Wine & Herb
Maggie and I spent the afternoon in the Niagara region participating in the Wine and herb weekends in May. It was her friend's birthday and she had invited us along with several of her other common friends to participate. Being a non-drinker, I opted for the designated driver passport, which was a little cheaper, and I was able to try some juice pairings instead of the wine.
I took some notes, but not very many - but I've posted what I remembered from the tastings in the order that we traveled. (Please correct me if I made any mistakes.)
Lailey Vineyard
Food: Chicken Salad with Taragon in a Potato Bun
Drink: MADD Non Alcoholic White Wine
The drink by itself had a strange taste - it was not sweet, and it had some strong flavours - but complemented the bite sized sandwich very well.
Inniskillin Winery
Food: Confit Pork Shoulder with Potato and Bronze Fennel soup
Drink: Cranberry Cocktail
The pork was very tasty, and worked well with the soup. Had selection of drinks - but all standard retail drinks.
Riverview Cellars Estate Winery
Food: Taco Soup with Taco Chips and Cilantro
Drink: Peach and Watermelon Juice
Taco soup was good - and the juice was novel.
The Ice House Winery
Food: Arugula Conchigliette
Drink: Apple Juice
The pasta was bland, and the apple juice was overpowering. However, it was all overshadowed by the ice wine slushies that they had for sale there.
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery
Food: Lemon Thyme Tart
Drink: Unsweetened Iced Tea
The slightly bitter unsweetened tea complemented the sweet and sour lemon tart.
Chateau des Charmes
Food: Savoury Lemon Scone (Lemon Verbena)
Drink: None
Scone was okay - but lack of drink was annoying.
Colaneri Estate Winery
Food: Panini with Sundried Tomatoes, Pepper, Italian Basil and Provolone Cheese (with a bonus Homemade Cheese Pizza)
Drink: Nestea Green Tea Zero (with Lemon and Lime)
The food was good, and they offered a full can of tea, but the drink was very gross. I can't believe I drank the whole can - twice.
Coyote's Run Estate Winery
Food: Lemon Grass Pulled Pork and Mango Chutney in a soft Taco Shell
Drink: Peach Punch (little carbonation) with Slices of Peach
Meat was bland, but the peach punch was interesting, although fairly light.
Cattail Creek Estate Winery
Food: Dill Meatball
Drink: Gesundheit Baco Noir Grape Juice (Pre-fermented Wine)
Meatball was good, but did not quite complement with the drink.
Diamond Estates - The Winery
Food: Focaccia Bread and an Oregano (Bruschetta?) Topping
Drink: MADD Non Alcoholic Red Wine
Focaccia was uninspired - and did not seem to complement with the wine. Quite a contrast to Lailey - which used the white version of the wine to good effect.
Hillebrand Winery
Food: Coriander Carrot Soup (with Squash?)
Drink: Vitare Sparkling Juice
Soup was okay, but couldn't drink the juice as it was carbonated.
PondView Estate Winery
Food: Lentils with Garlic (and Pork?) in a Tortilla Corn Cup
Drink: Water
Food was okay - but water is a poor complement. But the tasting was overshadowed by the dessert ice wine in a chocolate cup.
Pillitteri Estates Winery
Food: Bergamot Cupcake with a Light Cream topping
Drink: Earl Grey Tea
Cupcake was good and mild, but the tea was steeped too long and was too strong.
Reif Estate Winery
Food: Cheese and Herb de Provence Tart
Drink: Vitare Sparkling Juice
Quiche was okay, but couldn't drink the juice as it was carbonated.
I took some notes, but not very many - but I've posted what I remembered from the tastings in the order that we traveled. (Please correct me if I made any mistakes.)
Lailey Vineyard
Food: Chicken Salad with Taragon in a Potato Bun
Drink: MADD Non Alcoholic White Wine
The drink by itself had a strange taste - it was not sweet, and it had some strong flavours - but complemented the bite sized sandwich very well.
 |
| The designated drivers before the wine tasting at Lailey. This is probably why we were not allowed to drink. |
Inniskillin Winery
Food: Confit Pork Shoulder with Potato and Bronze Fennel soup
Drink: Cranberry Cocktail
The pork was very tasty, and worked well with the soup. Had selection of drinks - but all standard retail drinks.
 |
| Maggie and I at Inniskillin. |
 |
| Cheers from Inniskillin! |
Riverview Cellars Estate Winery
Food: Taco Soup with Taco Chips and Cilantro
Drink: Peach and Watermelon Juice
Taco soup was good - and the juice was novel.
 |
| Showing off the interesting peach and watermelon juice at Riverview. |
The Ice House Winery
Food: Arugula Conchigliette
Drink: Apple Juice
The pasta was bland, and the apple juice was overpowering. However, it was all overshadowed by the ice wine slushies that they had for sale there.
 |
| Standing in front of the Ice House.. house? |
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery
Food: Lemon Thyme Tart
Drink: Unsweetened Iced Tea
The slightly bitter unsweetened tea complemented the sweet and sour lemon tart.
 |
| A glass of unsweetened iced tea and the lemon tart at Ravine. |
Chateau des Charmes
Food: Savoury Lemon Scone (Lemon Verbena)
Drink: None
Scone was okay - but lack of drink was annoying.
 |
| Approaching Chateau des Charmes. |
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| The lemon scones and wine samples at Chateau des Charmes. |
Colaneri Estate Winery
Food: Panini with Sundried Tomatoes, Pepper, Italian Basil and Provolone Cheese (with a bonus Homemade Cheese Pizza)
Drink: Nestea Green Tea Zero (with Lemon and Lime)
The food was good, and they offered a full can of tea, but the drink was very gross. I can't believe I drank the whole can - twice.
 |
| Approaching Colaneri - it still is not finished yet, but still looks really good! |
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| The panini, and a mostly eaten slice of pizza next to the rather disgusting iced tea. |
Coyote's Run Estate Winery
Food: Lemon Grass Pulled Pork and Mango Chutney in a soft Taco Shell
Drink: Peach Punch (little carbonation) with Slices of Peach
Meat was bland, but the peach punch was interesting, although fairly light.
 |
| The tortilla wrap and the peach punch at Coyote's Run. |
Cattail Creek Estate Winery
Food: Dill Meatball
Drink: Gesundheit Baco Noir Grape Juice (Pre-fermented Wine)
Meatball was good, but did not quite complement with the drink.
 |
| Trying some Gesundheit at Cattail Creek. |
Diamond Estates - The Winery
Food: Focaccia Bread and an Oregano (Bruschetta?) Topping
Drink: MADD Non Alcoholic Red Wine
Focaccia was uninspired - and did not seem to complement with the wine. Quite a contrast to Lailey - which used the white version of the wine to good effect.
Hillebrand Winery
Food: Coriander Carrot Soup (with Squash?)
Drink: Vitare Sparkling Juice
Soup was okay, but couldn't drink the juice as it was carbonated.
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| The soup and sparkling juice at Hillebrand. |
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| Maggie, showing off the bottle of the sparkling juice. |
PondView Estate Winery
Food: Lentils with Garlic (and Pork?) in a Tortilla Corn Cup
Drink: Water
Food was okay - but water is a poor complement. But the tasting was overshadowed by the dessert ice wine in a chocolate cup.
 |
| Oscar showing us that tiny chocolate cup (post ice wine consumption) at PondView. |
Pillitteri Estates Winery
Food: Bergamot Cupcake with a Light Cream topping
Drink: Earl Grey Tea
Cupcake was good and mild, but the tea was steeped too long and was too strong.
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| The cupcake tray at Pillitteri. |
Reif Estate Winery
Food: Cheese and Herb de Provence Tart
Quiche was okay, but couldn't drink the juice as it was carbonated.
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