A peak behind closed doors

We may be staying at home, but we can still indulge in some virtual exploration. I thought it would be fun to peak inside some closed doors. Winery doors specifically. It turns out I have a lot of photos from past visits to the Twenty Valley (in the fall 2019). I have written posts on some, but there are many wineries I never wrote about. So please join me on a photo tour. Get comfortable, grab a glass of wine if you wish, and let’s go see what’s behind these inviting doors.

Our first stop is Kew Vineyards. You’ve already had a glimpse at their delightful outdoor patio on the cover photo. The front door of this graceful country house is beautiful on the way in and the way out. The stain glass motif and its many shades of green are gorgeous, but even this intricate grape design is no match for the view out the back to the real thing. Looking through the French doors you feel an intimacy with vineyards mere metres away. Inside is full of country charm with cut crystal, silver teapots and other vintage kitchen gadgets on display amidst the wine bottles in the large white cabinets. The floors creek and the wicker chairs crinkle in this 1850s farmhouse.

Next up is another historic winery. Vineland Estates was established in 1979 in the early days of the wine region. The founders brought vine cuttings from the Mosel valley so there is a strong connection with Germany. The stone exterior is elegant and it’s only once you are inside the wineshop you get a sense of its log cabin origins. It’s an old Mennonite barn from the 1870s and the beams are from a shipyard in Toronto.

Around the corner from Vineland Estates is Ridgepoint Wines. The owners planted a large number of varietals on their small hilly plot of land to produce Italian style wines such as Appassimento and Ripasso (reflecting their Italian heritage). I had a most fabulous lunch with my Mom in their small Italian restaurant. I enjoyed my pasta so much I didn’t pause to take any photos inside, but I do have one of the patio overlooking the vineyards.

If you look carefully in the photo above you will see a grey building at the top left. This is our next stop: Megalomanic. This winery is not shy. It sits proudly at the top of the hill for all to see. Step inside and the decor is bold with grandiose chandeliers and a huge shiny black marble tasting bar. From its lofty perch, the full length windows boast views in every direction. 360 degrees of fabulous views. In case you still need some convincing to try the wines, the colourful labels also shout “look at me” with audacious names like savvy sauvignon blanc, narcissist riesling and pompous pinot noir.

Let’s come down to earth now. At Malivoire Wines they also make use of the sloped terrain: to propel their gravity design winery. The entrance is tucked into the side of the hill surrounded by lush foliage and chirping birds. The vertical design allows the grapes to travel, by gravity, from the steel drums at the top of the hill to the caves below. From the tasting area, look up and you can see the steel drums through a window on the upper level. Not surprising this Sustainable Winemaking Ontario Certified winery has an organic feel, with a twisted twig chandelier and a curved wooden tasting bar. It’s also a member of the somewhereness group that showcases its sense of place.

Let’s zip along to three more somewhereness wineries. The exterior of Domaine Queylus looks like a log cabin but walk inside and it’s very modern. The small room feels spacious under the high A-frame ceiling of light wood and crisp grey beams.

Westcott Vineyards also mixes old and new. The building was carefully moved from a nearby location and reconstructed on its new plot. The distinctive front door is made from reclaimed wine crates. At my visit I tasted two red wines in the small tasting area while winery staff had their lunch on a large wooden table in the open space. The Temperance, a blend of pinot noir and gamay, is served slightly chilled and suggested to “Drink whenever you feel tempted to do so and remember that life is good.” Good advice.

The final of the somewhereness wineries on this tour is Cave Springs Vineyard. It’s located on the quaint main street in Jordan. There’s a bakery across the street. I visited the wineshop with my Mom (after stopping at said bakery) and our friendly server told us some of the history of Cave Springs. As early pioneers, the owners planted some of the first Riesling vines in the region in 1978. Since my visit, the co-founder and CEO, Len Pennachetti, has been appointed to the Order of Canada for his role in developing the Ontario wine industry. Impressive.

Let’s get back on the country roads for our next stop: Fielding Estates. In a region full of fantastic vistas, the tasting bar at Fielding Estates still stands out. Wow. Perch yourself at the sleek tasting bar, wine in hand, and you have panoramic views of the rolling vineyards and Lake Ontario in the distance. My server even pointed to the specific patch of Riesling I was tasting (Lot 17) as a large yellow tractor lumbered by. The ubiquitous Muskoka chair is the winery’s logo and there are plenty scattered around the property to enjoy the views.

Our final stop is lovely Rosewood Estates Winery. It’s unique in the region as it started as a Meadery (mead is strong drink made from honey) and the grapes were added later. It was harvest time when I visited and staff were bustling about, as ‘busy as the bees’ collecting pollen from the lavender bushes throughout the grounds. My attempt at humour is no match for Rosewood’s clever names for their wines. Fans of Alice in Wonderland will smile at Follow the White Rabbit and Looking Glass wines. Many wines are unfiltered (bottled before fermentation is complete) like the funky Nebulous I sampled which was a cloudy pink colour. The modern black and white interior is full of light streaming in from the windows up high.

Outside you can walk along the paths and over the picturesque bridge. Pause to have a good look at the lily pads in the pond.

The bridge will lead you to a peaceful gazebo which is the perfect place to end our tour. Let’s relax and catch our breath. Normally I would not cover 10 wineries in one day (that would be insane).

We can cover more ground with a virtual tour. Yet these 10 wineries are but a sampling. There are 51 wineries in this little gem of a region. Fifty. One. There is more to explore. Just like my dog Caramel, tail wagging, waiting for our front door to open to visitors, I look forward to these winery doors swinging open for tastings (when it is safe). In the meantime, wines can be sampled at home using curbside pickup or home delivery (yes please!)

Cheers to Ontario wine!