If you are wondering what it takes to open a dessert bar, well other than a lot of planning and applications, there is also a good amount of eating and drinking. I have been working on finding the right combination of libations to match our decadent dessert offerings. While I think it is important to choose selections as local to Peterborough as possible, I also wanted a couple options that represent my own heritage.
I grew up on a tobacco farm in Southwestern Ontario along the shores of lake Erie. If you are familiar with Stompin’ Tom Connors “back breaking” piece on Tillsonburg, than you may already have more knowledge of the area than you imagined. When I tell people I went to school in Tillsonburg, those who know the song immediately make the connection, only to then realize I actually grew up on a tobacco farm, it’s like everything has suddenly fallen into place.
Only forty-five minutes down the shore from my parents own farm is the lively town of Port Dover (known especially for it’s Friday the 13th motorcycle gatherings). However, also in this corner of Norfolk you can find two great wineries; Burning Kiln and Frisky Beaver/ Smoke and Gamble. Recently, my friends and I took to the road to learn more about these wines, taste the selections and get to know the brands.
Some Frisky Beaver wines can currently be found in the LCBO, including those in Peterborough. Their other brand of wine, Smoke and Gamble, however, is not currently available on store shelves other than their own. Burning Kiln winery are currently also only found in their own location and local restaurants.
These wines, which will be sold in our Sweet Spirits bar, appeal to me not only because of their great flavours but also because in their creation they include the heritage of tobacco farming. Burning Kiln boasts that they use repurposed bulk tobacco kilns in the drying of their grapes, and Smoke and Gamble use a similar drying process. Burning Kiln takes their tobacco association even further by including it in their brand; naming their wines after the multiple steps of the tobacco planting and harvesting process. With names such as “The Strip Room” and “The Kiln Hanger” I actually look forward to explaining the significance of these names to my customers.
Images from Burning Kiln Winery
Our favourite from the Burning Kiln selection is the “After Party” Red. We found that it has delicious hints of warm spices (likely the combination of black cherry plum and cedar bouquet). We are hoping to pair this one with a nice chocolate cake, maybe chocolate cheesecake? Haha, It is TBD.
Images from Frisky Beaver/ Smoke and Gamble
At Frisky Beaver / Smoke and Gamble, we also had fun with the names of their wines, but they were a little more ‘riskay.’ Their “crappy wine” was not as crappy as the label promised. Check out the bar top (we liked it so much we had to take a picture).
Of particular interest to us was the Smoke and Gamble dessert wine. As soon as it touched our lips we immediately fell in love and the number of dessert combinations running through our minds was wild. Likely we will be pairing this with something small to allow the wine itself be the star. We definitely recommend coming for a glass when we open up!
While we were down in that area we took the opportunity to go see the swans at the Aylmer wildlife conservation area. Have you ever seen so many swans in one place?
Had a blast on our trip, and am looking forward to discovering and tasting more local wines, spirits and beers! Would like to give a huge shout out to my tasting companions Erin McMorrow and Carlisle Froese for all their helpful tasting insights, and more importantly to my mom for being our trusty designated driver!
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