I had chance to spend the weekend in the Twenty Valley region of Ontario (Jordan and Beamsville area). I tend to hit this area when I am Niagara On the Lake area checking out vineyards but to my surprise it is a great destination area in it's own right. Some of the best wines in the area come from this region, Cave Springs, Henry of Pelham and Vineland estates to name a few, and there are more and more boutique wineries popping up everyday. I had my fill of local asparagus, visited a beautiful cooking school, had a delightful experience at Black Walnut Manor run by Carol and Mike Gurgol (Carol's rhubarb muffins are fantastic), had a beautiful country lunch on a farmhouse porch over looking the vineyard at Featherstone, a fantastic wine pairing dinner at Vineland estates and brunch at the elegant On the Twenty dining room. Many of the newly touted vineyards are of Niagara are rising up from this area favoured for it's limestone that gives he wine a mineral-ly quality. Look for Angel Gate's, F;atrock, Featherstone and Fielding to name a few. Also Wayne Gretzky and Dan Akroyd have both opened vineyards in the area - Akroyd's wine is an award winner - I hope to taste it soon and report back! Look for more posts on the area in the next couple of days. Click here to sign up for Christine's Food for Friendse-newsletter!