Hello 2012

Posted by Karen Ralph on Jan 4, 2012 in Featured, Red Wine Tongue | 0 comments

2011 was a year of change. As a Taurus I wasn’t always receptive but it made me more flexible.

Top wishes for 2012: More wine producers using screw caps, lower prices on BC wines, interprovincial wine shipping made legal and more respect for the Earth.

As for last year:
January was snowy and cold so Karla and I started making wine videos for our You Tube site with the idea of starting a website. They were raw, honest videos, no rehearsals, just open the wine, taste it and talk about it- exactly what people actually do. Our unofficial motto became “wine should be fun.” Learning about wine is an interesting and educational pursuit that encompasses geography, culture, farming and food from around the world. We encourage everyone to try it.

Our Wine Events kept us busy, clients loved the intimacy of learning about wine in their homes and this proved to be the perfect evening for groups ranging from girlfriends getting together to explore the world of wine, couples looking for an alternative to the bar scene, bridesmaids organizing wine themed stagettes featuring the wedding wines and an all red wine birthday party.

Baking became a challenging passion and I’m still learning. Plant based dinners became the norm and the cookbook Plenty along with the Rebar Modern Foods were essential for fresh dinner ideas.

An early spring trip to the Okanagan reaffirmed my love for that part of BC, and also put me in the position of defending Alberta when it was suggested that we, here on the East side of the Rockies are a bunch of rednecks. Hello, Ozarks of BC’s interior, Prince George, serial killers, goats, shacks on the side of the highway – the hubcap house by Mara Lake anyone?- stop being so smug and lower your wine prices. Why can’t we all just get along?!

Sadly, in May, Noel Richardson, cookbook writer and owner of Ravenhill Herb Farm in Saanichton, BC passed away. She was a huge influence and encouraged my early Red Wine Tongue ‘zine, even though she felt that my subject matter was often somewhat “vulgar.” She threw the best parties; trays of fresh oysters, roasted lamb; bottles of bubbles drank by the pool with her daughters Sarah and Jenny. She knew how to elevate the moment and I’m grateful to have known her.

Summer brought trips to Cortes Island, Victoria, Dawson Creek, Enderby, Edmonton and France. A lot of wine and food was consumed.

Our website was finally up, just in time for Xmas!!!

We had outside fire and food extravaganzas and I finally got a meat and fish smoker to continue my exploration of food DIY. A foray into fruit cocktails rounded out the year; I can’t afford to go to Hawaii but a pineapple is within reach.

As such, we will be your guide to keeping your palate within your price range as 2012 unfolds.
Salut!!