When your day starts out with limo transport to wine country, a breakfast of locally made nibbles and a helicopter tour, you can be fairly certain it will be a fabulous one. Needless to say when I landed at Château Des Charmes and was presented with a glass of their lovely Brut Sparkling Wine by Marketing Director, Michele Bosc, I was certain I had died and landed in Beyoncé's life. I was so jet set.
Tasting 5 more Château Des Charmes wines including their 2010 Aligoté, St. David's Bench Vineyard (my favourite) along with local artisanal cheese was a complete treat and I would've been totally content if that was the end of the day... but off we went to the Trius at Hillebrand Winery where we enjoyed a 4 course lunch with wine pairings al fresco. The main, dry aged Wellington County beef ribeye with a Riesling sauerkraut and oxtail ravioli, was accompanied by a 2010 Merlot served seductively from a decanter known as "Mamba". 10 points for impressive wine pouring.

The last, but quite possibly my favourite, stop of the day was our dinner at The Restaurant at Peninsula Ridge. The food was amazing! Executive Chef, Pierre Bourget, elevates casual dining with comfort food that has just the right level of sophistication. My new favourite salad is his Grilled Romaine Heart Caesar with Prosciutto, Fried Capers, Asiago shaving and Anchovy lemon dressing. Upon hearing Chef Pierre leads his team through 50+ weddings per year I'm determined to be back for a milestone anniversary but will definitely sneak in a few great lunches or dinners next time I'm exploring the region.
LCBO events and promotions won't hit for a few weeks but I'd highly recommend a day in Niagara to soak up our last few days of summer. If you can't squeeze in a staycation, why not host a little fête to sample some of our local talent with your friends. Visit www.lcbogolocal.com to discover pairings for your next party and www.winecountryontario.ca to choose your own Niagara adventure. As for what to wear, wine country seems to beckon you to come as you are but opt for flats and bring a jacket or pashmina if you're planning to stay for sunset.
-- Tamika Auwai is a fashion junkie, splurge-a-holic, and founder of Shop Socials.
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