Toast a day on the slopes with a glass of home grown, award-winning wine – harvested and hand-crafted onsite.
Located about an hour outside of Toronto, Hockley Valley Resort is a luxury ski retreat with 15 runs, 4 lifts and a freestyle terrain park. And next door is Adamo Estate Winery; well, 1.8 km or a 3 minute drive, to be exact.
Together, Hockley Valley and Adamo offer a seamless slopes-to-chardonnay (or peaks-to-pinot, or moguls-to-merlot …) experience, although we wouldn’t judge if you skipped the ski hills altogether and headed straight to the winery.
THE INSIDE SCOOP
Owners Nancy and Mario Adamo purchased the property back in 1985. It was the first step to realizing their dream of creating an elegant year-round resort destination; complete with ski, golf, spa and culinary excellence.
Mario’s roots go back to the wine-soaked hills of Calabria, Italy; so naturally his vision required excellent wine. By 2011, renovations included a new wine bar and wine cellar. But for the Italian born guy, a wine cellar wasn’t enough. So in 2012, a small portion of the resort’s onsite garden was designated as a ‘test’ vineyard. Although the region wasn’t known for grape growing, the trial vines proved hearty. And with the help of some of Ontario’s most talented winemakers, Adamo Estates Winery was born. Today the vineyard is a successful 25 acre property with a production, tasting and retail facility.
TOUR & TASTE
After fun on the ski hill, sample a mix & match flight at the winery that focuses on cool climate varietals of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but also produces a lovely Riesling, Gamay Noir, Cabernet Franc and Vidal. Pair with a cheese tray or a charcuterie of meats, pickles and savoury nibbles from the Paddock Café.
Or whisk a bottle of wine back to your room … Salute, Nancy and Mario!
MORE APRÈS SNOW HOW-TOs:
Lesson 1: Dine Well
Lesson 3: Spa Pampering
Lesson 4: Get Fireside
Lesson 5: The Nightlife
Photo Credit
Featured Photo (Top): Ontario Travel
Second Photo: Hockley Valley Resort