Yes, as you can see in the picture below, we took our 8 month old on his first ever wine tasting to Konzelmann Estate Winery. And no, he did not have a drop of wine… all for MOMMY!!
My husband and I love, love, love taking a trip at least once a year to the picturesque countryside that is Canada’s wine country. It also hosts one of Ontario’s prettiest towns, Niagara-on-the-Lake. All and all, it is definitely worth a day trip or weekend getaway to this beautiful haven.
We have visited several of Niagara’s wineries over the years and one of my favourites is Konzelmann Estate Winery which is Niagara’s only lakefront winery. They have award winning ice wine, which I must say is delicious. It would be perfect over ice cream or just as a small after dinner sipper. They have lovely varieties of chardonnay. My favourite is their Chardonnay Reserve which is a very mellow and buttery.
But, what makes me stop by Konzelmann every time, is their delicious Peachwine which is made from their neighbour’s fresh, local Niagara-on-the-lake peaches. Real peaches; not artificial junk! Fun fact, before this property became a winery it was a lakefront peach orchard; now doesn’t that just sound wonderful! If you plan to take a trip out to Canada’s wine country, do stop at Konzelmann for a tour, a tasting or just to pick up some of their delicious wine.
Wine Tasting 101- When I was a young man, at the ripe age of 19 , I thought Coors light was a good beer....I also thought wine was awful. Thankfully, as I have matured so has my palette and I find myself enjoying the wide variety of beers available. Unfortunately as my beer knowledge has expanded, my knowledge of wine has remained at a standstill. As I creep ever so close to thirty, I feel that now is the time to put on my big boy pants, take a seat at the grown ups table, and learn how to enjoy wine. Earlier this year I tried to educate myself by simply reading the small "vintages" flyer available in my local LCBO. I found a few I would label as "not terrible" before being distracted by a new craft beer I'd yet to sample. Determined to explore this new horizon, I set off to beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario - One of Canada's premier wine regions- to quench my new found thirst for knowledge. With some guidance from the great folks over at Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake, I would know just where to begin.
Inside Diamond Estates winery. Wine as far as the eye can see!
Diamond Estates winery is home to many great wines, producing wines under 10 brand names, with grapes from 25 Niagara region farms. It was there that we were introduced to Diamond Estates On-Site Wine Expert, Brae. After getting a feel for our knowledge about wine, Brae thought she would start us off with the simple 5 steps of wine drinking. You can follow along at home, start by pouring a glass and then follow along. Step 1: Look at the wine. Simple enough place the wine glass against a white background, or a sheet of paper if available. "the colour of a wine will give you some clues to what the wine might taste like" Brae remarked. A golden colouring could indicate a toffee, or buttery taste. Where a lighter yellow (straw coloured) would indicate citrus flavours. With red's the darker the colouring the more bold the flavouring from the grape will be.
A pure white background can be handy when decoded the characteristic of a wine.
Step 2: Swirl it. This actually accomplishes something more than making you look like a pompous ass, it oxygenates the wine. Pulling air into the wine helps to smooth out the flavour and opens up the aromas. Brae further punctuates the importance of aeration to wine with this equation - "pouring your wine through an aerator has the same affect as one hour in a decanter. One hour in a decanter is equal to one year in a cellar" Step 3: Smell it. Your nose and mouth aren't close together on your face for nothing. By taking a big whiff your pre-programming your brain to what tastes might lie ahead. The average person has trouble readily identifying most scents listed on a wine tasting notes. "You can start off smelling more items on your trip to grocery store, or if you are just trying to seem cool to your friends you can just make it up"
Grapes continue to ripen on the vines surrounding Diamond Estates.
Step 4: Cheers! Often overlooked in wine circles is the social aspect. As with beer share the experience with those around you, and as we know from history it ensures your enemies have not poisoned your drink. Step 5: Taste it. Brae suggested doing this in three sips to let the flavours cover your entire palate. I say just don't pound it back like a shot. There you have it, an easy to follow five step guide to wine tasting. This process allows you to experience a wine as it was intended. Additionally important is sampling from a wide selections of wines to find a style of wine you enjoy. For me it was barrel fermented Chardonnay, it has a smooth oak flavouring that reminds me of scotch or whiskey. Please feel free to share your own favourites in the comments below! Stay tuned for more from my recent travels in Niagara-on-the-lake, next up, Wine pairing!
With the the Canadian weather in fine form, and a long weekend finally in sight, you're probably making plans for the unofficial start of summer. I'm willing to bet that to the average reader of Real Man Travels, the idea of booze and a barbecue has you drooling on your keyboard, but if you want to take that plan to the next level, plan a trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake this May and check out Sip & Sizzle!
With 26 wineries, each showcasing one of their homegrown gifts-from-the-gods, along with a savory selection from the grill every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., you might as well make it a weekend if you have hopes of trying them all.
Guys, I know you're probably grumbling as you read this, thinking "this sounds pretty girly, step it up Real Man Travels." To that I have one simple response - vine smoked lake perch wrapped in wild boar bacon from Pellar Estates Winery. That sounds pretty damn manly to me.
With 21 of the 26 wineries serving up a variety of grilled meats ranging from beef, pork and chicken to mussels, shrimp, salmon and scallops, there's something for everyone. Please remember to enjoy both meat and wine responsibly!
So another post for Real Man Travels and another great adventure had. This time I actually made it, and I was early to boot!
On Sunday September 22nd at an early morning start time of 8:00am I set out on a highly anticipated adventure to Niagara on the Lake. Along side my best friend we began our 2 hour drive. On the agenda for the day were 4 wineries, and a micro brewery tour and tasting. We were very excited to do this as neither of us had ever been to Niagara on the Lake or to a wine tasting. We were definitely not disappointed.
First stop was Stratus. (@Stratuswines) As we pulled into the parking lot of our first winery we fell in love with the architecture. The building is made of sustainable materials presented in a uniquely modern and raw way. Aside from the fantastic wines at Stratus, the building and the way the winery is run is very fascinating. No small detail was overlooked. From the recycled materials used in the construction of the building, to the pump-less wine flow technology, to the geothermal heating/cooling, this facility certainly earned its' 2005 LEED certification. (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
While at Stratus we took part in Swirls, Sips, and Hops, where we did a tour of the winery at Stratus, followed by a tasting. After that we walked next door to Oast House Brewery (@OastHouseBeer ) where we had a tour of their red barn facility and a nice sampling of their different beers available. This tour was a fantastic way to take in 2 different tours at once with two distinctly different atmospheres. From Stratus I purchased a bottle of their Stratus 2009 Red (which was on our tasting) and from Oast House, I bought a bottle of their Saison and Biere de Garde.
From Stratus we drove about 2 minutes down the road to Joseph's Estate Wines. (@NiagaraWine ) A family owned and operated winery that opened in 1996 officially. The family feel is definitely present at this facility. It was such a warm and welcoming experience. Our tour guide Joe made you feel like you were a part of the family. With a tour of the vineyard and wine making operations, we ended it with a great tasting. We both left with a bottle of their fantastic ice wine.
Keeping with the family run wineries we made our way to Konzelmans Estate Winery. (@KonzelmannWines) This winery is full of history with the 6th generation of the Konzelmann legacy currently running the business. When we first arrived, it was a very busy place! The tasting room and boutique is where are tour began and we were escorted through the grounds for a full tour of the vineyard and facility. The vineyard boasts a gorgeous view of Lake Ontario with a rolling Toronto city landscape in the distance. Reminds you that this little piece of paradise really isn't so far from home. Following our tour we were treated to a tasting and a lesson in "The 5 S's of Wine Tasting". This lesson is featured in the video at the end of this post. We both purchased 2 bottles from Konzelmann's, one white Pinot Blanc, and one red Pinot Noir.
After Konzelmann's we went to our hotel to check in. We stayed at The Harbour House Hotel. (@NiagarasFinest ) This boutique hotel is absolutely stunning. Easy to get to, with ample parking, the hotel is situation right by the water with a fantastic view of the harbour. In the lobby you're treated to a complimentary wine tasting, their service was prompt and check in was smooth. There are elevators, how ever Chantelle and I used the stairs more. Our room was adorable with 2 single beds, a fantastic bathroom complete with a walk in shower, jacuzzi tub, and a rubber duck. The beds were incredibly comfortable and the hotel was pleasantly peaceful at night.
The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle to anywhere in town, complete with drop off and pick up, which was fantastic. We took the shuttle to our next tour and tasting at Strewn Winery. (@NiagaraWine ) Here we had a tour of the facility followed by a tasting. Located at Strewn is a fantastic restaurant called Terroir La Cachette (@TerroirCachette ) They use locally grown and raised products which really gives you a true taste of Niagara on the Lake. Our server, Steven, was so knowledgeable about the area, the food we were eating and the wine we were drinking, he really enhanced our entire dining experience. From beginning to end, our tour and tasting at Strewn, followed by our fabulous dinner at Terroir La Cachette, was incredible.
We finished our night off at a local pub called The Olde Angel Inn. Established in 1789 and rebuilt in 1816 after the War of 1812, The Olde Angel Inn is a great place to go for a local pint and a ghost story or two. We both had a pint of the Angel Inn Lager.
Our Monday morning began with a tour and tasting at Coyote's Run. (@coyotesrun ) This winery boasts some distinct soils that are unique to the area. They grow grapes from both the Red Paw soil and the Black Paw soil. It's amazing the difference in taste that the soils can produce in the grapes. Our tour was conducted by one of the onsite wine makers so we were treated to trying an unreleased Cabernet Sauvignon directly from the barrel. It was delicious!
Following Coyote's Run we finished off our wonderful winery weekend at Ravine Vineyard (@RavineVineyard ) It was at Ravine that we had one of the most unique vineyard tours; geo-tracking. Along with a guide from Ravine, we set out on a geo-tracking adventure through the entire vineyard. Using a GPS app on my iPhone we were able to locate all of the boxes and learned a little bit about the vineyard with each box we uncovered. It was a definitely a fun way of seeing and learning about the vineyard. Following our geo-tracking adventure we had lunch at the restaurant onsite. This restaurant uses vegetables from the organic garden which is right on site, as well as their own farm raised pigs, and they even bake their own bread. The meal was delicious and had just as satisfying a view of the entire vineyard and surrounding area.
While we managed to take in 6 wineries and 1 brewery there is so much more to do in beautiful Niagara on the Lake. Here are some upcoming events:
• In November, the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake host "Taste the Season," a touring pass event which features a seasonally-inspired VQA wine and food pairing at each of the 27 member wineries.
• In January, we celebrate Icewine with the Niagara-on-the-Lake Icewine Festival, which includes tutored tastings with some of Canada’s leading Icewinemakers, live jazz, Icewine-inspired culinary creations, and an Icewine cocktail competition, as well as a lot of fantastic winery events. We could even get you out picking some Icewine grapes.
• In February, there's "Days of Wine and Chocolate," a touring pass event which features VQA wines matched with chocolate-infused dishes at each of the wineries.
• In May the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake welcome spring with "Wine and Herb," a touring pass event which features different herb-themed food pairing matched to a premium VQA wine selected to highlight the flavour and aroma of the herb at each of the 27 wineries.
Planning a guys weekend? Here are some other great activities that would be great:
● Hitting the greens and enjoying Canada’s largest concentration of golf facilities in one region, including the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club, which is North America’s oldest course. Niagara is also home to the Niagara Golf Trail, which includes six great area courses open for public play that are known for their beautiful views, challenging courses and fabulous club houses.
●Packages from transportation partners with great options for the guys, including a Land, Sea and Air package that offers guests the opportunity to ride the Niagara River’s Class 5 rapids in a Jet boat, have an unforgettable Land Rover off-roading adventure and soar over Niagara’s vineyards in a helicopter.
●Fantastic dining options including Barrel Cellar dinners, dinners hosted by the Winemaker, casual food truck fare and more.
There is also a little thing called the Winemakers' Selection Tasting Pass, which allows pass holders to enjoy one tasting of a Winemaker's Selection wine at each of the 27 Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake any day of the year. Touring passes, which are $27 per person, plus applicable taxes, can be purchased online at www.wineriesofniagaraonthelake.com/winemakers-selections-tasting-pass or by calling Tourism Niagara-on-the-Lake at 905.468.1950. You can also buy your passes at any of the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Ideas to do crazy things always seem to be created over a
few drinks, but hardly ever get followed through. On September 14, 2013 I am proud to say
that my good friend John and I followed through on a crazy idea and rode our
bikes 136 km from Toronto, Ontario to Welland, Ontario. The best part of this
is that we decided to embark on this adventure just 6 days before. This left us
no time to over think it and best of all no time to train. The challenge to
ourselves was to take the long ride in our current physical state.
Like most crazy ideas, people we told had many different
reactions including: “You’re doing this ride…by choice?”, “You two are going to
die”, “You guys are stupid” etc. We never let it bother us because for every
naysayer there was someone cheering us on. We even had some friends get us some good
luck drinks the night before our ride. Was it the best idea?
Probably not but we can say now that we did the first portion of the ride hung
over…like real men.
Getting ready to ride at 4:00 am.
With our backpacks loaded up with water and snacks, a
change of clothes and some necessary tools/repair items we met up at 4:00am in
Toronto to begin our 136 km ride. For the
first half of the ride we would be following the Waterfront Trail. The
Waterfront Trail is a series of connecting paths that spans from Windsor, ON to
the Quebec and Ontario border for a total of 1400 km. This first half took us
through Etobicoke, Port Credit, Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington and a small
slice of Hamilton. Out of these areas Port Credit and Mississauga had the most
scenic views. When we arrived in Port Credit a boatload (pun intended) of fishermen
were loading up there vessels and it felt like we were cruising by the docks of a coastal town. The
portion of the Mississauga trail featured the most parks and was quite in tune with nature and really changed my view that the city is indeed
more than town homes and condos.
Some shoreline shots between Toronto and Burlington
My least favourite stretch was the Oakville portion of the
trail. It seemed like they didn’t really care about the trail and just threw
signs up along the roads. The first portion of Burlington felt this way as well
but quickly changed when we got to the developed waterfront area. This was
approximately the 68 km mark and we decided we would walk along the trail and
see some of the sights they had. This included a model boat pool, a snack shop,
beach rentals and memorials. It was a nice area but we still had a large
portion to go so we rode onward under the Skyway Bridge. Along a small stretch
of the trail in Hamilton before we would turn off of the Waterfront Trail for good, we
decided to stop and have a beer. We grabbed a seat on some rocks in the water
and cracked open a Steam Whistle and looked across Lake Ontario to see Toronto off in the distance.
A much needed beach beer break.
The next portion of the trip would see us through Stoney
Creek, Grimsby, Beamsville, Vineland and finally Welland. The ride to Stoney
Creek was good and smooth, we had left the trail and were mostly on roads but
they were quiet enough where we could ride side by side and talk. While biking through Stoney
Creek we made one big mistake. We were in an area with lots of options
for restaurants to grab a bite but decided to push on to Grimsby in the hopes
of knocking out a few more kilometers. There are a few rules that you
should abide by when being adventurous:
Eat before you’re hungry
Drink before you’re thirsty
Layer up before you’re cold
Layer down before you’re hot
In our case we lost all fuel in our bodies before reaching
Grimsby to eat and it was a complete struggle to move. We actually ended up
taking a half hour break in a wine field and just laid down using our packs as pillows. After a quick
Google search we found a pub that was just a mere 16 minutes ride away.
When we finally arrived in Grimsby we ate some lunch and then John asked the
bartender to inspire and motivate us because we needed it and she told us a tale of how a
60+ year old couple rode in from Toronto, had lunch and then continued on to
Niagara Falls the week prior. We looked at each other and knew we couldn't quit if someone 40 years older than us had done it. So we grabbed a red bull
and hit the road. On the way out of Grimsby we passed a church that had a
message on its sign that I feel was intended for us. I can’t remember it word
for word but it was along the lines of success is yours to make. That was a
piece of motivation I needed to continue and finish the last 43 km.
Misc photos from along the way.
The last 43 km were the toughest by far, not only were our knees, legs, butt and shoulders sore but now
we had reached the escarpment area and had to battle hill after hill. Despite
the hills, the scenery in this area was amazing. Rolling hills and wineries as far as the eye could see. It was a truly beautiful area to bike through.
After another short break to rest our legs (at that point we were 19km from Welland) we
pushed on and John started to recognize the streets of his hometown. When we
arrived at Pelham Road his eyes lit up and I knew we were close.Being closer gave us both the push and drive to pick up our pace. When the "Welcome to the city of Welland" sign appeared it felt like a gift
from the heavens, we had made it! We stopped to take a photo in front of the
sign with our bikes held high (took John 2 tries to lift his up heh) and then
we were off to John’s parent’s house which was around the corner where Frank Campion (@FrankCampion1 - Councilor Ward 2 of
Welland) had set up accommodations for us.
Upon our arrival we were greeted with smiles and victory
shots that were already set up on the table. I won’t forget what Frank had said
about the shots already being poured, “I didn't know when you guys would
arrive, but I knew you wouldn't quit”. That’s what the trip was all about, not
how fast we got there but rather about pushing ourselves and not quitting on
each other/ourselves and accomplishing the goal of making it.
We made it!
The funny thing about the second half of the trip is that we
lost all motivation to stop and take pictures. At that point it simply became get
the trip done! I personally regret it because we passed some beautiful wineries
and interesting sights and I am unable to share them with you all. But what I
can share now are some tips for long bike rides that we learned from this
adventure:
Bring heavier snacks, granola bars were good,
but a sandwich or something with more fuel helps when your miles away from a
restaurant.
Don’t wear a backpack, invest in a rack and some
panniers to carry the load.
Take as many breaks as you need
Every 20-30 minutes stand up on your pedals
while riding and get your full weight off your butt
Whenever possible ride side by side to talk and
distract your mind from the pain in your body
I recommend trying to push yourself on a bike trip whether
it be 30 km or 300 km. There is a great satisfaction of making it somewhere
using only your muscles! If you have any similar adventures, please feel free
to comment below about it, I’d love to hear! And if you have any questions
about our trip ask away, I’d be happy to answer. Here is a video slideshow:
