One of the most technical trails I have ever hiked (and the longest at 16k – nearly 10 miles), Cape Split was an amazing experience.  After a few days of rain, and a winter off-season, I imagine the trail was probably not in the same condition that it is in during the warmer summer months.  There were felled trees, steep dropoffs, some deep mud patches, and some narrow passageways – but there were also some beautiful sights.

These trillium blossoms were all over the trail.  So beautiful and photogenic!

The western plains of the province are the agricultural center, there are farms and orchards dotting the landscape.  The geography of the region is relatively flat, but further west, and to the north, there are some small rises, which add an interesting air effect, allowing grapes to grow rather well.  So, with grapes comes wine.  And wine?  well, we just had to taste. 

Lolly swilling around.

Here we are at Domaine de Grand Pré, sampling the Marechal Foch.  This was a new-to-me grape, and I enjoyed the different varieties I tasted in Nova Scotia.  Some of the premiere Nova Scotia wines are the ice wines, the sweet dessert wine made possible by the colder climate – virtually allowing the grape to freeze on the vine, locking in all of the sugars.  Dessert in a bottle, I tell you.  Grand Pré had a particularly interesting Muscat IceWine, and another favorite was the ice wine aged in whiskey barrels (Whiskey Ortega Ice Wine) from Jost Vineyards near Tatamagouche. 

Although we did not get to travel as far west as I originally hoped, we did make it to several stops on the Sunrise Trail, the area closer to the provinces of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.  A real highlight of the Sunrise Trail was the visit at Sunrise Mercantile.  Mimi, the shop owner in Halifax, had suggested stopping by the shop/cafe,  So glad we followed her suggestion!

Sunrise Mercantile is a gourmet shop and cafe – in every sense of the word.  They have amazing yarns, but also an extensive selection of local and regional foods, gifts, and supplies.  The thing that made this shop so special?  the owners:  I talked weaving and knitting with Suzy, and talked alpacas and the current fiber trends with Dave, her husband.  Suzy showed me her latest projects right off the loom, and Dave showed me the newest issue of Alpacas magazine, which he edits.  The serendipity of meeting such amazing people!  Their shop is great, and the cafe is amazing too (fresh local foods abound!)

Other highlights:  Balmoral Grist Mill, and the beautiful Lismore Sheep Farm

Lismore Sheep Farm Wool Shop

Almost done… hope you aren’t tiring of this yet!  Because the best scenery is yet to come!  Many thanks to those that took the time to leave comments, it is so nice to get feedback.

Next up: Cape Breton Island.

Once I turned 21, I started to buy a few bottles here and there to develop a taste. I read some articles and books on the process of wine making, the comparisons, the rating system, and the foods to pair them with. Kris and I also started attending local wine festivals and visiting some specialty wine shops. Then, we started to plan travel that involved wine… I learned so much about wine during my trip to Napa Valley last fall. So many of the vintners and sommeliers were willing to share information and tips – not the snobby, pretentious attitude that one might expect. I have learned that the key to wine tasting is simply finding what you like; despite the reviews, the price tag, and the ratings.

Most of my favorite wines are reds: I got on a Pinot Noir “kick” last year and tried a number of good ones. Since my trip to Napa, I have become quite enamored with full-bodied reds, like Cabernet Sauvignon. Argentinian Malbecs and Australian Shirazes also top the list. Most of the wines are named after the specific variety of grape that they come from, as is the case with all of the wines mentioned. The real taste of the wine comes out with food, and since I am a vegetarian, and most wines are traditionally paired with meat dishes, finding the perfect wine for a meal involves a little trial and error.

I make a few white wine exceptions, I must say. While Chardonnays don’t usually excite me, there are some great Pinot Gris, and some deliciously fruity Riesling wines. My ultimate favorite white is Alsatian or German  Gewürztraminer.

Perhaps I like “Gewürtz” the most because it pairs so nicely with my favorite foods: spicy Indian dishes, Thai noodles, and Chinese stir-fries. I also like it on its own.

Wine can be an expensive hobby, but there are some great budget-minded print and online publications for people interested in wine. I recently subscribed to Food & Wine magazine and have appreciated the tips, the little buying guides, and specifically the recipes with wine recommendations. The magazine also uses many seasonal ingredients in their recipes, which can be found through many farmer’s markets. The foremost wine publication in the US is probably Wine Spectator magazine, which indeed, has some great tips, but their writing and tone can be a little … snooty. They are the magazine that rates all of the wines, and while the information may be helpful in some ways, how can you truly trust what another person is tasting? Taste it yourself and make your own rating

I recently checked out Great Wine Made Simple: Straight Talk from a Master Sommelier from the library and really enjoyed reading the text. I did not try some of the experiments that she talks about in the book, but the information she shares is invaluable. She makes wine knowledge so accessible. She even gives phonetic pronunciations after many of the French, Italian, and German words – what a plus! She discusses the new and upcoming wine regions, how to shop for wine, and how to order at a restaurant. It was a great book that I really could not stop reading!

I am already making plans for a trip to France next spring – and the great thing about it? I can get some fiber education as well as some wine tasting…

**Do you have a favorite wine?

Kris @ Wine in the Woods Festival

Aaron, Melissa, and me drinking up

………

Ethiopian dinner with my sister, Sarah

…before the much-anticipated show by one of my favorite artists…

Andrew Bird live @ the 9:30 Club

(Listen to the whole show here!)

First rose from my new rose bush!

………

Your kind comments and words about my Wren cardigan warmed my heart. Many many thanks!

It was truly a wonderful vacation!

Click on the picture to see details

I will have a lot of knitting time on the airplane – stay tuned for a weekend knitting progress update!

Up a winding road, with the smell of eucalyptus trees all around, Kris and I took a 3-mile hike through the amazing woods. Truly, the pictures do not capture the absolute beauty… but you can try to imagine…

More pictures from Muir Woods on Flickr!

Kris and I arrived safely in Napa Valley – what a lovely drive up! We checked in at our inn, and headed out for a yummy dinner. On Monday, we went to several wineries – taking a tour of the winemaking process, and also doing tastings. It was kind of a nasty day with rain and wind, but we did not let that stop our fun!

More pictures of Monday’s winery visits on Flickr!

I was thrilled that when Kris found a wireless signal here in Napa! More pictures on the way