Nestled snuggly in a quiet residential area on the outskirts of Niagara Wine Country you will find the most charming boutique winery, bistro and cooking school called The Good Earth.

Iain and I recently visited The Good Earth to attend a Good Girth Supper Club event. It was an unusually cold April day with snowflakes in the air – slightly disappointing since last year when we visited, spring had come early and the orchards were adorned in their beautiful pink blossoms.

In an attempt to describe to you the essence of what The Good Earth is all about, I cannot put it more aptly than they do:  “Since 1998, when we opened our farm, home and hearts to our guests, The Good Earth has been a haven for discerning food and wine lovers and an oasis for the senses. Our gardens, orchards and vineyards provide a spectacular backdrop for culinary and wine experiences that reflect all the good things the earth has to offer.”

As we stepped through the door of the winery we were greeted first by the warmth and smell of the crackling fireplace. After a quick browse around the wine shop we were welcomed by owner, Nicolette Novak, who actually prefers to call herself our hostess as she and her friendly staff welcome visitors to what was once her family’s farm.

Having never visited the bistro for dinner, we weren’t quite sure what to expect. We knew we’d have exceptional food, but figured that this would be like all the other poshy-posh wineries with their big price tags and tiny serving sizes. Well, what can we say … we were wrong … things are different at a Good “Girth” Supper! The theme for our three-course prix-fixe dinner was La Dolce Vita … the serving sizes were more like your momma used to serve, and ….. it was Delizioso!

To complement our meal we chose a bottle of The Good Wine called Betty’s Blend – “A delicious blend of 57% Chardonnay, 29% Riesling and 14% Sauvignon Blanc, this wine features a lush nose and round, ripe, stone fruit flavours. There’s a pleasing creaminess to the 2012 Betty, balanced by the merest hint of hard candy tartness. Will work wonderfully with fresh spring or summer fare, or on its own.” – It was the perfect compromise between Iain’s and my taste in wine. Our waitress explained that the wine we selected had been lovingly named after Nicolette’s mom who still lives on the property, and as coincidence would have it, would be dining in the restaurant that night … so I guess you could say we dined with royalty of the vines!

After three generous sized courses (selected by us) that included arancini (which we’d never tried before but will surely seek out in the future!) an enormous piece of lasagna, and a delectable tiramisu beautifully presented in a rustic preserves jar, we could barely make it out the door!

Leaving The Good Earth that night with its intimate atmosphere, beautiful surroundings, charming buildings, homemade preserves and home-grown wines felt more like going home after a family dinner than leaving a restaurant … The Good Earth truly feels like a little piece of home.

Having enjoyed a variety of what The Good Earth has to offer over the last few years (a cooking demo one warm sunny afternoon with girlfriends, lunch on the patio with my sisters, dinner in the bistro with my hubby, a fall artisan festival with friends, and even an impromptu family portrait shoot in the orchard), we really can’t recommend it highly enough!

Whether you visit The Good Earth for a wine tasting as you cruise through the Niagara Wine Region, sign up for a delicious cooking demo class, attend a special event on the farm or enjoy a scrumptious meal at the bistro … this is one boutique location you really shouldn’t miss.

If you’re looking for a unique gift for that special someone or the perfect destination for a wonderful celebration, check out all that The Good Earth has to offer on their website, but pay special attention to their Classes & Special Events schedule … your tummy and taste buds will thank you! https://www.goodearthfoodandwine.com/classes

https://www.facebook.com/goodearthfoodandwine

About TravelBloggers.ca
Iain Shankland & Gail Shankland started blogging in order to inspire and motivate people to travel the world from their perspective – specializing in having the most fun while using the least amount of money, travelling on the cheap without sacrificing comfort.

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