A Weekend in Wine Country
Niagara-on-the-Lake is a small town situated on the Niagara peninsula where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario. Its history is rich as it served as the first capital of the province of Upper Canada. Many battles during the war of 1812 were fought following the American invasion of Upper Canada and the town was razed.
Today, it is a charming town of colonial-style buildings, is the site of the Shaw Festival and its proximity to over 80 wineries and Niagara Falls makes it an idyllic getaway.
I have been coming here for our annual “Soul Sistah Spa Weekends” as it is so close to Toronto and Buffalo international airports and so it holds a special place in my heart. Though we have tried many local spas, I think the spa services and attention at the iconic Prince of Wales hotel has been a perennial favourite.
The town itself is charming with a variety of shops spanning delights for the gourmand, home décor enthusiast, and a blend of unique apparel.
Whatever your palate desires, Niagara-on-the-Lake has much to offer. Being a huge proponent of farm to table dining, I must recommend Treadwell .
The menu rotates around readily available produce and the selection of local wines is fabulous.
Ahhh yes… the vineyards. With over 80 wineries in the area, you have a vast selection of large producers such as Peller Estates, Trius and Jackson Triggs to multi generational, intimate selections.
The climate of the Niagara escarpment allows for warm days and cool nights resulting in perfectly balanced wines. This region is world renown for its ice wines. Ice wines are rather unique in that it is made from grapes that are naturally left on the vines to freeze and pressed whilst frozen. The outcome is a sweet, highly concentrated and flavourful wine.
On this latest trip with my daughters we visited 5 and here is my take:
Gretzky Vineyard Estates
Location: 1219 Niagara Stone Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Gretzky Vineyard Estates is perfect for wine lovers and hockey fans alike. The wines are blended from grapes from the Niagara and Okanagan regions. Moreover, for the whiskey lovers, there are innovative blends on offer. It is very popular so ensure you book your tasting flight in advance.
We sampled the No.99 Pinot Grigio 2019, No.99 Collection Rosé, Signature Series Sauvignon Blanc 2019, and the Ice Cask Whiskey.
All rather good, but the winners (and sale) went to the Pinot Grigio and Rosé.
A beautiful, expansive venue it is a must stop on your tour.
Stratus Vineyards
Location: 2059 Niagara Stone Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Stratus Vineyards has been a favourite stop of mine for years. Being a bit of an eco evangelist, I love the fact that is was not only one of the first in Canada to lay out environmentally friendly practices, it is the world’s first LEED certified winery.
Team that up with a gorgeous venue, chic patio and shop with outstanding wines, I am absolutely smitten!
Our group, both red and white wine lovers tested a blend of white, red, rosé and a red ice wine. All I must say were very good, though we opted for the chardonnay and ice wines as a purchase (and naturally a glass of the former for a short break was needed to enjoy the views on the expansive patio).
Big Head Wines
Location: 304 Hunter Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake
This was my first visit to Big Head and as I had heard rave reviews, I needed to check it out on this trip. There’s an interesting story behind the name. As the story goes, apparently Polish people have big heads ( I am Latvian, a neighbour to Poland, and as my noggin is of a significant size perhaps there is some truth to this urban fact). Owner Andrzej Lipinski, the owner of the winery, and his family are from Poland. Check out their interesting story on Wineanorak.
A small, unassuming winery, their wines were a delightful surprise. Wow…what a find!
We had a tasting flight of the 2019 Rosé , Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, and the 2018 Chardonnay Select. To be truthful, it was hard not to try more! I am clearly a Chardonnay fan so the Select was an easy purchase, but the full-bodied delight of the red has me regretting I didn’t buy more.
Caroline Cellars
Location: 1010 Line 2 Road, Virgil
Caroline Cellars was new to me as I do like to try family owned wineries that also have an element of locale cuisine. The Lakeit family with their over half century farming history, opened Caroline Cellars with the 2000 vintage and the rest has been history. Unassuming and infinitely charming it has a lot on offer.
We were so warmly welcomed and enjoyed our tasting flight. Our tasting flight was comprised of the 2017 Gewurztraminer, 2017 Dry Rosé , and the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon. I will admit to not ever having tried Gewurztraminer before and though with a complex loveliness, it probably would not be my first choice. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Rosé were delightful, and so those had to accompany us home.
What’s fabulous about this winery is their Farmhouse Café . Very casual with excellent service, it was a treat. I do love a local spin and though my girls went for the delicious salad with shrimp, goat cheese, thinly sliced local peaches and almonds, I went for the shrimp tacos.
Naturally the table request for the side was the steak and mushroom poutine . If you are a poutine lover, this is utterly decadent! The crispy shrimp with chipotle aioli, avocado crema and topped with local fresh peach salsa kicked up the taco game a notch. This lunch was an absolute thumbs up by all!
There is a small retail space that offered, amongst other things, ice wine mustard. Those who know me, I do have a love of mustards and specialty sauces. Ice wine (box checked!) and artisanal mustard (double check!) means a whole lotta wonderful happening in upcoming dishes.
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery
Location: 1366 York Road, St. Davids
Ravine Vineyard winery has been held high not only for its excellent vintages, but as an event venue. I can now see why. The rolling hills of the vineyards provide a quintessential wine country view to all things you’d expect on a vineyard tour.
It is a fifth generation farm with a nod to organic gardening, the wines are sublime. The property is expansive and perfect for private tastings as well as a venue for corporate or personal events.
For our wine tasting we tried: Ravine Cabernet Rosé 2019, Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Ravine unoaked Chardonnay, 2019, Ravine Chardonnay 2018. I must say all were brilliant in every way and we walked away with the Rosé and Chardonnay to be appreciated in the latter days of this hot summer.
As you can see, a very heavy preference for the whites given the summer tour, but all so gloriously enjoyed.
Ahhh… but where to stay when in Niagara-on-the-Lake? There is a generous selection of gorgeous hotels and a plethora of B&Bs but I think I have stumbled upon a jewel through AirBnB.
The perfect stay: Meritage House
I have been doing weekend getaways from Toronto to Niagara on the Lake for many years and have stayed at several rather spectacular vacation home rentals. Meritage House on AirBNB was new to me and I must say it is the perfect pied a terre for a visit to this beautiful area.
A warm and welcoming deep porch always warms my heart and is very much part of the historic architectural element of the area. Whether for that morning coffee or post meandering adventures, it provides a comfortable space to unwind.
This 3-bedroom house exudes all the charm of a traditional NOTL heritage home. The principle rooms are spacious and stunningly appointed with an elegant yet casual chic.
I must say the living room with high ceilings and ridiculously comfortable couches were perfect for a post vineyard jaunt or a casual gathering.
Situated a few doors down from the iconic Prince of Wales hotel , it was close to all the shops and restaurants while providing a bit of a respite from the crowds. So many of my favourite spots were idyllically close: Balzac’s for the coffee aficionados is across the street, and Taste the 4th Sense (with its astonishing selection of hot sauces and oils) are two blocks away. For those looking for that special something for the home, there is a marvelous selection all within a couple of blocks.
This is seriously a fabulous find for a jaunt to Niagara-on-the-Lake!
Clearly this Part of Ontario is very special to me for its history, charming town and vast array of vineyards. If ever you want to meander beyond the boundaries of the Toronto big city scope, or simply dropping in for a memorable adventure, Niagara-on-the-Lake has an abundance to offer.
Xo – Sandra
