A family-run brewery in the countryside. An historic beer-making spot in central Windsor. A fine winery with classic Chardonnay. And a bustling distillery with craft cocktails and fun, casual dining. The Windsor-Essex-Pelee Island tourism region is blessed with a huge variety of beer, wine and distillery spots, which they highlight on their Barrels, Bottles and Brews trail. The trail allows visitors (and locals) to explore 11 craft breweries and two distilleries in the area, and to have a special passport stamped along the way I was fortunate enough to explore a half-dozen or so fine establishments on a recent visit Read more
wineries
The Niagara Wine Region could be an even bigger tourism draw – and provide an even larger economic boost to Canada – if government and industry officials work together, a new report says. In a first-time partnership, Ontario Craft Wineries, Tourism Partnership of Niagara and Wine Growers Ontario have come together to commission a Deloitte report that reveals the Ontario wine sector is well positioned to drive sustainable economic growth for the region, the province and the country. Described as the Niagara Cluster, the region is made up of an extensive network or “cluster” of industries where intense economic activities Read more
Hawke’s Bay in New Zeaand today was named a Great Wine Capital of the world, setting it alongside eleven other prestigious wine regions such as Bordeaux, Napa Valley California and Adelaide, Australia. Admission to the Great Wine Capitals program (Hawkes Bay is the 12th Capital worldwide) comes after a stringent selection process that looks at a region’s winegrowing industry, its history, its wine tourism, educational opportunities, business, and travel, as well as the cities and region itself. In announcing the news, Hawke’s Bay Tourism CEO Hamish Saxton said the significance of being named a Great Wine Capital of the Read more
Air Canada will begin direct flights between Toronto and Sacramento on June 3, 2023, with four flights per week. Here’s a story I wrote for the Postmedia newspaper group several years ago. SACRAMENTO – This used to be the Rodney Dangerfield of California cities, a government town that never got the kind of attention heaped on San Francisco or Los Angeles. But wonderful, local food, relatively affordable rents and a great location – 90 minutes from San Francisco and less than that to the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains – have brought in a number of young entrepreneurs looking to make Read more
This is a story I filed for Postmedia a few years ago. Air Canada on June 1 will begin direct flights from Montreal to Toulouse, a large city in the lovely Occitanie Region of Franc. CIRQUE DE GAVARNIE, FRANCE – My tour guide is whipping along a narrow mountain road that overlooks a steep canyon at what seems like Formula One speeds. There’s only the bare minimum of a guard rail on my right, and we’re close enough to the car in front of us that I’m pretty sure I can see what radio station the driver is listening to. Read more
