Photo by Destination Canada
It’s big, it’s bold and it’s back.
In its 66th year, the two-week Niagara Grape & Wine Festival goes down like a smooth glass of Syrah after a long week’s work.
And the timing’s perfect: Sept. 8-24, when everybody’s back to business but your restless heart is saying: summer, I’m coming with you.
Whether you’re noshing on macaroni and gorgonzola while quaffing Chardonnay, or belting out a version of Canadian band The Tragically Hip’s At The Hundredth Meridian, Canada’s longest-running wine festival has something for everyone. In fact, this season’s festival offers over 100 events for sippers, snackers, and adventure-seekers.
But don’t go getting all highfalutin. Despite its pedigree, this is not your grandmother’s wine mixer, so leave the shiny shoes at home.
“This has the ‘kick back in jeans and wear the hoodie for the first time’ kind of vibe,” says Kimberly Hundertmark, the festival’s executive director, adding the setting — southern Ontario’s cottage country — is spectacular.
“The leaves are turning, the wine is being harvested… it’s almost magical, really,” she says.
Home Base For A Holiday
Photo by Hornblower Niagara Cruises
Situated in St. Catharines, the festival is perfectly positioned for adventuring. Nearby is the picturesque Port Dalhousie waterfront; Welland Canal (one of the man-made wonders of the world); the Underground Railroad (as part of Niagara’s Freedom Trail, St. Catharines was the final terminus for hundreds of slaves seeking freedom in the early 1800s); and of course, Niagara and its iconic falls, plus tours, shopping, dining, casinos, golf, entertainment, and more.
More than 100,000 people come for the festival, including lots of cross-border visitors.
“Buffalo, New Jersey, Rochester, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Connecticut… This has become a pivotal event,” Hundertmark says. “It’s ideal for a long weekend getaway.”
What’s more, it’s very much a multi-generational festival, with many of the same families returning decade after decade.
And Of Course, The Wine
Photo by Niagara Grape & Wine Festival
The hub for the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival is historic Montebello Park in downtown St. Catharines. The park comes alive over three weekends in September and this year, the festival showcases 23 award-winning wineries. Be sure to order a glass of Icewine, a Niagara dessert wine made from grapes that have frozen while still on the vine.
For those not into the “crowd vibe,” Hundertmark recommends the Discovery Pass, which is a wine-based tasting program where you can select eight out of 30 wine or food partners, each with a different harvest theme.
Photo by Destination Canada
“These are pairings that will have you salivating,” Hundertmark vows. Think juicy, rib-eye burgers topped with icewine onion jam and paired with a smooth Cabernet Franc, or a dish of snapper ceviche and Niagara apple slaw alongside a refreshing reserve riesling.
You can also carouse à la carte by buying tokens, which are the required currency for all food and wine vendors in the park. Chefs will fork over regional cuisine for one to three tokens per portion, while wines can be purchased by the glass.
Get Your ‘Eh’ On
Photo by Niagara Grape & Wine Festival
This year the Centre Stage in Montebello Park showcases an all-Canadian line-up, with the Beatles Tribute band, The Caverners, kicking off six days of free live performances that include more homages to music icons (Adele, Abba, the Bee Gees, and U2), classic rock quartet Groovy Food, party band the Hammer Bros., rockers Jonesy, folk artist JJ Shiplett, and more.
On Sept. 16, wear your Canadian red-and-white during the Pied Piper Parade. And keep your ears open for Choir Nation, a travelling ensemble that will teach participants an iconic Canadian song by popular homegrowns like Spirit of the West and Neil Young.
Other key dates include:
• Taste of the Harvest: Sept. 8, 7 p.m.
• Montebello Park Experience: Sept. 15-17, and 22-24.
• Pied Piper Parade: Sept. 16, 11 a.m.
• Meridian Grande Parade: Sept. 23, 11 a.m.
With two weeks of wining and dining ahead of you, you can book a weekend getaway or a full fortnight in the Great White North. The only thing left to ask yourself is: red or white?
This post is a sponsored collaboration between Destination Canada and Gothamist staff.
