Highlights

September 19-21, 2021

Spend two glorious fall nights in Nova Scotia’s beautiful Annapolis Valley tasting the wines and food of this rich region that is just a few hours from home.

After a luxury coach trip from PEI, we will have an “inspired by fire” dinner at Fuego, located at the Bent Ridge Winery and Bent Nail brewery*. We will then travel to our home-away-from-home for this getaway, the ever-popular Old Orchard Inn, where we will be sure to be treated like family.

After a leisurely breakfast, we will visit the heart of the area’s UNESCO World Heritage site at Grand Pré National Historic Site, the region’s most significant memorial to the Acadians’ tragic upheaval. We will then tour three of the region’s wineries, including Benjamin Bridge* - Canada’s premier sparkling wine house, Lightfoot & Wolfville* - an organic and biodynamic vineyard (where we will enjoy a light lunch), and Gaspereau Vineyards* - the home of estate-grown Rieslings. After wandering through the charming town of Wolfville (you might want to pop into Church Brewing or visit the Annapolis Cider Company), we’ll head “home” to refresh before heading out again for a four-course dinner at Luckett Vineyards*. And that’s just day 2.

Our final day on the trail will include another leisurely breakfast before we head for a walk to Halls Harbour Beach to stretch our legs. We’ll stop for a treat before heading to the last of our eight tasting stops on this tour: L'Acadie*, Avondale Sky* and Meander River Farm & Brewery* After all that, we'll get you home in time for a late supper at your own kitchen table.

This tour will be co-hosted by Lesley Quinn, Stellar Somm Wine Experts, and Frances Gertsch & Kelvin Jones, Stewart Travel Group. Together, this dynamic trio will ensure you laugh, relax, and are well taken care of throughout the journey. 

Inclusions

• Luxury motorcoach transportation from Charlottetown, PE
• Two nights accommodation, plus take-away breakfast at the Old Orchard Inn
• 2 lunches & 2 dinners with wine pairings at vineyards
• Tastings at 4 additional beverage makers
• Gratuities for wineries and meals
• Visit to Grand Pré National Historic Site (the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Area)
• Expertise of Lesley Quinn, Certified Sommelier, throughout the journey
• Hosted by Stewart Travel Group’s Trusted Travel Advisors, Frances Gertsch & Kelvin Jones

Itinerary

Day 1

• Depart Charlottetown at 1:00 pm 
• Travel by luxury motorcoach to Annapolis Valley (4 hours)
• Dinner: Fuego, located at Bent Ridge Winery & Bent Nail Brewery*
• Accommodations: Old Orchard Inn

Day 2

• Leisurely take away breakfast with time for a morning walk 
• Depart for Grand Pré National Historic Site
• Tasting at Benjamin Bridge Winery*
• Lunch at Lightfoot & Wolfville*
• Tasting at Gaspereau Wines*
• Visit to Wolfville and time at leisure
• Dinner at Luckett Vineyard*

Day 3

• Take away breakfast
• Depart for beach walk at Halls Harbour
• Tasting at L'Acadie Vineyards*
• Lunch and tasting at Avondale Sky Winery*
• Tasting and garden tour at Meander River Farm & Brewery*
• Travel by luxury motorcoach to PEI (4 hours)
• Arrive back in Charlottetown by 7:30 pm 

Wineries & Beverage Makers

Bent Ridge

• Wines of Nova Scotia page
• Winery website
  
• Head Winemaker: Thomas Laszlo
• Styles: White wine, Rose wines, Red wines, Dessert wines

Benjamin Bridge

• Wines of Nova Scotia page
  
• Winery website
• Head Winemaker: Jean-Benoit Deslauriers
• Styles: Traditional method sparkling wine, Pétillant naturel sparkling wine, White wine, Tidal Bay, Rose wine, Small-lot red wine

Lightfoot & Wolfville

• Wines of Nova Scotia page
  
• Winery website
• Head Winemaker: Josh Horton
• Styles: White wine, Rose wines, Ice wines, Traditional method sparkling, Tidal Bay, Red wines

Gaspereau

• Wines of Nova Scotia page
  
• Winery website
• Head Winemaker: Gina Haverstock
• Styles: White wine, Rose wines, Traditional method sparkling, Tidal Bay, Red wines, Dessert wine

Luckett

• Wines of Nova Scotia page
• Winery website
• Head Winemaker: Mike Mainguy
• Styles: White wine, Rose wines, Ice wines, Traditional method sparkling, Tidal Bay, Red wines

L'Acadie

• Wines of Nova Scotia page
• Winery website
• Head Winemaker: Bruce Ewert
• Styles: Traditional method sparkling, White wine, Rose wines, Red wines

Avondale Sky

• Wines of Nova Scotia page
• Winery website
• Head Winemaker: Ben Swetnam
• Styles: White wine, Rose wines, Traditional method sparkling, Tidal Bay, Red wines, Dessert wine

Meander River Farm & Brewery

• Farm & Brewery website
  
• Head Brewer: Alan Bailey
• Styles: Beer, Cider

* Our plans are to visit the beverage makers listed above. We all know that the best laid plans sometimes go awry and so we are reserving the right, at the sole discretion of Stewart Travel Group and Stellar Somm Wine Experts, to make changes to the list of fine beverage makers that we visit. Thanks for understanding.

+++

PHOTO CREDITS (Top to Bottom) 

Cover image - Luckett's Vineyard (Tourism Nova Scotia)

Highlight Composite - Top Row: Bent Ridge Winery (Bent Ridge Winery via Facebook); Benjamin Bridge (Wines of Nova Scotia), Lightfoot & Wolfville (Tourism Nova Scotia), Gaspereau (Tourism Nova Scotia/Dean Casavechia). Bottom Row: Luckett's Vineyard (Tourism Nova Scotia), L'Acadie (Wines of Nova Scotia), Avondale Sky (Tourism Nova Scotia/Scott Munn), Meander River Farm & Brewery (Meander River Farm & Brewery via Facebook)

Map - Google Maps, created by Frances Gertsch, Stewart Travel Group

Wineries - Bent Ridge Winery (Bent Ridge Winery via Facebook); Benjamin Bridge (Wines of Nova Scotia); Lightfoot & Wolfville (Wines of Nova Scotia/Jess Emin); Gaspereau (Wines of Nova Scotia); Luckett's VIneyard (Wines of Nova Scotia/Jess Emin); L'Acadie (Wines of Nova Scotia); Avondale Sky (Wines of Nova Scotia); Meander River Farm & Brewery (Meander River Farm & Brewery via Facebook)