What a summer! Record breaking heat, fabulous Ottawa festivals, lots of reasons to get together with friends and family to enjoy good food, refreshing wines and great company.
Despite the heat, the Ottawa appetite for Scotch tasting showed no signs of diminishing during the early part of the summer. I had the pleasure of leading a number of Scotch events including some home parties to celebrate special birthdays, another super tasting at DiVino's in May (remember that REALLY hot week!), and a great event for a capacity crowd at the Army Officers Mess. The lucky crowd at DiVino's had the sublime pleasure of enjoying, among others, a Springbank 18 year old and Ardbeg Corryvreckan - two amazing Single Malts. Stay tuned for more Scotch tastings in the Fall.
The summer has been filled with wine tastings - crisp summer whites, refreshing sparklings, juicy roses and big BBQ reds. One of my favourite roses of the summer - Clos du Bois from Sonoma. Made predominantly from Syrah grapes, and juicy beyond belief, it has been well sipped at tastings this summer and in our new, not quite finished garden.
And the wine that graced a Nalgene bottle for the first couple of days of canoe camping in Algonquin Park? Enter an ultra inexpensive Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, which stayed remarkably tasty, and was delicious with Mountain High dried something or other.
The photo on the previous page was taken at Galeairy Lake.
And the bronze bust? - Mahler by Rodin. I came across it in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, where I spent two ultra hot days in 37C weather visiting my son. I had the supreme pleasure of singing Mahler's 8th Symphony in Ottawa and Montreal in June under the baton of Yannick Nezet-Seguin
The aforementioned son is currently in Nairobi working on an interesting development project.
Perhaps I'll see some of you at the Ottawa Chamberfest, where I'll be sporting a blue Volunteer T shirt at just a few of the many outstanding concerts on offer.
It's not too early to drop me a line to explore a Scotch or wine tasting for a Fall Corporate or private event.
Enjoy the rest of summer!
GrapeScot Gift Certificates make wonderful and unique gifts.
Host your own wine tasting party
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CAR Scotch Tasting
Niagara 2008
Wines in my cellar
Wines to Warm Your Winter
Scotland's Independent Distilleries
Colorado Celtic Festival
Food and Wine Pairing
Premium Scotch Tasting
