Guide to a Romantic Summer Weekend in Prince Edward County

Prince Edward County is such a magical place. It’s the perfect destination for a couples getaway. You get the peace and quiet of the country combined with all the culture and activities the County has to offer. No matter what you do it will be a great weekend with your significant other. But there are some particular places that will add that touch of romance to your trip. Find these special spots in my guide to a romantic summer weekend in Prince Edward County.

Friday

Start your romantic weekend sipping wine in the vineyard at Broken Stone Winery for their Cinq à Sept. From 5-7pm every Friday evening, Broken Stone’s Cinq à Sept offers a featured wine (or wine of your choice) by the glass with a local hors d’oeuvres pairing and live music. You can reserve your spot ahead here.

After a very enjoyable happy hour, it’s time for a beautiful sunset dinner. Head up to The Miller House restaurant at Lake on the Mountain Resort. The Miller House has one of the County’s most picturesque views. And it’s especially gorgeous at sunset! They don’t take reservations, but it is worth the wait. Once seated, order some tapas, sip a glass of local wine (or beer from their brewery!) and soak in that gorgeous view. Your getaway is off the a great start!

Saturday

Saturday morning you’re off to Bloomfield for a lovely traditional breakfast at The Saylor House Cafe. The Saylor House Cafe has the cutest patio where you can cozy up at a small table and enjoy your breakfast together under the trees with the pretty morning sounds of the birds. The cafe uses all local ingredients and makes the most delicious scratch-made baked goods! After breakfast take a stroll through the shops on Bloomfield, and maybe pick up something to remember your trip. There are a few antique shops close by.

Your daytime activities are going to start with a honey wine tasting on the mead terrace at Millefleurs. Millefleurs is a lavender farm and meadery just outside of Wellington on the shores of Lake Ontario. You can stroll through their lavender fields and then enjoy a honey wine tasting on the beautiful mead terrace. Celtic tradition has it that mead brings success, happiness and fertility to a marriage!

For lunch, enjoy THE BEST pizza in the County at TerraCello Winery. Tony, owner and head winemaker, makes his wood oven Neapolitan style pizzas using all fine imported Italian ingredients. Enjoy your pizza with a glass of TerraCella’s handcrafted natural wine on the outdoor patio nestled between the vines. The food, the wine and the atmosphere will seriously make you feel like you’ve been transported to Italy!

End your day with a wine tasting and stroll through the sculpture garden at Huff Estates Winery. They’re currently offering a flight of three wines for tasting on their patio overlooking the vineyards. I love the Huff Merlot, and of course their Rosés. After your tasting, visit the Huff Estates Oeno Gallery Sculpture Garden. Meander through the paths of the 4-acre garden and take in all of the impressive installations. The Oeno Sculpture Garden is one of those special County experiences.

Make a reservation ahead for dinner at East & Main Bistro in Wellington. Try to get a spot on the patio – it’s so cozy and intimate. Perfect for a romantic Saturday night dinner! East & Main serves fine dining and luxury comfort food favourites using local ingredients. The menu is seasonal and always changing, but the dishes are consistently delicious. They also have a very extensive wine list with lots of local PEC options.

If you’re up for it, and I highly encourage it, spend your evening at the drive-in theatre. The Mustang Drive-In is so much fun! Cozy up in your car and enjoy a double feature under the County stars. And the snack bar is open for all your favourite classic movie snacks. The Mustang is only open until September 5, so get there while you can!

Sunday

The last day of your romantic weekend is going to be a memorable one! First, pick-up a picnic lunch for two from the Agrarian Market in Picton. You can reserve ahead by emailing or calling. Then head up to Waupoos for brunch at the new Stella’s Eatery location. The menu is seasonal and filled with locally sourced and foraged ingredients. You may want to pick up a bottle of wine for your next adventure. After brunch, you’re off for a romantic sailing cruise with County Sailing Adventures! The private cruise departs from Waupoos Marina and sails the crystal clear waters of South Bay. You can anchor at Love’s Cove for swim and to enjoy your picnic lunch. Book ahead – there is still some availability for this summer. It’s the perfect experience to end your romantic summer weekend in Prince Edward County!

Cheers!~GDW

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How to Spend a Covid Safe Weekend in the Prince Edward County This Summer

Your accommodation is booked and face mask ready for a weekend in Prince Edward County this summer! There are so many things to do and see (and taste!) in the County, but which are going to be the most fun and most safe? The County is welcoming tourists with all the covid precautions in place, so be at ease that you’re in safe hands whatever you choose to do. There are, though, particular wineries that have extra large spaced out tasting areas; restaurants that are taking patio reservations; and outdoor activities that are less busy. With these kind of places in mind, I’ve put together an itinerary for how to spend a covid safe weekend in the Prince Edward County this summer.

Friday

After you’ve arrived in the County and checked into your accommodation, head into Wellington to pick up take-out from La Condesa. They make delicious Mexican food – order to tuna tostada, you will not regret it! You can also pick up wine, beer and pre-made cocktails at the restaurant to enjoy alongside your tacos. And if your up for it, tequila freezies are available for dessert! Whatever you choose, make sure to call ahead to order and set-up a pick-up time. Then bring your La Condesa takeout to the Wellington Rotary Beach for a beautiful sunset dinner. The beach is free entry on weekdays.

Saturday

On Saturday morning, head back into Wellington. The earlier you go, the less busy it will be! Pick-up breakfast from Piccoilna Mercato or Hello Bonjour Cafe. Piccolina’s has all the Italian baked goods, but if you’re looking for something healthier choose from the many vegan and gluten free options at Hello Bonjour. Both have coffee! Bring your breakfast to the Wellington Park to eat overlooking Lake Ontario. The park has an amazing playground if you have kids, lots of picnic tables and access down to the water. Next to the park is the Wellington Farmers Market, which takes place every Saturday from 9am – 1pm. There are lots of local vendors to check out and lots of goodies to pick-up to enjoy later or take home.

Hopefully you’ve worked up an appetite, because it’s off to J.K. Fries for lunch. Jamie Kennedy and his team make the best fries! Everything is ordered outside the barn with lots of open space to enjoy your lunch in the most idyllic county setting. If you like poutine, trust me and order it – it’s unlike any poutine you’ve had before!

Now it’s time for some wine tasting! Start at Rosehall Run, who have a big outdoor tasting area overlooking the vineyard. You have to make a reservation for a tasting ahead of time, which means it won’t be too busy. Rosehall Run is known for their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, so definitely make sure to taste those. And I absolutely love their Pixie Sparkling Rosé! Next up is the fun Sugarbush Vineyards, where you’ll find an expansive outdoor tasting area with lots of well spaced out tables. This was the first winery I ventured out to after the lockdown last year! Sugarbush has a large wine menu that will satisfy both the red and white wine lovers. Whichever tasting you choose, make sure to try my favourite, the Almost Red. And last but not least is a brewery! Finish off your tasting adventure at Slake Brewing. Slake Brewing is a new brewery to the County that offers some of the best tasting (and best looking!) summer beers. Their large outdoor drinking area also offers some of the best views in the County!

After a busy day I’m sure you will be ready for a nice dinner at Sand & Pearl. Sand & Pearl serves up delicious seafood, local fish dishes and a daily selection of oysters. Sand & Pearl is open til 8pm and reservations have to be made ahead. Enjoy your dinner at one of the picnic tables in their large outdoor dining area at the back of the restaurant. They’ll likely have a large bonfire going around dinner time!

Sunday

On Sunday, head into Consecon for breakfast at the Honey House Cafe. Get the breakfast sandwich, you will not regret it! Just up the street from Honey House Cafe is North Beach Provincial Park where you can spend the day relaxing at the beach. North Beach has everything you love about Sandbanks, but is typically way less busy. The park offers a sandy beach with beautiful turquoise water set in a sheltered cove from Lake Ontario. On it’s other side is a sand beach on North Bay, with lots of shallow water great for kids. To guarantee your spot into the beach, book your day-use permit up to 5 days in advance of your visit using the new provincial parks reservation system. On your way out of the County, Tabersnack is a great place to fuel up before your drive home. There are lots of food options at Tabersnack, but their traditional poutine is my favourite!

Cheers!~GDW

Guide to a Festive Fall Weekend in Prince Edward County

There is no better place to be in the fall than Prince Edward County! This is my second fall season in the County and I would not want to be any where else in the world. The bright foliage, harvest foods, quaint towns and seasonal drinks all combine for a truly magical time of year. If you’re making a trip to the County to enjoy this beautiful season, here’s my guide to a festive fall weekend in PEC.

Friday

Your first stop on the way into the County is going to be Campbell’s Orchards. This local farm market has the most delicious baked goods that you can pick-up to enjoy throughout the weekend (get the apple bread, you will not regret it!). To get all the Stars Hallow feels, check-in to one of the many beautiful bed-and-breakfasts in Wellington or Bloomfield. For dinner, catch a gorgeous sunset over the Bay of Quinte on the patio at the Miller House. If you can’t make it up to Lake on the Mountain, Midtown Brewing in Wellington is a great alternative. Try their popular wood fired pizza and new fall Seasonal Ale!

Saturday

On Saturday morning, head into Picton for a stroll through town. Pick up a PSL from Miss Lily’s Café and meander along Main Street to check out all the wonderful local shops. You’re going to definitely want to browse through The Ye11ow Studio for handmade pottery; Luna Boutique for a new fall sweater; and Coriander Girl for some bespoke blooms. Nothing like shopping endorphins to kick-start your day! For a spooky add-on to your morning adventure, head over to the old St. Mary Magdalene Parish Cemetery at Macaulay Heritage Park.

Then it’s off the spend the afternoon enjoying all the local wine, beer and cider the County has to offer. Visit Gillingham Brewing Company first – they have a large outdoor seating area set-up around a cozy campfire overlooking an idyllic country scene. You can order lunch here which comes from one of my favourite restaurants in the County, The Marans. And you must order their new fall beer, the Oktoberfest style ES Märzen Lager. Next up is Loch Mór Cider Company, because you can’t have a festive fall weekend without cider! Enjoy a flight under the trees with a locally made Cornish pasty. End your day at Karlo Estates Winery with a walk through their beautiful property (great photo op at the old bridge!), a glass of Three Witches white wine and sunset over the vineyards. Karlo often has live music on the weekends, so check ahead to see if you can catch some local musical talent.

A festive fall day like this must conclude with a delicious autumnal dinner! This dinner can be found on the beautiful heated patio at East and Main Bistro in Wellington. Their menu has all the delicious fall favourites like beef Bourguinon, Pinot Noir braised lamb shank and roasted vegetable curry. Yum!

Sunday

Sunday is all about the autumn antiquing! But first, coffee. Grab some caffeine at Bloomfield Public Market and stroll down the very Stars Hallow’esk main street of Bloomfield. There are lots of cute shops to pop into while you make your way to the first antique store, Dead People’s Stuff. Believe it or not, you will be ready for lunch at this point (there are so many distractions in Bloomfield), so stop into Saylor House Café. They have a cute patio for outdoor dining and the best comfort food in town – I’m talking grilled cheese and tomato soup kind of comfort. Then hop in the car and you’re off to some of my favourite shops! Browse through County Traders, MacCool’s Re-use, The Local Store, and Koopmans (not open Sundays but if you’re doing this on another day, definitely check them out).

As your festive fall weekend in the PEC sadly comes to and end, make one more stop on your way out. If you’re heading west, stop at Tabersnack for a delicious poutine and local beer. If your direction is west, check out the beautiful views at Three Dog Winery while you enjoy a glass of wine and wood fired pizza. In this final moment of your trip, soak in the autumn magic of the County and reminisce on all the fun memories you’ve made during your festive fall weekend in PEC!

Cheers!~GDW

Wine of the Week: Harwood North Beach Seahorse Rosé

North Beach Prince Edward County is truly a magical place! Turquoise waters, white sands and rolling green hills really make you feel like you’re on the ocean. It’s no wonder Harwood Estate Vineyards named their trio of Rosés after this beautiful beach. Their North Beach Seahorse Rosé is the wine of the week – a delightful Rosé made for summer days by the water! The Seahorse Rosé is fruity with a touch of sweetness, and balanced nicely with crisp acidity. You’ll taste juicy flavours of strawberry, peach and citrus. Enjoy the Seahorse Rosé with spicy dishes, barbequed meats or chilled all on it’s own. Harwood Estates Vineyard is actually located quite close to North Beach provincial park. If you’re in the County you can pick up a bottle at the winery for $17.95 and then head over to the North Beach to enjoy! The Harwood North Beach Seahorse Rosé can also be purchased through their online store. Cheers to magical summer days by the water!

~ GDW

Guide to the Perfect Girl’s Weekend in Prince Edward County

Who doesn’t love a girls weekend in wine county?! I’ve been travelling to Prince Edward County with my girlfriends for the past 3 years. And now that I own a house in the County , I’ve been having girl weekends all summer! So after many fun girl’s wine trips, I think that I finally have the ultimate guide to the perfect girl’s weekend in Prince Edward County. Read on for my full three-day itinerary, complete with where to stay, eat and drink. Happy wine’ing!

Day 1: Friday

You’ll likely leave after work on Friday and get to the County by late evening, so head straight to your accommodation to check-in. There are lots of places to stay in the County, but for a girl’s trip, the June Motel is the perfect spot. When I get in a bit later on a Friday,  I typically like to keep it pretty low-key. If you’re the same, I recommend grabbing a glass (or two, or three, or a bottle) of rosé with some snacks at the June’s Lobby Bar and relax out on the super cute patio. This is also your chance to get some great pics with your girlfriends in all the instagramable spots around the June! If you have more energy than me and would prefer to go out, then head to Bloomfield for dinner at Public House followed by drinks at the Agrarian Speakeasy.

Day 2: Saturday

Rise and shine Saturday morning for yoga detox/retox at the June. A 60-minute yoga session on the outdoor yoga deck will let you detox before retoxing at the Lobby Bar with mimosas. Best way to start the day! Make a quick trip in Picton for coffee and breakfast at Miss Lilley’s Café. After you’ve fueled up, grab a cab to Closson Road Cycles where you’ll rent bikes (recommend booking in advance) for your day of winery visits on Closson Road. Biking down Closson Road is my favourite way to experience wineries in the County. In under 4km, you can visit 6 wineries plus a lavender farm and alpaca farm shop! Start at Broken Stone Winery and then make your way down the road, stopping at each of the wineries for a tasting (find a map here). You’ll probably get hungry along the way (and should eat with all the wine tastings you’re doing!). You can have lunch at The Swinery restaurant at Closson Chase Winery or order a picnic basket at the Grange of Prince Edward Winery. End the day’s winery tour with a glass of bubbly at Hinterland Wine Company (you’ll need a reservation for groups of 6+). Then it’s back to the June to get ready for your night out in the County! Saturday night is best spent in Wellington. Start with dinner at La Condesa and end your night with drinks at the Drake Devonshire – hopefully you can snag a spot on the patio!

Day 3: Sunday

And just like that, it’s already Sunday Funday! After check-out at the June, make your way to The Vic Café in Picton for brunch. This brunch spot just went through a make-over and it could not be any cuter! And then my favourite way to spend a Sunday with the girls is a beach day at Sandbanks. On your way to the beach stop at the Agrarian Market to pick up your pre-ordered picnic for later (you will not regret this picnic, their food is amazing!).  Then enjoy your afternoon lounging at the beach! When the time comes that you have to start heading home, I like to make one last stop to complete the girls weekend. On the road home from Sandbanks is a great little spot called Sand & Pearl. End your weekend here with some oysters and bubbly! Ok, I’m not going to lie, there is one more stop I like to make before ending a girl’s weekend…if you’re heading home to the GTA area, Harwood Estate Vineyards is on your way out. They have a delicious rosé called Friendship that I think is the perfect souvenir from a girl’s trip to wine country! Follow this itinerary and I guarantee will have the ultimate girls weekend in Prince Edward County!

Cheers!~GDW

Rosehall Run Vineyards

Last weekend, we were at our Prince Edward County house getting a lot of work done. But I made some time to visit one winery and chose Rosehall Run Vineyards. Rosehall Run is one of the oldest wineries in PEC, having been established in 2001. They are known for their Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and sparkling wines . Their wine awards list is extensive, and after tasting a few I can see why! Located in the Hillier area of PEC, Rosehall Run Vineyard boasts a state-of-the-art winemaking facility,  beautiful tasting room with rooftop deck and lots of outdoor seating overlooking the vineyard.

We started our visit at Rosehall Run Vineyards with a warm welcome, and even warmer welcome for Cosette (my French bulldog). Rosehall Run is definitely dog friendly! We were led through an informative tasting of four wines, starting with the Indigo Sparkling White. This bubbly is made in the Charmat method, like Prosecco, and has big refreshing bubbles bursting with citrus fruit flavours. Perfect as a summer aperitif or accompaniment to dinner. We then moved onto the 2016 Chardonnay. This is an oaked Chardonnay, but don’t think heavy buttery California Chardonnay. This is a great example of cool-climate PEC Chardonnay – a dry white with rich flavours of apple and peach that finish with a refreshing lemon acidity and minerality. The 2017 JCR Pinot Noir was next. I loved this Pinot Noir so much, a bottle may have went home with me! A medium-bodied red with elegant flavours of cherry and smooth finish. Perfect for barbeques this summer. We finished our tasting with The Certain Ratio which is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. There are some Niagara grapes in this blend which come through in the juicy dark berry flavours, but you can also taste the lean earthy county grapes. As you can probably tell, I really enjoyed the Rosehall Run wines!

After our tasting, we took a glass of wine and foodie box up to the second floor patio. The foodie box is new at Rosehall Run this year and is SO GOOD! It’s a snack box for two that contains locally sourced cheese, charcuterie and accompaniments from PEC producers. It can be purchased for $19.95 and enjoyed on the winery grounds or as a take-away. I enjoyed the foodie box with a glass of the Pixie Sparkling Rosé – a pretty pink bubbly with creamy fruit flavours and citrusy acidity. A glass of bubbly and foodie box was the perfect way to end our visit at Rosehall Run Vineyards. We actually loved the foodie box so much that, that I’m not kidding, we purchased almost all of the items in it! The winery houses the Greer Street Grocer where you can purchase local PEC products, including everything in the foodie box.

It’s probably obvious by now, but I really enjoyed my visit to Rosehall Run Vineyards! Great wine, delicious food and beautiful views….what more can you ask for?! When visiting PEC, Rosehall Run Vineyards is definitely a must-see winery. You can visit daily from May to October between 10am and 6pm. See you soon, Rosehall Run!

 

Cheers!~GDW

Huff Estates Winery

I recently visited Huff Estates Winery in Prince Edward County and I can’t believe I had never been before! It was seriously one of the best winery visits I’ve ever had. Huff Estates Winery has a beautiful tasting room with informative staff; a delicious restaurant with a patio overlooking the vineyards; and a well curated art gallery and sculpture garden. You can truly spend the most enjoyable day at Huff Estates…and that’s exactly what my mom and I did a couple weeks ago!

My mom and I started our day at Huff Estates Winery with a glass of pink bubbly – the best way to start any winery visit! We received an informative tour of the barrel room and production facilities, and learned a lot about the winery that I didn’t know. Having opened in 2004 and being one of the oldest and biggest wineries in Prince Edward County, I had always just assumed that it was corporately owned. I was way off! Huff Estates Winery was started, and still owned, by Lanny and Catharine Huff who were born and raised in the Prince Edward County. They are frequent visitors at the winery – we actually saw them enjoying lunch during our visit. I love how in Prince Edward County you often see the winery owners, and Huff Estates Winery was no exception!

After our tour of the winery, my mom and I enjoyed the most delicious tasting and lunch on the beautiful patio overlooking the vineyards. We easily spent 2.5 hours here enjoying our wine and food! I tasted the Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir – all so good. And then my mom and I split a bottle of the newly released 2018 Rosé with our lunch. It was the perfect patio sipper! We started off our lunch with a charcuterie board and  pretzel that came with a wine dipping sauce. I was impressed already! For our mains, my mom had a mushroom soup with salad and I had the winemakers pizza. All the food is made with local ingredients and was SO GOOD! I seriously cannot wait to go back to the Huff Estates restaurant.

We ended our day at Huff Estates Winery with a visit to the Oeno gallery and sculpture garden. The gallery opened in 2004 and features internationally recognized Canadian artists. The staff were so friendly and pointed us to a very interesting jewelry exhibit they were featuring. The 4 acre sculpture garden is located behind the gallery and is a MUST SEE! It was so much fun to walk along the paths through the garden to view the impressive installations. The Oeno gallery and sculpture garden was the perfect way to end our visit at Huff Estates.

As you can probably tell, a visit to the Huff Estates Winery is definitely more of an experience! It’s a unique destination in Prince Edward County that goes beyond the exceptional wines. I cannot recommend visiting Huff Estates Winery enough! The winery is open daily from 10am to 6pm. You can get information about the restaurant and special events here. Tours and tastings are offered daily, with group and private experiences available. For an enhanced tasting, you can use code COURTNEY50 to get 50% off. There is lots to taste and do at Huff Estates Winery so make sure to plan a few hours to enjoy your experience!

Cheers!~GDW

Sponsored by Huff Estates. All opinions stated are my own.

 

The New Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide

I look forward to getting the Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide every year! The new 2019/2020 guide just came out in May and I’ve already started using it to plan my wine trips. The guide is divided into the five Ontario wine regions with information about each area and helpful descriptions about the wineries. Plus, the maps are AMAZING! The Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide really helps to plan your trip and make the most out of your visit. Every summer I try to check off as many wineries in the guide that I can! And this year, I’ve already started…

Last month, I did a day trip in Prince Edward County with my mom. As you may know, I recently bought a house in Prince Edward County and have been anxious to start exploring the wine region in my own backyard! As I do with all of my wine trips, I used the Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide to plan my day. We had such a fun day exploring the PEC wine region at Keint-He and By Chadsey’s Cairns wineries. I thought I’d share with you our visit to PEC and the steps I use to plan the BEST wine trips using the guide. A few easy steps using the new Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide and you’ll be ready to explore our beautiful wine regions! If you don’t already have a copy of the Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide, make sure to download it here.

1. Pick where you want to go

There are five different regions featured in the Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide. Picking which region to explore is difficult (they’re all so good!) and picking which wineries to visit in that region can be even harder! Luckily, the Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide is a huge help in making these decisions. For this step, I love to refer to all the handy maps – there’s a large pull-out map of Ontario’s wine country and smaller maps for each region. Once I’ve narrowed down the region,  I like to pick a group of wineries that are fairly close to each other so that I can easily bike or have a short drive. On this trip to PEC we only had 1 day to explore, so I picked two wineries from the PEC map that were close to my house and a quick drive from each other. In the Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide you can also check off the wineries that you’ve visited, which helps to keep track of the wineries you’ve been to. So with all this in mind, I picked Keint-He Winery and By Chadsey’s Cairns to visit on my trip to PEC wine country.

2. Create an itinerary

Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE to create an itinerary! I think that having an itinerary allows you to get the most out of any trip. The Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide provides you with all the information you need to create the best wine trip itineraries. Every winery in the guide has a great description that highlights what the winery is known for. The winery listings also include the hours and icons advising of picnic areas, tours, food, hiking, etc. With all this information it’s easy to create a good itinerary – you’ll know where to start based on opening times; where to spend longer because of a tour; and where to will stop for lunch. For my recent visit to PEC my itinerary included starting at Keint-He Winery bright and early 11am; followed by lunch at Casa-Dea Estates Winery; and ending the day at by Chadsey’s Cairn with plenty of extra time to explore the winery’s property. As usual, having a good itinerary made for a great trip!

3. Plan your visits

Get the most out of your winery visits by knowing a bit about them before you go. As I mentioned in step 2, the Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide includes a description of each winery that highlights key features. I learned from the guide that Keint-He Winery is known for Burgundian style wines, so I planned to taste all their Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays on my visit…and I did! The guide described By Chadsey’s Cairn Winery as being located on a 209-year-old farm, so I planned some extra time to explore the property and learn about it’s history. It’s such a benefit to have some background on the wineries you’re going to visit before you go, and the Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide is your best resource!

4. Enjoy the wineries

With all the planning done, using the helpful Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide, it’s now time to enjoy your wine trip! I had so much fun visiting Keint-He Winery and By Chadsey’s Cairns during my day in PEC wine country. We started the day early at Keint-He Winery where I tasted all of their delicious Burgundian style Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs in the cozy tasting room. I learned about their Pinot Noirs and approach to winemaking from the very friendly staff. Inside, the tastings are done at a large family style table, which allowed us to meet some of the other wine visitors – Cosette (my Frenchie) got a lot of attention here! It was pouring rain during our visit to Keint-He, but on a nice day there is a lovely patio overlooking the vineyards and Lake Ontario. We ended the day with a tasting and exploration at By Chadsey’s Cairn. The winemaker’s daughter (who just happened to be in town for the day and put to work) led us through a tasting in the beautiful old barn. A few of their wines are already sold out, so we were happy to try some rare wines like Muscat and sparkling red. After our tasting we explored the historic 1850’s apple house and their pioneer cemetery. It was a very enjoyable day thanks to the Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide!

5. Buy the wine

Take home some wine (the best kind of souvenir) from your trip to Wine Country Ontario.  A lot, if not most, of the wines that you’ll taste will not available at the LCBO. This isn’t a bad thing, but a great opportunity to purchase small-batch unique wines directly from the producers. I can’t think of a better way to reminisce about a wine trip than by opening a bottle purchased there. On this trip I took home a delicious bottle of the Keint-He Greer Road Pinot Noir and a beautiful Muscat from By Chadsey’s Cairns. The Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide has some helpful tips for buying wine, like travelling with a cooler in warmer months. This is a great tip because, I hate to admit it, but I’ve had far too many bottles of wine turn bad because of improper storage in the car. Bring a cooler and buy the wine!

So there you have it! My five easy steps for using the Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide to plan a wonderful wine trip. I cannot wait for more trips this summer and to continue my exploration of Ontario Wine Country. We have such amazing wine regions in Ontario, all at our door-step just waiting to be discovered. Ontario’s world-class wines and beautiful vineyards make for the most delicious adventure! Make sure to make the most of your Ontario wine adventures by picking up the new 2019/2020 Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide at your local LCBO or download it here. Happy wine travels!

Cheers!~GDW

Girl on a Budget: Wines From Around the World for Under $14

Do you have a case of Winederlust? The pursuit of drinking more wine from around the world? I certainly do! I dream about trying the best California Cab, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Australian Shiraz. But buying benchmark bottles can be pricey! What I’ve learned through my pursuit of drinking more wine, is that you don’t have to buy the BEST bottle to get a taste the world’s well known wine varietals. There are a lot of good budget friendly options that will allow you to happily travel the world through wine. Satisfy your Winederlust, and stick to your budget, with my list of wines from around the world for under $14. Happy travels!

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

California Cab

Italian Pinot Grigio

Australia Shiraz

Portuguese Vinho Verde

Chilean Carmenère

South African Chenin Blanc

Argentinian Malbec

Provencal Rosé

Spanish Tempranillo

German Riesling

Cheers!~GDW

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ontario Winery Guide: The Grange of Prince Edward

The Grange of Prince Edward is one of my favourite wineries in Prince Edward County, Ontario. As you turn off the road and drive (or preferably bike) up the long driveway, you are met with the most picturesque country scene. Tall mature trees open up to a little pond sitting in front of a beautifully restored barn, all surrounded by rolling rows of vines.

Behind the Grange of Prince Edward Winery is the mother-daughter winemaking duo of Caroline and Maggie Granger. Back in 1974 Caroline’s parents bought a small farm in Prince Edward County. Years later, Caroline Granger moved back to her family’s farm,  transformed it into a vineyard and opened her winery in 2004. In 2010, Caroline’s daughter, Maggie, also found herself moving back to the family farm and joining the winery. Caroline and Maggie now together create beautiful wines that are an expression of their piece of Prince Edward County.

I recently had the opportunity to do a tasting with Maggie and try a lineup of wonderful Grange wines. The lineup included their new cider, 2016 Victoria Block Chardonnay, Pet Nat Sparkling Chardonnay, 2016 Pinot Noir and 2016 Cabernet Franc. All were so good! And can we talk about the beautiful labels?! I especially loved the Cabernet Franc, which you can read about here. The Grange wines see little intervention, as Caroline and Maggie like the county land to be expressed naturally through each bottle.

When in the county, the Grange of Prince Edward Winery is a must! I’ve now visited  in the winter and summer and both experiences were great. In the winter, the tasting room in the wood paneled barn with large stone fireplace creates the coziest atmosphere to sit and wine taste. In the summer, your wine tasting can be taken outside to the lovely picnic tables set up in the vineyard and enjoy delicious picnic lunch packed in a cute wicker basket.

From winter fireplace sips to picnic wine lunches in the vineyard, the Grange of Prince Edward Winery provides a memorable experience in the county. And then, of course, the wine! Beautifully expressing the county land, each wine is an unique example of the varietal. Caroline and Maggie Granger bring Prince Edward County to life in each glass that you’ll taste at this amazing Ontario winery.

Cheers!~GDW