Working in Toronto Canada or Buffalo New York? You really need to get out of town! And there’s no better way than to discover Ontario’s beautiful wine country. This is a region known around the world for it’s Ice Wines, but the area also produces some clean crisp Whites, and some very respectable Reds. With a Bordeaux-like climate and the moderating effect of Lake Ontario, the Niagara region is a verdant area of lush fruits, fresh vegetables and stunning scenery. It’s the perfect place for a weekend escape from Canada’s largest city or Upstate New York’s business hub.
Our television crew has discovered just the place to escape busy Buffalo or Toronto; Jordan Village in Niagara’s Twenty Valley is a hidden gem just one hour from either city. A throwback to quaint villages of times gone by, this region is brimming with things for couples or groups of friends to do. Award-winning wineries, luxurious country-inn style accommodations, hiking & biking paths, restaurants, shops and a great spa are but a few of the attractions in this secret little pocket of Niagara.
Two of the main landmarks that catch your eye as you drive into the region are the Inn on The Twenty and the Cave Springs Winery and Store. Beautiful rooms complete with fireplaces, seating areas and huge comfortable beds are decorated in a country-inn theme. A cornerstone to the Inn is the On the Twenty restaurant, which predates the Inn by a number of years and came into being to help contextualize Niagara wines with a regional cuisine, a task that the chefs here manage with flair, harvesting local leeks while we were there and preparing vegetables, wines and cheeses from the region. The Canadian Lamb Sirloin is tender and to-die-for, completed with a Sicilian caponata made with sweet peas and minted barley. The dish is divine, and the wine pairing great. A personal favorite is the Cave Springs Dolomite Riesling, named for the rock the grapes are grown in, a great off-dry fruity blend with smoky, mineral complexity.
Jordan Village also boasts a number of cute shops to peruse, stores such as Pamela’s, Tintern on Main or the S&B Antique shop have great, unique finds.
From pubbing to fine dining, there are several restaurants to be found in the area. We popped into the very boho and comfy Zooma Zooma Resto & Wine Bar to enjoy wine, appies and a full house as a great folk singer took the stage, an unexpected treat on a great night. Jordan Village is a highly recommended way to get away and see the “other” side of Niagara.
