Visiting A Canadian Winery

Whether you are a seasoned wine connoisseur or a complete novice, there is nothing quite like visiting a picturesque winery on a warm sunny day; where you can sample various award-winning wines and soak in an atmosphere steeped in tradition and culture. Viticulture, or the study of vineyard grapes, dates back as far as the Neolithic period, when man first began cultivating grapes for the purpose of wine making. The processes used were later perfected by the ancient Romans; whose fondness for wine has extended across the ages and well into the 21st century, where wine making is as much an art form as a science.

Canadian wine is predominantly produced in the South, and there are a number of flourishing Ontatio wineries in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia and the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario.Another area known for its quality wine production is the Township of Pelee in Essex County, where the vine friendly soils, southwest winds and southern exposure to the lakes are key elements that contribute to the production of superior grapes. The Pelee Island boasts one of the longest growing seasons in Canada, allowing for an ongoing harvest of quality grapes and a bounty of fine Ontario wine production.

If you decide to visit a winery in this region it is well worth a trip to the multi -award winning Colio Estate winery. Their winery boasts over 2.5 million liters of cooperage and produces over 400,000 cases of wine per year. Tours of the winery are available daily and all year round; they include a chronological walk through the wine making process with stops at grape handling and processing, climate-controlled barrel aging cellars and the bottling line. A fascinating and informative journey through a timeless cultural tradition in a very picturesque location, their tours are highly recommended. The tours culminate with wine tastings at their Hospitality Center; where you can purchase any of the wines in their current portfolio as well as wine gifts and souvenirs.

Colio produces unique, refreshing white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling as well as signature Canadian ice wine. As well as buying directly from their winery, you can also order their wine online. Colio’s table, sparkling, late harvest and Ice wines are all available at their 14 Estate Retail Boutiques as well as the winery, many LCBO stores across the province or on-line where you can use their search form to find and order exactly the right wine for any occasion. They will follow up any orders you make with a phone call to confirm the details, so you can sure you are getting exactly what you ordered. This is an extremely easy and convenient way to stock up on your favorite wine for that special occasion or just to refill your wine cellar. You can even select the appropriate wine to match a specific type of food, as well as choosing the specific year and price range.

For a fun day out with friends or family, a visit to this Ontario winery is guaranteed to please. They are of the top rated providers of Ontario wine tours and are open 7 days a week, all year round.They have picnic facilities on site and are fully wheelchair and handicap accessible. Contact them via their website to find out more: http://www.coliowinery.com/contact.