Travel Guides to Canada

2017 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CANADA

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growing regions: Eastern Townships, Montérégie, Ouest-du-Québec, Centre-du- Québec and Est-du-Québec. Located 40 minutes east of Montréal, The Brome- Missisquoi Wine Route links wineries along a 140-km (87-mi.) signposted route in the beautiful Eastern Townships ( www.laroute desvins.ca). On this route, you will fi nd the province's fi rst winery, Domaine des Côtes d'Ardoise, opened in 1981 in Dunham, which is remarkable not only for its wines but for its exhibition of sculptures gathered from more than 80 artists ( www.cotesdardoise.com). The Magog-Orford Wine Festival, held annually on the fi rst two weekends of September, off ers an opportunity to sample Québec regional food and wine products in a picturesque setting ( www.fetedesvendanges. com/en ). With an annual production of over 60 ciders, Montérégie is the pioneer of cider production in Québec ( www.maroutedes cidres.com/en/cider-mills ). Ice cider (made from frozen-on-the-tree apples) was fi rst made in the Eastern Townships by a French winemaker, Christian Barthomeuf, at his winery/cider house, Clos Saragnat, in Frelighsburg ( www.saragnat.com ). Domaine Pinnacle, famous for its fl at, sparkling and ice ciders, exports to more than 50 countries ( www.domainepinnacle.com/en ). Top microbreweries in Montréal include Dieu du Ciel, Harricana, Boswell, HELM, Benelux, Broue Pub Brouhaha, McAuslan, Brasseur de Montréal and Bistro Soeurs Grises, many which also serve gastro pub food. In 2016, RateBeer named Dieu du Ciel, in Mile End, the best microbrewery in Québec and in the Top 100 in the world ( www. montreal.eater.com/maps/best-montreal- brewpubs-beer-bars ). On Île d'Orléans, Cassis Monna & Filles cultivates 16 ha (39.5 acres) of blackcurrants to produce over 40,000 bottles per year of cassis liqueurs ( www.cassismonna.com/en ). THE MARITIMES LOCAL FLAIR COMING ON STREAM Nova Scotia is Canada's fourth largest wine producing province. Its wine trail has about a dozen wineries making quality wines from 100% locally grown Nova Scotia grapes and fruit ( www.winesofnovascotia.ca). Grape Escapes off ers a number of tours, some which include lunch or dinner at a winery ( www.novascotiawinetours.com). Domaine de Grand Pré, the oldest farm winery in Atlantic Canada, has an award-winning restaurant, Le Caveau, which focuses on regional Nova Scotia product prepared with a global fl air ( www.grandprewines.ns.ca). Benjamin Bridge makes champagne-method sparkling wines recognized as among the top in the world ( www.benjaminbridge.com). The Good Cheer Trail off ers an exciting mix of tours, tastings and special events at wineries, cideries, microbreweries and distilleries ( www.goodcheertrail.com). The Halifax Beer Bus takes people around Halifax to taste and learn all about Halifax's exploding craft beer scene ( www.halifaxfoodtours.com). The new state-of-the-art Authentic Seacoast Distillery opened its doors as the home to award-winning spirits and craft beer brands, including the new GLYNNEVAN whisky ( www.authenticseacoast.com). The Halifax Distilling Company is the fi rst of its kind on the Halifax waterfront (www. halifaxdistillingco.ca). New Brunswick has around a dozen wineries to visit (www.tourismnew brunswick.ca/Products/Groups/Wineries ). At Motts Landing Vineyard & Winery in the beautiful St. John River Valley, wines are made from estate grown grapes such as the unusual Louise Swenson grape ( www.motts landingvineyard.com ). At Magnetic Hill Winery and B&B, in a restored 1867 historic site overlooking Moncton, visitors can picnic on the grounds while enjoying a sip of estate-grown fruit wines such as blueberry, cranberry and strawberry, as well as those from local New Brunswick grapes—all vinted on the premises ( www.magnetichillwinery. com ). In 2012, Distillerie Fils du Roy opened in Petit-Paquetville making absinthe and a gin that uses a local tree, the Thuja occiden- talis evergreen, in its botanical recipe ( www. distilleriefi lsduroy.com ). In P.E.I., the Rossignol Estate Winery off ers a remarkable variety of table wines, fruit wines and liqueurs. Family-owned Matos Winery & Distillery off ers tours and tastings just minutes from Charlottetown, and the Beamish Family Organic Orchard has expanded to produce craft spirits and liqueurs refl ecting an auth- entic Island taste experience at Deep Roots Distillery. Prince Edward Distillery makes PEI Wild Blueberry Vodka, and Canada's fi rst and only vodka made from PEI potatoes ( www. tourismpei.com/wineries-distilleries ). In Newfoundland, Rodriguez Winery, Auk Island Winery, Quidi Vidi Brewery, Port Rexton Brewing Co., YellowBelly Brewery and WesternNL Brewing Co. have all come on stream. THE NORTH SPIRITS AND BREWS In 2016 Yukon Brewing Company released Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Whisky— one of only two single malt whiskies made in Canada. The Company has international award-winning craft beers and does brewery/ tasting tours on a daily basis, except Sundays ( www.yukonbeer.com). The NWT Brewing Company opened in the fall of 2015 (www. nwtbrewingco.com). With all these new craft distilleries, breweries, cideries and over 700 licenced wineries, a good local drink is always near at hand in Canada. OKANAGAN VINEYARD, BC • SHUTTERSTOCK/CHASE CLAUSEN 56

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