The anniversary

I highly, highly recommend everything about our whirlwind getaway to Prince Edward County last weekend. Except maybe for the whirlwind part - a couple of extra days would have been good. Next time, maybe!

In summary:

Buddha Dog, Picton - So fun! We stopped for lunch when we arrived on Saturday, and the lineup was out the door. We custom-designed a few dogs from their myriad gourmet sauces and local artisan cheeses, complemented by a bottle of black cherry Pop Shoppe soda (blast from the past!) and a yummy maple tart. This meal gave us the energy boost we needed for an afternoon of wine tasting.

Sandbanks Estate Winery - Our first wineriy stop, highly recommended to us by a fellow wine lover and PEC veteran. We scooped a few bottles of the Baco Noir, Reisling, and dessert wine. The wine was great, the staff were lovely, but overall this winery lacked the "character" of some of the others we visited later.

By Chadsey's Cairns - What a lovely, peaceful spot. As you drive up to the parking area, you pass an old graveyard, perfect for wandering. The wine tasting room is a converted small farm building, with a stunning deck overlooking the vineyard. Across from the tasting room is a larger barn with huge double doors opening out towards a spectacular view of the lake, complete with two Muskoka chairs. We enjoyed the Pinot Noir here and grabbed a bottle to go.

The Grange - Off the beaten path on a back road, this winery has a stunning converted barn tasting area. Hubby fell in love with one of their premium wines, and we picked up a bottle from their Trumpour's Mill line too. This would be an amazing wedding venue.

The Inn at Huff Estates - This is where we stayed the night. We booked one of their premium rooms, which offered a king size bed, sitting area, double sided fireplace, and private patio overlooking the vineyard. Our package included a $100 voucher for dinner at our choice of restaurants, a taxi to and from dinner, and complimentary breakfast the next morning. When we arrived we dropped off our bags and headed up to their tasting room to pick up a bottle of wine. We also got a cheese tray for two featuring the amazingly delicious Fifth Town artisan cheese, and went back to our room for a little pre-dinner drink and snack.

The Waring House - We enjoyed our dinner at the Waring House. Our server, Jeremy, was a treat. Hubby had beef, I had duck. Overall good, but nothing really stood out for us here.

Norman Hardie - Possibly my favourite winery. We picked up a delicious bottle of their Reserve Pinot Noir and signed up for their mailing list to be notified when they need volunteers for their harvest. You can join them, work in the fields for the day, then they put on a dinner and party for everyone. How fun! We were also pleased to discover that their wines are carried by several Ottawa restaurants, including Beckta and Play.

The County Cider Company - Our last stop. We needed a bite to eat before we headed home, and this place was perfection. They have an outdoor patio overlooking their vineyard, with a stunning view of the lake in the distance. It was a perfect sunny day, ideal for sipping peach cider and munching on their homemade burger topped with the yummy Fifth Town goat cheese.

There will definitely be a next time for this trip.