The second (of two) annual wine tasting ride for 2012.
Two weeks after the first wine tasting ride of the fall, this time we'll stick to the north shore and hit the wineries along two or three roads. As before, I'm suggesting we plan on going on the Saturday (they are open later) but keep the Sunday as a rain date just in case... And here's what I proposed for this second ride:
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE DOWNTOWN
We'll group up at the same exit for Kittling Ridge except we won't go to the winery this time: we'll meet in the parking lot of the Tourist Info centre where everyone can fuel up, get a winery map, get their Tim Horton's fix done, and be ready to ride on. The group will meet there and spend no more than 30min shaking hands or exchanging hugs or whatever. For those that come on their own, take the Casablanca exit off the QEW, turn right off the ramp, and make a right at the first intersection and pull into the parking lot. Please be there and ready to leave by 10:30am.
From here we'll get back onto the QEW and exit at #44 (Niagara Street) where we'll stop at ±10 wineries. In order, they will be:
• Stonechurch Vineyards: soft aromatic white wines
• Palatine Hills Estate: 10yr old winery with expensive "reserve" wine selection
• Hinterbrook Estate: older-style dry whites, very small reds selection
• Konzelmann Estate: award-winning 30yr old winery with select whites and reds
• Strewn Estate: super selection of blends and robust reds, flavourful whites, and ice wines
• Sunnybrook Farms: wide variety of fruit and berry wines
STOP FOR LUNCH OR SNACKS: there are a few sandwich places around, and also Strewn has a restaurant
• Stratus winery: new and innovative winery; questionable wine selection
• Vignoble Rancourt Estate: old-school French estate wines, select blends
• Pilliteri Estates: very small selection of expensive single-grape wines
• Joseph's Estate: interesting selection of very aromatic reds, whites, and ice wines
At least 3 of these wineries are very big and therefore will be swamped with buses of tourists - so we could very likely skip over them to hit something else. If that's the case, and we find ourselves with time on our hands, we could either return to them or alter the course and hit Lailey Winery; Cattail Creek; Southbrook Vineyards. Wineries generally close by 6pm, but being in the most touristy area of the Niagara region, they may stay open later on Saturdays. We'll have to see once we get there.
We're leaving the Toronto area around 8:30am, and we'll likely return after 8pm. This is a full day ride, so dress appropriately. This ride is open to all MATURE RIDERS who are comfortable with highway riding and group riding etiquette. One other thing to note: as these wineries are big and established, expect that they will all charge LOTS for their samples so bring a pocket full of change and small bills ($5s and $10s). Their wines will also be more expensive than the usual batches we've seen so far - but on the flip side, their wines are available at the LCBO so you won't have to worry as much about luggage space and bringing them back: you could just jot down opinions and ratings on a piece of paper and then buy the wine back in town at your leisure.
MEETING SPOTS:
Downtown riders: please be at the Shell gas station (west side of Spadina south of King Street) ready to leave by 8:15am.
West End (Mississauga): please be at the Esso gas station (west side of Erin Mills @ Leanne) ready to leave by 9:00am.
Group meet: please be ready to leave the Information Centre no later than 10:30am.
Remember that, as will all my wine tasting rides in the past, DRINKING AND RIDING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!!
Two weeks after the first wine tasting ride of the fall, this time we'll stick to the north shore and hit the wineries along two or three roads. As before, I'm suggesting we plan on going on the Saturday (they are open later) but keep the Sunday as a rain date just in case... And here's what I proposed for this second ride:
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE DOWNTOWN
We'll group up at the same exit for Kittling Ridge except we won't go to the winery this time: we'll meet in the parking lot of the Tourist Info centre where everyone can fuel up, get a winery map, get their Tim Horton's fix done, and be ready to ride on. The group will meet there and spend no more than 30min shaking hands or exchanging hugs or whatever. For those that come on their own, take the Casablanca exit off the QEW, turn right off the ramp, and make a right at the first intersection and pull into the parking lot. Please be there and ready to leave by 10:30am.
From here we'll get back onto the QEW and exit at #44 (Niagara Street) where we'll stop at ±10 wineries. In order, they will be:
• Stonechurch Vineyards: soft aromatic white wines
• Palatine Hills Estate: 10yr old winery with expensive "reserve" wine selection
• Hinterbrook Estate: older-style dry whites, very small reds selection
• Konzelmann Estate: award-winning 30yr old winery with select whites and reds
• Strewn Estate: super selection of blends and robust reds, flavourful whites, and ice wines
• Sunnybrook Farms: wide variety of fruit and berry wines
STOP FOR LUNCH OR SNACKS: there are a few sandwich places around, and also Strewn has a restaurant
• Stratus winery: new and innovative winery; questionable wine selection
• Vignoble Rancourt Estate: old-school French estate wines, select blends
• Pilliteri Estates: very small selection of expensive single-grape wines
• Joseph's Estate: interesting selection of very aromatic reds, whites, and ice wines
At least 3 of these wineries are very big and therefore will be swamped with buses of tourists - so we could very likely skip over them to hit something else. If that's the case, and we find ourselves with time on our hands, we could either return to them or alter the course and hit Lailey Winery; Cattail Creek; Southbrook Vineyards. Wineries generally close by 6pm, but being in the most touristy area of the Niagara region, they may stay open later on Saturdays. We'll have to see once we get there.
We're leaving the Toronto area around 8:30am, and we'll likely return after 8pm. This is a full day ride, so dress appropriately. This ride is open to all MATURE RIDERS who are comfortable with highway riding and group riding etiquette. One other thing to note: as these wineries are big and established, expect that they will all charge LOTS for their samples so bring a pocket full of change and small bills ($5s and $10s). Their wines will also be more expensive than the usual batches we've seen so far - but on the flip side, their wines are available at the LCBO so you won't have to worry as much about luggage space and bringing them back: you could just jot down opinions and ratings on a piece of paper and then buy the wine back in town at your leisure.
MEETING SPOTS:
Downtown riders: please be at the Shell gas station (west side of Spadina south of King Street) ready to leave by 8:15am.
West End (Mississauga): please be at the Esso gas station (west side of Erin Mills @ Leanne) ready to leave by 9:00am.
Group meet: please be ready to leave the Information Centre no later than 10:30am.
Remember that, as will all my wine tasting rides in the past, DRINKING AND RIDING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!!
