Page 49 - Travel Guide to Canada 2019
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around 175 ha (432 acres) are under vine operation in Turner Valley, produces its ends in January, there are gala dinners,
producing grapes for over 32 wineries spirits—including the province’s fi rst icewine tasting menus, fi reside samplings
(www.vancouverisland.travel/listings/ single malt whisky—from local Alberta and lots of icewine poured at the outdoor
sip-savour ). The Gulf Islands nestled in the grain (www.eauclairedistillery.ca ). street festivals in the towns of Niagara-on-
Georgia Strait, which separates Vancouver the-Lake and Jordan Village (www.niagara
Island from the mainland, are home to an ONTARIO winefestival. com/events).
additional 12 wineries. Vancouver Island A CENTRE OF WINE Prince Edward County, Ontario’s newest
Expeditions off ers local food and drink FESTIVALS AND ICEWINE wine appellation, has been touted as one of
tours such as the Comox Valley Craft Ontario is the largest wine grape producing Canada’s top tourist destinations. The area’s
Brewery Tour (www.vancouverisland province in Canada, with over 7,300 ha allure in the past had been its giant sand
expeditions.com). (18,000 acres) of vines. The Niagara Peninsula dunes, quaint towns and nature trails. Now
Started in 2014, the BC Distilled festi- is the largest Canadian wine appellation— it has grown into an important wine region
val is the largest spirits event in Canada, with ten additional sub-appellations— with some 45 wineries; some, such as Huff
exclusively for local distilleries (www. encompassing more than 100 wineries. Estate, with excellent accommodation and
bcdistilled.ca ). For brews there are the The wine route starts less than an hour dining (www.princeedwardcountywine.ca ).
BC Ale Trails (www.bcaletrail.ca ) with over from downtown Toronto (www.wine A visit to Essex Pelee Island Coast
100 craft breweries. countryontario.ca). In Niagara-on-the-Lake (EPIC) Wine Country could mean meander-
a Winemakers’ Selections Tasting Pass ing along the shoreline to sample the wares
THE PRAIRIES allows purchasers to enjoy a local wine at of a dozen or so wineries, lunch or dinner
CRAFTY TIPPLES some two dozen wineries around town at a winery and an overnight stay in a
While the Prairies are not known for their (www.wineriesofniagaraonthelake.com). unique B&B (www.epicwineries.com ). Take
wines—the climate just isn’t suitable—the The annual Niagara Grape and Wine a Wine Trail Ride for both exercise and cool
craft brewery business is booming and Festival takes place over three weekends at sipping (www.windsoreats.com/places/
spirits are on the rise. wineries and other locations throughout wine-trail-ride ).
Winnipeg Tasting Tours takes customers Niagara. The fall harvest celebration is
to the city’s best microbreweries—including packed with live entertainment, culinary QUÉBEC
Little Brown Jug, Half Pints Brewing, One and wine seminars, parades and, of course, SUPER COOL WINES
Great City Brewing Co., Trans Canada Brewing Niagara wines at favourite local restaurants. AND CIDERS
and Torque Brewing (www.winnipegtasting The wineries get into the groove by off ering Visitors can plan their own tours on the
tours.ca). wine and culinary pairings (www.niagara website choosing from fi ve distinct wine
Capital K Distillery, Manitoba’s fi rst craft winefestival.com). growing regions: Eastern Townships,
distillery, started with Tall Grass Vodka and Icewine, made from frozen-on-the-vine Montérégie, Ouest-du-Québec, Centre-
has since added Tall Grass Gin, Tall Grass grapes, is an iconic Canadian wine often du-Québec and Est-du-Québec (www.
Espresso Vodka, Tall Grass Dill Pickle Vodka touted as Canada’s greatest liquid luxury. vinsduquebec.com/en/route-des-vins).
and others to its lineup (www.capitalk Niagara’s Icewine Festival off ers wine Located 45 minutes east of Montréal,
distillery.com). lovers, cocktail fans and foodies fabulous The Brome-Missisquoi Wine Route links
Saskatoon in Saskatchewan has two winter experiences. Held over three week- wineries along four suggested signposted
great distilleries. Black Fox Distillery makes
truly fabulous gins, vodkas and liqueurs
ANNAPOLIS VALLEY, NS • SHUTTERSTOCK/TETYANA DOTSENKO
made largely from local grains, fruits and
botanicals. Their oaked gin won the world’s
best cask gin at the 2017 World Gin Awards
(www.blackfoxfarmanddistillery.com ).
Lucky Bastard Distillers makes whisky
in very small batches—often single barrels
yielding only about 300 bottles of whisky—
from local ingredients along with some
unusual fl avoured vodkas such as Horilka,
a Ukrainian honey pepper vodka, and
Birmingham’s Dill Pickle Vodka (www.
luckybastard.ca ).
Alberta also has a fl ourishing craft beer
scene. Canadian Craft Tours off ers a Calgary
Brewery Tour that takes in four from among
Eighty-Eight Brewing, Paddy’s BBQ &
Brewery, Annex Ale Project, Prairie Dog
Brewing, Tool Shed, Banded Peak Brewing
and Last Best Brewing (www.canadiancraft
tours.ca/products/calgary-brewery-tour).
Eau Claire Distillery, a farm-to-glass
