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News

Niagara New Vintage Wine Festival

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Besides the Falls, the Niagara Region is probably most well-known for its wine. The region and its Niagara wine featured, is ranked in the #1 spot for the Food & Wine Destination in Canada, which makes up a close-knit circle of wineries located within Niagara-on-the-Lake. Saturday, June 13th, 2015 marks the beginning of the Niagara New Vintage Festival, and continues throughout the following weekend until Sunday, June 21st.
 About the Niagara New Vintage Festival
Niagara wine goes through cycles of growth and rebirth and this festival celebrates that within its 14,800 acres of Niagara’s vineyards that are rich in soil and unique to the climate. The 6th Installment of the New Vintage Festival “Tailgate Party” happens on Saturday, June 20th from 6:00 – 10:00 pm in the vineyards of Niagara-on-the-Lake. It features over 40 wineries and 10 culinary experts that will present the best of Niagara wine, and farm-to-table delights.
On property will be New Country entertainment by Evermile.
This all-inclusive event ticket includes all hospitality, and the shuttle service to the event location. There is no parking at the event location in order to respect the vineyard and surrounding environment.
Early bird Tailgate party tickets are $80 until June 1st, 2015 (plus HST), and you may order online here. 
 Purchase a Discovery Pass!
On June 13, 14, 20, & 21st, consider purchasing a “Discovery Pass” for $40 + HST which allows you access to eight Niagara wine experiences with removable vouchers for any of the participating wineries of your choice (click here for the list of wineries). If you are the “Designated Driver” you can still be a part of all the excitement by indulging in eight mocktail and culinary pairings with the “Driver’s Discovery Pass”!
You may purchase your Discovery Passes online here, at the first winery on your route, or at the Ontario Travel Centres at Stanley Avenue in Niagara Falls, Ontario Travel Centres on York Road in Niagara on the Lake, or the Niagara Falls Tourism on Robinson Street, Niagara Falls.
Hotel Accommodations

When you stay at the Clifton Hill Niagara Falls Hotel, you will be provided with an opportunity to discover other amazing attractions that Niagara has to offer, in addition to heading to Niagara-on-the-Lake to taste our region’s best Niagara wine. You will also be provided with many more different options at considerable savings, in order to experience a visit that features more of Niagara’s best! From the Clifton Hill Fun Pass, to the Greg Frewin Magic Show, and even a Niagara Helicopter ride, the Build-A-Package contains many options, with some discounts at up to 50% off!

For more information on The Niagara New Vintage Festival visit them at www.niagarawinefestival.com.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NiagaraWineFestivals
Twitter: www.twitter.com/niagarawinefest
If you are a fan of the vine, these are the weekends to visit wine country!

Christine Lynn

clynn@cliftonhill.com

www.cliftonhill.com

Facebook: www.CliftonHill.com/fb

Twitter: www.CliftonHill.com/twt

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Instagram: @cliftonhillfun

Things To Do

Niagara New Vintage Wine Festival: June 14th – June 22nd

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Besides the Falls, the Niagara Region is probably most well-known for its wine. The region and its Niagara wine featured, is ranked in the #1 spot for the Food & Wine Destination in Canada, which makes up a close-knit circle of wineries located within Niagara-on-the-Lake. June 14th, 2014 marks the beginning of the Niagara wine festival festivities with the Niagara New Vintage Festival and continues throughout the following weekend on Saturday, June 21st and Sunday, June 22nd.
 About the Niagara New Vintage Festival
Niagara wine goes through cycles of growth and rebirth and this festival celebrates that within its 14,800 acres of Niagara’s vineyards that are rich in soil and unique to the climate. The 5th Installment of the New Vintage Festival “Tailgate Party” happens on Saturday, June 21st from 5:30-9:30pm at the Wiens Family Vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Wes Wiens represents the legacy of the Niagara wine growing family and invites guests to join his family in their vineyard for this special night.
“My family and I would like to welcome everyone out to the 19th Annual New Vintage Festival on June 21st. Come and join us in our vineyard for this fun event as we serve food and wine, tailgate style throughout our vineyards”, said Wes Wiens, 2013 Grape King.
Eight incredible chefs will serve up mouth-watering creations using the freshest local ingredients with an eye on culinary trends. The Dairy Farmers of Canada will be on hand to present a selection of cheeses that are unique and delicious.
The Tailgate Party is presented by TD, which will feature 35 of Niagara’s favourite wineries and a showcase of their latest releases and wines. Evermile will provide live music with a New Country feel and the Message in a Bottle auction will offer lots of chances to win great prizes.
“We’re proud once again to partner with the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival to sponsor the TD Tailgate Party,” says Coby Hawkins, District Vice President, TD Canada Trust. “At TD we are constantly striving to do our part to strengthen the communities where we do business, and one of the ways we do this is by supporting great community events like this one.”
Tailgate party tickets are $85 (plus HST), and you may order online at www.niagarawinefestival.com or by calling the Festival office at 905-688-0212.
Please note: There is no parking allowed on site, so there will be a shuttle bus provided. You may check out the shuttle bus map by clicking here.
 Purchase a Discovery Pass!
On June 14, 15, 21, & 22 from 11:00am – 5:00pm, consider purchasing a “Discovery Pass” for $40 + HST which allows you access to eight Niagara wine experiences with removable vouchers for any of the participating wineries of your choice (click here for the list of wineries). If you are the “Designated Driver” you can still be a part of all the excitement by indulging in eight mocktail and culinary pairings with the “Driver’s Discovery Pass”!
You may purchase your Discovery Passes by calling 905.688.0212 x112 or at the first winery on your route.
Hotel Accommodations
If you stay at the Clifton Hill Niagara Falls Hotel, you will be provided with an opportunity to discover other amazing attractions that Niagara has to offer, in addition to heading to Niagara-on-the-Lake to taste our region’s best Niagara wine. You will also be provided with many more different options at considerable savings, in order to experience a visit that features more of Niagara’s best! From the Clifton Hill Fun Pass, to the Greg Frewin Magic Show, and even a Niagara Helicopter ride, the Build-A-Package contains many options, with some discounts at up to 70% off! They even offer a Niagara Wine Country Tour if you can’t get enough of our delectable Niagara wine.
For more information on The Niagara New Vintage Festival visit them at www.niagarawinefestival.com.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NiagaraWineFestivals
Twitter: www.twitter.com/niagarawinefest
If you are a fan of the vine, these are the weekends to visit wine country!

Christine Lynn
www.cliftonhill.com
Facebook: www.CliftonHill.com/fb
Twitter: www.CliftonHill.com/twt
Google+: www.CliftonHill.com/gplus
Pinterest: www.CliftonHill.com/pin
Instagram: @cliftonhillfun

News

What the &*#$ is a Gran Fondo?

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So, as many locals have been made to be aware, Gran Fondo will be in Niagara Falls tomorrow. When I initially heard of this event, I had no idea what that meant. I asked by boss this morning if he knew what Gran Fondo was before Gran Fondo Niagara Falls was brought to our attention and he said he thought it was an Italian bread made for dipping. So there was my answer…I’m sure a lot of you knew what it was, especially if you are a cyclist, but I’m sure that there are plenty floating in the same raft as the two of us…so what the &*#$ is a Gran Fondo anyways?
Wikipedia says “A cyclosportive, or often simply sportive, is a short to long distance, organised, mass-participation cycling event, typically held annually. The Italian term Gran Fondo is commonly used for these events in the United States, Australia and some other English-speaking countries”. Many cyclists use a Gran Fondo as a race against the clock, with prizes awarded for top place finishers. This type of an event falls between a traditional cycle road race and the more challenging non-competitive Audax events. An Audax is a cycling sport in which participants attempt to cycle long distances within a pre-defined time limit. Success in the Audax event is simply determined by completion. The Gran Fondo participants however, carry a number and an electronic chip that will record the finishing time. This is a lengthy course (typically anywhere between 66km-268km), complete with climbs and difficult riding conditions. The Gran Fondo Niagara Falls in particular is 125 km long, with an elevation of up to 1100 metres!
Here is a map of the Gran Fondo Niagara Falls route:

All Gran Fondo events have a starting corral. This I am familiar with through running races, and it’s the exact same policy. Based on your average speed, you fall into a particular category. The fastest racers will be at the front of the pack, with the slower cyclists at the rear. Cyclists are expected to maintain a speed of 20km/hour to stay in the event. When you see the “Fine Gara”, that vehicle indicates the tail end of the race and all cyclists that fall behind this will be offered the “Rider Bus”– which is the next vehicle behind the Fine Gara and will be offered a transfer to the finish line. If riders choose not to take the Rider Bus, they will then have to follow the rules of the road as they will be open to the public again at that point. They also risk not having their time recorded when they finish. 2:30 pm is the cut-off limit for the Gran Fondo Niagara Falls riders.
The Gran Fondo Niagara Falls event will start and finish at the brink of the Horseshoe Falls. Everyone is welcome to be a spectator and cheer the riders on! The start corrals open at 5:30am. All riders are expected to be in position in the start corrals before 6:30am. At 6:45 am the race will start immediately after the national anthem. It is very important to establish an appropriate position in the corral so that the slower riders won’t deter the faster riders and the faster riders won’t be stuck behind the slower cyclists. It will lead to a smooth transition. The electronic chip timer will begin as soon as a participant crosses the start line, so no matter how far back a racer is, it will not effect finishing times. This is not a gun-timed event.

If you are a local and you are unsure whether road closures will effect you please click here for a detailed listing of updated road closures via the Niagara Falls Review. In honor of the Gran Fondo, the always popular Niagara Wine Festival will kick off a weekend earlier than usual, meaning riders and spectators are encouraged to celebrate the completion of the course (with the beginning start corral finishers expected at approximately 1:00pm) with wine and food pairings at any of the participating wineries in the region! For information on the Niagara Wine Festival click here.
1:00pm will also begin a FREE live concert at Queen Victoria Park by Juno award-winning Jim Cuddy and the legendary Barney Bentall, to perform at the finish celebration of the inaugural GranFondo Niagara Falls. Come on out!

Many hotels in Niagara Falls are completely booked up for this event — tired cyclists and wine enthusiasts will not want to travel. The Clifton Hill Niagara Falls Hotel is in a prime location to the start and finish line — just a 5 minute walk from the hotel! There are still a few rooms left for the event, so if you want to be close to all the action, book fast! Check out the online reservation system right here.

For more September and upcoming Falls events coming to Niagara Falls, click here.
For more information on the Gran Fondo Niagara Falls race go to www.granfondocanada.com or follow them on Twitter www.twitter.com/GranFondoCanada or Facebook www.facebook.com/GranFondoCanadaNiagaraFalls

Christine
www.cliftonhill.com
Facebook: www.CliftonHill.com/fb
Twitter: www.CliftonHill.com/twt
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Things To Do

Niagara Wine Festival Begins This Weekend!

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The Niagara Wine Festival is one of Niagara’s biggest events and it begins this Saturday, September 14th, 2013 until Sunday, September 29, 2013. This is Niagara’s 62nd Annual Niagara Wine Festival and it celebrates all and everything about wine in Niagara. 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 a 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. Enjoy the pass on September 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, 28th or 29th.

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. Concerts galore! Click here to view the full lineup and times.

On Saturday, September 28th, enjoy the colour and the pagentry 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. The 2013 Grande Parade with its theme “Honouring our Heroes, Then & Now” continues to commemorate 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.

This year, the Niagara Wine Festival kicks off a weekend earlier on the 14th and 15th due to the excitement taking place in Niagara Falls with the huge Gran Fondo event! Cycling enthusiasts are welcome to try out all the local wineries with tours, tastings and culinary experiences — or even just to tour the gorgeous setting of Niagara on the Lake. While the Summer may be drawing to a close, there is still plenty to celebrate in the coming months in Niagara Falls. Check out a few things to do in Niagara in the Fall by clicking here.

*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 while the weather is still crisp, cool and comfortable, 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 coming to this location. Due to this, the Comfort Inn Clifton Hill is currently offering 20% off selected rooms during certain days of the week. This is a great time to take advantage of these discounts. I compared this hotel to another competitor with a comparable location and for the same type of standard room there was a $97 savings by staying at the Comfort Inn Clifton Hill during these midweek special days! Click here to view the highlighted 20% off days and reservation chart.
Attraction line-ups are non-existant 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 Galaxy 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. Here are a couple of photos I took just yesterday on the Niagara Skywheel:


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

Christine
www.cliftonhill.com
Facebook: www.CliftonHill.com/fb
Twitter: www.CliftonHill.com/twt
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Things To Do

Niagara Wine is showcased at the Niagara New Vintage Wine Festival happening now!

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Besides the Falls, the Niagara Region is probably most well known for its wine. Niagara wine is ranked the #1 spot for the Food & Wine Destination in Canada and is a close-knit circle of 27 wineries located within Niagara-on-the-Lake, a beautiful picturesque drive down the Niagara Parkway from the Niagara Falls. June 15th, 2013 marked the beginning of the Niagara wine festival festivities with the New Vintage Wine Festival and continues throughout next weekend on Saturday, June 22nd and Sunday, June 23rd.
 About the Niagara New Vintage Wine Festival
Niagara wine goes through cycles of growth and rebirth and this festival celebrates that within its 14,800 acres of Niagara’s vineyards that are rich in soil and unique to the climate. The New Vintage Wine Festival “Tailgate Party” happens on Saturday, June 22nd from 5:30-9:30 at:

Fielding Estate Winery
4020 Locust Lane
St. Catharines
L0R 1B2

Niagara’s celebrated winemakers will tell their Cool Climate Story and local chefs will present the bounty from their own backyard. Country star Tim Hicks will preform the night’s entertainment. You will be provided with wine and culinary tastings and evening entertainment for $85 + HST and can purchase the tickets by clicking here. There is no parking available on site, however there is a free shuttle provided by Niagara Classic Transport beginning at 5:15 pm at “Mike Weir Estate Winery” at 4041 Locust Lane in Beamsville, Ontario OR “Beamsville Lions Community Park” at 5162 Fly Rd. in Beamsville.

Here is a clip from Canada’s own Tim Hicks performing his song “Get By”:

Consider purchasing a “Discovery Pass” for $40 + HST which allows you access to eight Niagara wine experiences with removable vouchers for any participating wineries of your choice! New this year, if you are the “Designated Driver” you can still be a part of all the excitement by indulging in eight mocktail and culinary pairings with the “Driver’s Discovery Pass”! You can no longer purchase your Discovery Passes online, however there is plenty of stock left at any of these wineries listed that you click here.
Stay at the Comfort Inn Clifton Hill Niagara Falls Hotel and in addition to heading to Niagara-on-the-Lake just a short drive away to taste Niagara wine, you will also be provided with many more different types of packages to experience all that Niagara has to offer from attractions in the Clifton Hill Fun Pass, to the Greg Frewin Magic Show and even a Niagara Helicopter ride at considerable discounts with the Build-A-Package campaign…with some discounts at 70% off that only the Comfort Inn Clifton Hill provides with this unique Niagara Falls package deal! They even offer a Niagara Wine Country Tour if you can’t get enough of the delectable Niagara wine this region provides!
The Niagara New Vintage Wine Festival is also looking for volunteers, so if you are a student with a passion for Niagara wine and providing a helping hand, please contact Pam Seabrook, Coordinator of Volunteers for more information or if you have any questions at volunteer@niagarawinefestival.com or (905) 688-0212 ex. 119. A free tshirt and meal will be provided to you. For the times and dates of volunteer assistance click here.
Visit the New Vintage Wine Festival on Twitter @NiagaraWineFest or Facebook @ www.facebook.com/NiagaraWineFestivals
If you are a fan of the vine, these are the weekends to visit wine country!

Christine
www.cliftonhill.com
Facebook: Clifton Hill – Niagara Falls Fun
Twitter: @cliftonhillfun
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