Vacations

Wine Tasting Room Etiquette

Many small, boutique wineries are family-run businesses. Chances are quite good that you will meet one of the winery’s family members while visiting a winery. When visiting a wine tasting room consider yourself a guest. The owners and staff are proud of their facility and wines. They want everyone to enjoy their visit. Expectations in tasting rooms are different than…

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Vacations

Hello From Toronto Part 3 Exploring Niagara Wine Country

Two days ago I took our European visitors on a little driving tour of the Niagara Peninsula, specifically to explore some of the 50 something wineries. My brother is a chef and very interested in exploring the authentic tastes and flavours of Canada. So far my visitors have been very impressed with the quality of the Canadian vegetables, meats, spices,…

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Wine

Bottles That Impress Giving The Gift Of Wine

Wine makes the perfect gift for the holidays, from presenting it to your host at a dinner party to giving it to your friends and family. Whether your gift list includes a family member, a beloved friend or new boss, wine is sure to be a hit when presented with some flair. Viansa Winery, situated at the Carneros grape-growing region…

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Wine

Wine Labels Decoded

Even for the avid wine drinker, deciding on a bottle of wine can be a daunting task with so many varieties of wine on the market today. Wine labels don’t help either with the various terms in foreign languages and the small print. Sometimes reading a wine label makes you feel like you need a secret decoder ring, but rest…

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Vacations

What To Expect When Visiting A Winery Tasting Room

Most tasting rooms are similar in the way they operate. When entering the tasting room, a tasting room staff member will greet you. Walk up to the tasting bar and say you would like to taste some of the wines. Some wineries charge for tastings and others do not. Occasionally a souvenir glass is included when you pay a tasting…

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