During our time in Montreal, we took a trip over to Little Italy. We wanted to enjoy a fancy lunch so we researched which restaurants would be available since a lot of Italian restaurants only open for dinner and need reservations. We knew Impasto would be serving lunch until 2pm so we’d have time to go to the Jean Talon Market first and then enjoy our lunch.
Neil and I have both made cheese before but who would pass up a chance to go to Hawaii for a Cheesemaking Retreat? We first made cheese from a kit we purchased online and it came out great, https://wineandcheesefriday.com/making-goat-cheese/. Our friends didn’t even believe it was handmade. The second time we used the kit, the results weren’t so spectacular so we took time off from making cheese.
Had to try some British cheeses before we left Manchester, England! Can you believe it, we even found an English wine. Look at the bowler hat, it’s so British!
Our story left off when you had just heard that Maria was going to milk a cow that afternoon, won't you join us as The Gruyère Experience in Switzerland continues!
We came to Switzerland to visit Benno and Nora, friends we had met long long ago in Costa Rica. Back in 2015, she worked at a winery, and his family owned a dairy farm in the AOP region for Gruyère cheese. Then fast forward 7 years to today, and now they live on that dairy farm. Benno runs the show, caring for the cows, plowing the cornfields and potatoes. They’re full blown farmers.
When we arrived in Sion, we were surrounded by vineyards! What a pleasant surprise. Although we wouldn’t be renting a car there, we were determined to find a way to make our way over to the grapes. They are ripening now and it’s the perfect time to go see them.
I searched on Trip Advisor and found an excursion that included a walk through the vineyard and lunch. Just what we were looking for! Les Celliers de Sion (The Cellars of Sion) were only about a 20 minute walk from our AirBnB and although it was warm, we agreed it was close enough to make it happen.