So you haven’t found any last minute deals for your summer holiday but you still want to go on a fun and exciting vacation. Going on a wine vacation can be a great way to enjoy local vintages, chat with other wine lovers as well as vineyard owners. Not only do you get to sip and savour exquisite wines, you also get to visit historic caves and monuments and see some of the lovely countryside that surrounds you. A relaxing and fun adventure to take as a couple, with a friend or even by yourself, here are some of the best wine tours you can embark on right here in North America.
Wineries of Niagara on the Lake
Here in this nestled picturesque region you can find 22 wineries amidst a landscape of vineyards and orchards that stretch out to the Niagara River Parkway. Next to the Niagara River and adjacent to vineyards, Inniskillin offers tours which include a 20-station self-guided tour, tastings, shopping, and special events. Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery is a state-of-the-art winery with contemporary architecture. The winery offers a comprehensive wine education program that includes private guided tours and a sensory program of food healthy recipes and wine pairings in the Tasting Gallery.
Seneca Lake, NY
The Four Chimney’s Organic Winery is right on the Seneca Lake in New York is the first organic winery in North America. Featuring a pre-Civil War Victorian estate, the tasting room is in a restored dairy barn. Since 1980 they have offered such wine as 2008 Reserve White which has dry and rich buttery oak notes.
Okanagan
British Columbia has outstanding weather, lush forests and becoming a world-producer of truly great wines. You can choose from over 32 wineries in the Okanagan region, ranging from major wineries to estate operations and small, family-run farm gate concerns. There are interesting wine tours to choose from. The . Westside Wine Tour costs $79 plus tax and includes a full tour with wine tasting at Mission Hill, Quails’ Gate, Mt. Boucherie, Little Straw and Rollingdale Vineyards. If you want a wine tour that includes lunch, the Signature Wine Tour visits Sumac Ridge, Thornhaven, Dirty Laundry, Greata Ranch and Hijas Bonitas, some of the best wines to come out of the Oakanagan region!
Sonoma County
If you visit Sonoma than two places definitely worth a visit are Alderbrook Vineyards and the Fetzer Vineyards. Alderbrook Vineyards is located in the Dry Creek Valley. It is a 65 acre estate producing some of the best quality wines with decks overlooking the grapevines. Fetzer Vineyards gives you the ultimate country vineyard experience. Fetzer began in 1968 and is one of California’s white wine pioneers.
Napa Valley
Napa Valley not only offers breathtaking views but some of the world’s most exquisite wine’s too. There are many wineries to see if you are planning a trip to this region, but be sure to make a reservation first. Jarvis Winery is a highly recommended winery, famous for its classic Cabernet and Chardonnay. The cost for the tour is $30 and up and absolutely worth every penny. One reviewer claims that in over 10 years covering Napa Valley she has never had six wines poured to her “and liked every single one”. The tour also includes access to hidden rooms that display the family’s collection of giant cut amethyst geodes. Beringer (Napa Valley’s oldest continuiously operating wineries) and Robert Mondavi are also very popular however due to of the recent boom in Californian wines over the last decade, these two well-known spots have become very crowded and lack some of the personable feel you will get in other places. However, you don’t need to reserve beforehand and can feel free to can drop-in to both of these places. Signorello Estate is another vineyard worth checking out. Beautiful views and a laid-back ambiance make this a perfect place to start your tour.
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