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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/journeys-end-wine-buzz-6-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2541" /><figcaption>Dad Stredic (left) and son Matthew (right) make up the industrious Thompson duo at the helm of Journey's End Wines. (BUZZ photo, Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure>
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<p></p>
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<p>Stredic Thompson and his son Matthew are two Jamaican vintners surprising taste buds with their amazing line of fine wines.</p>
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<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p><strong>"...We thought Flavours of the Past</strong><em><strong> </strong></em><strong>could become the national wine</strong>"</p><cite>-Stredic Thompson, Managing Director of Journey's End winers</cite></blockquote>
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<p>Stredic, Managing Director for Journey’s End
Wines, gave <strong><em>BUZZ</em></strong> an exclusive tour of their <strong><em>Flavours of the Past</em></strong>
winery on Duke Street, downtown Kingston.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/flavours-of-the-past-logo-1024x647.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2512" /><figcaption>Photo contributed, Journey's End Wine Company Limited</figcaption></figure>
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<p>Thompson abandoned a career in banking to
pursue his passion for wine-making in 2018</p>
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<p>“We love the quality and look Journey’s End
produces and we said we would take this brand and make it an international
brand,” Thompson told <strong><em>BUZZ</em></strong>.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/journeys-end-wine-buzz-1-1024x579.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2528" /><figcaption>All 10 variations of Jamaica-made Flavour of the Past wines (BUZZ photo, Dennis Brown) </figcaption></figure>
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<p>The Thompson journey started, and the pair has been moving full-steam ahead to boost the local perception of quality-made wines. </p>
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<p>“Wine is something that is very palatable
and there was something else that attracted us to wine…,” he began.</p>
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<p>“Jamaica has a national dish, a national
fruit – there’s no national wine, and we thought <strong><em>Flavours of the Past </em></strong>could
become the national wine,” Thompson asserted further.</p>
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<p><strong><em>Flavours of the Past</em></strong>, under
the Thompsons, now has ten brilliant assortments available.</p>
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<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>"<strong><em>Journey’s End is a unique skillset wherein we make the finest wine from Jamaican fruit,</em></strong>"</p><cite>-Stredic Thompson in a BUZZ interview</cite></blockquote>
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<p>Soursop and Honey-Orange are the most recent additions; as well as Ackee, Pimento Berry, Pineapple, Passionfruit, Ginger, Sorrel, Noni and Sugar Cane.</p>
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<p>See our gallery below with the full product line!</p>
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<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/journeys-end-wine-buzz-19.jpg" alt="" data-id="2516" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=2516" class="wp-image-2516" /><figcaption>Jamaican Passion fruit wine (BUZZ photo, Dennis Brown) </figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/journeys-end-wine-buzz-18.jpg" alt="" data-id="2518" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=2518" class="wp-image-2518" /><figcaption>The widely popular Jamaican Soursop wine (BUZZ photo, Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/journeys-end-wine-buzz-17.jpg" alt="" data-id="2519" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=2519" class="wp-image-2519" /><figcaption>Bet you didn't know Jamaican Ackee wine was a thing?! (BUZZ photo, Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/journeys-end-wine-buzz-16.jpg" alt="" data-id="2520" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=2520" class="wp-image-2520" /><figcaption>Pimento. Berry. Wine. Enough said (BUZZ photo, Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/journeys-end-wine-buzz-15.jpg" alt="" data-id="2521" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=2521" class="wp-image-2521" /><figcaption>Flavours of the Past offering a new twist to the traditional Jamaican Ginger wine (BUZZ photo, Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/journeys-end-wine-buzz-14.jpg" alt="" data-id="2522" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=2522" class="wp-image-2522" /><figcaption>'Pine time'! (BUZZ photo, Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/journeys-end-wine-buzz-13.jpg" alt="" data-id="2523" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=2523" class="wp-image-2523" /><figcaption>Another big hit is the Jamaican Noni wine! (BUZZ photo, Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/journeys-end-wine-buzz-12.jpg" alt="" data-id="2524" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=2524" class="wp-image-2524" /><figcaption>The mother of rum, Jamaican Sugar Cane, as a wine...hmmm (BUZZ photo, Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/journeys-end-wine-buzz-11.jpg" alt="" data-id="2525" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=2525" class="wp-image-2525" /><figcaption>Sorrel with wine, sorrel with rum or Jamaican Sorrel Wine? You choose! (BUZZ photo, Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/journeys-end-wine-buzz-10.jpg" alt="" data-id="2526" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=2526" class="wp-image-2526" /><figcaption>The latest invention by Flavours of the Past, Jamaican Honey Orange wine (BUZZ photo, Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure></li></ul>
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<p>Thompson told <strong><em>BUZZ</em></strong> that new flavours will be rolled out in the coming months.</p>
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<p>“Moringa wine will be launched in another
few months. There are other ideas we have: Starfruit, mango, Otaheite apple – we can be as creative as we want
with wines,” he added.</p>
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<p>When asked what separates Journey’s End
from other local wine manufacturers, Thompson’s answer was simple: <strong>Quality and Authenticity</strong>. </p>
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<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p> "<strong><em>We ensure that there is consistency in quality and taste</em></strong>"</p><cite>-Stredic Thompson, speaking to BUZZ</cite></blockquote>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/journeys-end-wine-buzz-4-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2529" /><figcaption>A man of procedure: Stredic Thompson show the BUZZ team a container with Sorrel being fermented (BUZZ photo, Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure>
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<p>“Our wines are uniquely hand-crafted for the market. We ensure that there is consistency in quality and taste. It is made from genuine Jamaican fruits we purchase or use from our farm. Our process is solid from beginning to the end so that the quality is concerned,” Thompson told <strong><em>BUZZ</em></strong>. </p>
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<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/journeys-end-wine-buzz-3-1024x682.jpg" alt="" data-id="2531" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=2531" class="wp-image-2531" /><figcaption>This aged Sorrel batch has been filtered twice and needs just a few more weeks before bottling (BUZZ photo, Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/journeys-end-wine-buzz-2-1024x683.jpg" alt="" data-id="2532" data-link="https://buzz-caribbean.com/?attachment_id=2532" class="wp-image-2532" /><figcaption>Close-up of a cylinder air lock. The device keeps the wine fresh, allowing it to 'breathe' (BUZZ photo, Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure></li></ul>
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<p>“Journey’s End is a unique skillset wherein
we make the finest wine from Jamaican fruit. As long as it’s a fruit grown in Jamaica, we can find a
way to make the best wine there is from it,” he added.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/journeys-end-logo-buzz-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2536" /><figcaption>Photo contributed</figcaption></figure>
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<p>While the quality is maintained, <strong><em>Flavours
of the Past</em></strong>’s line is surprisingly affordable – retailing from $2,000
for the 700mL, to around $400 for the 150mL varieties.</p>
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<p>According to the Thompsons, each fruit goes
through an intricate cooking, fermentation, triple filtration, cooling, heating,
bottling and labelling process – to its way to several major supermarket chains
and the airports in Kingston and Montego Bay.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/journeys-end-wine-buzz-5-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2534" /><figcaption>The bottling and labelling station, though small-scale, gets the job done in less than an hour! (BUZZ photo, Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure>
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<p><strong><em>Flavours of the Past</em></strong> is
a must-buy item at the two major airports, Thomspon beamed, proud of the fact
that his product is precision-crafted and made with Jamaican love.</p>
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<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>"<strong><em>As long as it’s a fruit grown in Jamaica, we can find a way to make the best wine there is from it,</em></strong>"</p><cite>-Journey's End Wine Company Limited serves confidence too!</cite></blockquote>
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<p>“We find that in the airports we do extremely well because people want that connection to Jamaica. To taste a piece, that flavour of Jamaica and that’s what we provide,” he told <strong><em>BUZZ</em></strong>.</p>
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<p>“Persons are always blown away when they taste
our wines and they often say, ‘Is this really made in Jamaica?’. I’ve heard it
so many times and I immediately say, ‘Right here in Jamaica is where it is made’,”
Thompson added.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/journeys-end-wine-buzz-7-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2509" /><figcaption>Father-son duo Stredic Thompson (right) and Matthew Thompson (left) leading the charge to push quality-made, exotic Jamaican wines internationally (BUZZ photo, Dennis Brown)</figcaption></figure>
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<p>Thompson, through Journey’s End, wants to
launch the island as a premier destination for fine wine connoisseurs.</p>
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<p>“We want it to be an international brand. When
you think of Jamaica, we want it to be synonymous with <strong><em>Flavours of the Past</em></strong>
wines,” he told <strong><em>BUZZ</em></strong>.</p>
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<p>“The aim, over the coming years, is to go into the various markets, whether it be Europe, Canada, the UK and the US. We’re constantly looking at those opportunities and we’re positioning ourselves to be a major player,” Thompson noted.</p>
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<p><strong><em>BUZZhive</em></strong>! We want to hear from you. Have you tried any of these wines? Which flavour surprised you most? Let us know in the comment section below.</p>
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