Home Grown Winery In Prince George A Great Idea
Tuesday, October 15, 2013 @ 3:45 AM
When I first heard about Pat Bell’s idea of putting a Winery in Prince George, my first thought was Pat was more ill than he first mentioned.
But then he dropped over and we began a conversation and by the time he had left I thought it was one hell of an idea.
When we were young, there was no shortage of wine, good wine and on the prairies you wouldn’t be thinking about growing grapes. Matter of fact you may recall rhubarb wine, had a great taste, and come summer there was plenty of it. We had choke cherry wine, Saskatoon berry wine , raspberries and even strawberries. So "why not in Prince George?" asked Bell.
I for one have done a complete circle, I like the idea of a Northern Lights winery, I like it even better that it is PG that is the originator, and I like it even better that the Bell family put up their own money to try and make this thing work. Could the Bell’s have received money from the province for an experiment like this? You bettcha, but they didn’t. They are in this winery on their own dime.
So does the idea of a winery with a performing amphi-theatre on the north side of the river have appeal? I like it. does the idea of an upscale restaurant on that location have some merit? Indeed it does.
So that leaves the wine, well there are a host of wineries who have been using fruit other than grapes to produce wine in BC, some are not only good at it, they are very successful.
So off to the races you go Bell family, Macdonald and I will be in the front line for the first batch.
I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.
Comments
Very good venture. Hope it goes well for them.
Great idea! Good Luck. Pat for Mayor!
I agree with Ben, that this is a good Venture and it will provide an opportunity to use local fruits for the various wines.
Gooseberry, Rhubarb, Currents, and Raspberry are natural to this area and easy to grow.
Who knows, if it is successful, maybe he can expand, use other growers in the area, and sell more wine.
Nothing ventured nothing gained. I certainly like the use of private money versus tax dollars.
I wonder if you can make soapberry wine.
I have been told that dandelion also makes a fine wine no shortage of those.
I used to live in little Italy in Toronto and some of the people in the neighbourhood used to make wine from dandelions.
http://winemaking.jackkeller.net/dandelio.asp
From Iowa
Traditional dandelion and rhubarb wines
http://www.iowaartscouncil.org/programs/folk-and-traditional-arts/place_based_foods/stories1.htm
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