LANGLEY WINE COUNTRY

Well here we are doing a self-guided tour of Vancouver wine country.  It starts right here about 2 miles from where we are in Langley.
The first place we went to was Vista D'oro Farms and Winery.  What we found out about this part of Vancouver wine country is this is a wonderful place where they grow the grapes for white wine and they get the grapes for the red's from the Okanagan Valley about 5 hours through the mountains and the region North is known as The Napa Vallry of the North.
We couldn't get there this trip but if was fun running around the wine country here.the first vineyard had a white German Shepherd named Shubert.  They were also famous for their jellies and jam.  I tried two red's there and a wonderful dessert wine infused with brandy.  The reds were too tart for me but because of the natural process he uses they said it makes the wine naturally tart.  I didn't buy into that but the jelly was wonderful and I bought some Blood Orange jelly with vanilla.
Our next stop was Caberton Estate Winery and I had fun there.   Bought a bottle of red  "Valley Cab" 2010 that in tasting was quite lovely.  They are one of the largest wineries in B.C.  The gal who poured there was so very nice.  Sage had moved to B.C. 10 years ago from Winnepig and I had to agree with a statement she made that the people in B.C. Are less open and harder to get to know.  I don't think anyone from the area ever said Hi to me first.  I never mind giving out a shout of Hello but I don't think they are automacatically Minnesota nice.  She confirmed it.  She said it took her 3 years to adjust to the area.  People tended to stick to their own groups and not let her in.  Anyway she was lovely and would be welcome in our D.O.S.S. Group anytime.  
Our next stop was Backard Vineyard and I bought a fun bottle of red called Noisy Neighbor.  Really good and a blend of 4 different grapes I think.  I mentioned how good some chocolate would be and she disappeared to another room and appeared with 4 chocolate bars.  What a sweetie.
We went to one more winery.  Black wood Lane Winery and Vineyard, what a wonderful place - why I even tried a white.  The fellow that poured was Chinese I think but he had of all things a "Bemidji" connection.  He was an engineer and used to work for an automaker out of Detroit and they would bring their cars to Bemidji for winter cold weather testing.  He was talking about how part of the testing was when they would tailgate their own cars to see how the engine would perform.  Anyway Jim and I used to see those cars around in the winter when we went up for visits to see Mac when he was a student there.  The fellow now lives at the winery with his parents who both have memory issues.  I don't know if they own or if he is just their wine maker but the wine there went from $40 to $60 to $90 a bottle.  I didn't buy any but it sure was smooth.  He was so very thoughtful and generous with his wine and time.  I bet I tasted 3 reds there.  The drive alone up to his vineyard was fun because of the high hill.
The drive through the country around Langley was so very enjoyable.
The Wi ne routes or tours start down here in Langley and go all the way up through Okanagan Valley 5 hours to the North.  What fun it would be to tour there.  Maybe some day but it is part of the whole picture from wine country in California and just continues on here.
Well I have had a lovely time here in B.C. But it is time to move on.
We went to church on Sunday, was fun and we drove to White Rock along the Ocean.  Big weekend here for holiday because Monday is a holiday here.  Family Day or so something and they also had a Gay Pride Parade, it was huge.
TO USA,USA,USA.  I have to tell you Jim and I finally found visors for me at the duty free store by us and I have not seen them anywhere and to buy them you have to exit the country the same day.  We had to walk across to the U.S. Side to be able to keep them.  What a hoot to explain.  Well we will be back in the states in am hour so best get the bed made.
Later.