Last weekend Matt and I, along with both sets of parents, went to Niagara from Saturday to Sunday. The parents went up early and enjoyed walking around Niagara on the Lake and lunch. Matt and I headed up there later. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Niagara on the Lake which was lovely and simple and a good price for one night. We had booked a wine tour and dinner with Niagara Getaways a few weeks before. Our driver was Nancy, who was nice, but the main tour guide (who we met up with at the various locations, we had a private car for the 6 of us), Gary, was incredible! So full of Niagara wine facts and information - it was wonderful. He told us that the couple that started and own Niagara Getaways are married and are named Kathleen and Matt as well - such coincidence!
We did two more tours than the main group in the beginning. We started at Konzelmann, and had a great bartender who told us all about tasting wine. Although we have each been on wine tours before, it's nice to learn new things from new people about drinking wine. They had some nice wine, although I did not enjoy the peach wine they made.
Our second stop was Palantine Hills Estate, which was simple but had great wine. Our bartender did a competition for tasting an unknown wine and I won! I guessed the 2007 Chardonnay from a list of about six! As a prize, I got to taste their Cab-Sauv ice wine (which sells for $100!), which was absolutely delicious!
Our third stop was Jackson-Triggs, where we met up with the larger group. We did a tour in the vineyard itself, and got to taste some of the very sweet grapes that were still on the vine for last harvest and ice wine. The regular wine grapes have mostly been picked already. 2010 is shaping up to be a great wine season because it was hot and dry, with just the right amount of rain. I'm excited to try some of these wines next year. We also got to tour the fermenting area and all the equipment, and the barrel cellar. The dinner they had down there for another tour smelled delicious - I would love to eat down there another time! We had a great tasting once again, and by this time, we were all feeling good! We bought some Gwerztraminer ice wine there.
Our fourth stop was Hillebrand, where Matt and I have been before. They have a great red wine, simply called "Red" which is a Bordeaux blend of three grapes. They also have a good simply called, yep, you guessed it, "White" which is a blend of five grapes. Matt got a few bottles of those!
Our last stop was at Peller Estate, which Matt and I have been to as well. We did another tasting, and we got to sample their great sparkling wine, and were definitely ready for dinner by then!
Dinner was in Niagara on the Lake at a place called The Epicurean, where we had a few choices on the menu. Matt and I both had lamb, and we shared a salad and creme brulee to start and finish. All in all it was a really nice way to say thank you to our parents for helping us with the wedding, and to just be together with the two families.
Sunday we had brunch at one of the hotels called Pillar and Post, and we walked around Niagara on the Lake. A very nice little town. Lots of expensive shops and galleries, plus bakeries and hotels. The weather was warm and sunny all weekend so it was perfect!
Here are some pictures of our weekend together:
We did two more tours than the main group in the beginning. We started at Konzelmann, and had a great bartender who told us all about tasting wine. Although we have each been on wine tours before, it's nice to learn new things from new people about drinking wine. They had some nice wine, although I did not enjoy the peach wine they made.
Our second stop was Palantine Hills Estate, which was simple but had great wine. Our bartender did a competition for tasting an unknown wine and I won! I guessed the 2007 Chardonnay from a list of about six! As a prize, I got to taste their Cab-Sauv ice wine (which sells for $100!), which was absolutely delicious!
Our third stop was Jackson-Triggs, where we met up with the larger group. We did a tour in the vineyard itself, and got to taste some of the very sweet grapes that were still on the vine for last harvest and ice wine. The regular wine grapes have mostly been picked already. 2010 is shaping up to be a great wine season because it was hot and dry, with just the right amount of rain. I'm excited to try some of these wines next year. We also got to tour the fermenting area and all the equipment, and the barrel cellar. The dinner they had down there for another tour smelled delicious - I would love to eat down there another time! We had a great tasting once again, and by this time, we were all feeling good! We bought some Gwerztraminer ice wine there.
Our fourth stop was Hillebrand, where Matt and I have been before. They have a great red wine, simply called "Red" which is a Bordeaux blend of three grapes. They also have a good simply called, yep, you guessed it, "White" which is a blend of five grapes. Matt got a few bottles of those!
Our last stop was at Peller Estate, which Matt and I have been to as well. We did another tasting, and we got to sample their great sparkling wine, and were definitely ready for dinner by then!
Dinner was in Niagara on the Lake at a place called The Epicurean, where we had a few choices on the menu. Matt and I both had lamb, and we shared a salad and creme brulee to start and finish. All in all it was a really nice way to say thank you to our parents for helping us with the wedding, and to just be together with the two families.
Sunday we had brunch at one of the hotels called Pillar and Post, and we walked around Niagara on the Lake. A very nice little town. Lots of expensive shops and galleries, plus bakeries and hotels. The weather was warm and sunny all weekend so it was perfect!
Here are some pictures of our weekend together: