I was in Niagara-on-the-Lake last night for Stratus’ annual Harvest Party . It’s my second year going. But aside from their annual party, I probably visit the region a couple times a year.
I like wine and I like supporting our local wine industry. I shop almost exclusively Ontario. I think a lot of people don’t realize how good our wines have become. The other reason I like going is because of the food. Good wine and good food go hand in hand. Stone Road Grille is one of my favourites.
But Niagara-on-the-Lake is not a place where you’ll hear a lot of young people from Toronto going to frequently. And if you look at the town’s demographics, people over 65 years old make up about a 1/4 of the population. It’s growing as a place to retire.
However, as Niagara’s prominence as a wine region grows, so will the town. Every time I go, I think about what could be done to improve the experience and attract a greater number of visitors.
One thing I think would be a great addition is a well designed bike network. Wineries are of course very spread out, but wine tasting and driving make for an awkward mix. Let’s make it easier for people to get around on bicycle.
I also think there’s an opportunity to brand the region as a food destination. Whenever you go to an event in Niagara, you discover all kinds of great local restaurants producing spectacular food, often using local ingredients. That should be promoted more.
I’m sure many people like Niagara-on-the-Lake just the way it is. And it’s certainly a beautiful and enjoyable place. But I always like to think about how something could be made even better.