Judith Henderson’s Wine & Country Living

What's the difference between a Maze and a Labyrinth? A garden maze is a touring puzzle of complex paths full of twists and turns that makes it hard to find an exit as in the movie "The Shinning." The Labyrinth is a single twisting path that provides a clear path to the center and back out.

The tradition of the Labyrinth extends back to ancient Greece and Egypt. In Europe's Middle Ages, walking a labyrinth on a cathedral floor signified a pilgrimage to find God and salvation. Recently, the labyrinth has been revived as a focused walking meditation in home gardens. It can be a tiny space or big, made for strolling and contemplation, far from the anxious what-ifs of everyday life.

Three years ago I decided to make my own labyrinth; a simple narrow circular walking path snaking through walls of river rocks, wooly sage, peppermint, rosemary, lavender, yarrow, high dessert grasses and tall purple Siberian Iris. It's a small space, a twelve foot circle, washed in cool calming colors with a tree stump in the center that today when I sit among the labyrinth, I do feel calmer in body and spirit, bringing me one step closer to nature and my kitties who love it when I am in their world.

In fact, I can't think of anything more intoxicating than to drag my hand along the tops of the herbs as I walk the path releasing the plants natural oils into the air.

Over the weekend, I installed a single motion-sensing solar powered path light along the labyrinth path. These cool lights emit light with a motion-sensing switch that triggers the lights to go-on as desired. You might check-out the webpage for these fantastic environmentally sound outdoor lighting devices at: www.frontgate.com.

On Sunday, I found a friend to take into the labyrinth with a semi-chilled bottle of wine; the Bordeaux blended 2011 L'Ecole Estate Luminesce, grapes: 67% Semillon, 33% Sauvignon Blanc, making for a round well balanced tropical swirl in a glass. Tasting Notes: nose buried deep in the glass, wet-stone and lemon zest opens the senses. With first swirl, ripe kiwi and honeysuckle tinge the cheek, flooding the mouth, broadening the tongue for a crisp citrus finish. Chill this bottle just twenty minutes for best results. Available in Dayton, at The Weinhard Hotel's "Wall of Wine" for $23.00 a bottle.

Readers, until next week, "Eat Art, Drink Imagination!"

A Tweet Treat!

1-medium pine cone

18-inches of brown twine

8-tablespoons peanut butter

1-cup bird seed

¼-cup dried cranberries

Tie twine around pine cone to hang from bush branch. Smear peanut butter over entire cone, roll in bird seed and dried cranberries, hang from branch and watch local birdies dine while sipping a glass of 2011 L'Ecole Estate Luminesce.

Hear Judith's Food &Wine Commentary, Feasts! Brochure and Photos: chefjudithhenderson.com.