North America's Finest Wine and Food Regions
While
the beaches of Mexico and Falls of Niagara
may be known best for the unparalleled
natural beauty they offer, these North
American regions also serve as bastions
for delicious food and wine. The United
States, Canada and Mexico offer travelers
some of the world's most exiciting options
for food and wine in easy-to-access locations
throughout the continent. Wine and food
aficionados can enjoy their favorite pairings
in these popular North American destinations.
United
States
San Diego Region
Although northern California is famous
worldwide for its wine, southern California
also offers some high-quality local vineyards
surrounded by its scenic beaches. The
San Diego Wine & Culinary Center
is conveniently located in downtown San
Diego and features an urban winery for
visitors looking to enjoy a tour and wine
tasting. The area is best known for the
San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival,
which runs annually from Nov. 14-17 and
feature 160 world-class wineries and 60
fine dining restaurants. However, vacationers
can enjoy the region all year by visiting
the variety of vineyards that run north
of San Diego to San Pasqual Valley. The
numerous year-round options makes San
Diego an ideal wine region for travelers
to visit.
Philadelphia
Countryside
Known primarily for its rich history,
Philadelphia offers much more than monuments
and museums. The city is actually surrounded
by 18 wineries, six of which make up the
Brandywine Valley Wine Trail,
a quick 25-minute jaunt from the city.
Most notably, the vineyards come together
on Sept. 29 and Sept. 30 to celebrate
HarvestFest, which features concerts,
picnics and wine-related activities. However,
visitors touring the area throughout the
year can experience the best of Philadelphia's
wine tastings.
When
it comes to cuisine, Philadelphia is bursting
with places to eat. To sample a variety
of foods in one location, travelers should
be sure to visit Reading
Terminal Market. Open since the
1860s, the farmers' market is home to
more than 80 merchants, and features both
local and ethnic selections. The market
even offers daily tours of its expansive
food collection. Of course, no trip to
the City of Brotherly Love is complete
without a taste of an authentic Philly
Cheese Steak. Be sure to ask a local for
his or her favorite cheese steak haunt!
Mexico
Baja Region
While traditionally recognized for its
expertise in all things tequila, in recent
years Mexico has garnered great praise
for its passion and dedication to wines.
When visiting, be sure to check out Ensenada — a beautiful coastal city that has
not lost its small town charm. In addition
to its striking images of the Pacific
Coast and Gulf of California, Ensenada
is within a day's trip from Mexico's three
prized, wine-producing areas — San
Antonio de las Minas, the San Vicente
Valley and the Santo Tomas Valley. While
enjoying one of Baja's best vintages,
travelers can take advantage of the region's
beloved cuisine, offering fine seafood
dishes including shrimp tacos and ceviche.
In September, the city is host to the
Ensenada Seafood, Lobster and Tequila
Festival — a delicious time for visitors
looking to experience the region's very
best in food and wine.
Sonora
Region
Another area not to be overlooked is Mexico's
Sonora region. Although not as popular
as the Baja, Sonora is home to more than
half of Mexico's vineyards. A picturesque
destination for wine enthusiasts, Sonora
serves as a main producer of wine grapes
for both the Baja region and areas of
Arizona. As a result, most of the region's
wine is produced by local wineries, and
offer visitors an intimate look into the
region's long and storied history with
viticulture. Travelers looking to relax,
should visit the port city of Guaymas.
Here vacationers can enjoy the beach along
with the traditional Yaqui tribe villages.
After testing the region's popular wine,
visitors should sample the area's famous
Bacanora, a drink produced from agave
Pacifica.
Canada
Okanagan
Tucked between the mountain ranges just
north of British Columbia, the Okanagan
region features some of Canada's best
in scenery and wine. The region begins
in the town of Osoyoos, at the southernmost
part of the Valley, just north of the
Washington border. Osoyoos offers quaint
lodging and dining options for food and
wine enthusiasts, including several bed
and breakfasts. From Osoyoos, travelers
can continue north through wine country,
stopping for tastings of the area's premiere
reds and whites at vineyards along the
way.
Another
must see city is Penticton. Nestled between
two lakes, visitors can enjoy numerous
fall festivals celebrating the area's
wine and scenery. Vacationers should be
sure to try Joy
Road Catering, known for its famous
"food of the earth," which is
served every Sunday. Skaha Lake's combination
of great food, local wine and panoramic
views is not to be missed.
Niagara
Region
Ontario's Niagara region offers travelers
a beautiful backdrop for touring the area's
68 wineries. Chock full of festivals,
tours and tastings, concerts, excellent
cuisine, artisan shows and family entertainment,
Niagara has something for everyone. Quaint
Niagara-on-the-Lake is nestled
within the wine country region and and
delight tourists with its water adventures,
golf courses, fine dining and wineries.
The scenery extends beyond the many vineyards,
however, as the region is just a short
drive from the breathtaking Niagara
Falls. For travelers looking to
visit a major national hub, Toronto is
only an hour drive from the region, and
boasts more than 7,000 restaurants reflecting
cultures and cuisines from around the
world.
Source
— Orbitz
Worldwide |
