by Vivian Wagner

Created on: August 15, 2008   Last Updated: September 06, 2008

A Loaf of Bread, a Jug of Wine, a Fresh Nectarine, and Thou:
Picnicking in Ontario's Orchard Country

One of the best ways to spend a summer day in and around Niagara-on-the-Lake, a little resort town along Lake Ontario, is to have a picnic. And travelers needn't worry about bringing picnic foods with them. Everything needed for a hearty meal can be picked up at farmstands, gourmet shops, bakeries, and wineries scattered throughout this fertile region.

This area that lies between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario is known for its temperate climate and good soil. Geologically, this area was once all underwater, which means it has a rich topsoil perfect for growing fruit. Thus, most of Ontario's wine grapes and orchard fruits are grown on this thin strip of land.

A drive along Niagara Parkway will reveal dozens of wineries, each with its own distinctive wines. One of the most famous of these wineries is Inniskillin, which was established in 1975. It features a visitor center, as well as a wine tasting bar. The sweet, rare, and expensive Icewine is one of its specialties, but it also offers a large selection of cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, and merlot.

Another winery worth a stop is the Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery, which offers a tasting gallery featuring its Proprietor's Grand Reserve wines complete with cheese, crackers, dips, and other snacks. There are many other wineries, and part of the fun of this region is exploring and taking the time to stop at as many as possible, sampling the wines and meeting the winemakers.

Once the wine has been procured, it's on to the fruit, bread, cheese, and other elements of a picnic.

For fruit, travelers are likely to find many small, mom-and-pop fruit stands along the road, and any one of them is likely to yield succulent cherries, apricots, nectarines, plums, and other fruits in season.

Another stop for picnicking traveler might be Kurtz Orchards, which sells locally-grown fruit, bread, cheeses, jams, and other gourmet items. Here's the place to round out a picnic meal with some fresh sliced cheddar from Ontario dairy farms, hot mustard, and fresh bread. Visitors might have to dodge busloads of tourists to get to the wares, but the one-stop-shopping aspect of Kurtz Orchards makes a visit worth it. Picking up napkins, a tablecloth, and paper plates might not be a bad idea, as well, in addition to glasses for the wine.
With the picnic assembled, it's time to find a spot to eat. Fortunately, it's not difficult to find parks along the river, with picnic tables, trails, grills, and other amenities. Just up from Kurtz Orchards there's a large park with plentiful parking and lots of secluded picnic sites.

The Niagara River Recreation Trail runs along the river from Niagara Falls all the way up to Niagara-on-the-Lake, passing right along this park. After finishing off the fruit, the cheese and bread, and the wine, a leisurely stroll along the river is a good way to round out the afternoon.

A far cry from the bustling, touristy, artificial environment of Niagara Falls, the Niagara-on-the-Lake region offers a classy and affordable alternative. No tickets to buy, no fees to pay, no lines to wait in, no tourists clicking cameras. Just the sun, the company of a loved one, fresh fruit right off the tree, good wine, and a long, slow, lazy afternoon with nothing to do but sit back and enjoy the day.

For More Information
Inniskillin Winery
www.inniskillin.com

Jackson-Twiggs Niagara Estate Winery
www.jacksontwiggswinery.com

Kurtz Orchards
Fruit, bread, cheeses, and other gourmet items.
www.kurtzorchards.com

Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce
www.niagaraonthelake.com

Wines of Ontario
A gateway site to all of Ontario's wineries.
winesofontario.org

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