In Ontario when we speak of wine from “The County” we mean Prince Edward County. It is approximately two hours drive from Toronto when the traffic is good which it rarely is. There are over 40 wineries in The County which is the land of second homes of the bourgeoisie of Toronto. But is alsoContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: A Casa-Dea Rosé from the County”
Tag Archives: Travel
RKS 2024 Wine: Hosmer 2022 Semi-Dry Riesling from Cayuga Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes: Exceptional! Stupendous!
I encountered this Riesling sitting on a beautiful Great Gatsby deck in Aurora, New York overlooking sunny Cayuga Lake two weeks ago. I brought back two bottles to Toronto. A magical setting and a magical wine I thought or was it just the vista and a beautiful June afternoon? No way! The wine may beContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Hosmer 2022 Semi-Dry Riesling from Cayuga Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes: Exceptional! Stupendous!”
RKS 2024 Travel: Canada Day Cake Parade at Niagara-on-the-Lake
On 1July2024 I had the surreal pleasure of marching in the annual Niagara-on-the-Lake Cake Parade. It has been a Canada Day fixture for some two decades now. Queen Street is cordoned off and several thousand line it. Yes the drums of the 41st Fife and Drum Corps Regiment can be heard way down Queen StreetContinue reading “RKS 2024 Travel: Canada Day Cake Parade at Niagara-on-the-Lake”
RKS Travel: That Unplanned Moment May Be the Best: A Glass of Hosmer Riesling on the Shores of Lake Cayuga, Finger Lakes New York
There are certain travellers that plan each moment of a trip. Itineraries are created and checked off like a shopping list. Good planning? Mechanical and unthinking? Perhaps a bit of both. You might say I recently had one very special unplanned moment on Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes District of New York. Some context.Continue reading “RKS Travel: That Unplanned Moment May Be the Best: A Glass of Hosmer Riesling on the Shores of Lake Cayuga, Finger Lakes New York”
RKS 2024 Wine: You Hear “Barbera” Think Piedmont
As Italian wine goes hear “Barbera” think Piedmont with the best Barbera wine being produced near the towns of Asti and Alba. Barbera is Piedmont’s most widely planted variety and technically takes third place in prestige to Barolo and Barbaresco. Often prestige and palate are incompatible. We try a Barbera D’Asti from Michele Chiarlo. Aroma:Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: You Hear “Barbera” Think Piedmont”
RKS 2024 Wine: I am Not a Member of the Luca Maroni Fan Club
I am in the wine bleachers as a bleacher bum misbehaving and throwing empty wine bottles at poor performers. Luca Maroni is consistently rating most wines as close to perfection. I mean here is a 99 rated red wine. It is no Bordeaux first growth but a Rosso IGT from Puglia. Is it at someContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: I am Not a Member of the Luca Maroni Fan Club”
RKS 2024 Wine Tourism: The Finger Lakes Cayuga Lake Wine Trail
There are 11 Finger Lakes in New York all narrow enough to be reminiscent of fingers. Cayuga Lake is one of the lakes. For many wine drinkers in the United States and Canada accessibility to Finger Lake wine is minimal. The Finger Lakes are easily accessible by road. The trip would be 5 hours fromContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine Tourism: The Finger Lakes Cayuga Lake Wine Trail”
RKS 2024 Wine: Lemberger from Hosmer in New York’s Finger Lakes: Not the Stinky Limberger!: A Wine That Compels Thought
I was in Aurora, New York last week staying at the Inns of Aurora on Cayuga Lake. Up north then travelling southwest I arrived at Hosmer Winery in Ovid, New York. Yes I said Ovid and not COVID! And I tried a 2021 Lemberger wine not to be confused with Limberger cheese! And to furtherContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Lemberger from Hosmer in New York’s Finger Lakes: Not the Stinky Limberger!: A Wine That Compels Thought”
RKS Travel: Visiting Cornell University in Ithaca, New York: Where to Stay: La Tourelle Hotel Bistro & Spa
Visiting your son and daughter or checking out Cornell University in Ithaca, New York then you might need to book a few nights in lodgings. It is not as if Ithaca is a booming urban area. It has a population of approximately 33,000. You have your “downtown hotels” or you can stay just outside theContinue reading “RKS Travel: Visiting Cornell University in Ithaca, New York: Where to Stay: La Tourelle Hotel Bistro & Spa”
RKS 2024 Wine: Escaping Ontario COVID Memories
I recall that during COVID times I went for a tasting with Ed Madronich at Flat Rock Cellars in Jordan, Ontario. Those were eerie times. Can you imagine 50 people at Niagara Falls! Over the years Ed has produced quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and I suppose it is time to escape COVID memories andContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Escaping Ontario COVID Memories”
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