Wellbrook Winery Summerfest 2009 Blueberry Mascot

Wellbrook Winery’s primary product is blueberries and their Summerfest 2009 featured blueberries. There was a blueberry bakeoff, blueberry pie eating contest, blueberry juice, blueberry jelly, blueberry wine, fresh blueberries, and various crafts featuring blueberries. Their blueberry juice and blueberry wine are my favorites and I purchased both at the Summerfest. Frozen blueberries are available year round in their winery. Blueberries are one of the top sources for antioxidants and should be a part of your diet. Wellbrook’s Summerfest is a community event with hundreds of volunteers. Thousands showed up for Wellbrooks Sumerfest event and I will mark it on my calendar so I can attend next year’s event. It was a very pleasant afternoon.

Wellbrook Winery Summerfest 2009 Kid Cadillac Band

The Kid Cadillac band was not doubt the perfect band for this event. The lead singer had a great voice and the band members harmonized well. They played a variety of rock and country oldies at a comfortable level that was well received by the audience. Their performance made for a very comfortable stroll through the various activities and crafts on display.

Wellbrook Winery Summerfest 2009 Kid Cadillac Band

Sorry, but I could not resist having my photo taken in front of a classic Mustang GT. This GT was nicely restored and well maintained. Believe me there were more than classic cars and blueberries at the show to excite me.

Blueberry Wine - The Fort Wine Company

Valley Girl brand Blueberry Wine from the Fort Wine Company is a very good wine. I paired it with some Holland Gouda cheese and Breton Garden Vegetable crackers. Awesome! I was skeptical about the fruit or berry wines; thinking they were just cheap wines. However, the blueberry wines are becoming my favorite after dinner wine. With all the antitoxins in blueberries there must be some health benefits in the blueberry wines. I mean, if red wine can be healthful then blueberry wine must have health benefits as well. Right? There are a lot of blueberry farms and several selections of blueberry wines to choose from in Fraser Valley in BC.

I found my thrill
on blueberry hill.
For you were my thrill
on blueberry hill.
Oh, too much thrill. I mean wine.

Red Wine and a Healthy Lifestyle

The benefits of moderately drinking red wine have been recognized for centuries. Though, not a drug, physicians have recommended red wine as a treatment for iron deficiency and anemia. Red wine increases the absorption of minerals and reduces the occurrence of sleep disorders. Consuming wine with meals aids in the digestive process, stimulate the intake of nutrients and lowers cholesterol which leads to a healthy heart.

Over the last 30 years hundreds of scientific studies throughout the world involving more than 1 million people have suggested that the moderate consumption of red wine (1 to 3 glasses/day) can extend your life expectancy by several years over the non-drinkers (abstainers). Moderate consumption of red wine assist in protecting against various types of heart disease and cancer and delay or reduce the risk of developing a range of other diseases. A glass of wine is defined as 5 ounces of wine containing 12% alcohol by volume (12%/vol).

Research over the last century has demonstrated how key organic compounds found in red wine provide additional healthful benefits not attributed to other alcoholic beverages. Other alcoholic beverages do not have the polyphenols that are found in red wines.

Wine’s Health Benefits Phenolics

Phenols are used by animals and microbes as a defense mechanisms and by plants as protection by stopping biologically active growth inhibitors. Since phenols are developed as a defense mechanism for plants the more stressed the vines are the more phenols the plants will produce.
Anthocyanins are phenolic compounds found throughout the plant kingdom being responsible for the blue to red colors in flowers, fruits and leaves. In grapes they develop during the stage when the skin of the grapes change color from green to red or black. As the sugars in the grapes increase during the ripening process so does the anthocyanins. In most grapes anthocyanins are found only in the outer cells of the grape skin leaving the grape juice inside virtually colorless. So it is the skin of the red wine grapes that give the wine its color.

Wine is a source for all the major classes of Phenolics which are preserved during the fermentation process of wine making. The ethanol produced during the fermentation process serves to boost the amounts of flavonoid phenolics present in the skins and seeds of red wine grapes. The phenolic compounds in wine include a large group of several hundred chemical compounds known as polyphenolics that effect the taste, color, and the way wine feels in the mouth (sometimes referred to as mouthfeel). This large group can be separated into two categories flavoniods and non-flavonoids. Flavonids include anthocyanins and tannins which contribute to the color and the way wine feels in the mouth. Non-flavoniods include stilbenes such as resveratrol and compounds derived from acids in wine like benzoic, caffeic and cinnamic acid. Phenolics are found in the skin, stems, and seeds of grapes. In wine making the process of maceration or “skin contact” is used to increase the influence of phenols in wine. The process of oak aging can also introduce phenolic compounds to wine, most notably of vanillin which adds vanilla aroma to wines.

This is way too much science. Bottom line is like most fruit the majority of the vitamins and healthy stuff is in the skin of the fruit. The processes used in making red wine captures as much of the healthy stuff as possible. So, let’s have at least one glass of red wine each day with a meal. I can live with that rule.

Lulu Island Winery Richmond BC

Lulu Island Winery previously known as Blossom Winery invited me to their grand opening celebration on July 4, 2009. Their new location is 16880 Westminster Hwy., Richmond, BC. While their winery is located in Richmond their vineyards are located in the Okanagan Valley. Grapes grown in the Okanagan Valley region produce some of Canada finest wines. As you can see from their estate they have moved up into the big time. They are no longer the small mom & pop winery they were a few years ago. Their winery meets British Columbia Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) standards. The winery was started in 1991 by two immigrants from Taiwan who moved to Canada looking for an opportunity. They have built an outstand winery and have a loyal clientele. Their main fortes are the icewines. They make several varieties that are very popular in Asia. A small bottle (375ml) can cost over $100. They make a killer Gewurztraminer that I enjoy late at night after dinner.

Lulu Island Winery Gewurztraminer and Merlot

At the Lulu Island Winery I purchased one bottle of Gewurztraminer white wine (750ml, 12.5% alc/vol.) for $16.75. Gewurztraminer is my favorite after diner wine. It is slightly sweet with a smooth finish and goes well with peanuts, cheese or blueberry pie. Since, I am a meat lover I purchased one bottle of Merlot (375ml, 13.5% alc/vol.) for $18.95. This wine had a slight hint of Oak and a nice balance of tannins made for a smooth Merlot taste. Through my wine adventures in Fraser Valley I have collected a rather large quantity of wine. I have had to reduce the quantities of wine I purchase at each winery. This is the only reason I did not purchase more wine at Lulu Island Winey. They have a large selection of wines to taste and sample.