Author: cpgrisold

Mid-September and mass exodus
as if they had it all thought out
booked by an efficient travel agent
organized by a group leader
or perhaps a volunteer swallowtail

I saw the monarchs congregating
on wildflowers near the railroad tracks
and the noonday sky never looked so blue
as behind those butterflies
their tint of Autumn

Does the monarch migration
signal the true end of summer
and not as we suspected
the return of the Ex or of the refusal
to wear white after Labour Day?

I want to wear orange
rich deep burnt-orange with black trim
and make the journey to Mexico
with them

~ c.p.grisold

Yes, you read that header correctly: SNÖ of Sweden is now available at Write Impressions in Bloor West Village! This is amazing news if, like me, you live in Bloor West Village and have a hard time GO-ing down to Silkeborg in Oakville to get your SNÖ fix.

I first discovered SNÖ at the Swedish Women’s Educational Association (SWEA)’s annual Swedish Christmas Fair held at the Harbourfront Centre around the third weekend of November. In 1999 I attended Uppsala Universitet in Sweden for the 3rd year of my undergraduate degree, and the Swedish Xmas Fair is my connection to that time. I love picking up random Swedish good like spicy mustard or ginger cookies, watching the St. Lucia candle parade, and checking out all the cute crafts designed with Sweden’s signature “Dala” horse. Oh, and because I attended Uppsala on a national scholarship awarded by SWEA, for which I am very grateful, I like to give back. That year was quite the experience! You can read more about some of my Swedish escapades here.

When I was at the Xmas Fair last November with my Momsies, we stumbled upon the SNÖ stand and I was hooked. Literally and figuratively. Typically Scandinavian: not only are the pieces stunning, but they are also highly practical. (Married…with children’s version of the ditzy Swedish bikini team is the complete opposite of how Swedish women actually are in real life. They are smart, strong, and confident. When I lived there, it was as if feminism didn’t exist in Sweden because it didn’t have to. Men and women were equals there. Most of the girls that lived in my universitet korridor i Flogsta were studying science. But yes, they are all gorgeous.)

SNÖ’s jewellery is so versatile; a lot of the collection is comprised of combinations of smaller pieces, clasped together with clips. So your necklace can turn into two bracelets. Genius! Made of semi-precious stones such as onyx, jade, and smoked crystals – the pieces available at Bloor West Village’s Write Impressions are mainly composed of rose quartz, cultivated freshwater pearls and silver. SNÖ’s intent is to remain as clear and pure as the Swedish snowy town of Östersund from whence they came.

SNÖ only releases four collections per year. Their display case looks amazing inside Write Impressions. It’s the perfect fit for their brand. Write Impressions has exquisite stock itself; unique and intricate, I want it all. They have stationery and notecards, Wildly Delicious’ Petite Maison products, wrapping paper that would be a shame to tear into (much better framed as art), charming serviettes and shelves of gourmet foodstuffs like spreads and preserves. The perfect place to buy someone (or yourself) a lovely prezzie!

I totally recommend both SNÖ and Write Impressions. They boast exactly the type of style that City and Charm – and I’m sure any girl who makes a living as a writer and has resided in Sweden at some point in her life – just ADORES.

Jag älskar dig, Sverige. Don’t ever change.

x

This is the conclusion of my three-part series “A Star-Studded Wine Tour of Niagara” with iYellow Wine Club. To start at the beginning, click here.

We had just finished a morning full of wine tastings…

—

By this time in the tour we were all famished, so the coach dropped us off in downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake for a free hour to grab lunch and/or stroll around the touristy shops. I stopped off at The Epicurean Bistro for a grilled aubergine and provolone sandwich on dark rye, with a wheatberry and wild rice salad on the side. Yum. Then I had time to stroll around, discover an adorable shop called Cheese Secrets (I LOVE CHEESE), pick up a box of Barry’s Irish Breakfast Tea from an Irish tea room, and travel back in time (apparently):

There were even a few people dressed in character wandering the streets. Looked like soliders from the 1800s. All part of the NOTL charm!

Reif Estate Winery

Pronounced RYE-FF, Reif Estates produce designer-celebs Steven and Chris’ TREND wines. Their slogan is “Designed to be Fabulous” and it shows: their labels are quite stylish, and the wines very easy-drinking. We sipped on an (undated) Chardonnay-Pinot Grigio blend, and a Merlot-Cabernet. Much like Mike Weir’s Brut, neither of the TREND wines were offensive nor outstanding. The perfect wine to serve at a gala or large party where you want to satisfy a variety of tastes. And the bottles would look great on the tables.

We tried next a 2008 Vidal Icewine from Reif (not part of the S&C line-up), but its thick syrupy sweetness was a bit too overwhelming for me and I didn’t swallow. (Does that mean it doesn’t count?)

Jackson-Triggs Winery

What a difference there is between the small, boutique vineyard, and the MEGA-VINEYARD.

Built as a conceptualization of a modern barn, with a roaring fire in the “hall” that was burning cedar, its scent giving off a rustic allusion. It seemed to me that Jackson-Triggs was trying to make a connection to the old-timey farm days, even though they are more like a business than a farm. Processing 800 acres of grapes (not all grown on site – the best wines coming from their 100-acre Delaine Vineyard, which also houses a research centre), J-T began in 1985 when its owners Mr. Jackson and Mr. Triggs purchased it off Labatt, where they worked at the time. (Labatt making only table wines out of concord grapes back then, not the quality wines J-T are renowned for today.)

The reason why Ange included this stop on our “Star-Studded” tour was because of J-T’s bandstand, where they often have stars performing. There was talk of a potential iYellow music/wine event in future happening there!

Up first for our tastings was the Gold Series 2009 Fumé Blanc. Fruity, acidic, with an appley scent and light taste. Our tour guide told us to use the “retro-nasal technique” to taste the wines – a fancy way of saying slurp in some air when you take your sip. After the Fumé Blanc came the Delaine Vineyard 2007 Syrah. With a leathery nose, hints of cassis, medium tannins on the palate, it had a spicy aftertaste and would pair well with red meats (even beef, gasp!).

Last up was the Delaine Vineyard 2007 Riesling Icewine. OH. MY. GOD. It was delicious! Not a massive icewine drinker myself (I prefer reds), it was nothing like the Reif syrup. Jackson-Triggs won Best in Class for this icewine, and I agree whole-heartedly with the decision!

Wayne Gretzky Estates

Departing Jackson-Triggs, we jumped on the highway and headed into Vineland for a visit to Wayne Gretzky Estates. The charming building we visited was a facade, housing only the retail store, as the wines are made at Creekside Estate Winery. (There was talk of Wayne buying his own vineyard in future.) Started in 2007, Wayne wanted to create drinkable, affordable wines – much like Dan Aykroyd’s intent. It probably has a lot to do with their celebrity personas that they want to keep their “everyman” approachability in all they do. Wayne’s foundation receives a portion of the proceeds from his wines every year. Wayne Gretzky’s wines use the grapes that Vineland (and Beamsville) is good at producing, and has both a Founders and Estate series. Says their website:

Wayne Gretzky Founders Series wines are a perfect introduction to the Niagara Peninsula, combining approachability, affordability and exceptional value for a great selection of every day wines […]

Wayne Gretzky Estate Series wines have been crafted in celebration of the diversity and excellence of vineyards on the Niagara Peninsula. Each seeks to present a unique combination of varietal character, vineyard origin and winemaking style, creating a wine reflective of its roots and showcasing regional identity.

The first wine we tasted was the Founders Series 2008 Unoaked Chardonnay. With a taste much crisper than a fumé blanc, it was almost a mid-point between sauvignon blanc and an oaked chardonnay. The Founders 2008 Riesling came next, with a flavour not as sweet as the Mike Weir Riesling. Wayne’s was really balanced, but I found it served almost too cold to really get a sense of the bouquet. The flavour was crisp and lemon-lime, and would be good paired with sweet rice sushi.

The last wine we tasted was the Estate Series 2007 Shiraz/Cabernet. Not usually a fan of shiraz myself, I was shocked to enjoy this wine so much I actually purchased a bottle! I would pair it with venison or even a French chocolate tart. Smoky and tannic, it tasted delightful when sampled with a sliver of BRIX chocolate. (I even bought the chocolate too. Am a sucker for good marketing.)

The winemaker at WG Estate said that when they first made this wine, the marketer fell to the floor wailing that it absolutely MUST be called a Shiraz not a Syrah. Even though they are made from the same grape, the stigma related to each would have affected sales, he persisted.

Here’s an article on the Shiraz-Syrah face-off from Snooth.com.

By now my bag of wines was quite heavy, and my stomach couldn’t handle another sip of wine (I was actually spitting more than swallowing at the end of the tour; so much for getting wasted on a Saturday afternoon, damn civility), and so when we pulled into Vineland Estates Winery for a surprise stop – and found it closed – I was glad to be on our way. As we headed back to Toronto, Ange had us all put our names in a hat for a draw – the prize being, of course, more wine. I did not win. But nothing could put a damper on the day (not even the Gardiner traffic), and I would recommend an iYellow tour or event to anyone looking for an authentic wine experience, sans le prétexte. 100% snob-free, indeed! For more information on upcoming iYellow events, click here.

And thus ended our Star-Studded Wine Tour of Niagara. Oh bright star, would I were as steadfast as thou art… and could drink wine for a living like you, Ange. Star-struck sigh!

*City and Charm was a very happy and appreciative guest of iYellow Wine Club on this tour.

Yesterday I was having ONE. OF. THOSE. DAYS. Cancelled two offers for drinks with friends so that I could go home and curl up in the fetal position. But then I saw it, like a glimmer of light on a dark night… a WagJag Express deal for a haircut, colour, blowdry & style at Adrienne Foley Spa in Yorkville. For $80. SOLD!

Adrienne Foley Spa on Hazelton Lane, Yorkville…ask for Pina!

The cowhide rug that inspired my colour…

And the final do! Yay!

Thank you, Pina and WagJag Express, for turning my frown upside down.

What #expressdollardeals did you pick up on Wednesday? Coco loves her some instant gratification.

Ciao for now,

x