events
< May 2012 > Click dates
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
1335844800
News Article
winery news
There’s a lot happening in Niagara-on-the-Lake wine country. Almost daily the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake launch a new experience, release a new vintage or win an award. Stay up-to-date on the latest Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake news with this live feed of featured stories and news bulletins.
Winter Wine Getaways
Reif
16 February 2012
Unless you’re an avid winter sport kind of person, I think you’ll probably agree when I say that winter weather makes one think of travelling to get away from the ice and snow. Now I’ve got you dreaming of an escape to warmer climes, right? Forget it. I know a place that’s just as warm (in spirit) with even better food and drink than you’ll find at any southern resort – and at a fraction of the cost. That place is wine country. Seriously.
There was a time when wineries were virtual ghost towns during the winter, even the winemakers headed south. Lately, though, there’s been a kind of awakening, a realization that although the buds might not yet be breaking on the vines, the wine is still flowing abundantly. I had the opportunity recently to attend the Icewinemakers Dinner at Reif Estate Winery.
Reif is definitely among my top five favourite wineries in Niagara. Sure, the wine is great, but what I like best is the people. Everyone on staff, including winemaker Robert DiDomenico and owner Klaus Reif, are accessible, down-to-earth and always interested in good conversation over a glass. The Dinner was held in the Grand Victorian Mansion, a 19thC home-turned-B&B on the Reif estate. If you’re into design, you’ll love this place. Totally restored by owner, Eva Kessel, with Queen Anne Revival influence, the walls are decorated with ornate finishes and an oak Chippendale banister framing the wide staircase. Dinner was held in the large, elegant dining room. There were probably about 35 people there that night visiting from Guelph, Michigan and even Korea. No matter where we hailed from, there was one common denominator that linked all of us – we all had a passion for great food and wine.
