 Luxury Vacations: Amateur wine lovers and wine experts alike have recently begun to recognize Nova Scotia as one of the premiere wine-making regions in the world.
Nova Scotia's temperate ocean breezes and traditionally long autumns of have grown award-winning grapes, producing great wines like L'Acadie Blanc, New York Muscat, Baco Noir and Marechal Foch. Spend a weekend in the area to taste some of the offerings produced by 30 growers covering 300 acres of grapes in nine counties.
The Annapolis Valley is home to a great many wineries, including the Sainte Famille winery. Open from May and October, Sainte Famille makes wine a family affair, offering grape stomping contests, pumpkin carving contests, as well as tours of the vineyard and winery during the season.
Minutes from Wolfville, is Domaine de Grand Pré, which has the distinction of being Nova Scotia's first operating winery since 1978. In addition to stunning scenery, the winery offers romance in its restaurant, Le Caveau, as well as a renowned selection of elusive ice wines and flavored sparkling wines available in a variety of flavors, including peach, blueberry and maple.
In addition to the wineries, spend some time enjoying the picturesque villages that dot the area. Annapolis Royal is a historic settlement, first founded in 1605. The town is rich in history that can be found in the earthen embankments and original military buildings at Fort Anne; the area showcases the oldest wooden frame buildings in Canada.
The town of Lunenburg is surrounded by wineries including the Lunenburg County Winery, which features fruit wines. In Lunenburg, stroll along narrow British colonial streets filled with colorful houses that have made the area a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Numerous original churches, antique shops and galleries also line the streets. For dinner, stop in to the Fleur de Sel restaurant, which serves modern interpretations of traditional French cuisine.
To rest, stay at the Kaulbach House: a six-room inn built in 1880, filled with antiques and modern amenities.
Spending just a weekend in Nova Scotia is never enough time to fully enjoy the rich history and flavors of the region, but it's enough to give you a taste. Visiting novascotia.com. can help you plan your trip.
For JustLuxe Carly Zinderman |
