June, 2020
Of course, we are talking about Niagara on the Lake – Ontario’s Wine Country! If Napa Valley feels like a dream away then you can experience some amazing winery experiences right in your own backyard! The Niagara region’s climate is perfect for producing varieties such as Rieslings, Merlots, Chardonnays, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and of course ice wine. From family-owned vineyards to award-winning estates, I will share some of my favourite wineries. If you are looking to combine the wineries with a weekend away check out the Vintage Inns and my blog on Weekend Getaways.
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Peller Estates – One of the larger wineries in the Niagara region and still a family-owned enterprise. If you are making it here – there are endless options. You have tastings, to parties in the vineyards with food trucks and country music, to casual dining on the patio, all the way to fine dining with food and wine pairings in the Winery Restaurant. I strongly recommend the fine dining option where you will enjoy the farm-to-table entrees paired with wines grown onsite for that authentic Niagara vibe. You will be guaranteed a culinary experience that is more than a meal with that ultimate vine-to-table dining.
Two Sisters Vineyards – Two sisters, one vision is the foundation of this winery. You can always just opt for a tasting in the Boutique, but if you love red wine then book the Explore the Grape Tour. You will learn about the estate-grown Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon finishing with a tasting of four wines including the Eleventh Post, which is a blend of all three reds. Honestly, I was skeptical of the Eleventh Post initially, but it is a well-rounded medium body wine. It combines vibrant red and black fruits with intense dark cassis flavours offering a lingering intense finish and would pair exceptionally with cheese platters or tomato-based dishes. That being said, there is an Italian restaurant onsite where the Margherita pizza will be perfect to share with this bottle. Luxurious wines and savoury pizza – two of my favourite things.
Jordan, Ontario
Cave Springs Cellars – Located right in the heart of downtown Jordan, Ontario you will find Cave Springs. They offer some memorable experiences to choose from – I personally recommend flights & bites or wine & cheese match up! They have a reputation for exceptional Chardonnays and nuanced reds ranging from Pinot Noirs to Gamays. Definitely worth sampling a few starting with white and working your way to the reds. Small samples of all four whites – enjoy the Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris. In the reds you will find Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Gamays. My favourites – the Pinot Gris offering a blended combination of melon, clementine and pear fruits with lingering hints of nutmeg and cinnamon. The perfect patio wine to pair with a summer salad! For red, the Cabernet Franc Dolomite which is only available at the winery. Medium in body with notes of herbs and spices mingled with rich dark fruit leaving a silky velvety finish. Side note – this winery is also dog friendly which is always a plus in my books.
Calamus Estate Winery – A unique little winery where you can sip and swirl wine in the stone cellar of a barn or out on the patio overlooking the vineyards. Since we talking all things wine – I will get to my favourites! Typically, I’m not a fan of Chardonnays, but the Barrel Kissed Chardonnay surprised my palate with creamy butter & caramel flavours with vanilla notes on the finish. For red, we opted for the Meritage – a Bordeaux style blend which is likely why I was drawn to it. They had a vintage Meritage bottle, limited number, so we bought one to take home which paired deliciously with truffle risotto and grilled tenderloin! Rosé all day – look no further than Rosalee’s Rosé – the perfect summer patio sipping beverage combining pinot gris, riesling and cabernet sauvignon. Now offering a bistro – grab your favourite bottle of wine after sampling, your favourite snack and snag a table on the patio overlooking the vineyard!
Flat Rock Cellars – Go for the pinot noir, but stay for the view! On a clear day, you can see across the lake and view the CN tower in downtown Toronto, Ontario. Might I suggest grabbing the VIP tour here, which will give you history on the operations, access to the room of library wines and 5 tasting samples of their premium wines. A unique white is Twisted – a blended combination of riesling, gewürztraminer, and chardonnay. Again, the ideal patio sipping style of wine you can enjoy in the summer. The Gravity pinot noir is fruit forward with darker fruit of cherries and plums, but rounded out with an earthy undertone. Although, pinot noirs are typically light for me this offered an elegant tannin structure.