BY MONICA KOSIOR
Winter is officially here and by the looks of our outdoor conditions it is here to stay! I love this time of the year because it means family dinners, holiday parties and lots of wine. And eventually when we all reach the point of “enough family time” we start to look for something fun and exciting to do, outside of the house.
Look no further my friends, Niagara is THE destination. Both the Twenty Valley and Niagara-on-the-Lake are jam packed with winter events guaranteed to put a little sizzle in your winter. You name it they have it — go inside, go outside, spend a day or a whole weekend enjoying these Canadian crafted experiences. If you are looking to gift your friends and family with some holiday cheer — these are some great local ideas.
Note: This is the first report from new Wines In Niagara writer Monica Kosior, who will be covering events for the website and will have quarterly reports on what’s happening in Niagara Wine Country. To learn more about Monica, go here to our About page.
Niagara Winter Wine Events
Niagara Icewine Festival
Xerox Icewine Gala: Sugar & Spice … Everything Ice
The 22nd annual Icewine Gala is the kick off to the Niagara Icewine Festival. Leave your Canadian tuxedos at home and dress your best for this all-inclusive event. Over 100 VQA Icewine, late harvest, sparkling, red and white wines will be available to taste and sample. Along with culinary creations made by the Fallsview Casino Resort Chefs, this gala is sure to exceed your wine and dine definitions.
Date: Friday Jan. 13 at 7 to 10 p.m.
Location: Fallsview Casino Resort, Grand Hall Niagara Falls
Cost: $185 per person (plus taxes) purchase online
Discovery Pass Program
Now, if you do want to wear your Canadian tuxedo, the Discovery Pass Program will allow it. The weekend event is self-guided and valid for all the dates listed below. You simply purchase your Discovery Pass (8 vouchers included), present the vouchers at a participating winery and sample their selected Icewine/table wine and cuisine. Wineries are pulling out all the stops, their pairings will make anyone fall more in love with this Canadian delicacy.
Dates: Jan. 13-15, Jan. 20-22, Jan. 27-29, 2017
Location: Participating wineries available here
Cost: $40 (plus taxes) Discovery Pass or $30 (plus taxes) Driver’s Discovery Pass available online
Sparkle and Ice Diamond Gala
Enjoy an evening filled with Icewine inspired cuisine and VQA wines to match. Live music and Icewine cocktails are available upon entering the Grand Hall at the Historic Court House. You could even win a 21st Anniversary Celebration Diamond!
Date: Friday Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Location: Grand Hall, Historic Niagara District Court House, 26 Queen St, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0
Cost: $95 per person (plus taxes) purchase online
Niagara-on-the-Lake Icewine Village
Bundle up and head downtown NOTL to sip, eat and shop! 26 Niagara wineries will be pouring their own Icewines for attendees to sample. Along with the Signature Kitchen Chefs this outdoor event won’t leave you hungry or thirsty.
Dates: Saturday Jan. 21 at 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday Jan. 22 at 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Outdoors in the Icewine Village, Heritage District, Queen Street NOTL
Cost: Free admission into the Icewine Village — sample tickets purchased in person for food/wine samples
Flash & Panache: Icewine Cocktail Competition
How often can you say you’ve ordered a drink from a 30-foot bar made of ice? The Icewine Village downtown NOTL will dim the lights but turn up the excitement as the unique Icewine cocktails are made. Admission into the Village is free and samples of the wine/food can be purchased with tokens.
Date: Saturday Jan. 21 at 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Location: Outdoors in the Icewine Village, Heritage District, Queen Street NOTL
Cost: Free admission into the Icewine Village — sample tickets purchased in person for food/wine samples
White On Ice Dinner
Dance under the stars and dine in a heated tent on Queen Street in the Historic District of NOTL. Signature Kitchen Chefs will be cooking and VQA wines will be poured for this outdoor dining experience.
Date: Friday Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Location: Heated Tent on Queen Street, NOTL
Cost: $100 per person (plus taxes) purchase tickets online
Niagara Escarpment/Twenty Valley
Winter Wine Events
Fireside Fridays
What is cosier than enjoying a glass of local wine and local food in front of a wood burning fireplace? Westcott Vineyards is inviting guests to join them at their harvest tables to enjoy Zooma Caters seasonal menu paired with their wine by the glass. Spots are limited (30 per sitting) make sure to purchase your ticket ahead of time or chance having a spot available the night of!
Dates: Every Friday until Dec, 23 at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. (two sittings)
Location: Westcott Vineyards, 3180 Seventeenth St. Jordan, ON L0R 1S0
Cost: $25 per person (plus taxes and all beverages) purchase online or at the door with Victoria
You Were Born To Sparkle
If there is one thing on my Christmas wish list, it’s Ontario sparkling wine. Creekside Estate Winery is looking to add a little more sparkle and cheer into your holidays. They are serving an original cocktail, a blend of their 2013 Shiraz Icewine and 2013 Backyard Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc paired with SPK Christmas Crack.
Dates: Saturday Dec. 17 and Sunday Dec. 18 at 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Creekside Estate Winery, 2170 Fourth Avenue, Jordan Ontario L0R1S0
Cost: $7 per person (Complimentary for Creek Freeks) purchase in person
Festive Fondue in the Cellar With André
Cheese, meat and vegetable fondue. Enough said. This seasonal seminar includes fondue with samples of their Reserve Wines. Join André Derrick and the Vineland team for a Saturday afternoon.
Date: Saturday Dec. 17 at 1 to 3 p.m.
Location: Vineland Estates, 3620 Moyer Rd, Vineland, ON L0R 2C0
Cost: $60 per person ($50 for wine club members) book with André via: aderrick@vineland.com
New Year’s Ease
Celebrate 2017 with good food, good wine and good company. The Good Earth will hands down knock your Santa Claus and candy cane socks off. Therese De Grace (Executive Chef) will be preparing a 5-course set menu for guests to enjoy while saying goodbye to 2016.
Date: Saturday Dec. 31 at 5 p.m. or 8 p.m. (two sittings)
Location: The Good Earth Food and Wine Co., 4556 Lincoln Ave, ON L0R 1B3
Cost: $75 per person (plus gratuity, taxes and all beverages) reservations via 905.563.6333 spots are limited!
Soup’s On!
A bowl of hot homemade soup always warms me up on a chilly weekend. Greenlane Winery is serving up homemade soup paired with an estate wine every weekend in January and February. The pairings will change throughout the two months, keep an eye out on their social media for the most up to date menu.
Dates: Every Saturday and Sunday in January and February
Location: Greenlane Winery, 3751 King Street, Vineland, Ontario L0R 2C0
Cost: $9.95 per person (plus taxes) reservations are not required but are recommended via: info@greenlanewinery.com
Twenty Valley Winter Winefest
Check out this annual outdoor wine festival on Main Street in Jordan Village. Admission into the Wine & Culinary Village is free all weekend. Over 20 local vendors will be sampling food, wine, ales and cocktails (sample tokens are available online or in person). Choose from Friday night’s Ultimate After Party to Sunday’s Icewine Brunch with Chef David Rocco — the entire weekend is packed with plenty of options in varying price ranges.
Dates: Friday Jan. 13 to Sunday Jan. 15
Location: Jordan Village, ON
Cost: Varying Prices — purchase online
Niagara-on-the-Lake Winter Wine Events
New Year’s Eve Dinner and After Party
Ring in the New Year with Peller Estates. This black tie optional event includes a canapé reception, 5-course tasting menu created by Chef Jason Parsons, wine pairings for each course and roasted estate made Icewine marshmallows over the fire. Countdown to 2017 with your friends or family and Peller.
Date: Saturday Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Location: Peller Estates Winery, 290 John Street East, NOTL
Cost: $195.00 per person (plus gratuity and taxes) purchase online.
Upcoming Winter Wine Events
Cuveé 2017
March 24, 2017
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