GIRLFRIENDS GETAWAY in NIAGARA'S WINE REGIONNiagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada
A girlfriends getaway in the vineyards of Niagara-on-the-Lake tops the list as one of my fave girls weekend ideas. Perhaps this is a celebration - a birthday that represents a coming-of-age, or a ringing in of the next decade. Perhaps the day has finally come to kick a bad year and the bad boyfriend out the door.
Or, if you’re lucky, you and the girlfriends have figured out the value of a regular day of downtime, and a fun shared experience is now in order.Whether you’re sharing a happy milestone with the ladies, or celebrating the new and autonomous you, a girlfriends getaway in Niagara’s wine region has all the necessary elements - sumptuous feasts, decadent desserts and so-sweet sparkling Icewine. Enjoy all this luxury on a 10 am tour and you know this will rank as one of your best girlfriend vacations. Plan your trip your way. Enjoy a spontaneous event with the help of your GPS and a designated driver, have the scheduling taken care of for you on one of the many San Francisco style trolley tours, or rent a touring bike and hit the open road! Chocolate, ice-cream, and Icewine will give you that energy boost you need to get to the next stop. Or, throwing excuses to the wind, you and your girlfriends will agree that you’re just enjoying a rare day of guilt-free indulgence as you peddle off the pounds. Spontaneous, scheduled, or sporty - one way or the other, you and the girlfriends are now poised for a day of fun in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Here are a few wonderful wineries and tours that are just made for you and a few best friends to share. Chicks& Chocolate - Peller Estates Winery Peller Estates has their own unique version of “Wine country math”: Chocolate + Wine = Quite possibly the world's perfect pairing Who can argue that? I don’t think I’m being swayed by my gender or my sweet tooth. I just think it makes perfect sense. Your tour begins beneath the blazing summer sun. North-south vines converge row-on-row. Tiny buzzing vineyard dwellers flit tirelessly. Hot sun, vine orientation, the essential pollinators - all these are central elements to vineyards and grape development as explained by a fantastic guide full of a vintners knowledge and love for the precious fruit. Now descend to the barrel cellar and tasting room. Lights are dimmed and the air is cool. Here, row-on-row of vines is mirrored by row-on-row of stacked barrels. This is where the real magic happens! You'll savor four delectable glasses paired with four delicious chocolates. Our guide shares the qualities that make for a good pairing, and we all enjoy absorbing new-found knowledge on two of our favorite gastronomic pleasures. Try the deliciously pink and bubbly Ice Cuvée Rosé paired with a rich creamy chocolate and that “Wine country math” will make perfect sense to you too! See more Peller Estates' Winery tours: http://www.peller.com/ Add a Little Ice - Chateau des Charmes A truly heavenly experience awaits you at the grand French style Chateau des Charmes. A dream of a French Chateau patio makes this the perfect location to settle in with the girls and channel French ladies of the court. White wrought-iron tables and chairs-for-two dot flagstone, a backdrop of vines stretches to lush forest, and lovingly tended roses meander in bright colors. The softest breeze perfumes fresh vineyard air with rose and hints of lavender. The affable and smiling Victoria will deliver a most heavenly pairing. The “Add a Little Ice” experience at Chateau des Charmes is a very simple dessert - a goblet of local fresh-churned vanilla ice-cream and a glass of honey-smooth Vidal ice-wine. Victoria’s instructions are simple and to the point -“Pour the icewine over your ice-cream - you will love it!” This simplest of desserts is sure to become a regular at future girlfriend getaways. Be warned though, this dessert is so delectable that “Wine country math” may require a revision to include ice-cream in the equation! Visit Chateau des Charmes online http://www.fromtheboscfamily.com/chateau-des-charmes Icewine Slushies - The Ice House Winery Karen King of The Ice House Winery demonstrates the making of Icewine Slushies on Steven Sabados’ and Chris Heindemans CBC daytime program ‘Steven and Chris’. This ‘pairing’ of delectable icewine with plain old ice is a stroke of genius which barely needs an explanation. Give yourself a couple more hours in the blazing sun, peddling past vineyards and conquering yet another mountainous incline. Now you and the girlfriends will have no trouble conjuring up mouthwatering images of these brain-freezing frozen delights. And if you’ve been progressing through my list of recommendations, by now you’ll be enjoying dessert number three. You’ll probably appreciate a lighter option that offers both sweet and thirst-quenching in one delicious taste. Plan your visit to The Ice House: http://www.theicehouse.ca/ View Karen King making Icewine Slushies: http://www.theicehouse.ca/karen-goes-prime-time-on-cbc-steven-and-chris-show/2-karen-king-boysr/ Time-out for lunch - The Shaw Cafe A careful reader will notice that dessert came before lunch on today’s wine country tour. That’s no mistake, and if you’re on a trip with the girlfriends, this will probably seem like the natural order of things. I’m a big supporter of dessert first - lunch if there’s space! The Shaw Cafe & Wine Bar in Niagara-on-the-Lake is a not to be missed experience though. Famous for its esthetics - the patio is literally overflowing with flowers - this is a great spot for lunch and an afternoon of girl-talk and people-watching. The menu is inspired by Niagara's abundant produce but also includes my favourites for sharing - a cheese plate with poached pear compote and sweet onion marmalade and Charcuterie with locally cured proscuitto and baguette. Shaw Cafe's manager makes this the perfect stop on your wine-country tour. Jill Harper has compiled a wine menu that includes a selection of 23 Niagara wines by the glass, 4 'wine flights and the Cafe's famous Niagara Sangria. Known as the 'Niagara Sommelier' Jill promises 'our local knowledge and fun atmosphere come with every glass we serve!' Visit The Shaw Cafe and Wine Bar on-line: http://www.shawcafe.ca/about.htmlhttp://www.shawcafe.ca/about.html Now lets revisit your transportation plans - and be warned, I’ve saved the best ‘til last. Book a helicopter and touch down in style! This is definitely the way to arrive if you want to get noticed. Or, as David at Peller Estates told me, this is also the way to arrive if you just happen to own three helicopters of your own. This is exactly what 2012 Forbes 68th richest man in the world, Roman Abramovich did for lunch at Peller Estates. Now that the lineup is set and a day in Niagara-on-the-Lake looks oh so enticing, lets agree that celebration or milestone, or just plain fun, this level of decadence just doesn’t require an excuse. Just text a few of the your best girlfriends and look forward to a unique experience and a day of delicious indulgence. |
TRAVEL DIY Peller Estates Winery Email | Website | TripAdvisor 290 John St E, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, Canada, L0S 1J0 1.888.673.5537 Trius Winery at Hillebrand Email | Website | TripAdvisor 1249 Niagara Stone Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, Canada, L0S 1J0 1.800.582.8412 Coleneri Estate Winery Email | Website | TripAdvisor 348 Concession 6 Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, Canada, L0S 1J0 905.682.2100 Chateau des Charmes Winery Email | Website | TripAdvisor 1025 York Rd, St Davis, ON, Canada, L0S 1J0 905.262.4219 WHERE TO STAY Riverbend Inn and Vineyard Email | Website | TripAdvisor 16104 Niagara Pkwy, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0 905.468.8866 Starting at $216 per night Sunset views over the vineyard are the perfect end to a romantic getaway! WHERE TO EAT Shaw Cafe and Wine Bar Email | Website | TripAdvisor 92 Queen St, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0905.468.4772 Main courses start at $16.95 Visit Shaw Cafe in the springtime - the balconies are literally overflowing with flowers. |
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