Taste of Abby is Abbotsford’s annual harvest celebration, focused on highlighting the city’s agriculture and culinary arts. Tonight we were at one of the many experiences: a long table dinner held within the vineyards of Singletree Winery. An especially poignant event as the 3 days before, the farm was busy harvesting their signature Siggy grape. This celebration was the perfect way to mark their efforts, bring together their friends, families, and new fans of Singletree around one table.
These are acres that I have visited many times before, not only to sample their wines in the tasting room, but to also enjoy a nibble on their newer, outdoor patio with cabanas. I have even done a grape stomping or two here, which was also made available this evening.
As guests trickles in we helped ourselves to a seat under pitched tents. Each setting marked with a copy of both the drink and food menu. The table was decorated with vines of dried hops, season ready pumpkins; as well as fake grapes, to foster to theme, but to avoid the wasps.
Everyone was welcomed to a complementary glass of wine, naturally from the winery’s cellars. All the ones after were available for purchase by the glass. You had a choice between white, red, or rosé. Each with tasting descriptions, so you can order based on your desire for a dry white or a bold red.
My partner and I would share a glass of the Siggy in the white, and their Harness in red. Both paired well with the various courses to come. We started with white for the vegetable and seafood courses, followed by the red for the mushrooms and heavier proteins.
The 2023 Siggy was an off dry white. They’re flagship wine with easy drinking of apple and pear.
The 2017 Harness was a dry and bold red. A smooth wine with lots of dark fruit.
The service is family style, which fits with their desire to gather everyone together in conversation and community. The food was cooked on site by local caterer and Red Seal Chef: Chef of Acres. He would prepare each course out of his mobile truck, sprawling across a fold out table for plating.
Each course was brought out to the table to be divided amongst groups of 8 to 9. I enjoyed the feasting experience, although at the same time, it did leave me wanting more. During such meals, I feel obliged to take smaller portions, to ensure everyone has enough to eat. However in the end, I is left wanting more. For the most part each dish had a single piece per person, with the option to go back for what was left, for those not feeling forward.
The first course was an Heirloom Tomato Salad with Creekside whipped Fromage and Pesto. The menu also mentioned Fried Basil, but I think that may have been forgotten. This was a shame as the dish could have used a crispy texture. A someone who is fond of tomatoes, I found this a good mix of coloured tomatoes and differing types. Sweet and salty with the over arching flavour of the pesto adding brightness. The firm yet creamy cheese gave things some substance.
Next, we each had a Salmon Cake with Pickled Tartar Sauce and Greens. The sauce was hard to scoop off the platter, but necessary to help add acidity and personality to the dense puck of fish.
We could smell the fragrant Mushroom and K&M Farms Chicken with herb polenta and thyme jus coming towards our long table. The chicken was so tender and juicy, the perfect base for the woodsy mushroom mix. The only thing I wanted was some wild rice to make this a more fulsome dish.
The Braised Pork Belly and Bean Bacon Ragu with Carrot Purée could have used a lighter starch. A smooth whipped potato or some basmati to cut into the weight of the lush pork belly. It was so tender you didn’t even need a knife. And some pieces even got some crispy skin to it. Here, our red wine came in handy to cut into the excess gristle.
For dessert we had Apple Fritters dusted with Cinnamon Sugar, served over Apple Compote. The menu also listed a Caramel Sauce, which the table agreed the dish needed. However it seemed to be missing. As a result the fritters were dry, doughy, and slightly bland. It needed something drizzled over top to tie it all together.
In closing, this was a lovely, full circle way to enjoy the bounty of Abbotsford. A harvest forward 5 courses, paired with wine made from the very grapes that surrounded us.
Every year I grow more and more impressed with Taste of Abby, as their events become more and more special; with unique experiences you can only get from farms and producers in the Fraser Valley.
Singletree Winery
5782 Mount Lehman Rd, Abbotsford, BC V4X 1V4
(604) 381-1788
singletreewinery.com
