"Rain Rain go away, I want to drink some Chardonnay"
I read that on a twitter post on the day of the Chardonnay World Tour ... Last year's event was plagued with a heavy rain storm the night before, which caused havoc with the grounds and pools of water like motes around the event tents, areas were cordoned off to prevent people from going for a "swim" ... This year, it just rained all day. From morning to late afternoon the rains fell, causing organizers to send out a tweet of their own telling people not to show up till 6:00pm in the hopes the rains would subside.
I arrived on the scene about 6:30, not able to wait out the wet weather any longer ... It spit for a bit between my arrival and about 7:15 ... And then magically the rains stopped (no sunshine mind you) long enough for some friendly milling about, oysters and sparkling wines, dinner and the after glow ... Once everyone left who cares what the skies did (well the clean up crew did I guess).
This year's i4C Chardonnay World Tour elicited some interesting, if not eerie photo evidence ... Let's take a look:
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The ghost town that was suppose to be the Chardonnay World Tour -
flooded out due to the rain |
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| Flags unfurled and flying at the ready |
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| If you look closely you can see the pool-sized "puddles" |
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In the parking lot of the Vineland Research & Innovation Centre ...
the party found a new home, "across the street" |
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As bubbly took the place of the still bottles were popped and poured,
attendees like Ed, of Lailey Vineyard, sticks his tongue out at the rain. |
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People milling about, ducking in and out of tents
and from under 'brellies |
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Bubbly being poured puts smiles on faces:
no matter what the weather |
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While the shuckers from the Tide & Vine Oyster Company
shucked a variety of oysters from both east and west coasts |
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| Their trusty VW van stands guards |
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| Rain brought the hunger out in everyone - they could barely keep up |
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Chardonnays were lined up on a picnic bench and in buckets ...
help yourself? |
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| while the volunteers unloaded the truck filled with ice and wine |
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| Every winery had their own dedicated bucket of wine |
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| a look from the other side of the table |
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| Inside the dinner tent people looked for rows and sections to save |
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| Here's a look at the place setting for the "Al Fresco Feast" |
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| The Cheese Ladies cutting the ... this one's just too easy |
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| While the guy from Fat Chance hand sliced cold smoked salmon |
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| Another look at the Bubbly Tent ... they had to be a dozen deep here. |
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And the oysters just kept on coming -
and the people kept on eating. |
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One of the best bubblies was this Cave Spring Dolomite Brut ...
while not vintage dated, winemaker Angelo Pavan says it is
most likely made from 2011 fruit |
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Dinner is served, Family Style, first out of the kitchen:
"Chardonnay Smoked Rainbow Trout from Kolapore Springs"
presented by Chef Ryan Crawford of Gastrohomestead |
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Next up, a heaping plate of
"Confit Duck & Waterford County Bean Cassoulet"
by Chef Jason Parsons of Peller Estate Winery Restaurant |
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Final course is:
"Honey and Thyme Roasted Blue Goose Organic Chicken with Chardonnay-Lemon
Dressed Fresh Greens and Spiced Niagara Yellow Plum Jam"
cooked up by Chef Craig Youdale of the Canadian Food & Wine Institute
at Niagara College |
Good Wines of the Evening ...
While we did not get to try all the wines (truth is we tried maybe a dozen), turns out the fact is because I (and some colleagues) sat at primarily a media table we had very few wines to try ... turns out you had to sit with a winemaker / representative and they would provide wine for you. But here are the best of the wines I did get to try.
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| Angels Gate 2011 Mountainview Chardonnay (Ontario) |
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| A pair from Santa Rita (Chile) |
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| An Olivier Ducelle-Pierre Jean Villa 2012 Savigny-les-Beaune (France) |
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| And a Josef Chromy 2013 Chardonnay (Tasmania) |
Pictures From After the Dinner ...
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After dinner people had rain gear at the ready to brave
the elements outside the tent flaps |
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| Clean up began exactly at 11pm |
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| It's gonna be a long night for these guys |
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| A long night indeed, to bring this place back to normalcy |
Despite the rain, which held off for most of the evening, it was an evening of delightful Chardonnays, great camaraderie and delicious food. See you for i4C 2015 ... and let's all hope the rain holds off.
