Posted : May 22, 2019
Our blog is chock full of great ideas for fun things to see and do in York Durham and Headwaters. We are always adding new content and updating old posts, but sometimes you might stumble upon something from our vault. If this article has inspired you to hit the road, be sure to double-check that the featured stops in this post are still welcoming visitors.
What’s better than enjoying a great glass of wine? Well… I would argue not a whole lot! But now imagine yourself drinking it on the wrap-around terrace of a Italy-inspired winery overlooking the vineyard which that very wine came from. Sounds pretty amazing, doesn’t it? Look no further! Located only 30 minutes from downtown Toronto in Stouffville, ON., Gallucci Winery is now officially on your must-visit list for 2019.
Born out of a desire to look out his window and feel like he was back home in Italy, Paolo Gallucci planted 10-acres of vines on his property in 2010. With no intention of opening a winery but rather as a hobby for himself and his family, Paolo produced more wine than he and his family could consume by 2013. His daughters Sonya and Anne Marie, as well as Anne Marie’s husband Antonio proposed to Paolo that they turn these “hobby vines” into a true winery. Paolo loved the idea, and so Gallucci Winery was born. It opened to the public on September 20, 2014 and is truly a family-run business. You will always find a member of the family on-site, and even the non-blood related staff members would say they feel like family (how sweet is that?).
Gallucci Winery boasts four red varietals (Baco Noir, Merlot, Marquette, and Frontenac Rouge), six white varietals (Vidal, Chardonnay, Riesling, Frontenac Gris, Pinot Grigio, and Gewurtztraminer), and one rosé. Named after Paolo Gallucci himself, the Don Paolo Special is their best selling red wine, and named after his wife Nella, the Donna Nella Special is the most popular white wine. How could you resist a wine named after the man who started it all? If you’re anything like me, you probably want to taste more than one or two – you know, to really get a full understanding of the flavours…! Thankfully, the winery offers a few different options for us wine-lovers (and the soon-to-be wine-lovers!) to truly fall head-over-heels for their wines:
For the Last-minute Visitors
Yes, you can walk-in and taste those delicious wines in their no-appointments-required tasting room, which is open Wednesday-Friday from 11:00am-6:00pm or Saturday-Sunday from 12:00pm-6:00pm. Fees for walk-in tastings are very reasonable, starting at $10/person for 4 wine tastings, or $15/person for 6 wine tastings.
For Individuals/Small Groups
The Experience Tour is approximately 45 minutes long and includes four wine tastings, accompanied by four cheeses (a food pairing always wins me over!). Here you will get a tour of the winery, a structured tasting with a private wine consultant, and experience Gallucci Winery as a whole. Price is $25/person and is only available on Sunday afternoons at 4:00pm, and must be reserved in advance.
For Private Tours/Large Groups
Why not visit Gallucci for an event, with your baseball team, or all your aunts, uncles, and cousins? You can opt for the Private Tour where you will be guided by a member of the Gallucci family or top staff member. There will be no strangers allowed on this tour – only those of your group (who might be strange) – so you can drink as much as you want with no judgement. Cost is $40/person and reservations must be made at least one week in advance. 10-20 guests only.
If you are looking to visit this picturesque winery and are preparing to take photos of the lush, beautiful vineyards, the very best time of year to do so is in late September when the vines are full of grapes. Of course, you can enjoy the outdoor terrace which wraps around the building and overlooks the vineyard from the moment the weather is warm enough to do so! Gallucci also offers authentic, homemade Italian food at their bistro. I’m talking fresh Truffle Focaccia, spicy Penne Arrabbiata, mouth-watering Arancini, and a personal favourite, Nutella Pizza. I can almost smell it from here…
Be sure to keep an eye on this winery, because they also have plans to expand! They are hoping to soon offer additional seating in their gazebo area, which will also serve menu items like wood-oven pizza and a large selection of grilled meats. Count me in!
Written by:
Kristin Pitman is a married 29-year old lifestyle blogger from Toronto, ON. Alongside being a stay-at-home mom to her 1.5 year old son Mason, Kristin is thrilled that The Delilah Blog – which started as a passion project – is now a growing business. Be sure to check her out on Instagram @thedelilahblog for more on motherhood, fashion, beauty, travel, and more!
