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1 yE Sauternes growe Sauternes, France... Chateau de Cadillac was built around 1565, perhaps first as a winery, but then later on from 1830 to 1954, it had been turned into a prison. It is now the official Maison du Vin for the Sauternes Region of Bordeaux. I had long lost count on how many sweet dessert wines I had sampled, but as my hands literally stuck to the glass and its incrediâ€" bly sweet golden liquid, I specuâ€" lated that I had tasted about 20 or so... and it was still before lunch. A little while ago, I asked one of the producers when he started harvesting his grapes this year, but was told in no uncertain terms, that the grapes in Sauternes are never harvested, but rather picked. In Sauternes, it is not a quesâ€" tion of harvesting, but of picking, he explains. Each bunch, each grape, must be picked with the optimum level of concentration. Three to five weeks of ideal conâ€" ditions are needed so that the entire crop reaches overâ€"ripeness and the Sauternes wine growers have perfected the long and deliâ€" cate technique of successive pickâ€" ing. In fact, there are up to eight pickings in each vineyard, and the pickers may go through the rows every two days or so, looking for bunches of overripe grapes â€" eliminating as they go along, berries which may have blemishâ€" es. This may be the reason why the wines of Sauternes are so expensive. Semillon grapes account for about 70% of the vines while the rest is made up mostly of Sauvignon Blanc. What makes this wine so sweet is the fact that all the grapes are affected by botritis, or noble rot. This fungus can be found everywhere in the soil, but if splashed onto the grapes by the rain under favorable conditions, the fungi will cover the skin of the grapes giving the evaporate over a long time, leavâ€" ing behind only very sweet extracts. Comedy at the Centre The comedy of 500 Miles Off Broadway comes to the Oakville Centre Studio Theatre, Dec. 9th and 10th The evening will include sketches, songs, improv and lots of Christmas cheer. 500 Miles Off Broadway is a sketch troupe founded in 1982 in Ottawa and since that time, they have produced shows for clubs, fringe festivals and corporations. The show is part of the Centre‘s Lighter Fare professional comedy series which continues Feb. 24th and 25th with Canadian Content Theatre and Komic Kazes, May 5th D (SAT. SUN.HOLIDAYS A 1/2 HOUR SESSION) ooo NOW ON;‘/$8-5 REG $10.00 UMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER, EXPIRES DEC. 31, 1994 RANGE/LESSON PACKAGES FROM $49.95 SPECIAL SENIORS‘ RATES! HOURS OF OPERATION: MONâ€"FRL9â€"9 SAT SUN 7AMâ€"IPM JOIN THE EXCITEMENT! CALL TODAY ME SPORTDOMES 1333 NORTH SERVICE RD W. OAKVILLE EBERSPAECHER Of course, this natural concenâ€" appearance of rotten berries. In fact, the roots of botritis penetrate the skin, permitting the water to trating of the juices also accounts for a very low yield in the vineâ€" yards. Perhaps, a good rule of thumb for regular wine would be one bottle of wine for each grape vine, while here in Sauternes, a glass or two would be considered a good quantity. Back at the winery, the sweet juice is now permitted to ferment in barrels, but as yeast is also a living organism, it will die off as rs have perfected the art of picking soon as the young wine reaches an alcohol level of about 15%. It is here when fermentation stops, leaving behind a rather sweet and very exquisite wine which must be considered among the best, along with the German Beerenauslese and Canadian Ice Wine. Of course, a good Sauternes can be aged for 20 years or more; at which time, the wine will take t 64 on a deeper yellow, almos. golden color, and a slight hint of oxidaâ€" tion. Having tasted every vintage back to the ‘60s, I must admit that I am definitely partial to those of a much younger age, with the 1990 vintage being my favorite. _ Unfortunately back in Canada, there are very few of those wines available outside the Vintages stores, except the regular listed Sauternes from B Gâ€" ’%fi% t # # Maple Grove Village‘s Annual# # # # # for all young Santa‘s! Santa‘s Kids Shop STORE HOURS Thurs., Dec. 8th _ 2â€"8pm Fri., Dec. 9th 2â€"8pm Sat., Dec. 10th 10amâ€"4pm Sun., Dec. 11ith _ 10amâ€"4pm Thurs., Dec. 15th 2â€"8pm Fri., Dec. 16th 2â€"8pm Sat., Dec. 17th 10am4pm Sun., Dec. 18th _ 10amâ€"4pm Mon., Dec. 19th _ 10amâ€"4pm Tues., Dec. 20th _ 10am4pm Wed., Dec. 21st _ 10amâ€"4pm Thurs., Dec. 22nd 10am4pm A gift shop designed with children under the age of 12 in mind! Parents must wait outside the store while the children make their selections (no peeking!). All merchandise is carefully chosen from each store in Maple Grove Village. Santa‘s helpers will be on hand to help the children make their selections and gift wrapping is free of charge on Patrice‘s Place P66T ‘6 12quwaoog ‘KepHq YHTHIAYMVO AHLâ€" Lt