Unheard of 30 years ago, Canadian wines are fast gaining a reputation for quality. Here are five of the best wineries from across the provinces. Words by Tatyana Leonov
1 Tawse, Ontario
Canada’s winery of the year three times running (Canada’s Wine Access magazine) – someone is doing something right. Family-run Tawse Winery combine traditional winemaking techniques with state-of-the-art technology. And they are a certified organic and biodynamic winery. The result is pretty spectacular wine with both depth and character.
Drop to drink: 2010 Carly’s Block Riesling – one of their two Gold medal winners at the 2012 Canadian Wine Awards.
2 Benjamin Bridge, Nova Scotia
From the start, these guys were brave. Focussing on making sparkling wine using the traditional Champagne grape varieties rather than using the more common hybrid grapes suitable to Nova Scotia, they have created something fabulous. They are also now forging a reputation with a few special edition reds, whites and ice wine.
Drop to drink: Nova 7 – lightly sparkling and aromatic and it’s got that signature acidity that are quickly becoming the defining characteristics of outstanding Nova Scotian wine.
3 Nk’Mip Cellars, British Columbia
In 2002, Nk’Mip emerged as North America’s first Aboriginal owned and operated winery. They only use grapes grown on Osoyoos Indian Band land, operate in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner, and donate a dollar from their Qwam Qwmt wine series to the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre Legacy Fund. The wine is good too, so good in fact that Wine Access named Nk’Mip Cellars as the number one winery in British Columbia(and the number two winery in all of Canada).
Drop to drink: Their 2011 Qwam Qwmt Icewine. It got a gold at the Wine Access awards in 2012, and if you’re in Canada you have to give ice wine a go.
4 Laughing Stock, British Columbia
Husband and wife team David and Cynthia Enns used to work in finance. Now they do wine. The Laughing Stock name was unwittingly conceived when they decided to make the move in 2003 – but now they are serious contenders. They are focused on super premium, small production wines using techniques that showcase the very best from the fruit they grow. laughingstock.ca
Drop to drink: Portfolio 2010. Just released and already a gold medal winner at the Canadian Wine Awards 2012.
5 Church & State Wines, British Columbia
They run two very different wineries in two of the most popular wine regions of Canada. The mid market Brentwood Bay on Victoria Island and the upmarket Coyote Bowl in the best wine region of Canada, the Okanagan Valley.
Drop to drink: The 2009 Coyote Bowl Syrah took out the top spot as Red Wine of the Year in 2011 at the Wine Access awards. In 2012, we still think it tastes pretty darn good.
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Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.
The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.
1. Easy access to good food
Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.
One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.
In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.
In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.
Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.
At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.
While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.
It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.
2. Better sleep options
Sleep deeply with Novotel.
There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.
For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.
The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.
3. More ways to move
Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)
Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.
At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.
Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.
4. Better connections
Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.
One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.
Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.
A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.
Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.
All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.
