Touring Niagara Wine Country

As far as we're concerned a wine tasting in the heart of wine country is always appropriate. Sampling wine selections from master vintners in a world-renowned wine region? Grab your girlfriends, partners, sunglasses and prepare yourself for a Niagara on the Lake Wine and Herb tourmeandering drive through gorgeous country-sides of vineyards, fruit groves and historic architecture and landmarks.

The Niagara-on-the-Lake region of Niagara's Wine country took an innovative approach this spring to coax wine lovers (and the GoGirlfriend team) to visit the area - an Wine and Herb Tour. What a delicious way to visit and sample all the area has to offer.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Wine region

So many wineries, so little time. Twenty seven wineries in the Niagara-on-the-Lake region were tasked with choosing an herb and wine to feature for this tour event. The GoGirlfriend team narrowed the winery selection by choosing vegetarian pairings (mostly). This took us on a fun afternoon tour of 12 wineries, some delish apps and even better wines.

Take a look at our selections and the creative pairings they offered in Niagara-on-the-Lake Herb and Wine tour:

• Southbrooks Cabernet Franc Rose Southbrook Winery - Spring arugula pesto pasta with goat cheese paired with their 2011 Triomphe Cabernet Franc Rose. GoGirlfriend recommendation: new modern facility, first stop and wowed with their 2011 Cabernet Franc Rose. We bought two bottles...
• Joseph Estates Winery - Lavender asiago shortbread paired with their 2009 Baco Merlot.
• Sunnybrook Farm Winery - Spiced peach chutney with nacho chips and their Peach Blossom wine. GG recommendation: completely non-grape and very sweet fruit wines to tempt your taste palate.
• Strewn's cooking school Strewn - Basil sampler: three pepper with basil bruschetta, creamy goat cheese and basil spread, and sundried tomato with basil tapenade paired with their 2009 semi-dry Riesling. GG recommendation: great facility, great recreational cooking school and we made a trip back to pick up their 2009 semi-dry Riesling and Terroir Cabernet Franc.
• Hinterbrook Winery - Potato croquettes with saffron aioli with their 2011 Riesling.
• Peller Estates Winery - Halibut, spring asparagus and estate tarragon roulade paired with their 2011 Private Reserve Sauvignon Blanc.
• Wine and Herb tour Reif Winery - Italian parsley and walnut pesto pasta salad with their 2011 Empress Chardonnay.
• Inniskillin - Kent Farms chicken curry with gomes tomato and cilantro paired with their Late Autumn Riesling.
• Between The Lines Winery - Crusty spring buns filled with a tasty chive cream and their 2011 Riesling.
• Ravine Winery - Pork and sage meatballs with pure and free Lowry Bros tomato paste paired with their 2011 Sand & Gravel Cabernet Franc. GG recommendation - especially spectacular meatballs.
• Coyote's Run Winery - Adabo and Red Paw Syrah braised beef tostada with the 2009 Red Paw Vineyard Syrah. GG recommendation - nicely spiced and well paired.
• Chateau des Charmes - Coq au Vin chicken breast and smoked chili lemon emulsion with their 2011 Aligote. GG recommendation - savory with a touch of sweet spice and unique delicious Aligote pairing.

Niagara-on-the-Lake highlights

Just to note a few other highlights in the area that are worthy of stopping at if you tour the area:

• Niagara wine region bounty Ice House - Glorious selection of Niagara-grown Ice Wines.
• Niagara College Teaching Winery - Learn more about how chefs are taught to pair wines with food.
• Harvest Barn Country Market - Stop for a farm fresh lunch while passing through Virgil.
• Pickard's Peanuts - Grown locally and a yummy snack after an afternoon of wine tastings.
• Niagara-on-the-Lake shopping - Historic and unique.
• Shaw Festival - theatre inspired by George Bernard Shaw
• Niagara Parkway - A relaxing, beautiful drive that connects the quiet and charming Niagara-on-the-Lake to the busier Niagara Falls.

food and wine ... girlfriends?Many wine regions (around the world) are open for standard tasting tours, many offer seasonally themed wine pairings (Wine and Chocolate, Late Harvest bounty's), and many will offer weekend getaway packages. Get on the mailing list of your local wine region and watch for the many opportunities to sample spectacular wines and learn more of the taste sensations of your "100 mile" area.

What events in your wine region have lured you to taste the day away? Let us know what tempts you and what you really enjoyed. We'd love to hear. Chat with us on Twitter or on Facebook.