Sometimes as parents you need to break away from it all and play a little. Life gets busy and reconnecting with each other is vital for you both to be the parents you can be. We did just that when we ate, stayed and drank in Prince Edward County on a romantic getaway.

Wine Touring Tips For Beginners

Prince Edward County zigzags the shores of Lake Ontario and is only a short drive east from the hustle and bustle of Toronto. The “County’s” popularity is growing because of its limestone-rich soil, and climate producing award-winning Ontario wines. It’s the perfect place for a romantic getaway and cross wine tour off your bucket list. Here are 7 Wine Touring Tips For Beginners.

Hire A Driver

There is no other way I would like to experience a wine tour than with a driver and a black car service. By using a wine tour company such as Prince Edward County Wine Tours, no one needs to be the designated driver and your driver plans the whole route for you. Not only do they take the planning out of your romantic getaway they are highly educated in the wineries you will be visiting and give you knowledge along the way.

Eats

We weren’t sure how the food aspect of the wine tour would work, or even if there would be food?

There is a solar-powered winery in Prince Edward County called Harwood Estates Winery that we stopped about halfway through our wine tour. Harwood was the only winery that paired our wine samples with food. They welcomed us with a chalkboard sign with our names on it and they paid attention to the smallest details. My suggestion is to eat before you go and bring some light snacks. I was lucky to have a dark chocolate bar on hand and shared it with our tour group. After losing count of how many wine samples you drank, it sure was nice to put something solid in your belly.

My suggestion is to eat before you go and bring some light snacks. I was lucky to have a dark chocolate bar on hand and shared it with our touring wine group. After losing count of how many wine samples you drank, it sure was nice to eat something sweet. 

Hydration

Overthinking about every little detail, I brought along water bottles for hubby, and I. Don’t overthink it or worry about carrying water along. There is lots of water available at the winery’s for you to help yourself too. The last thing wineries want is someone becoming dehydrated and sick.

Trust The Process

We Googled, read, researched everything there was to study about taking our first wine tour. We were excited, but at the same time, we were newbies and didn’t want lack of experience holding us back. My advice is to trust the process; these wineries have thousands of newbies walk through their doors yearly. They are there to teach you and make sure your experience is a memorable one.

My advice is to trust the process; these wineries have thousands of newbies walk through their doors yearly. They are there to teach you and make sure your experience is a memorable one. You will never stand out nor is any question silly. 

Bring Your Wallet

If you use a wine tour company your samples are included in the price you already paid for the tour, they work out the details for you. If you have a DD and they drive you around you will have to pay for the samples you drink. The price is different at each winery but very affordable.

Besides the romantic getaway with your partner, the point of a wine tour is sampling local wines with the possibilities of finding one worth bringing home to share. We bought a few bottles from each winery we stop at supporting Canadian family businesses. Be sure to add a minimum of $100+ to your budget for the wines you buy along the way.

Tip Your Driver

After driving your group around for 4+ hours, answering all your question, opening and closing your door all while drinking water, yes, of course, etiquette is to tip your driver.

Ploughman’s Basket

To save you from needing to drive anywhere after wine sampling, plan to have a ploughman’s basket of local charcuterie, cheese, preserves and baguette in your room for a romantic night in.

Bay of Quinte has exceptional handcrafted culinary to make your taste buds dance. May I suggest trying La Cultura dry-air aged beef, paired with Pyramid Ferments Old Smoky Sauerkraut (I’ve been craving this since we ran out) and no ploughman’s basket is complete without something sweet. Donini Chocolate has been in Belleville for over 30 years making producing quality specialty chocolates, but the reason I cannot keep them off my mind is because of their Vegan Chocolate Hazelnut Cream.

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“Once again Prince Edward County draws us in closer. From the food, wine, people and stunning land there is never a shortage of reasons asking us to come back.” 

Have you found these wine touring tips helpful? 

Thanks for reading In R Dream!

Thank you Bay of Quinte for your hospitality during our stay!