LCBO Food & Drink Travel 2025

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Alive with activity, the Beamsville Bench is a rich blend of fine wine, great food, and natural beauty. BENCH IMPRESSED Stunning scenery, boutique wineries, great food and a welcoming atmosphere make the Beamsville Bench a must-visit destination for locals and visitors to southwest Ontario alike. From Toronto, this renowned wine region is less than an hour along the QEW – the closest major wine region to the GTA, in fact – so while there are plenty of charming hotels, inns and B&Bs around, if your timing’s tight, there’s no need to stay overnight. A sub-appellation of the Niagara Escarpment, Beamsville Bench is known for its award-winning, owner-operated artisanal wineries. Stop in to a tasting room to sample the local bounty and you’re likely to be greeted by a winemaker or winery owner sharing their stories. You can try wines by the glass or a flight accompanied by gourmet nibbles, or opt for more in-depth experiences, from guided tastings to vineyard tours to hands-on exploration of vines and soil. Speaking of soil, that’s one of the things that makes the Bench so special. The area is renowned for its glacier-forged soils dotted with limestone, which lend a mineral character to the wines. In addition, thanks to the Bench’s elevation, breezes that blow in off Lake Ontario bounce back off the Escarpment, keeping vineyards at just the right temperatures for the grapes to ripen fully and slowly, making the wines beautifully complex and food-friendly. Just one reason you might want to stop in at one of the many winery restaurants for a delicious meal paired with their wines. Whether you’re cozying up inside or on a patio outside, don’t miss the Bench’s amazing scenery (how could you?): beautiful vistas of rolling vineyards framed by Lake Ontario in the distance. On a clear day you can even see the Toronto skyline.