Having served my six months’ house arrest sentence final week of work, I handed back my uniform today. When I mentioned this to my next door neighbour, her response was as vigourous as Australian blogfriend Alyson’s: “Congratulations! Good for you!”
With worldwide reassurance that I had done the right thing, then, I strolled over to the plaza for a c
elebratory bottle of New Brunswick’s own Picaroons Timber Hog Stout. Just one bottle; the combination of empty calories, emptied pocketbook, and teatotal parents-in-law has served to cut my consumption from a serving a day to a serving a week.
But this is a special occasion, and the Picaroons pint bottles are sold by the each.
On the way to the Cold Room, however, I had to pass the Australian wines shelf, and of course I had to stop. What was the name of that wine company that helps preserve wetlands? Ah! Here it is:
E.g. and I were first introduced to Banrock Station wines at the Pear Tree restaurant in our former Toronto neighbourhood of Cabbagetown. Sometime later, I learned that Banrock Station owns and is restoring the wetland which surrounds its vineyards. That in itself, I figure, is a good enough reason to purchase their wines and support their work.
So today I picked up a Shiraz Mataro and an unwooded Chardonnay — might as well share my good fortune — and learned something more on the back label. 
“For over 10 years we have proudly supported projects that include Atlantic Salmon recovery in Canada, flamingo protection in Kenya, wetland restoration, climate change research and water saving initiatives. Our dedication is more than $5 million to 60 projects in 12 countries.”
A peek at their web site informed me that one of their contributions is to the Calgary Zoo Whooping Crane breeding centre; another is to the more nearby Shubenacadie Wildlife Park in Nova Scotia; and a third is to a project at my old stomping grounds, the annual “Paddle the Don!” canoe/kayak race in support of restoring Toronto’s Don River.
I’ll drink to that.
What projects is Banrock Station supporting in your neck of the woods? Go here to find out, then lemme know.

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