Last week we took a little weekend getaway outside of the city for Dan’s birthday. After hearing many great things about Prince Edward County, we decided it was the perfect destination for a short trip – it wasn’t too far and it was bound to be beautiful in the fall.
Having grown up in the Niagara Region, I have an appreciation for wine areas. I can barely make the trip from Toronto to my sister’s vet clinic in Niagara-on-the-Lake or my parents’ place without stopping at a winery on the way. It isn’t that I love wine; it’s more that I love wineries. Years ago, in my admission letter to landscape architecture, I wrote that the designed landscapes of wineries were my biggest inspiration for wanting to become a landscape architect…and it’s true! Wineries are some of my favourite spots to admire both landscape and architecture. So, long story short, I was excited to visit another area known for its wineries and see what the wineries and surrounding countryside were like.
Below are some highlights from our 2 day trip to ‘The County’. This was my first visit for pleasure, so obviously, I’m no expert here! But we left feeling satisfied that we had made the most out of our two days away. So, why not share what we did?!
Sipped
Obviously, we visited a few wineries. Hinterland had one of the wines that stands out to me – if you are a fan of sparkling (I am!), then I recommend their Whitecap – so sweet and delicious.
Norman Hardie is one of Dan’s favourite wines from the LCBO so we made sure to visit their tasting room. Their red wines did not disappoint and we left with a couple of bottles (a bit expensive by our usual standards but they will definitely be enjoyed :)).
The final winery we visited before heading back to the city was Domaine Darius on recommendation by my friend, Jeff. It was a tucked away spot that does no advertising due to their small production. Dan and I talked with the owner for about an hour, learning about wine and the old world methods they use. They were sold out of everything except for their chardonnay – a wine which, admittedly, Dan and I are not fans of usually, but we both agreed that it was the most velvety smooth chardonnay we had ever tried!
Ate
Basically, all Dan ever wants is to eat out. So, since it was his birthday weekend I made sure that we we stopped for food, coffee, and sweets as often as possible!
Our first stop was the Drake Devonshire for lunch. The company I worked for for the last 5 years (Joel Loblaw Inc.– they’re the best!) designed the landscape, so it was nice to visit and see how things were looking after working on the site for such a long time. I have 3-D modelled every inch of the property, so it was fun to see things in real life! The interior and exterior are fun, quirky and eclectic. Definitely worth a visit for dinner, a drink, or a stay.
For dinner we went to The Agrarian in Bloomfield. It was delicious, rich and flavourful. They had a set menu which had plenty of vegetarian options and a lovely wine list. Dan was happy because with a set menu it meant we each got our own dessert – a change from me usually turning down dessert and then inevitably eating half of his 
Our final meal before leaving town was lunch at the cutest little spot in Bloomfield called the Saylor House Cafe. It’s tea cup clad interior looked like something out of a small town movie and they made a mean grilled cheese.
Goorin Bros. Hat//Eve & Enoch Top// Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Jacket// Saint Laurent Boots// Proenza Schouler PSII purse
Stayed
We stayed at Angeline’s Inn – what a charming spot! We have heard only fantastic things about their restaurant too, but unfortunately it was closed on Monday which is when we were there. It was a perfect spot to stay and really reasonably priced! We stayed in ‘The Walter’ which is their most affordable option and it was perfect.
Do
Mostly, we just drove between the small towns in the area, stopping wherever we wanted on the way. We stopped at every cafe for Dan and every market stand for me (there were lots!). There were some antique markets that were fun for a peek and Bloomfield had some lovely shops.
Joe Fresh leggings and Top//Anthropologie Tunic//Saint Laurent Booties//Proenza Schouler PSII Purse
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