Five Great Wine Routes to Explore
Drink in centuries of tradition on a European wine trip
Escape the crowds of Tuscany and head to the hills of nearby Umbria instead. This wild, mountainous region of Italy isn’t as famous as, say, Chianti, but that just makes discovering its bright, food-friendly wines that much more exciting. Umbria has long been known for Orvieto, a crisp, dry, white blend produced around the medieval village of the same name. But it is also becoming celebrated for elegant reds based on sangiovese, such as Torgiano Rosso, which pairs beautifully with the area’s hearty, game-based cuisine. Be sure to visit the village of Norcia, which is as famous for its pork salume and black truffles as it is for being St. Benedict’s birthplace.
My Favourite Wine: Pierre Gervais
The head equipment manager for the Montreal Canadiens is a wine fanatic
Born in Trois-Rivières, Que. in 1961, Pierre Gervais has been working in hockey since his teenage years. From where he started out, looking after water bottles for the local junior team, Gervais his risen in his field to become head equipment manager for the Montreal Canadiens, a position he has held for the past 13 of his 23 seasons with the team. Gervais has a Stanley Cup to his name (with the 1993 Canadiens), as well as Team Canada gold medals from the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
