Get it while you can – Wine BBQ & Relaxation season closing soon
David Betts and Cynthia Taylor enjoy the view as the ferry M.V. JIIMAAN approaches Pelee Island near the end of its 90 minute sailing from Kingsville on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017. Betts and Taylor are on a date day tripping to Pelee Island. (Photo by David Lafreniere)
By David Lafreniere
The summer sun will soon set on relaxing day long dates, anniversary celebrations or summer chillin’ as the Pelee Island Winery Pavilion sets to close for the season early next month.
While the Pelee Island Winery processing operations are in Kingsville, its vineyard is on Pelee Island. There it operates a wine pavilion offering tours, tastings and a relaxing environment for a summer BBQ.
On a recent date, Cynthia Taylor and David Betts enjoyed a fresh breeze and warm temperatures on the upper deck of the ferry M.V. Jimaan during its hour and a half sail from Kingsville to Pelee Island. Arriving on foot at 11:30 a.m. and departing at 4 p.m. Taylor said it was a great easy ride.
“Pelee Island is all about the ambiance. It’s all about coming over here, having a bite to eat, enjoying a bottle of wine and meeting some people,” said Betts. “We’ve met people from Ohio, Sarnia, Chatham and Ireland. It’s just a great atmosphere over here.”
Taylor said in addition to enjoying the island’s laidback and relaxing atmosphere, they enjoy the people.
“Everybody who wants to come here is here for that relaxed feeling,” said Taylor. “I haven’t looked at my phone except for a couple of selfies.”
Pelee Island is a wonderful destination in all seasons and it is always an enjoyable time whether the Pavilion is open or not, according to Pavilion manager Sherry Bondy.
While the walk from the dock to the pavilion is only 10 minutes, Bondy said the pavilion provides a shuttle to and from the dock. She said after the tour and the five tastings of wine, people come out into the wine garden and enjoy a BBQ.
“Through the summer we have live entertainment,” said Bondy. “A lot of folks like to come and have lunch and enjoy the rest of the day dancing and enjoying the band.”
With their own restaurant in Cambridge, Carl and Tonya Scammell were on the Island celebrating the 10th anniversary of their relationship.
Visitors to the Pavilion taste grapes at the beginning of their wine tour. This lets them see how the taste of the grape effects the wine tasted at the end of the tour.
The history of the island impressed Tonya Scammel.
“Learning about the grafting of the roots and how the winery is trying to accommodate so much diversity to maintain the industry was incredible,” she said.
They found the Island extremely entertaining and said it has long been a winery they have wanted to visit.
“You drive down the road and people wave at you,” said Tonya Scammel. “We stopped at the co-op to get some drinks and the locals talk to you. They want to know about you and where you are from and why you are here. They are very personable.”
While both couples plan on going back to the island, they will wait until next year when it opens for a new season.
There is still time to enjoy a daytrip to the Pelee Island Winery Pavilion which remains open for the season until Oct. 8.
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