Oh Canada

Oh CANADA!  I just love you!

I know, I'm sure you all are going, really?  An entire post about your 48 hours in Canada?  For reelz?  YES!  Canada is amazing, and I only spent time in about .001 percent of it!

Growing up American there are 2 things that I always heard about Canada.  They have excellent health care, and they are and unbelievably kind and generous country.  Both are true.  Not here to debate the firs point, but am here to talk about their hospitality!  It's real folks, and it was so encouraging, inspiring, and fun!  Canadians are delightful and Canada is beautiful.

On the recommendation of a good friend of ours, Bob and I took our free afternoon and headed up North to the infamous Niagra on the Lake.  It is this spectacular old town that just welcomes you with lovely storefronts, old historic buildings, green and lush parks, and that under current that says "You are so welcome here, Eh!"  We found ourselves in a chocolate shop in no time at all, and then strolled along the main street smiling as we went.

We hopped into a lovely store and Bob got some amazing business shirts.  We spent a good hour talking with the shop workers, becoming friends, and getting personally fitted for some amazing styles. (No, I didn't buy the jacket.......its 107 here!)

Niagra on the Lake is known for its winery's and they do not disappoint. With so many to choose from, we just kind of rolled the dice, looked through our wine perks cards, and settled on the Peller Estate.  

Just the entry to this Estate was awe inspiring.  Everything about this winery was fabulous.

Canadian hospitality did not disappoint, and our free 4 glass wine tasting turned into a 12 plus glass with an additional taste of their infamous Ice Wine! We left our "tasting" feeling fine!  

The Ice Wine was such a fascinating offering.  So, its cold in Canada.......like WICKED cold in the winter.  Wine isn't made in the winter.....and grapes are usually harvested well before the bitter cold sets in, but, Canada is awesome, and they figured out how to work with their frigid winters to create Ice Wine. Basically they have a crop of grapes that they grow specifically to mature during winter. After 3 consecutive days of -10 degree weather, the harvesters go out at 2AM pick the frozen grapes and instantly squeeze them.  Doing this allows them to get the intense sugar out of them.  They bottle it and it is served as an intensely sweet dessert wine. To give you an idea of concentration, it takes 3-4 bunches of grapes to make one bottle of normal wine.....Ice Wine requires 30-40 bunches.......for 1 BOTTLE!  It was wild and such a fun learning experience.

Bob and I decided to settle in at Peller for the remainder of the evening and took advantage of their outdoor restaurant.  The food was incredible, but the servers were even more so.  Each one who helped us asked about us, got to know us, and was in no rush to leave.  Their desire to know you is real, authentic, and such a lovely thing to be a part of. And the food.......mmmmmmmm.

Canada, thank you for being you and for doing it well!  You have a special place in my heart and I simply cannot wait to visit you again!