In the little hamlet of Westmeath Ontario, nestled against the curves of the great Ottawa river as it wraps itself around the Isles des Allumette, lies the only winery in the Whitewater region. At the end of a short street and down a dirt driveway you will come upon the rows of vines lined up in short, straight rows with labels stating the varieties.
It is a lovely summer experience to sit under the awning with the river in view and the sound of falling water in the lower pond and to sip a merlot blend and nibble on a charcuterie board. I can attest to this from personal experience, as my mom and I recently spent an afternoon visiting this winery, that, as the crow flies, is less than 10 km from GlenMary.
Personally, my idea of a perfect vacation is to bring along a bag of books from my favourite authors, with lots of nice dark coffee and fresh cream, wearing a cool summer dress and walking barefoot on some grass. If the car never leaves the driveway, this is a good day, in my opinion. But alas, I realize that this is not normal, and most people like to get out and about when they're on vacation. So here is a list of a few fun things to do when you're in the whitewater region:
WhiteWater O'Brien Wintery: The tasting patio is open for the season on Fridays 2pm-7pm and Saturdays 12pm-5pm during the season.
Westmeath Lookout: A breathtakingly beautiful view of the Ottawa valley, this is a great little spot to take the family with a picnic lunch.
Dinner at the Whitewater Inn: The most excellent food is served- and mainly from local sources- at the Inn. Select dates are available on their website.
Farmstead Cheese House: Defintely a must-do when you're in the Whitewater region, this family-run shop serves authentic Italian gelato and local cheeses.
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