Where has summer taken you for wine tasting this season? Whether it is local, afar, your cottage deck, kitchen or dining room table at home, tell me what you are drinking! I love to goLOCAL in the Niagara Peninsula wine region. With over 80 wineries, plus distillers and microbreweries around the area, there are many great beverages to choose from and experiences to be had.
Here are just a few places you might plan to visit next time you head out to Niagara:
Their Wine Lodge is a great stop during any season, but particularly nice during the warmer months sitting in one of the Muskoka chairs on their deck enjoying a glass of wine with a beautiful vineyard view and Lake Ontario in the distance. One of my recent favourites is their 2011 Estate Bottled Pinot Gris, a deliciously aromatic and versatile white wine.
I have always enjoyed their wine, and the deck open during the summer. It is a relaxing spot to enjoy a glass of wine or have lunch made with local ingredients in the midst of their open concept kitchen creekside. I quite enjoy Laura’s Red from vintage to vintage, the current offering has been produced with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and Shiraz (Syrah) grapes.
Plan to visit the Sipping Room and you will experience the grain, fruit, water, and people behind the spirits they handcraft: Rye, Canadian Rye Whisky, Vodka, Gin, and Bitters. The Vodka Method 95 is smooth, distilled from local Niagara wine grapes: Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, and their Bitters are fantastic! I took home a Bitter Cranberry from my last visit, described as “cranberry with anise and a touch of white pepper.” Find the fresh drink recipe Method 95 & Cran on their website.
So there you have it: Summer, Wine Tasting, Drinks