Two wine tour operators are making the Nova Scotia Winter Wine Festival a little safer for wine tourists this year and have adjusted their schedules to accommodate the one week postponement of the festival due to heavy snows forecast for Feb 9-10.
Go North Tours is holding a Progressive Dinner on Saturday Feb. 16. The tour starts at 3:00 pm from Wolfville and visits three wineries for tastings and a three course Maple inspired dinner paired with wines.
The first stop is at Avondale Sky Winery for a Winter Vegetable Bisque paired with Bin 33 followed by a wine tasting. Next stop is Gaspereau Vineyards for another wine tasting and a dinner of Maple Roasted Red Pepper Glazed Chicken with Maple Cranberry Compote, along with Chateau Potatos paired with two Gaspereau wines. After an introductory wine tasting dessert will be served at Domaine de Grand Pré winery /for the grand finale: Maple Pumpkin Crème Pots served with Maple Granola Brittle paired with Grand Pré’s 42 Muscat Port. Just $120 per person plus HST. Couples wanting to stay the night and attend more Wine Festival events on Sundaycan get a tour package for two including a night at either The Tattingstone Inn or Victoria’s Inn starting at $338/couple plus HST.
Nova Scotia Wine Tours have tours planned for both Saturday and Sunday Feb 16 and 17. On Saturday their Winter Icewine Escape will run from 1:00 am to 6:00 pm. The tour begins in either Halifax or Wolfville and has its first stop at Avondale Sky, for wine pairings, then on to Domaine de Grand Pré winery for a flight of their wines. Lunch is at Front and Central Restaurant in Wolfville (formerly known as The Tempest restaurant) for a hearty winter lunch paired with two NS wines. The day finishes at Gaspereau Winery one of the top 25 wineries in Canada according to Wine Access magazine. for a flight of wine ending with icewine and chocolate.
On Sunday, Feb. 17 Sunday Feb. 17 they are offering their Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Escape package from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm. The tour includes round trip from Halifax or Wolfville. Their first stop is L'Acadie Vineyard for Stars on Ice to enjoy their Sparkling wines or Ripasso red wine with cheese fondue. The next stop is Luckett Vineyards for a wild ride down Luckett's Luge trail for the adventurous or to gather around the bonfire and enjoy a glass of wine and a bowl of Pete Luckett's curry or soup. The final stop is at Gaspereau Vineyards for Sleigh rides with their award winning wines and finishing off with icewine and chocolate. Price $115 per person plus tax. Call 1 855 850 WINE (9463) to book your tour.
Go North Tours have postponed their Ultimate Icewine Brunch originally scheduled for Feb 10 to Sunday Feb 24 due to snow warnings.
Participants can either drive up to Wolfville early Sunday morning Feb 24 and just hop on the tour bus for $105 plus HST or take advantage of the tour and accomodations package being offered by Blomidon Inn for $329 per couple and stay overnight Saturday. The Ultimate Icewine Festival Brunch has its first stop is at Domaine de Grand Pré Winery with Champlain Mimosa and the first course of their travelling brunch made by Red Seal Chef Kerina Dykstra. The next stop is Sainte Famille Winery for a tasting of a selection of their wines and the brunch entrée and wine pairing. The bus then moves on to picturesque Avondale Sky Winery with dessert paired with icewine.
For a rundown of other Winter Wine Festival Events check out my last column Winter has delayed the NS Winter Wine Festival
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