It is harvest time in wine country!
The Savvy Bus is heading to Prince Edward County on Saturday September 26 and our Savvy Sommeliers will be your tour guides. There is always a great buzz at this time of year, so why not join us to experience it first hand? Hop on board, sit back & relax in our luxury coach as we explore the backroads of Prince Edward County. We will stop in Picton to take in TASTE – Community Grown, a farm-to-table festival where you will meet The County’s finest winemakers, chefs, brewers and farmers too – all under one roof in the historic Crystal Palace. Sip and sample the great wines and craft beers from the region…and even buy bottles to bring back home. Being in the height of harvest, there will be a bounty of farm fresh produce and gourmet goodies too.
The Savvy Bus is 50% sold out – Book your spot on the bus >>
This is the region’s premier food & wine market, celebrating their culinary community from farm to table. Chefs, winemakers, craft beer producers and farmers will all gathered in the same place on the same day.
You can shop till you drop too! Take home fresh produce of the season, one-of-a-kind products from our local farmers & Ontario VQA wines directly from participating wineries.
Winery tour stop #1
After taking in TASTE, we will head off to visit wineries. First stop – Traynor Family Vineyards, the newest in The County. Mike Traynor purchased the property back in December 2008 when it was just a frozen cornfield but he could see his vision from that moment. Since then, family & friends have been invited to the vineyard to assist with some consuming tasks. With hard work…there are fun times too! Traynor hosts a number of events such as Prunapolooza and Harvest Soiree’s, which have been a great way to allow people to become part of the wine making process and to leave with a warm memory and 
Mike’s parents are retired and have purchased a place nearby the vineyard so…they are always on the ready to lend a helpful hand. On weekends, often Mike’s wife Rebecca and son Quintin are seen around the vineyard too.
The winery opened its doors Labour Day weekend of 2014, and since then, Mike’s vision of creating a comfortable space where people can come visit and enjoy has become a reality!
Next stop will be at Keint-He Winery & Vineyards, a Burgundian inspired winery right here in Ontario that produces Pinot Noir with international character.
Unlike many grape producers, at Keint-he they like to think of their vineyards as ‘a habitat for the vines’. “Our Pinot grapes prosper in harmony with their environment, not in spite of it”, explains co-owner Bryan Rogers. They’ve applied the Burgundian model of viticulture to The County microclimate. That means that the 28 acres of vines that they’ve planted now, will never exceed 35 acres – this is high density planting and they believe in it.
Keint-he produces domestic wines that exhibit European minerality and acidity. The vines are lovingly raised in the limestone rich soils of our three distinct and unique vineyards. The grape growing & winemaking team at Keint-he only focuses on those grape varietals that most effectively showcase the terroir of the region. The result is award winning, terroir-based wines that reflect our standard for quality and the character of the region in which they were produced.
Dinner anyone?
Agrarian Chef, Neil Dowson, likes to takes advantage of the wonderful produce this area has to offer as he shares his modern spin on classic comfort food and the result is delicious! From the farm, dairy, bakery and winery right to your table. On your next trip to The County, be sure to stop at the Bistro to pull-up a chair, enjoy great food and soak up the rustic warmth of our dining room.
Well according to the dictionary it’s ‘a place where alcoholic drink was sold illicitly during Prohibition’ and it comes from speak + easy (in the sense: gently, quietly). At the Agrarian’s Speakeasy it is a funky space featuring craft brews on tap, great ciders, wine and killer cocktails. Live music on Saturday evenings are just a few of the fun events this place has to offer. Food, drink, friends!
Savvy Bus Ticket info
Advance Booking Only – click here for tickets
Savvy Special: $149 (regular $165)
Price includes absolutely everything! Round-trip transportation in a luxury coach, Sommelier guides, admission to TASTE, winery tours, dinner in the vineyard & good ol’ HST.
The Master Plan…
The Savvy Bus will depart downtown Ottawa at 8:30am from the Ottawa Marriott (100 Kent St). We will pick up passengers at the new BRIDGEHEAD Coffee Shop in the Pinecrest Mall & Starbucks at 1151 Division Street (near the 401) in Kingston.
Our plan is to arrive at TASTE by 11:30am.
At 3pm, the Savvy Bus will continue our road-trip with a drive through Picton, take the scenic route along the Loyalist Parkway to Traynor Vineyards for a tour & tasting, then onward to Keint-he Winery where we will be treated to a dinner surrounded by vineyards. By 8pm, the coach will depart for Ottawa.
The fun filled day (and a delicious one at that) should wrap up around 11pm when we return back to Ottawa.
Bonus!
A Savvy Sommelier will be on the coach with you offering wine tips, telling you stories about Prince Edward County & answering any ‘County’ questions you may have along the way.
Everyone is welcome to join us on this roadtrip!