iYellow Wine Escapes

You know what makes me happy? Wine. You know what makes me even happier? An amazing group of people who love wine. Add to that a beautiful road trip out to Ontario wine country, delicious food and in-depth conversations with passionate winemakers and – well – that’s what I call the perfect weekend getaway. This, my friends, is what you’re signing up for when you book an iYellow wine escape. Yup, sheer bliss. Here’s what a tour with these wine-lovers looks like…

The Bus – Every tour has one, but not all are equal. What sets this one apart? The people inside the bus. Everyone – from the iYellow Wine Club members to the fab bus driver – is super happy, social and ready for a good time; a buzz and contagious energy that had me joyously leaping to the bus for more…

Your Guide(s) – To say they love wine is an understatement: they are obsessed (really, when they’re not galavanting through pristine wineries, they’re hosting a series of events and classes that educate and connect those who share their passion). The best part? They do away with the pretentious posturing that often (and sadly) comes hand-in-hand with wine and focus on what matters most: tasting beautiful wines and creating lasting memories. These are people you want to spend the day with. Trust me.

The Wine – Ah, yes. The reason we all unite on this tour. I’ve been to some of the best wineries in the world, but the ones in Ontario hold a special place in my heart. We produce world-class wines in this province of ours and where better to enjoy them than on the same land where the grapes once grew? Fortunately, the iYellow experts know exactly where to head for the best of the best vino. On our tour, we had guided tastings at Stratus, Southbrook and Flat Rock Cellars. I’m a big supporter of all three wineries and was thrilled to try some of their newer vintages (um, hello 2012 reds).

The Food – All the delicious wines will open up your appetite – but don’t fret – you won’t be hangry with iYellow. The wine escapes include a lunch stop at a winery (we had a lovely feast at Southbrook). The food was healthy, tasty and there was plenty to go around (I may have had thirds…). They’re also very accommodating with dietary restrictions so my photog (who is a vegetarian) was a happy camper.

The Winemakers – One of the highlights of the tour was actually meeting and chatting with the winemakers. We had a chance to ask them questions, explore their vineyards and check out the barrel rooms. They were friendly, knowledgeable and their passion for wine was incredibly inspiring.

Overall, we had an amazing day out with the iYellow family (yes, it really does feel like a family). And while there are countless tour operators in the province that will take you out to wine country, I’m convinced that you won’t find one that compares to these guys. They’ve got a certain je ne sais quoi — a spark — that cannot be duplicated. So, if you’re looking for a memorable experience with a friend or two (they often run a “bring a friend for $1” promo), I highly recommend checking out the iYellow wine escapes. They’re quite possibly the happiest wine tours in Ontario!

Special thanks to iYellow Wine Club for hosting us. As always, all reviews and opinions are entirely my own.