Chilling Out at Niagara Icewine Festival

Glass with Icewine at the Niagara Icewine Festival, 2010
Glass with Icewine at the Niagara Icewine Festival, 2010

Icewine is one of my favorite treats. I adore the sweet, syrup-like adult beverage and was elated when a trip to Buffalo last January coincided with the Niagara Icewine Festival.

Conditions weren’t exactly ideal for a winter festival, it rained. This meant standing in the rain sipping icewine while watching ice sculptures melt and puffy, white snow dissolve into slush.

Not all the festivities take place outdoors and although sipping icewine in the middle of winter seems a little crazy, it isn’t. Icewine is made from grapes which have frozen in the winter temperatures. So just like the grapes, why not enjoy a Canadian winter while tasting icewine?

Ice Carving, Niagara Icewine Festival 2010
Ice Carving, Niagara Icewine Festival 2010

During the visit with my sister, brother-in-law, and friend Annette, we visited the Niagara-on-the-Lake Icewine Village, which was about an hour’s drive from Buffalo. It was an area down the main street with small tents sheltering representatives from wineries and local restaurants. Ice carvings dotted the area and a carver gave a demonstration on the chilly sculpting – which was done with a chainsaw.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Village, Icewine Festival 2010
Niagara-on-the-Lake Village, Icewine Festival 2010

Admission into the village was free and tokens were available for purchase to be used in exchange for icewine tastings and delicious samplings of food.

Bottles of Icewine at the Niagara Icewine Festival 2010
Bottles of Icewine at the Niagara Icewine Festival 2010

After we each spent our $20, we visited a few wineries where we enjoyed more wine tastings. We visited Lailey Vineyard (nice little boutique winery), Caroline Cellars (my favorite – they offered tasty bites of food with each tasting and the staff were extremely friendly), Cattail Creek Estate Winery (minimalist winery but the fondue was fun), and Inniskillin (although delicious, this was the most sophisticated and largest winery we visited. It was run like a machine and lacked intimacy between winemaker and visitor). There are more than two dozen wineries to visit during the festival. So many wineries, so little time.

Inniskillin Vineyard, Niagara Icewine Festival 2010
Inniskillin Vineyard, Niagara Icewine Festival 2010

2011 Niagara Icewine Festival
This year’s Niagara Icewine Festival is Jan. 14 – 30, 2011, and includes all sorts of events including a gala, food and tastings, and vacation packages. Check out the schedule of events to plan your visit. Remember, if traveling from the United States, you’ll need a passport to cross the border into Canada.

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Jenn

Jennifer A. Huber is an award-winning travel and outdoor blogger and writer in Southwest Florida. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., a hiking trail led her to a career path in the tourism industry for more than 30 years. She spent a decade with a park management company in Yellowstone, Death Valley, and Everglades National Parks. She founded the travel blog, SoloTravelGirl.com with the goal of inspiring others to travel alone, not lonely. The unexpected death of her former husband in 2008 reminded her how short life is. His passing was a catalyst for sharing her experiences with the goal of inspiring and empowering others to travel solo. Jennifer holds a Travel Marketing Professional certification from the Southeast Tourism Society, is a certified food judge, member of the NASA Social community, and alum of the FBI Citizens Academy. When not traveling, she is either in the kitchen, practicing her photography skills, or road tripping with her dog, Radcliff.

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