Eatdrink #54 July/August 2015

30 www.eatdrink.ca
Preparing for tastings with Martin Gorski of North 42
Degrees (top), and at Viewpointe Estate Winery.
Oxley Estate Winery, located on a bluff on
the shore of Lake Erie, hosts visitors in a renovated
1920s barn. The light-filled and elegant
tasting/dining area opens onto a spacious
terrace. Oxley produces award-winning wines
in small lots from traditional grapes, and from
less common, sustainable varieties such as
Auxerrois and Regent.
Cooper’s Hawk Vineyards is committed to
sustainable practices. The 67-acre property
comprises wetlands, ponds and woods as
well as the vineyards. Tours and tastings
are customized, and the recently expanded
premises feature a new restaurant offering
locally sourced foods, and wine pairings.
Cooper’s Hawk produces wines that are both
affordable and of award-winning quality.
Situated directly on the shore of Lake
Erie, Viewpointe Estate Winery offers
plenty to the wine tourist: tastings, tours,
culinary demonstrations and other events.
The restaurant is open daily in the summer.
Chef Jodie Brown’s strong support of local
farmers and producers is evident in the
delicious and creative offerings.
Whether you’re a fine wine aficionado or
a cardboardeaux connoisseur (hey, don’t
be so quick to judge), Colio Estate Wines is
worth a visit. One of the first wineries in the
region, and now one of Canada’s top five
№ 54 | July/August 2015
producers, Colio focuses on big reds, but is
also known for its characterful sauvignon
blancs, chardonnays and rieslings.
If your schedule (or the ferry schedule)
doesn’t allow for a visit to Pelee Island,
you can still enjoy a tour and tasting at
Pelee Island Winery in Kingsville, which is
open year-round. Pelee is Canada’s largest
estate-owned winery, and the wide range of
product offerings means there’s something
for every palate. It also means that many
Pelee wines are on menus in the region. A
lovely wine to pair with a sunny patio — 2013
Cabernet Franc Rosé from the Retro series.
Consider leaving the car behind for
part of your winery tour. Essex County is
notoriously flat (though there is a major
exception — the 30–50 foot (10–15 m) high
ridge near Kingsville and Leamington). Farm
Dog Cycles offers short and leisurely tasting
tours, as well as full-day guided rides that
take you through some of the best wining
and dining and cycling in the area. The
Farm Dog family is accommodating: tours
are customized to your preferences, and if
you are staying locally there is a pick-up and
drop-off service available.
If golf is your game, there are over 20
courses scattered throughout Essex County.
But even if you don’t know a nine iron from a
tire iron, consider a stop at Rochester Place,
a golf club and resort near Belle River. Chef
Johnny Oran is in charge of the kitchen at
the Parkside Grille. A Stratford Chef School
alumnus, Oran has paid his dues in kitchens
across the country, including Cowbell
and Splendido in Toronto, and Montreal’s
exclusive 357c. Besides the expected burgers,
sweet potato fries, and the local must-serve
Lake Erie perch, Chef indulges his creativity
with such items as grilled lamb kefta (with
lamb sourced from local Ewe Dell Family
Farm), and a stunningly delicious roasted
head of cauliflower stuffed with housemade
mozzarella, tahini, pomegranate, and
toasted almonds (for sharing, of course).
Stop at Mettawas Station if you’re near
Kingsville when it’s time for a meal. In
1899 Hiram Walker — whisky magnate,
entrepreneur, philanthropist, and sometime
railroad builder — commissioned the station
to facilitate the travel of guests to his resort
hotel, The Mettawas (described by a Windsor
newspaper of the time as “a magnificent
pile of buildings.”). The hotel no longer
exists, but the station has been lovingly