On Tuesday of this week I spent the day in the Valley of Nova Scotia discovering L'Acadie Vineyards and rediscovering beautiful Domaine De Grand Pre. In total there were 170 NSCC students and faculty who piled on to big noisy buses and headed to the Valley. The buses all chugged along and at times I thought would not make it up the not so steep highway hills. We made it all in tact and ready to explore. The weather held off and although there was the threat of rain it was the perfect day. I should add I have not been on a school bus in well over 20 years.
Nova Scotia has been cultivating grapes since the 1600's finally the wine industry in Nova Scotia is growing in leaps and bounds, this year marks the opening of the 9th vineyard in Nova Scotia with L'Acadie. This is only a snip of the vine with Pete Lucket opening his Winery in 2011 along with Benjamin Bridge and 2 others. The area is rich with mineral deposits that make the grapes grown in this region have a very distinctive flavor. The hills, valleys and the soil they hold, the iceage responsible for it all, the sea and her air are contributing factors. What makes it special is the place, the time and a climate change that is doing some good. I find myself now not only a wine lover but so interested in the rich history of grape growers and wine makers. I almost see myself living on a vineyard but fear it would not be successful for I would drink all the profits.
I have posted some photos, as you see the day ended in my drinking on the back of the bus. Not the most elegant way to to drink wine...out of a bottle sharing with several others but the experience one I can say that I did not have 20 years ago.
