Hello Again

This is probably the longest I’ve gone without writing a wine blog, but for a couple of weeks, I was here, in sunny Barbados.  It was a very relaxing vacation

Relaxing by the pool (this is my nephew Riley)….

Swimming and snorkeling in the ocean….

And sometimes, just chilling.  Went with my sister Jackie, her husband Craig, son Riley, and her brother-in-law Guy and his wife Tracy.  The 6 of us had a blast, it wasn’t our first trip together.  And of course there was some wine consumed.

However, heads up, if you’re planning a trip, the wine is expensive.  I thought we paid a lot for wine here in Canada.  It’s nothing compared to Barbados.  Many things were expensive in Barbados, including groceries.  It’s an interesting island, as it’s British, so they drive on the opposite side of the road.  And they all drive like they stole the vehicle they are in.  A drive around Barbados is like a heart-stopping roller coaster ride.  I’m surprised our navigation system didn’t say ‘Stop in 300 yards and let me out”!!

It’s a good thing we had a nice pool.  It was an opportunity to relax after the harrowing car ride.  I did, however, find it really neat all the homes are named, no matter what the size.  But the best part about Barbados, was the people.  They are super nice, and they love Canadians.

So, let’s get to the wine this week….

One of the wines I would like to tell you about this week is this beauty..

When I got back from my trip, which was an ungodly hour in the morning, my friend Sandra had put some spaghetti sauce in my fridge, dropped off some spaghetti, and had this wine waiting for me to enjoy.  What a treat!  So I waited to open it until I saw her Monday evening.  This is the Dile Rosso wine from the Piedmont region in Italy.  It is Nebbiolo and Barbera dominant, two grape varieties well known in the Piedmont region.  The Santero Family, which produces the wine, started making wine in 1958, so they know what they are dong.  This is luscious!  It was juicy and rich with gorgeous cherry flavors and a hint of spice.  The bottle is sculpted so that your hand fits perfectly around it, making it easy to pour.  4 fingers on one side, and your thumb on the other.  Brilliant.  It was so good I bought another one and enjoyed it last night!

My wine of the week is one we can’t get here in Nova Scotia…

The Gnarly Head 1924 Limited Edition Double Black Red Wine Blend is spectacular.  It comes in at 15% alcohol so it can pack a punch.  The name pays homage to the year the family opened the vineyard – 1924.  This wine is full-bodied, rich and really coats the palate.  The wine finishes with flavors of pepper and cocoa, and the winemaker suggests this wine for barbecue ribs and juicy bacon cheeseburgers.  I tend to agree.

None of the ladies that went to Barbados eat fish, but the gentlemen enjoyed this event.  My sister Jackie and my friend Tracy, pictured above, walked around this area of Barbados while the men experienced the famous Oistin’s Fish Market, always listed as one of the top things to do in Barbados.  My nephew ate all kinds of new fish for the first time, and this lively place which featured a bunch of different eateries and music, was packed on the Friday night we were there.

Well that’s it for me for this week.  Enjoy the long weekend and until next week, Cheers

Darlene