Jul 7

Written by: chris
7/7/2011 

So close, yet so under-appreciated: Wine Country Ontario! There are four regions to choose from: Niagara Escarpment and Twenty Valley; Niagara-on-the-Lake; Lake Erie North Shore and Pelee Island; and Prince Edward County. With over 120 wineries in Ontario to choose from, there’s so much to see and do. We chose to broadcast the Travel Shows in the first of those regions, from Fielding Estate Winery. It’s located on Beamsville Bench - a narrow strip of land located along the edge of the Niagara Escarpment. With typically friendly hospitality, we broadcasted the shows in the sunshine from a balcony overlooking the vines with Lake Ontario in the distance and a glass of sparkling Riesling in hand…

Fielding Estates

Fielding Estate Winery was named among Canada’s Top 10 Wineries at the 2009 Canadian Wine Awards and has tastings and tours for visitors. With Curtis Fielding, the genial owner of the vineyard, I got the inside track on how their wines are made, including the cellar, the tanks…and of course some tasting with Curtis and Len Pennachetti, President of Cave Spring Cellars and one of my guests on the shows.

Cave Springs Cellars

This winery is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2011 and it’s one of the most successful vineyards in Ontario. Its presence in the charming village of Jordan is all-embracing. I tasted some of their renowned Riesling in their village showcase, feasted on wonderful food and wine pairings at the Inn On The Twenty restaurant and then rested my weary but happy head at the Inn itself in a comfy suite.

Peninsula Ridge

Peninsula Ridge is one of the closest wineries to Toronto and yet, like so much of Wine Country, it seems a million miles away from the downtown bustle. Picturesque vineyards sweep up a hill to a Victorian farmhouse that is home to an excellent restaurant where we ate in the summer breezes wafting up through the vines from Lake Ontario. The tasting session was fun too, with my favourite being their 2009 Vintner’s Private Reserve Sauvignon Blanc.

So much good wine, such little time…And it’s all right in our own backyard – so close to home. Come to Wine Country Ontario for an afternoon – or a few days. Visit any time of year and start planning your next trip by visiting www.winesofontario.org.