LCBO Food & Drink Travel 2025

WINE

Grape Getaways From visiting Australian vineyards to sampling expert pairings on a French river cruise, the pursuit of fine wine is reason enough to embark on worldly adventures to these beloved grape-growing regions.

WEEKEND IN NIAGARA

BY DOUG WALLACE ————— PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB FIOCCA

The Niagara Wine Region produc ers are masters at cool-climate winemaking, in an area also filled with farm-to-table restaurants and local food markets. Wineries like Château des Charmes and Pillitteri Estates Winery provide plenty of tasting-room variety. EMBRACE THE PAST Pop into the historic Niagara Parks Power Station, a museum by day and an immersive sound and light show by night, each highlighting the history of the building and its part in the story of electricity. FIND A QUIET MOMENT The 40-hectare Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens is famous for its roses, as well as the adjacent Butterfly Conservatory. More than 2,000 butterflies flit among the exotic plants. EXTEND YOUR STAY Open up your tour to include Niagara-on-the-Lake, with its boutique shops along historic Queen Street, soothing spas like 124 on Queen Hotel & Spa, and Shaw Festival plays. WINES TO TRY Through crisp, lively whites and elegant reds, Niagara wines have a freshness and complexity that reflects the diverse microclimates and unique terroir. Expect higher acidity, unexpectedly bold flavours and nuanced, earthy undertones. Featherstone Cabernet Franc VQA VINTAGES ESSENTIALS 64618, $21.95 Flat Rock Good Karma Chardonnay VQA

While good food and wine are memorable parts of every holiday, creating an itinerary that focuses on your love of wine is a delicious idea. Drinking your way around a favou rite wine region lets you weave winery visits with historic landmarks, cool hotels and modern must-see stops.

VINTAGES 356873, $17.95 Fielding Riesling VQA LCBO 146761, $16.95

PROP STYLING BY SHELLY SHNIER

33

TRAVEL 2025 ————————