Days of Wine

Photo © Rob Jones

I walk a lot in Corfu.

At any time of year, I just feel reminded of Spring. There are flowers everywhere and fruits seem to be n abundance, literally dropping at your feet.

People are harvesting at the moment. I stumbled on a Rick Stein episode from about 5 years back - part of his Mediterranean adventures - where he travels around Corfu. He’s mainly in the east of the island which, feels a bit wealthier but also around the north, travelling rather sharpish through Sidari which is more of a touristy place, as is evidenced by the food on offer - full English breakfasts and warm beer.

But in some scenes he chats to the locals, toiling on the land, not on large farms, but their own little patches of land. They are called Stremmas and are about 10 acres in size. A bit like two football fields laid end to end. But it’s clearly enough for a family’s needs.

When I was here in Spring, everyone was busy digging and planting, so it was nice to see them gathering the fruits of their labour.

Rather excitingly, we’ve access to a Stremmas nearby. The owner’s gone away and said - pick what you fancy. So we did. More on that anon. But today’s job was picking grapes.

A very pleasing chore, especially as in the best traditions of ‘pick-your-own’ you nibble some of the fruit as you go along. Into the crate they went and, although some ended up in a dish to nibble on, the rest of it was destined for …

Photo © Rob Jones

... wine.

If you go into the local shops you get a choice of regular brands which are expensive, or rough local wine in plastic bottles which is actually very pleasant and seems to go well with the local cheeses and olives. It’s also very cheap. But it’s quite clear that there’s an awful lot of it about. Every patch of land seems to be lined by grape vines, all weighed down by sumptuous bunches of grapes.

So … let’s give it a try …

So far, it’s doing very well indeed. But the proof of the pudding is … as they say ... in the eating.

Just need to wait.

Patiently.

R.