Summer in the Vineyards

Canada's leading wine regions provide the backdrop for many special events going on throughout the summer and into the fall. And, many of them are about more than the wine.

To help you stay entertained this summer, Wine Access explores the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario and the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia and highlights some of this summer's best events. Let the music, food and a touch of culture add to the enjoyment of some of the country's finest wines and vineyards. Cheers and bon appétit!

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

The beautiful Okanagan Valley in British Columbia produces some of Canada's best wines, and this summer's entertainment showcasing those wines promises not to disappoint. (MBT)

WINE AND FOOD 

Nota Bene Release Party, Oliver (June 13)
In only its second year, this celebration of wine, food, music and terroir at Black Hills Estate Winery is hosted by Jason Priestley. Stations with food prepared by celebrity chef Ned Bell and paired with the wines of Graham Pierce will be set up throughout the cellar and tank room. DJ Jennifer Goulet provides the music for this event. (blackhillswinery.com)

Mexican Fiesta, Summerland  (July 4 and August 8)
Musician Galo Mora of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico comes to Canada every summer to perform at Thornhaven Estates. Thornhaven proprietor Jan Fraser says the winery's Santa Fe-style patio is a perfect fit for Mora's music, making for a fun and lively fiesta. (thornhaven.com)

Okanagan Summer Wine Festival, Vernon (August 7 to 8)
Taking place at Silver Star Mountain Resort, this festival has something for everyone. Main events include the Progressive Wine Tasting, which allows tasters to wander around Silver Star's village and sample wines from about 30 different Okanagan wineries. The festival also offers wine education seminars, outdoor activities and displays work by local artists. (skisilverstar.com)

Feast of Fields, Kelowna (exact date to be determined)
FarmFolk/CityFolk's annual fundraiser will have an Okanagan Valley event for the first time this year. Event coordinator Rhys Pender matches local farms with the local chefs who support them. Guests can explore the host farm, where chefs, farmers, vintners and brewers will be on hand to discuss the products available to taste. Proceeds from the event will benefit FarmFolk/CityFolk's work in the province developing sustainable food practices. (farmfolkcityfolk.ca)

MUSIC

Summer Concert Series, Kelowna (July 22 and August 12)
CedarCreek Estate Winery provides audiences of only 300 with intimate musical shows by Michelle Wright and Jim Cuddy. The artists perform on a small stage in the rose garden, with Lake Okanagan in the background, while wine and food are served. (cedarcreek.bc.ca)

Canadian Concert Series, Oliver (June 27, July 25, August 22, September 19)
The third Saturday of each month, from May to September, sees a Canadian musical artist performing at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. Artists scheduled to perform include Hey Ocean!, Alex Cuba and Current Swell. The summer series wraps up in real Western style with a performance by Corb Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans. (tinhorn.com)

Karaoke on the Mountain, Summerland (August 15)
Local girl Pam Ferrens hosts an afternoon of karaoke at Thornhaven Estates. Country music abounds, with plenty of Patsy Cline and Shania Twain tunes to be heard. Anyone who wants to come and share their voice is welcome. The winery provides light food and invites people to bring a picnic. (thornhaven.com)

Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Niagara fills the summer season with winemaker dinners, tastings and festivals. For those vacationing closer to home this year, a stop at any of these events will help make your wine country experience extraordinary. (SG)

WINE AND FOOD 

Flavours of Niagara, Port Colborne (June 26 to 28)
Now in its third year, this festival offers a sample of everything, with Canadian jazz artists performing and international cuisine and Niagara VQA wines on the menu. This scenic, lakefront weekend wraps up with a fireworks display on the Sunday evening. (flavoursofniagara.com)

Niagara Food Festival, Welland (October 2 to 4)
Dozens of food vendors prepare their specialties, local wineries sell by the glass and bottle and the Experience Niagara Market tempts shoppers with fresh local produce. Cooking becomes the entertainment, with Food Network chef Anna Olson's demos at the Mobile Culinary Theatre, as well as mainstage musical entertainment and roaming buskers. (niagarafoodfestival.com)

Beamsville Strawberry Festival, Beamsville, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia  (June 20)
Beamsville's fairgrounds are the perfect location for this sunny, family-friendly festival, full of fair classics like arts and craft booths, food, fireworks and lighthearted events like the annual charity Bed and Recliner Races. And, of course, strawberries in all their glory. (strawberryfest.ca)

Two of Niagara's premier wine festivals - the New Vintage Festival and the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival - open and close the region's liveliest season, and it's worth scheduling your trip to catch at least one of them. (niagarawinefestival.com) 

MUSIC

Twilight in the Vineyard, Niagara-on-the-Lake (late June to August)
With major Canadian acts performing for audiences of only 500, this concert series is an intimate experience. Guests step into the outdoor Jackson-Triggs amphitheatre for an evening of music under the stars after lingering over a gourmet or barbecue pre-concert dinner. Look out for performers signing autographs - and Jackson-Triggs wine bottles - afterwards. (jacksontriggswinery.com)

Music Niagara, Niagara-on-the-Lake (July 20 to August 15)
Jazz, classical, opera, Celtic, choral and cabaret all get coverage at Music Niagara, with special attention this year given to Haydn, Mendelssohn and Benny Goodman. Venues are as diverse as the music, with a local church and historic Fort George on the list. Two local wineries will also host Saturday performances by the Festival Strings: Music & Wine at Peller Estates and Vivaldi Underground in Inniskillin's elegant Barrel Room. (niagaramusicfest.com)

Jazz & Blues at the Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario (July 11 and August 8)
Newly renovated Hillebrand Estates hosts a day of jazz in July and a day of blues in August in the vineyard, where 1,500 guests can bring chairs and bask on the vineyard lawns or book lunch and a prime seat in one of the winery restaurants while bands play from afternoon to evening. (hillebrand.com) 

THEATRE & ART

Shaw Festival, Niagara-on-the-Lake (May 20 to November 1)
Eleven plays fill four theatres and a full summer of performances in the 2009 season. A celebration of George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries' works, the festival now attracts nearly 300,000 visitors from both sides of the border. Wine lovers can enjoy pre-theatre dining packages at Peller and Hillebrand estates, or a gourmet picnic dinner and wine tasting on "Fab Fridays." (shawfest.com)

Shakespeare in the Vineyard, St. Catharines (July 9 to 11,16 to 18)
Shakespeare is given an earthy touch with this annual outdoor performance in the vineyards at Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery. This year's play, The Merry Wives of Windsor, will be presented over two weekends, with proceeds going to the Niagara Peninsula Children's Centre. (shakespeareinthevineyard.com)

Photography Tutorial, Beamsville (July 18)
Pastoral vineyard scenery can draw vacationers to Niagara as much as its wine, and resident winery photographer AJ McLaughlin helps guests capture the experience at Angel's Gate Winery. After equipment tips and instruction on this year's subject, macro photography, students explore and shoot the winery and vineyards with guidance from McLaughlin. The class wraps with a viewing of the photos over wine and cheese pairings. (angelsgatewinery.com)

Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia 

These are just some of the events that are part of the Nova Scotia Fall Wine Festival, running from September 7 to October 30.  (MBT)

WINE AND FOOD

Valley Tours (June 1 to October 15)
Tours with sommelier Sean Buckland include wine tastings at three of the Valley's wineries - Sainte Famille, Domaine de Grand Pré and Gaspereau Valley Vineyards - as well as a two-course gourmet lunch with paired wines at Tempest Restaurant in Wolfville. Lunch is followed by a wine and artisanal cheese tasting at Gaspereau Vineyards, featuring products from Foxhill Cheese House in nearby Port Williams and a sample of award-winning icewine. (valleywinetours.ca)

Wine in the Vines, Canning (September 19 to 20)
At Blomidon Estate Winery, this event includes wine seminars with a sommelier, as well as samples and tours of the wine cellar. "People always love the tours of the cellar, something many wineries don't do," says Blomidon's retail manager Janet Woodworth. You can also enjoy live music as you tour the vineyard and feast on local cuisine. (blomidonwine.com)

Champagne Wishes and Seafood Dreams, Gaspereau (September 19 to 20)
This event at Nova Scotia's only organic winery, L'Acadie Vineyards, includes seafood appetizers and a tasting of Nova Scotia's first traditional method sparkling wine. Tours start with socializing in the wine shop, then head outside with L'Acadie owner and winemaker Bruce Ewert, so guests can eat while gazing out at the vineyard. (lacadievineyards.ca )

Food and Wine Festival, Gaspereau (September 26 to 27)
Food and wine pairing seminars in the Gaspereau Vineyards wine cellar are the centrepiece of this festival. Visitors go from booth to booth in the barn, checking out the wares of local producers such as Tangled Gardens. While admission is free, seating is limited, so those interested may want to sign up for the seminars in advance. (gaspereauwine.com)

Harvest Wine Fest, Falmouth (October 3)
This festival is a family affair, with grape stomps and pumpkin-carving contests for children and adults at Sainte Famille Wines. "The festival is at a time when the vineyard is at its most beautiful," says winemaker Suzanne Corkum. Attendance is free, but the winery asks for a donation to the local food bank. (st-famille.com)

Wines of Nova Scotia, Grand Pré, Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia (Oct 24)
Restaurant Le Caveau at Domaine de Grand Pré features a five-course meal prepared by chef Jason Lynch from local ingredients. Advertised as semi-casual, people attend the event all dressed up, wearing jeans and everything in between, to enjoy food such as the venison served last year. And, of course, the food is paired with Nova Scotia wines. (grandprewines.ns.ca) 

Outside the Valley

Jost Vineyards, Malagash
Celebrating its 25th anniversary last year, Jost Vineyards is a veteran on the Nova Scotia wine scene. Visit the winery in Malagash for some of the best events during the hot summer months, including Summer Fest, Blueberry Fest, the Art & Jazz Fest and the 11th Annual Charity Grape Stomp. (jostwine.com)