essentially I am nonchalant and easy going. Perhaps I have aContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: More Good Ontario Gamay? Di Profio 2019 Gamay Noir”

RKS 2023 Film: “Subtraction”: Riders on the Storm and “Rear Window”

Watching the French-Iranian film “Subtraction” I think of Jimmy Stewart in Hitchcock’s 1954 “Rear Window”. Why? If you watch this film keep this refrain from the Door’s song “Riders on the Storm” in mind: “There’s a killer on the roadHis brain is squirmin’ like a toadTake a long holidayLet your children playIf you give thisContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: “Subtraction”: Riders on the Storm and “Rear Window””

RKS Literature: “Zorba the Greek”: Splendid Ierapetra Wine

“We clinked our glasses and drank. Splendid Ierapetra wine, as black as hare’s blood. When you drank, it was though you were receiving earth-blood as Holy Communion. You flourished. Your veins were filled to the brim with strength, your heart with kindness: if you were a coward, you became brave: if you were already braveContinue reading “RKS Literature: “Zorba the Greek”: Splendid Ierapetra Wine”

RKS 2023 Wine Tourism: What is Wine Tourism?

I attended Wine and Tourism Week in Porto, Portugal last February. Having attended many wine shows both in North America and Europe my mind was more focused on wine but Wine and Travel Week shifted that focus where the theme was the interrelationship between wine, gastronomy, accommodations and culture. Combine all those elements together andContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine Tourism: What is Wine Tourism?”

RKS 2023 Film: “The Eight Mountains”: Travel the Eight Mountains and Seas or Climb the Mountain in the Centre of it All?

Based on the novel by Paolo Cognetti, “The Eight Mountains”, a 2022 Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize winner, is the story of a friendship. Of children becoming men who try to erase the footprints of their fathers, but who, through the twists and turns they take, always end up returning home. Pietro (Luca Marinelli) is a boyContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: “The Eight Mountains”: Travel the Eight Mountains and Seas or Climb the Mountain in the Centre of it All?”

RKS Literature: “Zorba the Greek”: Will God be Ashamed in Front of Zorba?

“I’m telling you Boss: all these things that happen here in this world are unjust, unjust, unjust! I don’t sign my approval, I the tiny worm, the slug, the Zorba. Why should young boys and girls die while decrepit oldsters remain? Why should small children die? I had a small child, my Dimitraki, and heContinue reading “RKS Literature: “Zorba the Greek”: Will God be Ashamed in Front of Zorba?”