In September, my family took a quick 40-minute jaunt to Birtch Farms and Estate Winery, just north of Woodstock. Now I'm not going to lie to you, they had me jumping into the passenger's seat at the word, "winery" but there was so much more to discover.
We were there for the Apple Festival (there's also a New Food and Wine Festival in late September and a Pumpkin Festival in October), which I had read about in a community flyer, and from beginning to end, our time there was absolutely enchanting.
We pulled up the parking lot and a sweet little man greeted us like your dear ol' Grandpa Tom would, with open arms and a smile that could generate more power than a wind turbine. With four generations of operators, the Birtch family must be proud of the oasis they've created smack in the middle of rural southwestern Ontario.
A woman dressed like an Oliver Twist character, complete with a Cockney accent and a weathered black top hat, led a horse-drawn wagon of kids through the apple orchard for an animated tour. Rows of pumpkins, corn husks and brightly coloured chrysanthemums lined the farm house where just inside you'd find a tasting bar (after much deliberation, the white pear wine was my favourite - didn't even taste like a fruit wine to me) and a delightful little retail shop with gifts, baked goods and local artisanal products.
Outside, we roamed through the many rows of the apple orchard, deciding how to fill our basket. With Honey Crisps? Royal Galas? Jona Macs? We could pluck over a dozen varieties from the whimsical knobby branches. Thankfully there were hot and delicious apple fritters available outside the farm house to fill our bellies as we moved on to see the animals before heading home.
If you haven't already checked out Birtch Farms and Estate Winery, go. It's a great place for families, school tours, corporate events, or just a sunny Sunday afternoon drive to a place that's guaranteed to make you happy.
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