Photo by Graham Davies, The Bald Photographer

“August 5 was a very interesting day for us here at Waupoos,” said Ed Neuser, owner of the beautiful waterfront winery there. “We played host to retired ambassadors and their wives who came from all over the world, USA, England, Italy and Belgium, to visit here.”

It was John Schram’s idea to bring the diplomats to Prince Edward County. He was Canada’s ambassador to Sudan from 1998 to 2002 and became good friends with the gentlemen who were there at the same time as ambassadors for their own countries. Their friendship followed them Out of Africa, and they still get together every year in various countries, to discuss world affairs – in particular Africa – and to catch up with what each is doing (which includes organizing the G8 conference, planning Tony Blair’s Commission to Africa and one or two still serving as ambassadors.) Their reunions have been in Spain, Hungary, England, Belgium and Italy, and this year it was Canada’s turn. Mr. Schram is a Senior Fellow at Queen’s University Centre for International Relations who lives on Amherst Island, and he wanted to show his friends some of the beautiful sites in his part of the world, so he brought them to the County. The wine tasting at Waupoos Estates Winery came about because he also wanted “to show this group of “influential skeptics” that Ontario – and particularly Prince Edward County – does indeed produce fine, world-class wines.”

Clearly, the group was convinced. After tasting several wines with owners Ed Neuser and Rita Kaimins, they purchased Waupoos Riesling and Baco Noir to enjoy with their dinner the next night. Italy’s ambassador to Argentina declared the Baco Noir 2007 among the best he had ever tasted. “That made me proud,” said Neuser. “I already know it’s good, but it’s nice coming from someone who knows his wine.”

The wine tasting was held on Ed and Rita’s private deck down at water’s edge. In contrast to the elegant limestone winery and tasting room, it’s a rustic place with a small cabin, simple wooden tables and benches and a million dollar view of Waupoos Island and the bay. Ed and Rita told them the stories behind each wine, and behind their personal journeys from Germany and Latvia to Prince Edward County, where they turned an old apple orchard into the first winery in the County, spearheading a brand new industry.

Mr. Schram reports that and his worldly friends had “a perfectly delightful time,” impressed by the beauty of the County, their warm welcome and the quality of the wine.

And Waupoos Winery had another red letter day on August 6, when the city of Belleville treated 34 visitors from its sister city of Lahr, Germany to lunch there – it was not the first time the dignitaries had made the trip to the “south coast” to enjoy Ed’s hospitality, and, once again, the Europeans were delighted.

Tags: TASTE! a celebration of regional cuisine, Waupoos Estates Winery