Canadians take cool weather and create the world's best Icewine
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario - The temperature has to drop to - 8° to -12° Celsius for three days, then late at night the naturally-frozen grapes of the vineyards of Niagara are harvested by hand to produce the world-famous Icewine. Because of the freezing, the juices and flavours are highly concentrated. It can take a whole vine to produce a single bottle of the rich, sweet desert wine often referred to as liquid gold. The grapes are pressed, fermented for several weeks and then aged in barrels for several months, before being bottled and shipped all over the world. Each year during the last two weeks of January wineries and tourism industry venues along the Niagara Wine Route (such as the charming little town of Niagara-on-the-Lake - the first capital of Ontario) host the world's largest Icewine Festival. Visitors enjoy ice carvings, winter tours, roasting chestnuts, and even sipping the special sweet wine at an outdoor bar made of ice. The Niagara Wine Route links more than half of the more than 60 wineries in the Niagara region. Tour companies sometimes offer opportunities to watch the midnight harvest, and wine tasting is possible year-round at many of the local wineries. The Niagara Wine Festival, held in late September, which features more than 100 events including tours, tastings and wine seminars, draws more than a half million visitors annually.
Where: From Buffalo cross the Peace Bridge at Fort Erie and then drive north along the scenic parkway that hugs the Niagara River and passes the world-famous Falls. Winston Churchill called this 'The Prettiest Sunday Drive in the World'. The drive route stretches for 56 km (35 miles) from Fort Erie, past the Falls and to Fort George, which is just outside Niagara-on-the-Lake. It features parkland and historic sites, and a recreational trail. The Niagara Region, which is also 90-minute drive from Toronto, is known for more than 60 wineries. Many are open to the public for tours and tastings and some feature restaurants. Quick Tips: A special wine route that will help you explore the area is marked by blue road signs with white grapes on them. Consider including a visit to the Shaw Festival - the second largest repertoire theatre company in North America.
In the News: For three weeks in January (15-31, 2010) the Niagara region celebrates Ontario Icewine with chestnut roasts, ornate ice bars and winery tours and galas.
Lucy Izon
Canada Cool is produced by award-winning Canadian travel writer & speaker Lucy Izon. Her travel stories & reports have appeared in numerous leading North American publications including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, and Chicken Soup for the Traveler's Soul. Bio page
Canada’s Coolest:
Welcome to a new feature on Canada Cool. I'll be presenting different 'Coolest' lists with my favorites and I encourage you to nominate suggestions from your own experiences. You can Twitter @CanadaCool or email Lucy@CanadaCool.com. Let me know what makes your suggestion exceptionally cool. Remember, by contributing your comments you are giving Canada Cool permission to quote you. Only a selection of submissions will be included, but all comments and submissions are greatly appreciated!
The first feature is: Canada's Coolest Single Day Scenic Drives
Here are some of my favorites...
The Icefields Parkway, Jasper National Park, Alberta - This 229 km (142 mi) Rocky Mountain route from Banff/Lake Louise to Jasper passes 100 frozen rivers and nudges the base of the Athabasca Glacier - the most accessible glacier in the world. You can stop and explore it. It spills down from the Columbia Icefield, an area of ice so massive that you could fit the entire population of North America on it with each person getting at least a square metre of space.
The Corridor, Algonquin Park, Ontario – this 56-km stretch of Hwy 60 cuts through the southwest section of Algonquin Park. Less than three hours north of Toronto the park is a nature-lover's paradise with 7,725 km of lakes, rivers, forest, trails, camping, comfortable lodges and 2000 km of canoe routes. Offers hiking trails to stop and enjoy, but what makes it really cool is that it’s one of the best places in North America to spot moose (especially in May and June). And, on Thursday nights in August up to 600 cars will gather to listen to wolves howl.
The Cabot Trail, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia – Driving this 303 km (187 mile) route is like riding a roller-coaster: the road snakes around hairpin turns, rises to heights over 365 metres (1200 ft), weaves around headlands revealing spectacular coastal scenery, and plunges down to sea level taking you into the heart of small fishing communities. The most dramatic scenery is between the Cape Breton Highlands National Park entrance near Cheticamp and Pleasant Bay, so go slow. And, plan some flexibility into your schedule, so you can drive it on a clear day.
And here are some of your nominations for 'Canada's Coolest Single Day Scenic Drives'...
More from Canada’s Coolest
'Canada's Coolest' topics we'll be publishing in the future:
- Golf Course Features
- Haunted Hotels
- Hotel Special Services
Send your suggestions to lucy@CanadaCool.com
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