Great things are happening at wineries across the province. As the snow begins to melt, many wineries are using this time to bottle new vintages of your favourite NB wines. The amount of time from harvest to bottle varies based on a number of factors including, wine style, fruit selection, aging, and winemaker's preference, just to name a few.

Fruit wines have the shortest turnaround time, followed by white wines and then reds. Some local wineries age their red wine in barrels before bottling. This can add anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years to the length of time before the wine makes it into a bottle.

What can be sure, is that winemakers are always looking for the perfect time to bottle. They regularly sample wine from tanks and barrels to determine that best time. If you're lucky, and arrive at the right time, you may be invited to sample directly from the barrel or tank.

After bottling, wines usually require a few weeks to settle down in the bottle, then they're ready for you to drink. While it's true that many wines change and improve with age, the majority of wine being produced now is meant for immediate enjoyment. If you're looking for a wine to lie down for a few years, ask the winery for their suggestion.

For those of you lucky enough to live near a winery, spring and early summer is a great time to visit and sample new vintages. Most wineries in NB can also ship wine to your home, and Uncorked Tours offers daily tours this summer to many wineries in Southern NB.

Cheers!
~Gilliane

A big part of a strong society is helping those in need. Food, wine and beer events have become a popular was to encourage the public to get out for a fun night of dining and drinks while raising money for an organization. There are so many worthy causes that I've been asked to help with or participate in so I wanted to share a few of these. I find that regularly, we fail to promote the wonderful work of these organizations.

I need to begin however, by giving a shout out to all the suppliers who participate in these events. They donate their product, their time, and their enthusiasm to these events and it's their support and participation that truly make these events such wonderful successes.

Fran Menton has orchestrated two wine tastings in support of the SPCA. The most recent in February raised over $2000 to help cover the shelter's expenses.  This is becoming an annual event for wine and animal lovers.