Sunrise Cassanova - Pumpkin wine comes of age

As smooth as its sweet-talking creator, Sunrise Cassanova from the 'Lumbar Vineyards' is the unique creation of David Nation.

A final-year hotel and resort management major at the University of Technology (UTech), Nation's pumpkin wine was for a class assignment in October.

He explained that part of his major is bar and beverage management. He told Food that during this course, he learnt an appreciation for beverages and learnt to make various cocktails. For his major, he has to understand all the aspects of a hotel.

Nation explained that they were given the basic wine recipe and the rest was up to them.

After fellow group members Kimberly Willims, Jeelan Howard, Shé-Marie Holness and Merrick Gayle did the research, it was time to decide on the main ingredient. "I wanted to do plantain, but someone had banana, so it would be too close in taste. I also thought of coconut." In the end, he decided on pumpkin because, "Pumpkin is always here," he explained in reference to his mother's pumpkins planted below their Beverly Hills home.

The name 'Cassanova' was a suggestion by a friend, and 'Sunrise' refers to the colour of the fruit.

With a smooth taste, the wine has a kick which can be attributed to the brandy in it. "It tastes like brandy but it's a wine," he noted, explaining that the difference is that his 'wine' was not distilled.

His success in what could be his niche business should come as no surprise. As a child, his top-three career choices were teacher, pilot or chef. His pilot plans fell through when Air Jamaica began folding, as he was adamant that he did not want to fly for any other airline. After getting a taste of being in the kitchen at UTech, he also decided that was not for him. "It didn't attract me anymore - standing in the kitchen for four to five hours with someone standing over my shoulders saying 'that's not right'."

But he still has a love for the kitchen. "I love the kitchen, what I hate is cleaning up. I will cook up a storm if I don't have to clean," he said as his mother nodded in agreement.

Having had experience as an assistant food and beverage manager and working in housekeeping at the Spanish Court Hotel last summer, Nation can't wait to start working.

But being a teacher is still on his 'bucket list'. "I still want to teach," he said quoting Nelson Mandela, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." So, while he's lecturing, he may also have a restaurant on the side, like his older brother who owns Sweetwood Jerk Centre in New Kingston, or a wine business.

With a smile, he recalls some of the wines his class made. Some were very interesting such as Pink Diamond, which is described as a 'lady's drink' and is made from melon and the cane juice wine that exploded.

With a mother who is very excited about her son's creation, he is already planning another batch, this time with sherry that will ferment until Christmas.

nashauna.drummond@gleanerjm.com