Celia Shakespeare's Sorrel Wine.
- PHOTOS BY WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
CELIA SHAKESPEARE, 63, retired postal attendant, started making sorrel wine in 1980. Her children live in the United States and every year she would make it so when they came home they could enjoy her sorrel wine.
Mrs. Shakespeare said her sorrel wine is a favourite in her community, Milk River in Clarendon. So, whenever her friends (returning residents) visit, she always has a bottle ready for them to take home. She added that she gives out a bottle of her famous sorrel wine to some of her church sisters and friends every Christmas. Her grandchildren would all visit her Christmas morning for their sorrel and cake.
When she was 16 years old, Mrs. Shakespeare's mother died and she had to get a job to help out with things. Her first job was as a domestic helper and she was in charge of the cooking. Every morning, she had to go down to prepare breakfast, and from then, she developed a passion for cooking. " I love cooking so much that every time my church has a convention, I help out with the cooking."
Though Mrs. Shakespeare never entered a food competition before, she thought she should try her luck at this one. "Last year, I made some sorrel and put it down for this year. My granddaughter told me about the sorrel competition and suggested that I enter. I decided I would give it a try."
She told Food that she came up with her recipe over 20 years ago . While working at the post office in Milk River, her postmaster, Mrs. Lucille Watson, made it regularly and she took notes. However, over time, she has personalised the recipe by adding her own little touches. She added that it is important after making the sorrel wine, to leave it in a cool place undisturbed. When ready to serve, just add ice.
JUDGES' COMMENTS
Presentation:
Attractive packaging although not in classic wine style.
Label original.
Nice attempt at the labelling.
Taste:
Very nice product for the category, style and market.
Fairly good blend.
Good.
Originality:
Definitely a great development in the sorrel saga.
Not very original. Have tasted much better sorrel wine.
Liked the labelling, presentation.
Flavour:
The blend of diverse ingredients involved.
Don't like flavouring but has potential.
Tasted the flavour of all things listed on the ingredients list.
Want more factor:
Good drink to serve at Christmas dinner.
Did not like sorrel wine, needs to be developed.
Pleasant drink; 'wine' is a bit of levity!
