My favorite “Wine Chic”, Lori Mohr, sales rep for Ultimate Distributors here in Savannah, invited me to their Fifth Annual Portfolio Tasting, an extravaganza of importers and Vineyards that Ultimate (and Lori) represent. The party started at 1 pm but duty kept me at the inn until after 2 – but don’t worry about me – I didn’t miss a sip! Twenty-four tables of wines were spread about the tasting room representing all corners of the earth and because I don’t believe in spitting (I am a girl, after all!), I had to carefully plan where I would tantalize my taste buds. I immediately eliminated any wine I have in our private collection, or any wine I have tasted previously, and planned an attack by white then red.
This well-devised plan failed after only a few white wines. (I love reds, and there were SOOOO many to choose from that I was compelled to amend my strategy.) But I digress – let me tell you about the white I felt worthy of stealing a mouthful of my personally ascribed allotment: Vintage 59 Imports Natter Sancerre (2008). I’m not going to say much – go get a bottle and tell me if you agree! There were two more whites worthy of mention, however, Emmolo’s Sauvignon Blanc 2009 and Peterson Winery’s Timbercrest Farms Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc.
But my passion is Reds and several of my favorites were there: Clayhouse’s Adobe Red, importer Terra Verus’ L’Aroc Pario Rosso, Amizetta’s Complexity, W.H. Smith’s Maritime Pinot Noir, Bliss Family Vineyards’ California Zinfandel, Low Country Imports’ Vin Dillon Pinot Noir and, finally, TOG’s (The Other Guys) impressive collection: Hey Mambo Red (love it), and Plungerhead Lodi Zin and Plungerhead Dry Creek Zin. Sticking to the plan I chose to merely nod in passing – I did, after all, have a long way to go before I finished! Oh, wait. I actually did indulge in a few sips at one of my favorites: Four Vines. Such an incredible impressive array of wines, (not one of which I would turn down), and the opportunity to speak with winemaker and visionary, Christian Tietje, was too enticing to pass up. Then I broke another rule and tasted wines I have in my portfolio. Well, it seemed only polite, I told myself, to actually drink his wines while engaging in conversation. If you know me, the names of his heralded wines beg one to take the dare and taste: Anarchy, Loco, Heretic, Biker and Maverick, as well as the Sophisticate. If you don’t know me, well, consider this an introduction.
I sipped my way through Spain at two different tables: Ole Importers and Spanish Wines, Inc. importer. The young man at Ole asked a few questions on my preferences, and then poured to suit what I believed I like… and lead me in another direction … which is okay, is it not, to have one’s palate opened to new sensations? My favorite was Paradigma 2007, followed by Brozal Red 2008. The table for Spanish Wines was manned by Josh Hackler, a 26-year-old entrepreneur who fell in love with Spain on a family vacation at age 14. He returned in 2005 to Oviedo on Spain’s northern coast as part of his study abroad program through U. South Carolina, and began to map out his vision – a long-term commitment to the customer, not the individual winemaker – and wine that is affordable. My favorite at this table was the Elios Priorat, a red blend, which Josh says “walks on the meterosxual side of Priorat – it’s as though the poor soils of Priorat got a makeover in a Calvin Klein suit.”
The winner that night? Jonata (pronounced as Honata), a California winery. Not just because they are committed to sustainability as a way of life. Not just because they are a new breed of producers growing grapes in untraditional soil composition (I get a bit fuzzy here, but I believe he said sand!) enriched by a revolving group of livestock (chickens, pigs, sheep, goats and turkeys) that leave the proper nutrients behind once they have “lived” in an area for a while. Let me just say the wines are elegant, remarkably complex, and stunning, a word that pops up over and over if you do any research on this winemaker. Treat yourself to the 2006 Jonata Desafio.
Amidst all this tasting and eating (I did eat some nibbles), I rubbed elbows with a few old friends, and made some new ones. The fun new friend of the evening was a gentleman that I knew only as Dennis – who assured me he did the hair of the (Hollywood) stars – and began touching my hair and pushing it around on my head – he loved the color, but thought I should go for a bit more length. We finally ended up peeking into the girl’s room and finding it empty, we slipped inside where he dolloped some soap (yep) onto his palms and used it to restyle my hair, easily taking 10 years off my looks with a few tweaks and teases! Was he Really a stylist to the stars… or had I been conned into having soap rubbed through my hair? I tell you another time.
Just because you left town for the 
The continuing tale of innkeepers, Teresa and Jake of 
Back at the inn we chatted with Ed and Maggie about our trip to their island, and after stating my ancestral names, Ed knew exactly where our roots were born – Holyrood and Fox Harbour! Soon more guests arrived and helped along with Ed’s homebrew and homemade wine, we learned a bit about each other and the places visited. We awoke the next day to a simple yet delicious breakfast and left the home well fortified for the drive northward on the peninsula and a hike to the Bonavista Lighthouse, Dungeon’s Provincial Park, and Elliston – the root cellar capital of the world. The landscape of my mother’s homeland is heart achingly rugged, majestically inspiring, and quietly peaceful. It is no wonder that even in heaven, Newfoundlanders ask, “When can I go home?”
At the morning’s breakfast gathering, several of our fellow travelers mentioned the 
morning eerie companion and we were happy to have added another great climb to our list of adventures. 
Jake and I have wound down to our last three days in this beautiful province. Our plans are to spend two days on the eastern side of Trinity Bay and the final night in St. John’s where I hope to meet up with Peggy, my best friend/cousin of childhood memories in Newfoundland, before heading to Boston for my brother, Kevin’s wedding. We have reservations at the 
While we waited for load to finish, I wrote the blog about our Trinity Bight travels. Finally fluffed and folded, next on our agenda was lunch and after asking about a bit we decided on the 
and the person on staff directed us to a local diner, Village Café, for lunch. We opted for a simple lunch – I had a hamburger and Jake decided on the chicken patty sandwich and a very Newfie side: French Fries with Gravy. As our young waitress took his order, he commented that he had never had this before – however, how he strung his words together made it appear he had never had a chicken patty and the girl was clearly surprised and a bit amused; she seemed to be wondering where we had blown in from – clearly not from this planet. I quickly let her know he meant French fries with gravy – and again she was surprised but not perplexed this time. Jake enjoyed the Newfie fries and we must admit to ordering it several more times before we left the island. That night we had dinner with our Uncle Bill and Aunt Colleen, joined by my sisters, Sharon and Pat, and brothers Peter (with his two sons) and Sean (with his three children.) We stayed up late reminiscing, playing pool and shuffle board, and drinking a toast or a few to my mom and times gone by.
don’t’ know that I have ever heard a family so strongly devoted in love and admiration for the dad who raised them to be his reflection to the world.
We stopped to spend a bit more time with Uncle Kevin and Aunt Theresa. Our uncle Kev is a well known guide about Newfoundland and Labrador and though a humble man we managed to coerce him into sharing what we thought must have been the highlight of his career: taking then 