an expensive november

november is probably one of the most expensive months for me.  on top of the usual mortgage payments, utilities, and daily living expenses, i also have to make sure there is a budget set aside for christmas presents. i have to say, black friday is a blessing.  :)  so christmas presents?  check.

then comes automobile maintenance.  winter tires swapping and windshield replacement.  my friends have been hassling me to get my windshield replaced for safety reasons.  it cracked due to extreme heat back in May and i had been driving with a U shaped crack in my windshield for about 6 months before i decided it was time to get it replaced.  safety is important and it had to be done.  so car maintenance?  check.

next biggie is tuition.  with old world wine regions coming to an end in a few weeks, i have to look ahead to the winter semester.  i have three courses left to complete the program!  can you believe it?  it feels like i just started yesterday and now i'm almost done.  all that's left are a few fun courses:  food & wine pairing, a beer course, and advanced sommelier.  i totally dread the last one but i didn't take all of the courses for nothing.  in the winter semester, i enrolled in food & wine pairing as well as the beer course.  both courses are apparently pretty straight forward so i figure i'll tackle both in one semester.  so tuition fees covered?  check.

this year, i'm spending my christmas holidays in the US with my brother and his family.  i'm excited!!  :)  i got lucky and found a seat sale with Porter airlines.  the deal ends on friday so i had to book immediately.  flights booked?  check.

sigh .. it's a good thing i'm working 10 hr days .. pudgy gotta make pay some big bills in december.

p.s. the lcbo has been taunting me with their november wine selection.  usually around this time of the year, all the good stuff is released.  did i buy any?  nope.  i can wait.

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short trip to Niagara

I've been meaning to go to the Niagara region for the longest time but just never had the time to go out there. Usually when I drive home on a long weekend, it is mainly to see family. But Remembrance Day weekend, I decided to skip out on the food & wine show this year and make a short trip out to Niagara instead.

Before my trip, I contacted the winemaker at Vineland Estates to see if he was going to be around. Brian kindly arranged for me to tour the facility and do a tasting as part of my tour. The main reason for my visit was because I had chatted with Brian about their Pinot Meunièr still wine. Pinot Meunièr is a grape that is mainly used in making sparkling wine or champagne. But a single varietal still wine? I've never seen that before and was curious to try it. In all of Ontario, there are only two wineries that produce this - Keint-He vineyards in Prince Edward county is the other producer. And just between you and me, the Pinot Meunièr at Keint-He is awful. I tried it at a wine event recently and it was so bad that I could not believe they thought it was good for public consumption. It smelled like week old hockey equipment that was marinated in garbage. Btw, Pinot Meunièr is a red grape varietal. I was assured by my fellow wine friend that Vineland makes a very nice Pinot Meunièr.

Anyway, due to a mix up .. I didn't get a full tour but I got to see the barrel room and had a nice chat with the guide. Vineland graciously contacted me and invited me back for a private tasting. I hope to go back for a visit in the spring .. Maybe this time, I'll be able to have a talk with Brian about his wine making philosophy.

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