Twenty Valley Adventures

Hey There! We're creating a curated list of retailers, restaurants, and local hot spots to share with our guests. This is the first post of the series where we explore the wineries of Twenty Valley. The area is nestled in the Niagara Escarpment with Lake Ontario along its side; and makes for the perfect scenic route for your drive down to Belle Beach House, with its endless vineyards, rolling hills, and fields of fruit trees. We hope you enjoy the ride!

Cheers, Ian + Steph

The last 18 months for our family has meant slowing down and capturing lost time together; and when we stumbled upon Crystal Beach this past spring, it sparked a renewed interest in (re)discovering the local gems around us. As summer comes to a close (writing that makes it more real!), we are holding on tightly and filling the days with exploring and getting to know the Niagara region all over again. Mondays can be fun-days and we made sure of that this week with a drive out to the Twenty Valley region.

We made our way down the QEW and took the exit for Regional Road 18 into Beamsville towards Kew Vineyards. I had stumbled across the winery in my online search of the area and decided it was to be our first stop after seeing a photo of a bicycle on their website. Those familiar with Crystal Beach, know that decorative bicycles line the streets, businesses and homes of CB's village - so it was a sign!

Kew is the quintessential off-the-beaten path winery that represents the essence of the region. Perched on the Beamsville Bench, their tasting room is a mix of old world and new country charm with beautiful views in their gardens. Its relaxed intimate setting lends itself to a laid back afternoon of sipping wine and easy conversation. You can order by the glass or try their tasting flight of 3 wines, and they offer a cheese plate for nibbles. We both opted for the tasting flight, selecting from their fantastic offerings of small batch sparkling, reds, whites, and ciders (oh my!), and ordered their standard faire cheese plate. Kew Vineyards wins you over with its unpretentious attitude, easy drinking wines and ciders, and a view that makes you forget about time.

Those who prefer a modern atmosphere can head along King St. over to Malivoire Wine Company for their extremely drinkable and renowned Gamays. Their stunning tasting room is housed inside a unique building that is built into the slope of the ravine, and their open space patio provides views of grape vines lining the hills that surround the winery. Malivoire dedicates themselves to their innovative and eco-friendly wine-making that has earned them a sustainability certification. That care is reflected in their wines and thoughtful bite size snack box featuring fruits, meats, and cheeses sourced from local purveyors. We love #supportinglocal!

Following King St. and down Hwy 24 (Victoria Ave.) in Lincoln, we found our way to Featherstone Estate Winery and Vineyard - a classic farmhouse sitting atop a hill with an inviting wrap-around veranda. The scenic backdrop is perfect for a glass of their 2020 “Four Feathers”; and while their wood-fired pizza oven is closed this season, they offer delicious ‘Nosh Boxes’ (we ordered the hummus one) and cheese fondue. Featherstone is the epitome of a picturesque rural landscape, spread over 23 acres of the Twenty Mile Bench and we soaked in the vast sea of grape vines from our porch seats.

While the usual jaunt from Halton region (where we reside) to Crystal Beach is a straight 1 hour + 15 minutes of highway driving, veering off the scenic route will add some leisurely time with views to enjoy. Twenty Valley is centrally situated on the Niagara Escarpment, 40 minutes into our route down and 40 minutes away from Belle Beach House. The area is home to over 50 boutique wineries, and is waiting for you to visit!

(A note: if you're bringing your pooch down to Belle Beach House - these wineries are fur-baby friendly!)

Cheers!

Ian + Steph