The  Avocado

Oh! that healthy Avocade. Everyone is talking about its healthy qualities. It is a must order appetizer when visiting Mexico.  But honestly, I do not like them!  The colour is nice but the texture I do not care for.

Avocados: Contain antioxidant monounsaturated oils, essential fatty acids and Vitamin E. Promote cartilage repair in osteoarthritis.


This fruit is prized for its high nutrient value and is added to all sorts of dishes due to its good flavour and rich texture. It is the main ingredient in guacamole.

Studies have shown that avocados can

Reduce total cholesterol levels significantly.

Reduce blood triglycerides by up to 20%.

Lower LDL cholesterol by up to 22%.


Increase HDL (the “good”) cholesterol by up to 11%.

Now I am a heart patient and certainly, appreciate the health benefits of the Avocado. I am trying very hard to learn how to eat them.

To help me in this endeavour I concluded (as we all know) things go better with wine.

Apparently, the best wines to go with Avocado are whites. That's good I like whites.  Pairing avocado dishes with zesty whites, such as Sauvignon Blanc works. “The mouth-watering acidity in the wine cuts through the sweetness and fattiness of the fruit. That’s why a non-vintage sparkling wine or Pinot Grigio also works.”

Rieslings are food friendly in general. In picking a Riesling for guacamole, a slightly sweeter one is best! 

Other possible wines that go with Avocados are Rosé wines and  Gruner Veltliner. Hester Creek Old Vines Trebbiano! has also been recommended.

Reds?  well with Guacamole or the Avocado it is a no. However, if you use Avocados as an ingredient in a dish such as a Crab salad or Turkey Chili reds will work just wine.

In conclusion, it seems that simple Avocado and Guacamole go best with light refreshing whites. Reds come into play with more complex receipts.

Don't tell my wife, but there is no doubt  I will be consuming much more wine than Avocados.

Fred's  Wines

I found myself standing among the wines at Fred Meyers in Bellingham. I was surrounded by wines. Rows and rows of wine; almost entirely from California. I looked up at the tall 8 foot plus shelfs, so many wines.

The top shelves where the more expensive wines from 24-30 US dollars. I guess only the giants of the world can afford these wines. However, the truth be known the more expensive wines were across the street at Costco.

As I stood there amazed first at the number of wines, but also at the low prices. Compared to Canadian wines prices these wines were cheap, very cheap. The middle shelf at eye level had the more moderate priced wines from $12-20 dollars. Wines we pay $30-$60 for back home in British Columbia.

I wondered about trying to find something other than Calfornia wines. I found some, one small section, none from Canada, mostly French and Chilian wines. There was more space devoted to box wines than imported wines.

I noticed the other shoppers were bending over reaching down to the very bottom shelf and placing two to four bottles of wine in their carts. These were the $3.99, $4.44, $4.99 wines and these were what Fred's grocery shoppers were buying.

I had to take a look. The usual names were there Sutter, Columbian Valley, Gallo, and Beringer.
I look twice at the Beringer Pinot Gris, one I had seen it in a BC store for $24.00 Here it was $4.49 I bought it!

Barbara and I toured Beringer on our Honeymoon so it was an easy decision to purchase this wine.

We also purchased a Lindeman's Bin 45 Cabernet Sauvignon, not a bad wine for its low price.

The question, of course, was how much tax would be applied to the wines at the checkout. The tax added to wines in Canada a way too high, too too  high. The answer 80 cents. and no recycling fee!

Glad to say I do not live in the USA, I would definitely be drinking too much wine! But then again Canadian wines are better, right!


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Summerhill Pyramid Winery

An elite winery located in Kelowna, British Columbia. Producing organic wines from Okanagan Vineyards.  The winery opened in 1987. The proprietor is Stephen Cipes.  Their philosophy: "Our vision is to provide the very best from pure   nature for those who appreciate all natural foods and wines."

Summerhill is the home of the Pyramid, after 3 years of tests in a small pyramid, consumer tastes proved to the owner that pyramid aged wine was better.

The winery is a family affair with son Ezra Cipes being the CEO. Well, known Eric von Krosigk is the winemaker.

Summerhill Pyramid Winery took top spot at the Chardonnay du Monde competition in Burgundy, France 2017.The winery earned a gold medal for its 2014 Chardonnay icewine, described as "a vibrant dessert wine with notes of honey, apricot and poached pears."

Their 2013 Small Lot Semillon Icewine awarded 100 points and double gold at 2017 San Francisco International Wine Competition