Tag Archives: Niagara on the Lake wineries

The Niagara Wine Festival is Approaching!

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The Niagara Wine Festival

The Niagara Wine Festival is one of Niagara’s largest and longest going events, with this year’s 63rd annual event beginning on Saturday, September 13th, until Sunday, September 28, 2014. September’s Niagara Wine Festival features more than 100 events, which include concerts, one of Canada’s largest street parades, and of course our region’s finest winery and tasting tours.
This is Canada’s largest celebration of wineries and vineyards, showcasing its harvest and farm to table experience. You can explore the wineries of Twenty Valley and Niagara on the Lake with the Discovery Pass. The Discovery Pass is the best way to taste and experience a variety of Niagara’s famous wine and cuisine. For only $40 (plus HST), you gain access to eight participating wineries which includes food and wine pairings. Click here to view a full list of the Niagara Wine Festival Discovery Pass participants and experiences. Enjoy the pass on September 13th, 14th, 20th, 21st, 27th or 28th.

The Discovery Pass is available for purchase online until August 29th, and after that you may purchase them at any of the participating wineries, Ontario Tourism Travel Centres in Niagara Falls (Stanley Avenue and the QEW Skyway location), Niagara Falls Tourism, Grimsby Gateway Tourism Information Centre, or the Niagara on the Lake Chamber of Commerce.
No one is left out during the Niagara Wine Festival events — $30 (plus HST) gives non-drinkers the opportunity to purchase the Driver’s Discovery Pass — access to eight participating wineries to sample some of Niagara’s most delectable culinary experiences.
On weekends 2 and 3, don’t forget all the exciting festivities that go on at Montebello Park (64 Ontario St.) in Downtown St.Catharines! Montebello Park will have a variety of wine tasting and food pairing vendors lined up that are participating in the Niagara Wine Festival. Wristbands will be in effect for those wishing to drink, however families are welcome as there will be a stroller and wagon entrance through the Lake St. entrance. Apart from the obvious celebration of Niagara’s finest wines, there will be plenty of live entertainment with a full list of concerts:
Friday, September 19th, 2014
Hotel California – A Tribute to the Eagles – 7:20 – 10:30 pm
Saturday, September 20th, 2014
Garden of Eden – 12:00 – 12:45 pm
Soul Jam – 1:00 – 2:45 pm
Stereoflavour – 3:00 – 4:45 pm
Trouble & Daughter – 5:00 – 6:45 pm
Desire – A Tribute to U2 – 7:30 – 10:30 pm
Sunday, September 21st, 2014
S.C.E.N.E. People’s Choice Winner: Cardinals – 12:30 – 2:30 pm
Royal Wood – 3:00 – 4:45 pm
Elton Rohn – A Tribute to Elton John – 5:00 -8:00 pm
Friday, September 26th, 2014
Jonesy – 6:30 – 7:30 pm
The Caverners – A Tribute to The Beatles – 8:00 – 10:30 pm
Saturday, September 27th, 2014
Flat Broke – 12:30 – 3:00 pm
The Mandevilles – 3:15 – 5:15 pm
The Wheat Kings – A Tribute to The Tragically Hip – 8:00 – 10:30 pm
Sunday, September 28th, 2014
Brad James – 12:45 – 1:45 pm
Ash & Bloom – 2:30 – 4:30 pm
Leah Daniels – 4:45 – 6:15 pm
Tebey 6:45 – 8:00 pm

On Saturday, September 27th, enjoy the colours and the pageantry of one of North America’s foremost street parades! Featuring an outstanding procession of marching bands, drum corps, community groups, majorettes, floats and amazing performances. This is one of my absolute favourite aspects of the Niagara Wine Festival. This year’s 2014 theme is “Celebrating 200 years of Peace”, as they will complete Niagara’s commemoration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812, while moving into the present day. The parade starts at 11:00 am through the Downtown core of St.Catharines, and is a rain or shine event that sees more than 100,000 spectators!

*Please be advised that Montebello Park festivities are only active during the weekends of the Festival. Wineries are open throughout the week for tours and tastings, but Discovery Pass events only occur on the weekend as well.
One of the best features of travelling to Niagara Falls in September is the drastic cut in hotel costs and great midweek specials. If you are a wine enthusiast or you just want to simply get away during the week, than you should consider the cost-friendly and convenient Clifton Hill Niagara Falls Hotel hotel. Since Clifton Hill is the main tourist promenade in Niagara Falls, and this hotel is located right on Clifton Hill itself, after kids go back to school there is a drastic decrease in people traveling to this location, but a rise in international travel. This is a perfect time for traveling. The Fall colours are beautiful, the weather is crisp and cool, events are still rampant (such as the Niagara Wine Festival!), and the Comfort Inn Clifton Hill offers up to 15% off on selected rooms during certain days of the week. This is a great time to take advantage of these discounts. Click here to view the highlighted 15% off days and reservation chart.
Attraction line-ups are non-existent in September. Grab the family and purchase the Clifton Hill Fun Pass for a 50% off savings on the Niagara SkyWheel, Dinosaur Adventure Golf or Wizard’s Golf, Movieland Wax Museum, the XD Ride Theatre, the Ghostblasters Dark Ride, plus additional tokens to play at the Great Canadian Midway. Purchasing the pass online by clicking here will also get you an additional Niagara SkyWheel admission, so that you have the opportunity to catch both sunrise and sunset 175 feet in the sky! Get amazing photos of the Niagara Falls and the surrounding landscape.

For more information on the Niagara Wine Festival and all its events, participating wineries, tastings and every day occurrences go to www.niagarawinefestival.com or go to their social media pages:
www.twitter.com/NiagaraWineFest
www.facebook.com/NiagaraWineFestivals

Christine Lynn

www.cliftonhill.com

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Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake Events

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*Pictured Above: Jackson Triggs Winery Outdoor Amphitheatre*
The hustle and bustle of Niagara Falls isn’t the only place that draws in travelers with Summer events. Here are a few upcoming highlights featured from the wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake:
Jackson Triggs Amphitheatre featuring “Movies After Dark”
Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery is featuring “Movies After Dark” on Wednesday evenings. The doors open at 8:30 pm and the movie begins shortly after dusk. This goes on for the remainder of July and August 2014.  Tickets are $10.00 each and you can purchase them the day of the event at the gate, or by clicking here. Enjoy a great film outdoors at Jackson-Triggs’ Amphitheatre while sipping some great VQA wines!
Here’s a look at the upcoming movie schedule: 
July 23rd: A Good Year
July 30th: Slumdog Millionaire
August 6th: Almost Famous
August 13th: Moneyball
August 20th: Walk the Line
August 27th: The Shawshank Redemption
Jackson  Triggs Summer Concert Series
Did you know that the wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake also feature concert venues? The Jackson Triggs outdoor Amphitheatre also holds some big name artists in a unique setting from June to September 2014, as part of their Summer concert series. While sipping some of their award-winning wines, you can be serenaded by an intimate outdoor performance! Upcoming performances include “Stars” on Saturday, August 9th, the “Cowboy Junkies” on Saturday, August 16th and the “Niagara Jazz Festival” on Saturday, August 23rd, 2014.
For a full concert listing click here or visit Jackson Triggs online at www.jacksontriggswinery.com. 
Chateau des Charmes “Earth & Sky Music Market”

On the first Monday of August 4th and September 1st, 2014, the Bosc family hosts an all ages concert, food truck, chef pop-up, artisan market at Chateau des Charmes Winery.
This is a unique all-ages market featuring local food, local wine and local music. The line up changes each month so stay tuned for all the details.
Entrance and parking are free. Food and wine is pay-as-you-go. Musician Workshops 11:00 am-12:00 pm, Music Market 12:00 pm-6:00 pm!
For more information, please visit www.gatheringniagara.com or click here.
Cattail Creek Estate Winery: “Picnic in the Vineyard”

From now until Monday, October 13th, 2014, enjoy a picnic in a beautiful setting in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The best part? They do all the work.
Enjoy a fresh picnic basket that contains an assortment of meats, cheeses, antipasti and a fresh-baked baguette with Mom’s home-baked cookies. At Cattail Creek Estate Winery, you can stroll through their vineyards while sipping their wine. Find a picnic table, have a seat and enjoy the scenery! Ask for one of their staff to make a wine recommendation.The price is $15.00/person+tax and it is offered from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm daily.
For more information please visit www.cattailcreek.ca.
Diamond Estate Winery presents “Diamonds in the Rough Music Festival”

*Photo courtesy of www.uncorkniagara.com*
On Saturday, August 23rd, 2014 from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm, head on over to the Diamond Estates Winery and enjoy the sounds of three featured bands: Crush in June,  Chippawa Dirty and Jonesy. Bring your own seats and head into the wine tent for a beverage of your choice.
This is an all ages event (bring ID for the wine tent), and tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the gate and includes a souvenir wine glass.
If you are a car enthusiast, they also have the “Wheels & Wine 2014” event the previous Saturday, August 16th, 2014 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. This is presented by the Niagara Classic Mustang Club and allows you to enjoy wine by the glass while viewing some classic cars.
For more information on either event please visit www.diamondestates.ca. 
Coyote’s Run Estate Winery: “The Calm Before the Storm” Pre Harvest BBQ

On Saturday, August 16th, 2014 head to Coyote’s Run Estate Winery from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm for awesome food, great wine, and live entertainment put on by “Work in Progress”. This band also happens to be part of their winery team with winemaker David Sheppard as the drummer, the vineyard manager Eddie as the ‘keys master’ and Taylor Hulley is their lead cellar hand, who will play the guitar. You can even join the band as they will have a suitcase full of instruments for you to play along with!
Tickets are $16.95 and include:
*1 glass of wine or beer (additional glasses of wine are $5.00)
*Your choice of 1 BBQ item and a salad:
Chicken breast with peach salsa, steak burger with caramelized onions, smoked sausage with onions or a veggie burger
Mixed leaf salad with field tomatoes and fresh basil or potato & green onion salad
There is only a limited number of tickets available. To obtain your ticket click here.
On Saturday, August 30th, Coyote’s Run Estate Winery will also feature “Food Truck in the Vineyard” from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Listen to live music by Taylor Hulley while enjoying some exquisite farm to truck cuisine from the Yellow Pear.
A sample from Taylor Hulley:

The Yellow Pear is Ontario’s only solar-powered food truck! There is no admission cost, and Coyote’s Run we will be selling wine by the glass for $5.00. The Yellow Pear will be offering a variety of food choices for varying prices.
For more information on either event please go to www.coyotesrunwinery.com.
These are just a few of many events that the wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake have to offer during the Summer months — and once Fall begins, more events will fire up with the onset of harvest season!
There is always something to do in the Niagara Region to draw in travelers from around the globe. After you relax in Niagara-on-the-Lake head down to Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls for more excitement and watch the free Niagara Falls fireworks shows every Friday and Sunday at 10:00 pm until the newly extended date of November 30th, 2014 (with Coca-Cola sponsored concerts preceding them at 8:00 pm)! Additionally, enjoy them every Wednesday at 10:00 pm until August 27th, 2014, with daily shows the week of August 24th to August 29th. All fireworks shows are located at the bottom of Clifton Hill at Queen Victoria Park.

Christine Lynn

www.cliftonhill.com

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