Experience a Taste of Wine: Grape and Wine Recipes

Toby Rupert was a librarian living in Toronto.

About ten years ago the Ontario Grape Growers’ Action Committee was founded for promotional purposes, along the same lines as the (now) Wine Appreciation Guild in San Francisco, California. The Committee, though, also promotes use of wine and of grapes and grape juice from Ontario. Thus, this collection of some 200 easy recipes covers the range of beverages and appetizers through to desserts, jams and jellies, always stressing grape products. Most of the preparations are pretty basic, just as some of the WAG’s publications are. But, unlike the WAG’s cookbooks, this one has no attributions, so we really don’t know who contributed what recipe, whether they are family treasures or simply recipes common to the area. Both metric and imperial measurements are given, as well as mini-histories of twelve Ontario wineries. Other material here includes a short list of films available for group presentations, some guidance on making wine at home from Ontario grapes (and some trouble-shooting checklists), and advice on how to conduct a cheese and wine party. Given the prices, not a bad contribution, if you like grape flavours.