We don't usually associate Scotland with wine, grapes needing sun and Scotland being a source of rain, cloud and fog. Not all wine comes from grapes though. The Scots have figured out how to make it from wild berries and brambles, and even vegetables, wheat and barley. One resourceful winery in the Orkney Islands makes carrot wine, mixing in other vegetables and citrus fruits. Thank heaven for greenhouses and grow lamps …
Or thank the innovative, entrepreneurial Scots character. After all, for the people who pretty much invented science, medicine, law, democratic government, political science and philosophy, not to mention national varieties of verse, myth, literature and drama, figuring out how to make wine from berries, grain and veg would be a breeze.
Robert Burns Day is upon us (January 25th) -- a good time to try a Scottish wine, sipping maybe in front of a peat fire as you listen to bagpipes or do a read-aloud of Sir Walter Scott, or whoever … (Alexander McCall Smith is more contemporary, not to mention satisfyingly, gently satirical about all things contemporary.)
Speaking of bagpipes, here's an intriguing fact for your Burns Day Quiz: whose nimble fingers pick the flowers used in Gorse Wine (yes -- gorse -- how Scottish is that??) They're picked by the fingers of bagpipe players -- the Kirkwall City Pipe Band has a dual role in maintaining civilization.
Lots to celebrate on RBD, Scots-descended folk 😋🍷
Posted by SBJ
