Lunch on Lone Tree Hill, and Wines Worth Discovering
The art of entertaining has many forms, but few do it better than my old high school teacher Ms. Doyle. As a 14 year old kid fresh off the plane in Antofagasta, Chile, she welcomed me into her home and treated me as part of her own family in an attempt to make my transition to the new world that much easier. Whether it was a nice home cooked dinner, a trip into the desert or beach, or slapping my wrist to make me study more at school, I could always count on Ms. Doyle to keep me on the right track
Because Ms. Doyle had a profound influence on my upbringing and direction in life, it came as no surprise that we share many of the same passions in life over 10 years later. Whether its tending to home-grown crops, entertaining guests from far away, traveling to exotic destinations, or simply enjoying the simplicity of life, I can't help but see a reflection of the time spent over ten years ago in her 11th floor apartment. That we are both passionate about wine only strengthens that assessment.
A few years ago, Ms. Doyle started Lone Tree Cellars, a small Canadian import company focusing on high-end Australian wines. Starting with 3 wines from the McLaren Vale, Pertaringa, Samuel's Gorge, and Bird in Hand, she has since expanded to wines from South Africa, Spain and will soon be adding a South American portfolio piece. She recently expanded the imports into fine foods, and now imports olives and olive oil from Australia.
So when it came time to plan my summer vacation, a stop at Lone Tree Hill on Vancouver Island was a must. With a slice of local goat cheese and bread from a Victoria bakery, I arrived at the steps of my teacher ready to show her what I have learned since I left Chile. Little did I know, the real lesson was about to begin.
Armed with an arsenal of local cheeses, fresh vegetables from the garden, and grapes growing overhead, once again the teacher taught. Out came the salads. Out came the freshly picked figs. Out came the olives.
A couple bottles of wine and the lesson was complete. First was a bottle was from Bird in Hand, a wonderful sparkling Pinot Noir. I have had many sparkling wines due to my love for Prosecco, but never have I had an Australian sparkler as refreshing and crisp. It paired wonderfully with our strong cheeses and fresh salads, truly a treat. The next wine was from Pertaringa, a dry Sauvignon Blanc labelled "Scarecrow", although it did little to keep the crows away and was empty shortly thereafter.
Our visit finished with a hike to the top of Lone Tree hill which offered a beautiful view of Vancouver Island's raw nature and Victoria off in the distance. Upon reaching the top, we were rewarded with a view of the original lone tree perched on a rock at the peak. While it was seemingly alone at the top, you can't help but wonder if that little tree fought its way to the top of that hill and is actually being held up by the nature around it.
On the way back down the hill, I was reminded of the many excursions we used to share years ago and how lucky I have been to have such a wonderful influence in my life. I am filled with joy to see my teacher reach the top of her mountain, and cannot wait to see (and taste!) what comes next.
For more information on Lone Tree Cellars, visit their website at http://www.lonetreecellars.com
