Chris D.
Yelp
I must be losing my mind. I clearly remember visiting Cedar Creek Estate Winery. But in reflection, I can't tell you anything about it. I remember us driving up to it. I remember the construction to one side impeding a normally spectacular view. I have photos of the exterior, as does my girlfriend.
We found photos online of the tasting room, but they do not jog my memory. My girlfriend claims the photos on Google inaccurate, and they must have renovated since then.
Still nothing.
I must have been zapped by a neutralizer from Men in Black. I know you might be thinking that perhaps we walked up and decided for some insane reason to turn around, except I have bottles I bought from Cedar Creek, including a 2015 Platinum "Block" Single Vineyard Riesling sitting in front of me.
It's real, in my hand, and it's good, confirming I bought the bottle under my own volition and was not kidnapped and brainwashed to think so. It's not like they pried my eyes open and forced me to watch bottles breaking while being unable to blink. I remembered Oak Bay, Summerhill, Tantalus before we arrived, as well as Monto Creek after. The photos we did take of the exterior reveal a breathtaking winery. Sure, the weather wasn't the best that day, but that didn't detract from the construction.
Upon deeper reflection, I seem to remember diamond shelves behind the counter like those seen at Mission Hill. Did I suffer trauma? Seriously, this is weird. This must be one of those situations where because I forgot to take photos, my mind blanked on the event because it's so used to relying on them for mnemonic recall. I actually want to remember this place, unlike Summerhill, which I would have preferred blocked. The building looks amazing, the restaurant appealing. However, what I respect the most is their desire to sell actual wine, not their label or novelties or pseudoscientific mysticism. I've never seen, and I do never, a wine maturation chart on a winery website before. Every single bottle that is worth a damn is laid out with a recommendation of how long to wait in the cellar before opening. Seriously, why don't more wineries do this? We had been told that the deeper the punt, the longer it should age. Naturally, my Riesling has no punt, is not located on this chart, so I assume I can open it immediately and enjoy.
By the way, I'll reiterate that I was "told" that, but that doesn't mean it's actually true. I do research these things.
And you can also download images as zipped files from their website; have they thought of everything? They haven't thought of a mnemonic deceive so I could remember their damn tasting room. I will believe my girlfriend in that I entered said room and enjoyed a tasting. The bottle in my hand proves that, but I could not recall the gender or age of the host. Maybe it was The Shadow, and he altered my memory with some Jedi mind trick. Perhaps this is how they keep their secrets. You walk in, enjoy yourself, get sold on wine, leave, but then not remember why you enjoyed it, necessitating your return.
There is a small chance, upon reflection, the location might have been boring; I must admit that is a possibility.
Nah, much more logical to assume something involving aliens.