Great wine getaways

"In the Winemakers Boots" at Flat Rock Cellars in Jordan, Ontario.

This program is an educational wine series that goes above and beyond wine theory. You will be educated and enlightened by Flat Rock President Ed Madronich and Winemaker Marlize Beyers on what goes into making a great bottle of wine. Depending on how much time you have, they will take you through the process of how the wine is made, and why it's made that particular way. However, the most important thing is that you will do what they do and experience wine making yourself.

These weekend sessions are two hours in length and include enough information to enlighten guests about the wine culture, but they will also leave you wanting more. You will be able to participate in various activities such as blending seminars, food and wine demonstrations and pre-release tasting sessions.

The sessions are held on select Saturdays throughout the year, and the cost is $25 per person. Upcoming sessions for 2010 include:

February 6: A Sneak Peek of the 2009 Harvest
April 10: Untwisted twisted
May 8: Pinot Noir -- Understanding the Heartbreak Grape
September 11 and 12: Pick, Stomp and Taste
November 6: Chardonnay Through the Years

For a hands-on experience, try one of their full-day sessions (2010 dates include March 21, June 13, August 15 and October 2). Each of these sessions includes vineyard activities, winery work, lab analysis and tasting/blending sessions. (The $200 cost includes tasting, lunch and other goodies.)

For more information visit flatrockcellars.com

While in Jordan, stay the night at Bonnybank B&B

Spend the night in this 1919 American Tudor Revival home of red Grimsby sandstone that was reclaimed from the nearby Grand Trunk Railway piers. This home is next door to a private owl sanctuary with over 200 owls. It also offers access by kayak or canoe to the Twenty Mile Creek ANSI (Area of Natural Scientific Interest). You can also bird watch and walk along trails and paths, or sit by a beautiful pond in the 18 acre Carolinian woodland.