For those that doubt it, a wine country getaway is not just a summer activity! There is still a lot happening during the fall and winter seasons and many wineries still are open for tours/tasting (albeit you may want to check the hours in advance). So if you are looking for a quick getaway outside of the city to recharge and relax this is certainly still a great option!
If you want to take advantage of the best deals and are able to have a bit of flexibility go on a Sunday or weekday. Most hotels have great winter packages available at a fraction of the price Sundays through to Thursdays! I opted to visit Jordan Village this time around and stayed at the beautiful Inn on the Twenty.
This cozy vintage hotel right on Main St with its lovingly decorated unique rooms is perfect for a romantic getaway. For those looking to relax, it has a great spa attached with a number of packages to take advantage of. There is also a wonderful dinning room to enjoy a great dinner for the foodie in you (another option close by to try is the Jordan House Tavern).
After a relaxing evening strolling the lovely boutique stores in the neighbourhood we ended the night off with a mouth watering dinner at the Inn on the Twenty Restaurent. The meal started off with bang, both the "Pingue” Prosciutto and Tuna Tatar were beautifully presented and tasted delectable. Both the mains (“Surf & Turf” and Beef Ribeye) were tasty and perfectly cooked.
The evening was capped off with the perfect mix of spice and sweetness that was the Warm Apple Crostata. A perfect ending to a nice relaxing day that lead the way to us waking up recharged and ready to explore the wineries of the region.... Of course not before a quick breakfast to give us a solid base for the sampling!
The first on itinerary of course was just a short walk away and that was CaveSpring Cellars. This has become one of the staples of the Niagra region wines you can find in the LCBO. The great thing about going right to their store of course is that you get greater variety.
Next on the list was Stoneyridge Estate Winery just a short drive away, with that the day had begun. The rest of the day was slow stroll through the side roads with frequent stops to sample the goods! The day's purchases slowly grew with each spot we hit...the wine rack back home would be overflowing with the taste of the region soon!
The beauty of planning your own tour is that you can explore the many smaller and independent wineries that you would otherwise not be able to taste in the stores. I would highly recommend you do this as this is the best way to really explore the region and the various tastes it offers!
One such winery that I really enjoyed was GreenLane Estate Winery by far I learned the most about wines here. They really took the time to teach you about how to taste and compare the product! For someone who loves to drink but isn't as well versed on it as I should be this was a great learning experince!
All in all a wine escape never disappoints and I can't wait to head back out...perhaps once I emptied our now overflowing store of wines! I would highly recommend taking the time to do this getaway, with the holiday season upon us this can certainly be an option to get the wine lover in your family!
By Ry