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Occasionally as we visit wineries, we are fortunate to be able to enjoy a night’s lodging at a winery. Imagine waking up in the morning to the beautiful views of vineyards. In the winter, the architecture of the vines provides picture-taking opportunities and spring brings views of the earth coming to life beginning with the weeping of the vines. Summer views are filled with the varying shades of green vines and during the popular fall harvest time, vineyards are filled with grapes in all stages of colors.
Glenora Wine Cellars is set along Seneca Lake, New York and views of the vibrant blue lake highlight the vineyards. Two Rivers Winery & Chateau provides views of vineyards against the Bookcliff Mountain Range, Grand Mesa and Colorado National Monument.
A stay at Churon, in Temecula, California, high above Rancho California Road will provide guests with beautiful views of vineyards and terraced landscaping. With vineyards and San Gimignano’s tall towers in the distance, Mormoraia in Italy provides a visitor’s delight and wonderful photo opportunities. A stay at Chateau Grand Traverse in Traverse City, Michigan is a house-type villa. With wonderful views and access to the kitchen, dining and barrel rooms, it offers a very comfortable stay. While Inn on the Twenty is not located on a vineyard, it is directly across the street from Cave Springs Cellars and On the Twenty Restaurant. It is all located in the quaint town of Jordan, Canada with boutique shops. Here you will experience a small town feel. Black Star Farms, Suttons Bay, Michigan offers a delightful visit and is a destination site. At Black Star Farms view the vineyards, stables, creamery and winery.
In addition, we stayed at Wine Country Inn in Palisade, Colorado set in the middle of wine country. The inn has vineyards and delightful views of Colorado’s majestic cliffs.
Each lodging site is different but most websites have excellent information about what amenities are included. Costs for a stay at a vineyard vary widely. If you will be traveling to wine country, consider a relaxing and delightful stay at a winery.
Cheers! Kathy
Yesterday I received a press release from Leif Johnson of the Palisade Chamber of Commerce in Colorado. Two Rivers Winery & Chateau has just purchased Amber Ridge Winery. We visited Two Rivers Winery last year in Grand Junction, Colorado and discovered it to be a lovely winery to taste wines and spend the night.
Southern California is home to more than 15 million people and perhaps as many as 20 million. The region contains six lane highways to dirt roads. In the middle of all this traffic and people busy with their everyday lives, there are more than 25 wineries available for people to visit.
I was amazed last year when a magazine editor mentioned his surprise when I stated that wineries in the Niagara-on-the-Lake region of Ontario had several restaurants. He commented that wineries in California do not have restaurants. A winery that has a restaurant always affords an opportunity to mix wine, food and friends. As far as California wineries go, a visit to wineries in the Temecula wine region will reveal several restaurants at wineries.
To the west of Temecula, lie over 25 wineries with over 1500 acres of vineyards currently under production. Up to a few years ago, many Californians did not know where Temecula was located, not to mention the remainder of the country. But things began to change in 2008 when a Temecula winery, South Coast won the Winery of the Year Award at the California State Fair. All of a sudden Temecula was on the map.
While visiting Wiens Family Cellars in Temecula, California last week we tried a product to help cleans the palate between wines. SanTasti makes several palate cleansing products. I tried the classic, which tasted like water with effervescence. Unlike sparkling water, it did not leave an aftertaste. My palate was ready to taste the next wine. I tried this product several times between the wines and each time I felt as though my palate was cleansed. Of course sparkling wine can also cleans the palate, however occasionally there is an aftertaste.
Although much longer than Napa, the 100 miles along Interstate 90 travel through Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. Along this stretch from Madison, Ohio to Dunkirk, New York there are more than 35 wineries close to the interstate. However the acreage of grapes is much larger than one would expect. From locations along the interstate, one can observe acres upon acres of vineyards. This is also Welch’s country. Many grape growers are part of the National Grape Cooperative who sell the grapes to Welch’s.
When thinking of Niagara-on-the-Lake the image of a quaint little town to the north and the Niagara Falls to the south may enter one’s mind. However there are 27 wineries in this area with many more forty minutes to the west in Jordan and Vineland. We visited the area twice in 2008 and each time was surprised to travel the side roads. It seemed like every turn led you to another vineyard. One can find small boutique wineries and large showcase estate wineries.
Hot Air Balloons and Champagne
Hot air balloons can be a lot of fun whether you watch from the safety of the ground, ride in the balloon or crew for a balloon. The colors, the sights and the sounds are a photo opportunity just waiting for that perfect moment.
For those unfamiliar with hot air ballooning, the crew consists of the people who “chase” the balloon. Their role is to anticipate where the balloon will be landing and ask for permission of the landowner to land the balloon. Usually the landowner is enthusiastic even if the landing is in the early morning hours and everyone wants to see this magnificent balloon.
So what does wine have to do with hot air ballooning? According to custom, the captain of the hot air balloon carries a bottle of champagne with him to present to the landowner upon landing. This custom dates back to the beginning of hot air ballooning in France. The first hot air balloon was faced by fearful farmers who thought it was evil. After the first encounter, French balloonists would give a bottle of champagne to the farmers so they would know they were French.
In Temecula, California, hot air balloon rides are available in the wine country area. When you visit Temecula wineries, consider asking about the hot air balloon rides available in the area.
Cheers! Kathy