Palatine Hills Estate Winery’s Pairing of a Caramel Brownie With 2011 Lakeshore Red Wine
Days of Wine and Chocolate occurs annually and features a VQA wine and chocolate pairing (chocolate infused dish) at 26 Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake every weekend in February. Gourmet samples of appetizers, main courses, and desserts are offered. This is a fantastic way to celebrate the month of love with your partner and/or friends! You can make a fun afternoon of it, a relaxing weekend, or romantic getaway.
There are designated wine routes that you can follow (but they don’t lead to every winery that is part of the festival) or you can plan your own route and go at your own pace to target what you are most interested in tasting. However, you should be aware that there are some unexpected surprises that you may like contrary to what you may think beforehand. You may want to check the operating hours of the wineries before planning your route as some wineries open much later than others, but note that the festival hours are from 11 am – 5 pm. Be sure to visit the wineries that you most want to try first, as there’s a chance if you leave it to around 5 pm that the winery may run out of its feature due to its huge popularity.
Designated driver passes are also available, which entitle drivers to food pairings and non-alcoholic drinks, and are discounted. The wineries have a range of different juices and drinks available so that designated drivers are not left out and have new things to sample as well.
The best part of the festival is that the touring passes can be used at each winery over any of the weekends offered. In other words, you don’t have to visit all the wineries in one day or over one weekend. Instead you can spread it out over several days or weekends if you choose, but are entitled to only 1 sample per winery, for a total of 26 samples.
The hosts and hostesses at the wineries were all very pleasant. helpful, and knowledgeable. We were able to make it to 17 out of 26 wineries in one afternoon and enjoyed the wine and food pairings immensely as they complemented each other so well. Some of our favourite samples included the Chocolate Chicken Tortilla Soup, Lobster Bisque with White Chocolate Shavings, the Pineapple Infused White Chocolate (or Pineapple Bark), and the Nutella Crunch Cream Cake.
Check Out the Video Featuring the Wines and Gourmet Chocolate-Infused Dishes That We Tried!
Participating Wineries:
Between the Lines
2013 Cabernet Franc
Luscious Raspberry Filled Chocolate Truffle
Catttail Creek Estate Winery
2008 Select Late Harvest Cabernet Sauvignon
Nutella Crunch Cream Cake
Château des Charmes
2011 Cabernet Franc, Estate Bottled
Spicy Double Chocolate Cookie Bar Topped with Cassis Dark Chocolate Truffle & Dried Berries
Coyote’s Run Estate Winery
2012 Cabernet Merlot
Chocolate Espresso Cheesecake
Diamond Estates
2008 Lakeview Cellars GMR Sparkling
Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
Hinterbrook
2012 Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc Chocolate Cake
Inniskillin Wines
2012 Cabernet Franc Icewine
Chocolate Soba Noodle Salad with Cocoa and Soy Cured Duck
Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery
2012 Grand Reserve Shiraz
Red Wine Chocolate Cake with Smoked Almond Cream
Joseph’s Estate Wines
2010 Late Harvest Vidal
White Chocolate Almond Biscotti
Konzelmann Estate Winery
Konzelmann Merlot
Nutella Cheesecake
Lailey Vineyard
2012 Merlot
Flourless Chocolate Brownie
Niagara College Teaching Winery
2011 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay
Roasted Butternut Squash with Chocolate Mole
Palatine Hills Estate Winery
2011 Lakeshore Red
Caramel Brownie
Peller Estates Winery
Ice Cuvée Classic
Sea Salt Caramel & Valrhona Dark Chocolate Truffles
Pillitteri Estates Winery
2012 Rose
Dark Chocolate Pecan Bark Topped with Caramel & Sea Salt
Pondview Estate Winery
2012 Cabernet Merlot Rerserve
Milk & Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Drizzled with Caramel and Sea Salt
Rancourt Winery
2013 Chardonnay Reserve
Lobster Bisque with White Chocolate Shavings
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery
2012 Sand & Gravel Cabernet Franc
Chocolate Mint Opera Cake
Reif Estate Winery
2011 Merlot
Chocolate Chicken Tortilla Soup
Riverview Cellars Estate Winery
2012 Rosso Cabernet Merlot
Chocolate Cronut
Small Talk Vineyards
2011 Riesling Icewine Cocktail
Pineapple Infused White Chocolate
Southbrook Vineyards
Triomphe Cabernet Franc
Bresaola dusted in thyme and cacao nibs
Stratus Vineyards
2010 Tollgate Fume Blanc
Roasted Fennel, Beet, & Dark Chocolate Salad
Strewn Winery
2010 Merlot Terroir
Herb & Pepper Crusted Pork Tenderloin on Crostini with Red Currant & Chocolate Glaze
Trius Winery at Hillebrand
Trius Brut Rosé
Dark Chocolate and Bacon Truffle
Two Sisters
2011 Eleventh Post
Roasted Mushroom Crostini with Gorgonzola, Arugula and Agrodulce sauce
Andrew Peller’s Quote on a Wall of Pellar Estate’s Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada
Conclusion
Days of Wine & Chocolate was a very fun social event to do as a couple on a double date with friends. I would definitely recommend it to any wine and food lover!
The next festival includes a few different participating wineries and the dates are:
– February 2 – February 4, 2018
– February 9 – February 11, 2018
– February 16 – February 18, 2018
– February 23 – February 25, 2018
Other Niagara-on-the-Lake Festivals
Other festivals in the Niagara-on-the-Lake Region are: Sip & Sizzle in May (wine and gourmet grill pairings), Taste the Season in November (wine and hearty winter food pairings), and the Icewine Festival in January (includes an Icewine Village, an Icewine cocktail competition, special dinners with an Icewine inspired menu paired with wines, the Icebreakers Comedy Festival, and Icewine tastings accompanied by culinary samples).
In the summer many wineries host their own events on the weekends, such as a summer concert series, the Pillitteri Pop up Patio on Friday afternoons, and Summer Saturdays at Konzelmann Estate Winery.
Furthermore, there are several year-round events, such as Savour the Sights (on a specific Saturday every month Jackson-Triggs Winery offers 5 courses of fine regional cuisine, each featured in a different location of the winery), the Peller Estates Kitchen Table Dinner on Saturday nights, and the Winemakers’Selections Tasting Pass (entitles you to one tasting of a Winemaker’s Selection wine at each of the 25 Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake any day of the year). For more information on tours and events check the Wineries of Niagara-on-the Lake website’s Tours & Events drop-down menu. Niagara-on-the-Lake is a must for summer!
Map of Where Niagara-on-the-Lake is Located in Ontario, Canada
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What is your favourite food event?
The festival passes were complimentary courtesy of jankelley. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.
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Love wine, love chocolate, so this has really triggered my interest. Been to Niagara Falls, which was an absolutely wonderful and memorable experience, and so next time I visit Canada I will keep this event and destination in mind.
I hope you are able to attend this festival the next time you are in Canada, it is a must for all wine and chocolate lovers! 🙂