Make your Annapolis Valley wine tour a classic with Vintage Vino Tours

We know our ride is on its way, but we hear it before we see it. As the purr of a post-war Ford V8 grows louder, a glimmer of Mayfair Maroon crests a hill and rolls toward us on a set of thinly white-walled tires. The car turns into the pick-up lane and stops in front of us, and out hops a smiling gentleman in a Panama hat. He introduces himself as Brennan from Vintage Vino Tours. Are we ready for our Annapolis Valley wine tour?

Wine tours come in a variety of formats, from limousines to party buses and everything in between. But if there’s a better way to enjoy an easy-going afternoon of wine tasting than a private chauffeur in a classic car, we haven’t found it yet. Brennan goes above and beyond to immerse you in the experience as you tour in his 1947 Ford Super Deluxe, from his attire to the period music that plays in the background.

Best of all, Brennan calls the Annapolis Valley home and knows the region exceptionally well. Climb into the back seat and settle in for your Annapolis Valley wine tour. You’re in for a very special day.

An Annapolis Valley wine tour, customized just for you

If you’d prefer to simply show up and let Brennan lead the way, he can certainly do that. But what makes Vintage Vino Wine Tours so special is the curated and personalized experience Brennan can provide. He takes the time to learn more about your group, your interests, the types of wines you prefer, and more. With this information, he can custom craft an itinerary just for you.

Ours is a little group of two: myself and my preteen daughter. This Annapolis Valley wine tour is the last hurrah of a three-week road trip through Newfoundland and Nova Scotia before we point the car back toward home. While I’d driven to every other destination on this road trip, wine touring and road tripping don’t mix. So, I decide to park the car for an afternoon and let Brennan do the driving.

Since this is our final outing on this epic road trip, it’s important to me that my daughter feels like she’s part of things. Brennan understood the assignment perfectly. He’s curated a relaxed tour of two wineries with local stops of interest in between. We’ll cap off the afternoon with dinner on a patio overlooking a river that undulates with the tides of the Bay of Fundy. Brennan has even arranged for non-alcoholic tasting flights wherever possible so my daughter and I can enjoy every element of our Annapolis Valley wine tour together.

Brennan can pick you up from just about anywhere, including as far as Halifax or Lunenburg if that’s more convenient for you. Our tour starts at Grand Pré National Historic Site, where we’re staying overnight in Parks Canada’s oTENTiks with a view over the meadows the Acadian people called home.

Learn more about camping at Grand Pré National Historic Site on our Annapolis Valley road trip >

The Annapolis Valley is a white wine lover’s dream

Our first stop of the day is at Mercator Vineyards, where it doesn’t take long for us to find someone else who’s delighting in an Annapolis Valley wine tour. “I had no idea we could wine tour here!” a visitor exclaims as she bursts into the tasting room. “We’re having such a good time!”

I glanced across the counter at the associate pouring my tastings with an eyebrow raised. She nods and says, “It happens all the time.”

Is wine touring in Nova Scotia really such as well-kept secret? It shouldn’t be. The Annapolis Valley is a wine region that flies under the radar more than most. But if you love white, rosé, or sparkling wines, you’ll find it’s a world-class destination.

The Annapolis Valley has several signature wine styles. While the L’Acadie blanc grape was developed in Niagara in the 1950s, it truly took root in Nova Scotia where this cold-hardy grape thrives when others don’t. As a result, it’s been planted widely in this original home of the Acadian people along Nova Scotia’s Bay of Fundy coast.

Tidal Bay is a wine blend you’ll find only in Nova Scotia

And then there’s Tidal Bay, Nova Scotia’s appellation wine. Just as Champagne or Bordeaux wines are specific to their regions, Tidal Bay wines can only be produced in Nova Scotia. This unique blend can combine more than 20 varietals to create an off-dry white wine with “lively fresh green fruit, dynamic acidity, and characteristic minerality,” according to the appellation guidelines. And, naturally, any wine wearing a Tidal Bay label needs to pair well with seafood.

There are more than 20 wineries in Nova Scotia, the vast majority of which are in the Annapolis Valley. This means you’ll have plenty of interpretations of Tidal Bay to explore, as well as a wide variety of whites, rosés, and sparkling wines. Mercator’s Tidal Bay, with notes of creamy lemon curd and fresh apple, is part of my tasting flight. I also enjoy a rosé and a reserve Marquette, a cool-climate hybrid red wine. Meanwhile, my daughter is sampling some fizzy drinks and mowing through a box of local chocolates, a gift from Brennan. Our tour is off to a great start.

Sampling Atlantic farm life on an Annapolis Valley wine tour

The Annapolis Valley is famous for more than wine. It’s also home to the most bountiful farmland in Atlantic Canada. As we drive toward our next winery stop, Brennan pulls over at a self-serve farm stand. We say hello to the horse and chickens as we head inside, where fresh meat and eggs line the coolers, bags of potatoes are piled in a wooden bin, and freshly cut flowers lay wrapped in brown paper. To pay for your selections, you simply leave cash in the small box by the door. Brennan makes a point of adding farm stands such as this to his tours. To him, they’re emblematic of his Annapolis Valley home.

Our second winery stop is just around the corner at Benjamin Bridge. Their Nova 7, a lightly effervescent Muscat-forward blend, is one of Nova Scotia’s best-known wine exports. I sample that and two more sparkling wines. My daughter is over the moon beside me in the wine cellar, trying three of Benjamin Bridge’s new Piquette Zero non-alcoholic wine-style spritzers. The entire experience is a huge hit.

We also stopped for a chocolate tasting on our tour. That chocolate shop has since closed, but this shows the kind of personalization Brennan can incorporate. The eastern Annapolis Valley is also home to cideries, breweries, farm stores, and more. If your tour falls on a Saturday morning, you could even include the vibrant Wolfville Farmer’s Market and its abundance of treats and treasures.

Our tour concludes on the patio at The Port Pub and Bistro overlooking the Cornwallis River. Since this river empties into the Bay of Fundy, the highest tides in the world flow between its banks. We enjoy a seafood dinner and watch the tide roll out as our Annapolis Valley wine tour comes to a close.

Ready for your Annapolis Valley wine tour? Give Vintage Vino Tours a call

If you’re looking for a classy, intimate, and personalized Annapolis Valley wine tour, check out Vintage Vino Tours. In his fleet of classic cars, Brennan can accommodate one or two people or groups as large as 12. Half-day or full-day tours are available once the snow clears into mid-November. For more information, visit VintageVinoTours.ca.

Discover more Nova Scotia road trips >