TRAVEL THE “ROUTE DE VIN” THROUGH NIAGARA’S SCENIC WINE COUNTRY

05-08-2009

 

 

TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA—The golden nectar known as Ice Wine that is produced famously along Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula is made from grapes allowed to stay on the vines until a hard freeze sets in.  Though picked and pressed in the dead of winter, this widely-sought wine is available for sampling year-round.

It’s just one of many treats awaiting those who follow Ontario’s Wine Route.  The region contains close to 50 wineries, large and small, as well as charming inns, boutique hotels and superb restaurants with kitchens directed by talented, creative chefs.

The historic Niagara Peninsula has the same climate as Burgundy. Thus, it is no surprise that its rolling vineyards produce more than 80 percent of Canada’s grapes. One of the most engaging destinations is the picturesque town of Jordan in the lush Twenty Valley, just an hour away from high-energy Toronto.

A four-day/three-night “Route de Vin” package is ready to send you off on your wine-country odyssey, Ontario-style. It begins with a stay in vibrant Toronto, sampling the best that its entertainment district has to offer. It’s a busy day that is completed with a restful overnight stay at the stylish hotel Le Germain.

Transferring by private sedan to the charming bucolic town of Jordan, you’ll check in at the Inn on the Twenty. Housed in a former sugar warehouse, it will be your home for the next two nights. Stroll Jordan’s tree-lined Main Street and discover antique, craft and gift shops and an authentically restored pioneer settlement.

In the evening, a memorable wine tasting is offered at Cave Spring Cellars, one of Niagara’s most mature vinifera vineyards (and the oldest functioning wine cellar in Ontario). Dinner is at On The Twenty, the restaurant credited with pioneering the concept of a regionally-focused and locally-sourced cuisine in Niagara. Try signature Shorthills trout in Riesling-rhubarb butter, or partridge in hazelnut-chardonnay sauce.

Another highlight is a visit to Hidden Bench to discover why this winery made it onto the Canadian “100 Best Vineyards” list. This unique artisanal winery is dedicated to producing ultra premium wines solely from vineyards within the Beamsville Bench VQA sub-appellation.

Next, it is on to Good Earth Cooking School, nestled amid vineyards and fruit trees in the heart of Twenty Valley. After a hands-on cooking class, there is an optional tour of the estimable Flat Rock Cellars or some pampering at the Spa On the Twenty.

This “Route de Vin” package to the Twenty Valley is priced from US$1,575 per person (based on double occupancy).  Included are meals indicated on the itinerary, all entrances, tours and other specified events, local transfers and services of a local host.

All itineraries are “made-to-measure,” designed as private trips for discerning groups of friends, family or colleagues. Feel free to discuss your trip requirements with a travel professional, using this basic itinerary as a launching pad. Perhaps you’ll even decide on a side trip to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival or to catch the Shaw Festival at postcard-pretty Niagara-on-the-Lake. Or you might decide to take a wine country tour by bicycle or sail to the Niagara Peninsula aboard a luxury yacht.

For more details and additional information on the Niagara Peninsula, Toronto and other Ontario attractions, contact Ontario Tourism at 1-800-ONTARIO, or www.ontariotravel.net.

 

#   #   #

[Back to Press Releases Main]