Last Saturday we had the great pleasure of visiting the New Vintage Festival Tailgate Party. The tickets were $ 85 a person but we won then as a part of the New Vintage getaway thanks to the fine folks at the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival, Vintage Hotels, and Vines Magazine.
We'd never been to a tailgate party so we weren't sure what to expect - no, to my American friends, we Canucks just don't do tailgates the way you do south of the border. I googled a bit and this is what I discovered:
The New Vintage Festival is a time of growth and rebirth among Niagara’s 18,000 acres of lush vineyards – a testament to the rich soil and unique climate of the region.
Experience the beginning of a new season in the vineyard as we celebrate the efforts from vineyard to farm and winemaker to chef.
The TD Tailgate Party will take place amongst the vines at Hughes Vineyards, home of the Grape King, where Niagara’s celebrated winemakers will tell their Cool Climate Story and local chefs will present the bounty from our own backyard.
The tastings and culinary extravaganzas will entice your inner gourmand. It promises to be an unforgettable solstice evening.
Join Dairy Farmers of Canada as they present fine Canadian cheeses. Eight Niagara chefs will create superb summer recipes featuring the finest produce and meats from local growers. Not only is the fare fresh, but we all reduce our carbon footprint when we enjoy locally produced foods and wines.
This year, in addition to over 30 of the region’s top wineries, the Black Spurs will entertain you with their own brand of roots rock and alternative country, with influences ranging from the Kinks to Johnny Cash and Blue Rodeo. The stage is set for a casual backyard event with friends, old and new.
30 wineries . . . 8 area chefs preparing food for us all . . . live music in the vineyard . . . finally a party we could truly LOVE!
The festival organizers had arranged shuttle busses for us. We loaded up on the bus and headed to the vineyard. When we got there were were greeted with a glass of freshly made lemonade to recover from the journey and later an empty wine glass to start sipping.
From that point on one just cut loose and enjoyed oneself . . .
You can tell by this collection of pics that it was a BLAST! We're already looking forward to next year's tailgate soiree . . .
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