Dublin, Ireland
What better place to celebrate an Irish holiday than, Ireland. Last year, an estimated 500,000 festive folks flocked to the city to celebrate the holiday and enjoy a few pints from the Emerald Isle. Dublin travelers can also pay a visit to the Guinness brewery to enjoy a fine beer straight from the brewer or watch some of the city’s historical buildings light up in festive colors for the Greening of the City.

Florence, Italy
It may not seem like your typical St. Patrick’s Day destination, but from March 17 through March 22, Florence honors the patron saint of Ireland with a ‘Festa Irlandese,’ or Irish Festival. During this festival, the city offers an Italian spin on the holiday while hosting pub crawls, live music and of course, alcohol. And those interested in the ultimate Irish pub experience can head to Finnegan’s, which is said to be the only Irish-owned pub in Florence.

London, England
Many of the cities on this list have St. Patrick’s Day Parades. In fact, London’s celebration draw over 100,000 guests each year. But London also hosts a holiday festival at Trafalgar Square that’s full of Irish traditions, like music and dance, which are perfect for families and free to experience. In addition, London offers more authentic Irish-owned pubs than any other city outside of the Emerald Isle, so folks can enjoy some of Europe’s finest — and oldest — Irish whiskeys and beers.

New York, New York
New York’s St. Patrick’s Day parade has been running for over 250 years, and much like its Thanksgiving Day parade, it’s a doozy and is known internationally. While other celebrations would be ecstatic just to draw crowds of 100,000, New York’s parade has been known to feature over 150,000 marchers alone. Visitors can visit the many Irish pubs, partake in a walking tour of former “Little Ireland” or even create Irish-inspired crafts over in Central Park.

San Francisco, California
As home to one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the Western United States, San Francisco offers an eclectic mix of cultural festivities, night life and crowds of enthusiastic locals. Folks can attend the St. Patrick’s Day-themed Night Life event at the California Academy of Science the Thursday before the holiday weekend, check out the famous Market Street parade or pay a visit to San Francisco’s Irish Cultural Center, which hosts its annual “Greenfest Block Party” with Irish cultural activities, music and dancing.

Buenos Aires, Argentina
In March, Buenos Aires boasts near-perfect weather, and when you take into account it has the fifth largest Irish community globally, there may be no better time than the present to pay a visit to Argentina. With narrow streets and its very own city-wide parade, Buenos Aires offers an authentic experience, as well as a crowded, rambunctious city geography that lends itself to international festivals.

Boston, Massachusetts
As home to a thriving and Irish pub scene and the Celtic-influenced punk rock group Dropkick Murphys, Boston is a prime spot for celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day. Every year, the city holds one of the biggest parades and boasts party after party at one of their many vibrant pubs. Visitors can also walk along the city’s Irish Heritage Trail, which begins at the Rose Kennedy Garden and ends near Fenway Park, to experience firsthand the rich Irish background behind some of the city’s most famous historical areas.

Chicago, Illinois
Besides offering delicious deep-dish pizza and wonderful views of Lake Michigan, the Windy City is home to one of the most spectacular St. Patrick’s Day displays in the world. Every year, thousands of festive Mid-Westerners take the train downtown to celebrate the holiday and witness the dyeing of the Chicago River. Using over 40 pounds of environmentally friendly coloring, the river stays green for an entire day, providing the perfect backdrop for the St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Newfoundland, Canada
Newfoundland is a historically Irish locale, with immigrants from the Emerald Isle reaching the small island off the coast of Canada back in the 17th century. One of the island’s main city centers, it is now known as the “Irish Loop”, as an area of such rich heritage, Newfoundland has declared St. Patrick’s Day a public holiday — making it only one of two cities outside of Ireland to do so. Because of its deep ties to the Irish culture, Newfoundland is the perfect place for visitors who want to enjoy some traditional Irish dishes and wash them down with a nice pint afterwards.

Sydney, Australia
Australia boasts a gigantic St. Patrick’s Day Parade of its own, complete with an overarching narrative and themed floats, but it might be most notable for its party scene. On St. Patty’s, the Sydney pubs and bars stay open until the early hours, serving up traditional Irish music. Those more grandiose party appetites can also check out the St. Patrick’s Day Booze Cruise, which sails through Sydney harbor for three crazy hours of holiday celebration.

Niagara on the Lake Icewine Festival Tours:

Celebrate Niagara Ice Wine Festival – A Shimmer of Gold  – Poured Daily, Celebrated Annually with Niagara Airbus Driver Guided Tours.  Pricing includes Discovery Pass.

Choose your week –  January 15-17, 22-24,29-31 , 2016

Pickup and Drop off at any Niagara or Downtown Toronto Hotel.

Niagara on the Lake Tour pricing, from Niagara with DiscoveryPASS is $ 85.00 and without DiscoveryPASS is $ 45.00.

From Toronto with DiscoveryPASS is $130.00 and without DiscoveryPASS is $ 90.00

Start  your day off at the Niagara College Teaching Winery!

Time for you to be the Judge !  Tempt your taste buds with two delicious hor d’oeuvres pared with  the Delectable Dean’s List Savant and find out for yourself whether Icewine is best pared with Sweet or Savoury

Next…off to Chateau Des Charmes Winery

Imagine serving up Pork Belly Taco with apple onion slaw alongside their delicious  2014 Vidal Icewine.   A liquid Gold paring not to be missed

We then make our way to Ravine Vineyards

You will visit the Woodruff House for an exceptionally spiced paring. Enjoy Chef Ross Midgleys Homemade Spicy Chicken Meatball in a Mole’ sauce with Rossco’s Corn Bread, perfectly paired with the 2013  Vidal Ice Wine.

From here  you will have Fee time in Niagara on the Lake,   voted the prettiest Town in Canada! You can browse  or  shop in the boutiques or free time for lunch.

Finally end your day with  the 2014 Canadian Winery of the year for a taste of Peller’s award winning and world –renowned Cabernet Franc Ice Wine as you roast their famous Icewine Marshmallows over an open fire.

We start our Niagara Ice Wine Tour at Twenty Valley:

Celebrate Niagara Ice Wine Festival – A Shimmer of Gold – Poured Daily, Celebrated Annually with Niagara Airbus Driver Wine Guides!  Your Tour includes your Discovery Pass! Pricing from Niagara is $85.00 + HST, from Toronto $130.00 + HST.

Without DiscoveryPass pricing from Niagara is $45.00 + HST, Toronto is $90.00 + HST.

Choose your Week – January 15-17, 22-24, 29-31, 2016

Start off with 13TH Street Winery

Enjoy the picturesque winery  boutique as you savour this the amazing  13 Below Pulled Pork with Braised Apples, Pork Belly & Caramelized Onions along with 13 Below Zero Riesling or their drier June’s Vineyard Riesling.

Then off to Flat Rock Cellars

Here Chef will be cooking up  Maple, Cowberry, Winter-herb,  unbelievably tender Roasted Pork Belly, all topped with a delicious sweet scented parsnip puree and wine Caviar. Perfectly  pared with Flat Rock 2013 Late Harvest Gewurztraminer

Next is Malivoire Wine Company

Epicurean Delights with Riesling Ice Wine.  Experience braised  Pork Belly sliders with  quince butter, or vegetarian  option of a decadent Blue Cheese Cream Brule!

We then make our way to Redstone Winery

Bundle up and join in the fireside on the Terrace at Redstone to enjoy  a cup of Ice Wine- Inspired creations.  A Sweet and Savory pairing  of Cabernet Franc Icewine with a braised Venison and Dark Chocolate Chile – is sure to keep you warm.

Finish your day  with Free  time in the Quaint  Village of Jordan from to shop, browse or have lunch in the beautiful one of a kind boutiques.

As the Niagara Wine Festival kicks off, marking its 64th year, efforts are being made to ensure the staple St. Catharines event stays fresh and entertaining.

This year’s festival will feature 29 wineries and 12 culinary vendors within Montebello Park, with a total 40 wineries included through the Discovery Pass Experiences program. Winery visits with the passes begin this Saturday, with festivities at the park kicking off the following weekend.

Prior to the Grande Parade, held Sept. 26, a pre-show filled will a variety of entertainers will get underway in front of St. Catharines city hall and at the corner of Ontario and St. Paul Streets. The pre-show will kick off at 9:30 a.m. followed by the parade at 11.

In addition to live entertainment and an abundance of wine to try, the festival includes a variety of wine seminars and a children’s area for families.

Montebello Park festival hours:

Friday, Sept. 18 and 25, 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 19 and 26, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 20 and 27, noon to 8 p.m.

For a full schedule and more information, visit www.niagarawinefestival.com.

Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery

For 5 generations the Lowrey family has grown grapes in the soil of one of the oldest commercial vineyards in the area. Known in the past as the Upper Lowrey Farm, this family winery sits atop the ancestral Niagara River that raged 22,000 years ago crafting small-batch organic VQA wines. The result is not only great wines from our mother, Lowrey Farm, but also a wonderful lifestyle that we are eager and proud to share.

Chateau de Charmes

In 1994 Chateau des Charmes opened its new state-of-the-art winery and visitor centre. It was immediately hailed as an agri-tourism landmark. It was the first winery in Ontario purpose-built with the visitor in mind. This was long before there was a Wine Route or a winery tourism business model.

Pauls vision of a world class Niagara wine industry led by high quality estate wineries has reached fruition. Today, the vibrant Ontario industry boasts more than 150 wineries, employs more than 6000 people and receives approximately 1 million visitors each year.

Inniskillin Winery

Inniskillin was granted the first estate winery license in Canada. The Niagara Wine region is coddled and protected in the shadow of the unique natural phenomenon known as the Niagara Escarpment, a massive, geological formation, which was declared a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 1990. Located at the southern tip of this 725-kilometre long ridge, the Niagara Peninsula is considered a cool climate viticulture region, as are wine regions such as Burgundy, Germany, Oregon, Tasmania and New Zealand.

Winemakers believe that, in general, cool climate viticulture regions produce lighter, fruitier wines whereas hotter regions produce less fruity, heavier wines. Wines from Niagara, along with most cooler climate regions are characteristically higher in acids and highly aromatic.