Penn Yan, Finger Lakes

I've been at least half-a-dozen times to the Fingers Lakes wine region and found a lack of reasonable hotels in good locations.

But now there's a brand new Hampton Inn right at the waters edge at the top of the north-western arm of Keuka Lake.

This was the view from our bedroom window. 

And next to the car park is the aptly named Top of the Lake restaurant  whose jetty can be seen at the left of the photo. In summer guests can eat outside on the jetty, but on the last day of October we ate inside.

Great winelist packed with local wines. We chose 2016 Keuka Spring Vineyards   Epic Reserve, a red blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon from a winery just 2 miles down the lake, to accompany our Delmonico 14oz Black Angus steak.

Shame time constraints meant we could only stay one night.

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Cave Spring and Inn on the Twenty

 

Cave Spring Vineyards in Jordan Village makes darn fine wines and they have a relaxing pleasant restaurant, Inn on the Twenty. 

I took Joan there hoping to take one of their winery tours which descend to the cellars where they show you the old tunnel under the road. But they'd stopped doing the tours so we consoled ourselves with a tasting and lunch.

We hadn't booked at Inn on the Twenty but they found us a good table by the window overlooking the wooded gully which hides Twenty Mile Creek, a waterway flowing to nearby Lake Ontario.

Cave Spring are famous for their excellent Rieslings, which on previous trips I have brought home to show at tastings. But this time to accompany my burger I enjoyed a glass of Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2015 VQA Niagara Escarpment ($21.95 a bottle).

 Interior of restaurant photo courtesy Inn on the Twenty

Ruth's Chris, Toronto

 
In Toronto Joan took me to my favourite steak house chain, Ruth's Chris. The petite filet was, as always, superb as were the crisp plentiful chips and generous house salad. Service was impeccable. They asked if we were celebrating and we told them it was my birthday.

Usually I order a Ridge Zinfandel, but the Toronto branch didn't list it. Instead, I was delighted to see, they had my all time favourite Baco Noir from nearby Henry of Pelham , this was the Speck Family Reserve 2015. It was gorgeous and perfectly complemented the steak. And this branch of Ruth's stocked English mustard, sadly lacking in the USA.

And afterwards they brought this complementary rich chocolate birthday cake complete with candle!

Several days later while staying at Niagara Falls I again visited Henry of Pelham's vineyard and winery. I couldn't carry home any bottles of Baco this time but I did buy a 200ml bottle of Vidal Ice Wine to squeeze into my case.  

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Ontario and Niagara Falls

Flew into Toronto on 23 October to present a Pinotage tasting to the South African Wine Society on Tuesday 24 October. (see report here.)

Then east to Belleville for two nights staying in an excellent Holiday Inn Express and dining in neighbouring Linguines's restaurant. I went  there to visit Del Gatto winery in Prince Edward County. Pat Del Gatto is the only Pinotage grower/maker on Canada's East Coast and he makes a darn fine Pinotage which quickly sells out. (see report here.)

Holiday Inn Niagara Falls. You can see the Falls when you exit the hotel (on left by the sign). The Falls are 3 minues walk down the road n the left

Then back west to stay in Niagara Falls. It was cold and rained most of the time.

Maid of the Mist approaches the Canadian Falls

Canadian Falls seen from the height of the Skylon Tower

Rainbow Bridge between Canada and the USA

In 2014 I'd stayed in the Crowne Plaza with a room overlooking Rainbow Bridge and saw the bridge often jammed all the way across with cars queueing to cross into the USA.

On Monday 30 October there was no delay. We were directed to  park the car and go into an office to see an immigration officer and pay $6 each and we were off to change the Canadian registered Toyota Corolla car for a US Kia Forte at the Hertz office in Niagara.

Then off to the Poconos via Finger Lakes