Home - Winery Hopping in Niagara
As luck would have it, our Niagara fruit belt possesses grape growing conditions similar to the wine producing regions in Germany and France – and if you've never been to this viticulture heartland of Ontario, where field-upon-field of braided vineyards bask in the summer sunshine, then you are missing an impressive piece of Canada's natural attributes, and missing-out too on a whole lot of fun.
Old and New World expertise, plus the blending of soils and the temperate climate in Niagara, have combined to produce the finest, award winning wines. From Chardonnays and Rieslings to Pinot Grigio and Pinot Blanc, Canadian whites now assume their rightful place at any dinner table – and in the red category, Pinot Noir has found a high quality niche in the Niagara region. When Inniskillin first won the coveted Grand Prix d'Honneur at Vinexpo in Bordeaux, France for its 1989 Icewine, the seal of international approval for the bounty of Canadian viticulture was guaranteed.
So put your bicycle in the car, and head west around Lake Ontario toward Niagara-on-the-Lake. Once here, you are invited to explore at your leisure as many as 40 regional wineries within easy cycling distance, if you like. Most have a visitor centre plus tours of the vineyards and the barrel cellars with an overview of the wine making process – and of course, an offer to "taste" is the most delightful aspect of it all.
At the Inniskillin vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake for example, you can take one of two daily, guided public tours, or do it on your own at leisure by visiting a series of 20 stations around the winery. Begin your exploration in the historic Brae Burn Barn, an organic themed building inspired by 20th century preservation architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Stop for a glass of your favorite vintage at The Wine Tasting Bar, or browse the voluminous Inniskillin wine selection and all of the novelties in The Wine Boutique.
Group tours can be arranged for 15 people or more and they include private wine tastings of celebrated vintages and Icewines. Special group experiences can also be arranged, like that of the Riedel Stemware Matching Tour. It includes a 30-minute overview of the winery and a 30-minute private wine tasting with guided expertise on how to match the specially designed Riedel crystal stemware with Inniskillin's premium Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, its Icewine and more. Details, including food and wine events at the winery can be found at www.inniskillin.com and additional tourism questions can be answered at
www.nigaraonthelake.com.
By J. Caroline Carroll
- News Canada |
