Nothing like a quick down-and-back to Niagara on the eve of spring, amirite? CBJ+M drove us to our friends’ place in Niagara-on-the-Lake, stopping at a few wineries (Rosewood, Hidden Bench, Kew, Kacaba, and Stratus), a brewery (Silversmith, which was excellent), the Pie Plate, and The Merchant Alehouse in St. Catherines for lunch.

Our friends laid out a huge cheese & charcuterie board, and green salad, and chicken tagine with couscous, and many bottles of wine. Pie and cocktails (Avaiations, Boulevardiers) served as dessert, and then we crashed. This morning we woke up with coffee, bagels, and a fry-up of bacon and eggs.

Here’s what followed us home from the wineries:

• Hidden Bench 2010 Tete de Cuvée Chardonnay (x2)
• Kacaba 2012 Cabernet Syrah
• Kacaba 2012 Rebecca Rosé
• Kew 2011 Heritage
• Kew 2011 Blanc de Noir
• Kew 2012 Traditional sparkling
• Kew 2012 Pinot Noir
• Rosewood 2012 La Fumée
• Rosewood 2013 Sussreserve Riesling
• Rosewood 2007 Ambrosia honey wine
• Stratus 2007 White

.:.

Cover photo by Crystal Luxmore, used under Creative Commons license