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| Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery |
When I’m
not teaching writing at UofT in Toronto, I’m often writing at home. And if I’m
not writing at home, I’m often traveling to where I will write. You get the
picture: I’m a writer. My website mantra reads: “I live to write; I write to live.”
I’m always
looking for great places to write, to synthesize observations and experiences
for an article or to plot my next novel. As writers, we are constantly studying
the nature of our surroundings, how people interact, what they do, how events
affect us and more. Writing is as much about experiencing life as writing about
it. But we need both to flourish: something to write about and a place to write
about it.
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| Noble Restaurant, Prince of Wales Hotel |
Recently a
good friend of mine lured me out of town on a trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake. She
didn’t blink an eye when I grabbed my computer and happily accompanied her on
our wonderful adventure. We started at the Prince of Wales Hotel, named in
honour of the 1901 visit of the Duke and Duchess of York, who were later
crowned King George V and Queen Mary.
We got
there just in time for supper in the elegant and panoramic Noble restaurant. Of
course, we had to order the divine “Grand Hotel Tasting Menu”, a four-course
meal, paired with several fine wines.
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| Fred Gamula, Sommelier |
Sommelier Fred Gamula guided us through the
“Grand Hotel Tasting Menu” of crisp romaine hearts, grilled chili marinated
quail, pan seared trout and Grand Hotel Opera cake. Each course was paired with
a wine that brought out the best in each; from an Inniskillin Chardonnay
Reserve to a Flat Rock Twisted, to a Cave Spring Gamay and finally a Taylor
Fladgate port.
Gamula and I got into a diverting conversation about looking after
the environment and water (I later gave him a copy of my book “Water Is…”).
Gamula grew up on a small fruit farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake and has seen some
changes in the area due to development. Some not so good. We agreed that the
trick is to embrace influx while preserving the very reason for that influx—to enjoy
and preserve the wonderful country, vineyards and wineries in the area.
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| Patio, Prince of Wales Hotel |
I found a
wonderful place to write on the Churchill Room patio facing King Street, where
the horses and carriages waited for customers. As the sun set, I drank my Campari
and orange juice and wrote my novel to the cheerful sounds of birds, rustling
trees and exploring people.
The next morning
we wandered Queen Street before heading out to explore wine country. Curious
about Reiner’s window display, I wandered
into what I thought was a leather shop—expecting the usual fare such as purses,
satchels, belts and the like; but it turned out to be a speciality leather ottoman
store.
These weren’t ordinary ottomans—they were all animals! Hippos, bears,
moose, elephants and pigs stood on stout legs, begging for a nice home to live
in.
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| Looking comfy on my favourite hippo |
The store
is named after leather crafter Reiner Henneveld who came to Canada in 1950 from
Germany and created his first animal-shaped ottoman in the shape of a pig—after
his pet pig, Wilbur. Reiner’s two sons have taken up the craft with a commitment
to individual design and workmanship that includes hand sewing, cutting and
stuffing and using the finest upholstery leather. I found them comfortable and
very attractive.
After lunch
we visited old favourites and explored new vineyards and wineries.
Wayne Gretzky Estates recently
opened its winery and distillery on Old Stone Road. The estate is getting known
for its No. 99 Red Cask Canadian Whisky; “the same soils that produce great
grapes also grow grains that are used to produce whisky,” they write. The
whisky is made in small batches from rye, malted rye and corn that has been
individually mashed, fermented and distilled. After aging, the whisky is
finished with red wine casks from the Wayne Gretzky winery. |
| Pork and Sangria at Ravine |
The Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery is an old
haunt for its charming and diversely stocked general store and its rustic-style
restaurant with imaginative and surprising menus. Both inside and outside
seating offer vistas of undulating countryside and the sounds of a working
vineyard. Another great place to write!
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| General store at Ravine Vineyard Estate |
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| Bird houses attached to vineyard posts at Ravine |
