Wine and Cheese!

Jush inn from a toure of the vineries or winyards or whateveryoucallem the places where there are lottsa bushes with grapes that you pick and crush to get joosh that you let go till theyre rotten wiv alkyol n then you tashte to see if you like it and you do so you tashte sum more and sum more and then jim says enuff is enuff and you hav to leaf cos hell go wivout you and youd hav no way bac to grimsy and the peeple in the places wud be lukkin at you and youd be sorry you dident spit it awl out and mebbe you wood then.

We had a really good day and I was sorry that we didn't do the wineries earlier in our time here. I had said we would give them a miss when Jim would have to drive and so could not indulge but he assured me that he didn't mind and finally I succumbed.

It was difficult to plan an itinerary because there are so many wineries in the region. Today we concentrated on the wine region of the Niagara Escarpment and Twenty Valley. Designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, the Niagara Escarpment was formed, through millions of years of erosion into a dramatic geological feature that defines an entire area - including the famous falls that cascade over its edge. The unique topography of the Escarpment also creates an ideal environment for grape growing. Over the past 30 years, vineyards have been producing award-winning Rieslings, Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. Cabernet Franc, a grape that I have only tasted in blended wines, grows particularly well in the region and all the wineries have their own single grape Cabernet Franc wines.

Rick and Eva had suggested that we try Harbour Estates Winery so we started there. The small family-owned vineyard is beautifully situated on the waterfront of Jordan Harbour's east shore and it is nice to stroll along as far as the harbour reading the explanatory notices about wine-making and about the harbour and flora and fauna of the  area.

I feel that we haven't learned a lot yet about the First Nations.

This area just above the harbour is used for weddings and parties. It would be a simple but nice setting for a wedding

View of the harbour.

We saw ...no hawks! No blue herons! We did see a lovely coloured bird but it evaded getting its picture taken.







Not far from the Harbour Estates Winery is the Upper Canada Cheese Company. Again we were sorry that we had not visited sooner because their cheeses are great but we were limited in what we could buy as we leave on Friday. We tasted a lovely mature semi-soft cow's cheese, a wonderful goat's cheese and a really nice French-style camembert (or maybe it was brie). We bought some Guernsey Girl which is a grilling cheese - I suspect like a halloumi - which we will do on the barbecue tonight. The girl who served us told us that the wines at the Good Earth Vineyard and Winery were really good as was the food in their Bistro. It was after 1pm so Good Earth food required. The Good Earth is in Beamsville through which we had already passed but back we went and it was certainly worth it! We tasted their wines but the ones I liked were very expensive so we deprived ourselves, knowing that we could have a glass with lunch. Lunch ended up being a lengty affair as the Bistro was very busy. However, it was a lovely setting in which to wait and on the patio there was quite a breeze which we appreciated because the day was very hot. The food here is really good.

To the left of where we were sitting.

Our view in front.

In front of the patio area - still standing!

The outdoor cooking area.

The Cookery School.

A fork in the road.

The girl in Harbour Estates Winery had recommended that we visit Megalomaniac Winery so that was our next stop. John Howard, the proprietor, had wanted to christen his wines in his own name but his friends accused him of "being yet another (profanity withheld) megalomaniac" and the name stuck. They have a wine called Vainglorious Cabernet Merlot, a Bigmouth Merlot and a Coldhearted Ice Wine. This was a bigger operation than the first winery which interested Jim, while I worked hard on the tasting!

This is the winery's logo.Been there, drank the wine but didn't buy the tee shirt!

The entrance.

The Cellars of Megalomaniac sit on a 96 acre site of the VIneland upper bench. Locals argue that it is the highest vantage point on the Niagara Escarpment with clear views of the Toronto and Niagara Falls skylines. The view was good but not as clear today as it often is.

A view of Megalomaniac's vines.

Jim made the excuse of needing to go to the barber to try and cut our tour of wineries short but I was having such a good time that I didn't really care if he looked like Grizzly Adams. He obviously found it hard to say no to me so off we went to Kacaba Vineyards, an environmentally sustainable winery which is turning out multiple-award-winners. The 2007 Syrah was the first Ontario red wine to be named Red Wine of the Year at the Canadian Wine Awards.

It was a relief that it would support our weight!

Some Kakaba vines.

There followed another tasting where, for some reason, I spoke in a very knowledgeable way about grapes and terroirs and varietal blends and nose and length and body and hints of peaches and spice and viticulture in general. Jim couldn't get a word in edgewise! I had another vineyard lined up but somehow we landed back in Pleasant Grove Terrace and Jim went to the barber.

What do you think? Was it my fault?