Read article "Sooke to Port Renfrew: Modern-day explorers love Vancouver Island's SouthWest Coast

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/getaways/377432_shorttrips04.html 

Once again featuring Sooke harbour House and Byron Cook our head gardener.

Modern winemaking style and technology has allowed winemakers to create incredibly massive wines that are increasingly approachable. 

Nothing evokes such passionate enological debate as the modern vs. traditional style. Some critics, entire regions and even certain grapes themselves have been demonized by the staunch traditionalists for luring the wine world into the red light avenues of hedonistic pleasure.

Slip into something comfortable and let's explore the sultry side of wine. (Shirt and shoes required)

Cultivated since pre-Roman times, the Rhone Valley has produced wines for Emperor's and Popes alike. It is home to some of the world's most popular grapes and wine-styles that have been emulated in almost every major producing area.

The Valley itself personifies a duality of Jungian proportions. The barren, wind-blown north produces syrahs of such power, grip and elegance hauntingly reminiscent of the great Bordeaux of old. The south produces softer, more provincial wines that bring to mind fields of sun-drenched lavender and garrigue.

Come taste wines by international superstars like the Perrin family of Chateau Beaucastel, E. Guigal, M.Chapoutier to local heros like Yves Cuilleron and Domaine de la Janasse.

Don't miss this tasting. $50.00/person  

I invite you to listen and hopefully subscribe to our gardening podcasts that will feature garden tours, gardening how-to's, plants and varieties, seeds, and of course, composting.

Over 20 years here at Sooke Harbour House we have had time to learn what grows well in our climate, culinary uses of unusual plants, composting and much more that we are happy to share now that we have the technology.

I hope that you can benefit from our experience and make your gardening and cooking more fun and adventurous.

This first podcast is a 10 min. garden tour with a brief introduction to the world of edible flowers

 

 

To keep your salad bowl filled all summer, you will need to succession plant your lettuces and other salad ingredients as they tend to go to seed in hot weather. Always cut your lettuces off when they are small and allow them to regrow from the roots. Water well and put some liquid seaweed fertilizer on them to help them regrow. When they get too thick to cut or they bolt, dig them up and compost them. Then add compost to the bed and reseed. You will have a nice refreshing organically grown salad all summer and throughout the fall.

Byron Cook

Head Gardener