Join us at Cornucopia for a delicious lunch that explores the underlying assumptions locavore and 100 Mile Diet.  Guest will enjoy a multi-course lunch paired with Farmstead Wines. It will also be a great chance to actually get into the kitchen and learn some new tricks. Discussion of farming, food policy, sustainability and wine included. Learn more about the event and buy your tickets here.

And, Anthony Nicalo will also be doing a cooking demonstration on the Viking Stage on Sunday. If you love to eat what’s in season, but hate that your recipes all suggest you find specific ingredients, you’ll appreciate this session. Learn some tips for technique- driven cookery that you can apply to seasonal goodies.

The lovely ladies of House Wine, Michelle Bouffard and Michaela Morris
have made Martin Arndorfer’s Gruner Veltliner Strasser Weinberge 2006 their wine of the week. They note,  "Bright and intense flavours of lemon and grapefruit with an intriguing minerality."

I also think it shows the peppery character available only in ideal examples of Gruner.  Special thanks to Gus for the photo, taken at VinoCamp 2008. 

The Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC

Farm is leading the way to sustainable agricultural and food policy through its farming, research and youth learning programs. Sadly, it faces the threat of diminishing from a healthy farm of twenty-four hectares to as few as five hectares in size. At its current size, the farm’s work and research is directly applicable to many farms in British Columbia. Join us in the fight for sustainability by helping to preserve the farm.

The world can put its bid in to save UBC Farm from development when Farmstead Wines and Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks launch an online auction website on Wednesday, September 10th. The item up for bid is a home-cooked dinner for eight prepared by Barbara-jo McIntosh, owner of Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks, and Anthony Nicalo, president of Farmstead Wines. Visit www.farmsteadwines.com/ubcfarm to show your support for the farm over a delicious meal. The pair are launching this online auction exactly ten days before a fundraiser they have organized for Saturday, September 20th that will unite thirty-six concerned Vancouverites and six of the city’s finest restaurants to raise funds for the preservation of UBC Farm in its current size and location.

On September 20th, West, Gastropod, Cru, Fuel, Chow and La Quercia will each set a table for six and serve dinner on the house in honour of UBC Farm’s contribution to this city. Before sitting down to their specially-designed five-course menu, paired with Farmstead Wines, the participating Farm patrons will meet at UBC Farm for wine, canapés, and a farm tour. Here, it will be revealed which of the six restaurants they will dine in that evening. Volunteer drivers will preserve tonight’s green mantra by transporting the patrons from their homes to the Farm to the restaurants in a fleet of ecofriendly hybrid cars. When the dishes are cleared, the Farm patrons will have one last chance to top the highest bid on the online auction which will officially close at midnight on September 20th. Tickets for this event are $250.00. Attire is farm-formal. Please call Books to Cooks at 604.688.6755 to purchase your seat now. 100% of the net proceeds from ticket sales and the auction will be entrusted to the Save the Farm Campaign and its efforts in raising awareness for this vital issue. What better way to celebrate the benefits of UBC Farm than an evening of local wining and dining?

Chef Anthony Nicalo founded Farmstead Wines in 2007 to connect wine to its agricultural roots. He selects naturally farmed, handcrafted wines from small, trusted farmers. His passion for sustainable farming and the pleasures of the table magnify his desire to save one of Vancouver’s most important agricultural spaces.

Barbara-jo McIntosh opened her culinary bookstore Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks in 1997. She has over 25 years experience as a food professional, even being honoured

with Vancouver Magazine’s lifetime achievement award. Her convictions for the support of local businesses and food production strengthen her concerns for the fate of UBC

Farm.

A few people have expressed interest in the Renato Fenocchio Barbera d’Alba "Super Elena" 2004 we poured at vinocamp last Saturday. It is 100% Barbera from the renowned Starderi Vineyard in Barbaresco. Each and every bottle has an individually hand-painted label. There were 113 Magnums made and 75 were imported to North America. They retail for around $200. There are 60 remaining. If you want one they are available at Firefly Fine Wines at 12th and Cambie. You can also email me directly, I and can help you track down a bottle wherever you live- anthony@farmsteadwines.com

(Thanks to Degan, http://vancouverethniceats.wordpress.com/, for the pic)

Video from Vinocamp 2008

 It is too bad that winemakers in North America rarely get to work in the vineyards too. I believe that it would vastly improve the quality of wines here in British Columbia and much of the New World. Unfortunately, this trend of separating the role of viticulturalist and winemaker is beginning to show up in Europe as well. Learning to farm and make wine is no longer passed from generation to generation- it is a process where if you are interested you head off to school for a proper piece of paper instead of learning at your grandfather’s knee. You don’t need a connection to the land, just a willingness to pay service to the idea of terroir. 

I know there are exceptions out there and would love to learn more about farming in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, and all of North America. If you have a favorite North American vinaroon, please tell me about him or her!