TARA WILKINSON I VORTEX
Fine Art Photographic Portraits
ASTRID YOUNG
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Astrid Young is a celebrated Canadian musician, sommelier, author, wine judge, and award-winning wine consultant. She moved to Prince Edward County from Napa Valley, California in 2002.
After her stint with the band Ohm & the Secret Sources in Canada, Young moved to Los Angeles in the mid '80s, where she joined the glam metal band Sacred Child as lead vocalist. The 90s saw the release of her first solo album Brainflower in 1995, followed by Matinee in 2002, and Night at Giant Rock in 2014 and collaborations in the 90s with bands such as Blackthore and Dramarama. She was lead vocalist and bassists for the rock band iST's on their album Pokalolo Paniolo in the early 2000s. Young has collaborated with her brother (Neil Young) over many decades, including on the albums Unplugged, Road Rock Vol. 1 , the Grammy-nominated Harvest Moon and Are You Passionate? while performing live together around the world. As a session musician, Young has appeared on a multitude of albums, collaborating, co-writing and performing with many iconic musicians, including Johnny Cash, Nandy Wilson, Bernie Taupin, Nicolette Larson, Lisa Dalbello, Martin Page, West Arkeen, Graham Bonnet, Gerry Goffin, and her husband Ray Farrugia - a founding member of the Canadian rock bands Junkhouse and Lee Harvey Osmond. A strong, creative, talented, resilient woman … Astrid’s life journey took many twists and turns before eventually bringing her to the County 24 years ago. It was on her first visit that a recurring adult dream about driving through a forest and discovering a white sand beach came true. Over the past 24 years, Astrid has become a pillar of the local arts and hospitality scene, with deep roots in the wine and music industries. She is widely known and respected for her multifaceted career and community advocacy. She is the wine director at Merrill House in Picton, and spends much of her time writing, consulting, and speaking on the subject of wine. Astrid continues to advocate for and promote the County’s wine region. She is also a wine judge and recently served as host of the 10th annual Judgement of Kingston - an annual volunteer-run blind wine-tasting event. An on-air host on 99.3 County FM, Astrid is also a member of the station’s Board of Directors. |
Astrid Young - CHAMELEON © Tara Wilkinson
When asked “What do you love most about living and working in Prince Edward County?”, Astrid replied: “I found my people! They are weird like me! The County is a place for pioneers – a place where anything is possible”. Among her happiest memories while living here: “Getting married at the The County Cider Company surrounded by so many friends and family.”
Astrid is thrilled to collaborate with ANDARA Gallery (and local wineries) to offer VORTEX – a multi-sensory Art • Music • Wine + tap-to-play Technology Experience throughout the County this summer. |
Featured Song:
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Astrid Young © Tara Wilkinson
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Astrid's Featured Song:Choosing one of Astrid's songs that would best capture the essence of her portraits is no easy task. In the end, I chose SPACESHIP.
I just love the lines from the chorus: " I got my friends here And we got a spaceship yeah"... Astrid describes moving to the County as "Finally finding my people - who are weird like me." Bringing our collective creative energies together to collaborate on VORTEX has been a complete joy. Astrid - I'd go anywhere with you in a spaceship! |
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Featured Wine:
The 2013 vintage was a miracle year in Prince Edward County for Burgundian varietals, underlining that the essence of our vineyards are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Cold, late and wet early on, it was a study in stoicism and faith that farming teaches; that the weather would eventually break our way. In the end, it did, and the ugly duckling vintage has taken full flight as a majestic black swan. This wine could not have been made anywhere else on earth. Silver at the 2021 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada
Rosehall Run Vineyards
1243 Greer Road, Wellington, ON, K0K 3L0 (613) 399-1183 / www.rosehallrun.com |
My god… it’s full of stars. Embraced in Stardust, the journey is the destination, but the destination is never the ultimate goal. We idealize the voyage of the soul as some grand and elusive concept, but the answer is actually much simpler than you might think. Look around you, what you see is all. When those you love are with you on your voyage, you’ve truly discovered the meaning of life. And now you have a wine that expresses both the lightness and the gravity inherent in each moment." Astrid Young, Sommelier
