Wine Tours Through Heart of Niagara's Wine Region

Row after row of carefully cultivated grapevines stretch toward the horizon, presenting a pastoral view obstructed only occasionally by wineries where vintners transform the fields' harvest into lip-smacking vintages. Crush on Niagara Wine Tours organizes getaways designed to immerse visitors in this grape-lover's paradise located in quiet, rural Ontario.

Both the Overnight in Wine Country and the Baby It's Cold Outside! tours pick up oenophiles from the Harvest Guest Cottage in a luxe passenger van in the early afternoon for leisurely, half-day outings. Tours cruise the Niagara-area countryside, stopping at four well-known wineries for tastings, ice-wine beverages, nibbles of local artisan cheeses, and a production of the musical Stomp performed by barefoot vintners. A $25 CAN dining credit to the award-winning restaurant at Vineland Estates Winery, one of the stops on the tour, contributes to a delicious evening.

After a day spent imbibing reds and whites, guests return to the quaint cottage, adorned with gleaming hardwood floors and cozy décor, and make their way to the Acacia, Twilight, Waterbury, or Woodward room. Each room's comfortable queen- or double-size bed comes dressed in smart, high-thread-count sheets and a fluffy duvet. Understated wooden furniture lends a casually elegant air. Though each room is different, they all come with a private bathroom and cheerful, sunshine-colored walls.

The house's spacious living room features a TV, a selection of movies, and a crackling fireplace. In the morning, a lavish continental breakfast waits in the kitchen, and the patio out back makes an excellent spot for watching the sun rise over a bucolic vineyard.

Beamsville, Ontario: Niagara Vineyards and Stunning Scenery

In addition to winery tours, the Niagara region offers a number of ways to enjoy the fresh air and scenic splendor. Niagara Falls is a short drive away, and guided horseback rides along the Niagara Escarpment provide a look at the area's untouched forests. A nearby working maple-syrup farm offers tours and classes in maple sugaring and houses documents revealing Mrs. Butterworth's maiden name. The closest town, Beamsville, boasts local and sustainable fare in many of its surprisingly chic restaurants.