>> WELCOME TO "JOSEPH ROSENDO'S TRAVELSCOPE," WHERE YOU JOIN US AS WE ACCEPT THE WORLD'S INVITATION TO VISIT.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY FRIENDS OF NCI] >> TODAY, I TRAVEL TO ONTARIO, CANADA, TO EXPLORE TORONTO'S ETHNIC NEIGHBORHOODS AND SAVOR THE WINES OF THE NIAGARA PENINSULA.
>> "JOSEPH ROSENDO'S TRAVELSCOPE" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY VOLVO'S OVERSEAS DELIVERY PROGRAM, WHERE BUYERS CAN PICK UP A NEW VOLVO IN SWEDEN, USE IT IN EUROPE, AND THEN HAVE IT JOIN THEM AT HOME; NO-JET-LAG JET LAG PREVENTION; AUBERGE RESORTS' DISTINCTIVE COLLECTION OF LUXURY RESORTS, RESIDENCES, AND SPAS.
>> I'M IN FRONT OF NIAGARA FALLS, THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE NATURAL ATTRACTION IN THE WORLD.
THE AMERICAN FALLS, 156 FEET HIGH AND ALMOST 1,000 FEET WIDE.
HORSESHOE FALLS ON THE CANADIAN SIDE--ALMOST 2,000 FEET WIDE.
YET SOUTHERN ONTARIO IS MUCH MORE THAN NIAGARA FALLS.
15 MILES AWAY IS NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, A QUAINT VICTORIAN TOWN.
ABOUT 150 MILES AWAY IS TORONTO, THE LARGEST CITY IN CANADA AND ONE OF THE MOST MULTICULTURAL CITIES IN THE WORLD.
JOIN ME ON MY TORONTO, CANADA, SOUTHERN ONTARIO ADVENTURE.
LOCATED IN ONTARIO, CANADA'S SECOND-LARGEST PROVINCE, TORONTO IS THE COUNTRY'S MOST POPULOUS METROPOLIS.
FOR A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON THE CITY, I BEGIN MY EXPLORATIONS AT THE CN TOWER, ONE OF THE WORLD'S TALLEST.
EVER SINCE IT WAS COMPLETED IN 1974, THE 1,800-FOOT CN TOWER HAS BEEN A MAJOR TORONTO ATTRACTION.
WITH ITS REVOLVING RESTAURANT, OBSERVATION DECK, NOW THEY'VE TAKEN THINGS ALMOST OVER THE EDGE, LITERALLY.
BEFORE I CAN WALK, POSSIBLE FALL OBJECTS LIKE WATCHES, COINS, AND RINGS MUST BE LEFT BEHIND.
AND SINCE HANGING OUT 116 STORIES ABOVE THE GROUND IS THRILLING ENOUGH, I'M ALSO SCREENED FOR NARCOTICS AND ALCOHOL.
BESIDES MY PANTS, THE ONLY THING I CAN TAKE OUT ON THE EDGE IS GLASSES.
HARNESSED AND STRAPPED IN, MY NEXT STOP IS THE GREAT OUTDOORS.
>> COME ON OUT, JOSEPH.
ALL RIGHT.
THERE YOU GO.
WHOO!
WELCOME OUT.
SO, GUYS, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU OUT TO THE EDGE WALK.
YOU ARE CURRENTLY 356 METERS ABOVE THE EARTH.
>> 1,000 FEET?
>> 1,168 FEET, TO BE PRECISE.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT LOOKS LIKE IT, BUT IT IS.
WE'RE GONNA BE WALKING ALONG AROUND THIS RING.
IT'S 150 METERS AROUND THE TOWER.
>> 450 FEET?
>> AND IT'S 1.5 METERS WIDE, THIS PLATFORM, SO IT'S ABOUT THE WIDTH OF A CITY SIDEWALK.
THE SAFEST SIDEWALK IN ALL OF TORONTO, EH?
>> JUST TAKING A STROLL ON THE EDGE IS ENOUGH FOR ME, BUT NOT FOR OUR WALKMASTER DIZZY, WHO GETS US TO PERFORM A HIGH-ALTITUDE TRICK.
>> CAN YOU GUESS WHAT IT IS?
SO SWING OUT, AND OUT YOU GO.
JUST RIGHT TO THE EDGE.
OH, YOU'RE FEARLESS.
WHOO!
>> HI, TORONTO!
>> WHOO!
>> IT'S A THRILL TO LOOK DOWN ON TORONTO FROM THE HEIGHTS, BUT THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE CITY IS AT STREET LEVEL IN ITS MULTICULTURAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
A TOWN OF 100 LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS, HALF OF TORONTO'S POPULATION IS FOREIGN-BORN, AND WHILE EVERY CULTURE HAS ITS LOCAL MARKET WITH ETHNIC SPECIALTIES, THE ST. LAWRENCE MARKET HAS LONG BEEN THE PLACE TO SHOP FOR EVERY TORONTONIAN.
>> SO AS WE WALK THROUGH THE MARKET, WE'RE WALKING ON LAKE ONTARIO.
THIS IS ALL LANDFILL.
THIS IS THE OLD HARBOR OF 19th-CENTURY TORONTO.
IT WAS ALL FILLED IN TO BUILD THIS GREAT MARKET WE'RE IN TODAY, ST. LAWRENCE MARKET, BUILT IN 1902.
>> WHAT KIND OF PRODUCTS WILL PEOPLE FIND HERE?
DO PEOPLE COME HERE FOR THEIR EVERYDAY SHOPPING?
> YOU KNOW, YOU CAN.
THIS MARKET HAS FOODS FROM ALMOST EVERY ETHNIC GROUP, YOU KNOW, MAJOR ETHNIC GROUP IN THE CITY.
80% OF THE MEAT THAT'S SOLD HERE AND CHEESE THAT'S SOLD HERE IS CANADIAN.
IT'S A VERY LOCALIZED MARKET.
AND IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE EARTH.
>> HOW YOU DOING, SIR?
THIS IS QUITE A NICE MARKET.
HOW LONG HAS THIS-- YOU BEEN HERE?
>> I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE '82, SIR.
>> SINCE '82?
AND YOU'RE SPECIALIZING IN--LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING.
>> WE SPECIALIZE IN CURED MEATS, CHEESES, ANTIPASTO, OLIVES, OLIVE OILS, VINEGARS, AND ANYTHING HARD TO FIND.
WE HAVE [INDISTINCT] WITH PROSCIUTTOS.
>> PROSCIUTTOS.
>> THE MOST POPULAR WILL BE PROSCIUTTO DI PARMA.
>> SO YOU REALLY HAVE SOMETHING HERE FROM NOT ONLY CANADA, ALL OVER THE WORLD.
>> SO YOU NAME IT, WE HAVE IT.
>> HA!
THANKS A LOT FOR SPEAKING WITH ME.
>> HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>> THIS IS KOZLIK'S MUSTARD SHOP, AND WHAT'S REALLY FASCINATING, WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, IS THAT 90% OF THE MUSTARD SEED GROWN IN THE WORLD IS GROWN RIGHT HERE IN CANADA.
SO, PLEASE, TRY IT.
TRY THEIR TRIPLE X.
>> OK. >> OH, THAT'S THE LOOK I LIKE TO SEE.
>> THAT CLEARS YOUR SINUSES.
>> SURE DOES.
>> WOW.
>> NOW, THIS GOES REALLY WELL WITH A REAL TORONTO SPECIALTY THAT'S SOLD HERE IN THE MARKET.
YOU'RE IN FOR A REAL TREAT.
>> IT'S BEEN SAID THAT TORONTO IS ONE OF THE MOST ETHNICALLY DIVERSE CITIES IN THE WORLD, AND ONE OF THE LARGEST ETHNIC GROUPS HERE IN TORONTO ARE THE ITALIANS.
I'M WITH ROBERT BIANCOLIN, AND WE'RE HERE AT CAROUSEL BAKERY, AND HOW LONG HAS CAROUSEL BAKERY BEEN HERE?
>> APPROXIMATELY 35 YEARS.
>> 35 YEARS.
NOW, CAROUSEL BAKERY SPECIALIZES IN A PARTICULAR TYPE OF CANADIAN BACON.
>> WELL, IT REALLY ISN'T CANADIAN BACON.
>> IT ISN'T?
>> NO.
PEAMEAL BACON IS MADE FROM THE SAME CUT OF MEAT, EXCEPT THIS IS A FRESH PRODUCT.
IT IS PICKLED IN A BRINE, NOT SMOKED, AND THEN IT'S ROLLED IN CORNMEAL.
>> WELL, IT LOOKS TERRIFIC.
HOW DO YOU SERVE IT?
>> WELL, COME UP HERE AND WE'LL SHOW YOU.
>> OK.
SO YOU JUST POP IT ON THE GRILL.
>> YES.
>> AND HOW MANY OF THESE DO YOU DO IN A DAY?
>> WELL, LET'S JUST SAY IT'S A VERY POPULAR SIDE DISH.
>> HA HA!
DO PEOPLE SERVE IT WITH ANY KIND OF CONDIMENTS OR ANYTHING?
>> IT'S VERY GOOD ON ITS OWN, BUT THEN, MUSTARDS ARE THE MOST POPULAR CONDIMENT.
>> LOOK AT THIS THING.
THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
THERE'S YOURS, ROBERT.
>> OH.
THANK YOU.
>> HOW MANY DO YOU EAT IN A DAY?
>> WELL, I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN EATING THEM FOR A LONG TIME.
>> THIS IS REALLY WONDERFUL.
JUST ANOTHER OF THE SPECIAL THINGS YOU'LL FIND HERE AT THE ST. LAWRENCE MARKET.
ROBERT, GRAZIE.
>> PREGO.
>> CLOSE TO HALF A MILLION PEOPLE MAKE TORONTO'S ITALIAN POPULATION ONE OF THE CITY'S LARGEST AS WELL AS OLDEST ETHNIC COMMUNITIES.
BRUCE, HERE WE ARE IN LITTLE ITALY, DOING WHAT A GOOD ITALIAN SHOULD DO-- HAVING A CAPPUCCINO.
NOW, WHAT IS THE BOUNDARIES OF LITTLE ITALY HERE IN TORONTO?
>> WELL, WE'RE ON COLLEGE STREET NOW.
ALL THE SIGNS HERE WILL TELL YOU YOU'RE IN LITTLE ITALY, AND IT GOES FROM ONE SIDE, WHICH IS SPADINA AVENUE, ABOUT MAYBE 15, 20 BLOCKS DOWN TO OSSINGTON AVENUE.
>> WHAT ROLE DID THEY FILL HERE?
HOW DID THEY SERVE THE CITY?
>> WELL, ORIGINALLY, A LOT OF THE ITALIAN CRAFTSMEN WERE BROUGHT OVER FROM ITALY TO BUILD THESE GREAT MANSIONS TOWARDS THE END OF THE 19th CENTURY, DOING THE PLASTER CEILING WORK, MOSAIC FLOORS OF THESE BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS THAT THEY BUILT.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN SAID THAT TORONTO WAS BUILT BY THE ITALIANS.
>> OH.
HOW DID THEY FIT IN WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WERE ALREADY HERE?
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?
>> AT FIRST, THERE WAS A LOT OF PREJUDICE.
THE BRITISH THAT WERE HERE DIDN'T LIKE THE ETHNIC GROUPS THAT WERE COMING IN FROM EUROPE, AND ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON, ITALIAN MEN SITTING OUTSIDE HAVING CAPPUCCINOS ON THE SIDEWALK WAS UNHEARD OF BY THE BRITISH ESTABLISHMENT.
BUT SLOWLY, IT DEVELOPED THAT PEOPLE STARTED TO SAY, "LISTEN, WE'RE GONNA MAKE A REAL PUSH TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS YOUR CULTURE AND SHARE YOUR CULTURE."
>> SO INSTEAD OF A MELTING POT PHILOSOPHY, IT WAS MORE OF A MULTICULTURAL-- >> YES.
AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S BECOME TODAY.
>> WELL, WE'RE OFF TO A GOOD START WITH OUR CAPPUCCINO HERE IN LITTLE ITALY, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME MORE CULTURAL TASTES OF TORONTO.
DURING THE 19th-CENTURY POTATO FAMINE, THE FIRST IRISH IMMIGRANTS CAME TO TORONTO.
BY 1851, THEY WERE THE LARGEST CULTURAL GROUP IN THE CITY.
>> CABBAGETOWN IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOODS IN DOWNTOWN TORONTO.
THESE BEAUTIFUL, OLD VICTORIAN ROWHOUSES.
YOU'VE GOT THESE BIG, GREEN, LEAFY TREES.
GARDENS IN THE FRONT.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> NOW, WHAT ETHNIC GROUP MOVED IN HERE?
>> WELL, THIS ORIGINALLY WAS A VERY WORKING-CLASS, CATHOLIC IRISH.
>> WHY IS IT CALLED CABBAGETOWN?
>> BACK IN THE DAY, THE IRISH CATHOLICS GREW CABBAGES IN THE FRONT YARD, AND PROTESTANTS GREW THEIR CABBAGES IN THE BACKYARD.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU SAID, BACK THEN, "WHERE DO YOU LIVE?"
YOU'D GO, "OH, CABBAGETOWN."
TODAY-- "WHERE DO YOU LIVE?"
>> "CABBAGETOWN."
>> UP UNTIL, YOU KNOW, 1980, NOBODY LIVED DOWNTOWN TORONTO.
EVERYONE HAD MOVED OUT TO THE SUBURBS.
AND THE CITY WAS STARTING TO REALLY CRUMBLE AT ITS CORE.
AND THE CITY DECIDED THAT WE MUST START FIXING UP THE OLD NEIGHBORHOODS OF TORONTO.
TODAY, THESE HOMES, SOME OF THEM BUILT FOR $500, $600, ARE GOING FOR A MILLION, A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS TODAY.
AND IT WAS ALSO IN 1980 THAT THE CITY STARTED TO LOOK AT IT AS A CITY WITHIN A PARK.
AND ONE OF THEM IS THIS ONE.
THIS IS THE OLD ZOO OF THE CITY.
THIS IS THE OLD RIVERDALE ZOO, AND NOW THEY'VE TURNED IT INTO A WORKING FARM.
>> IN THE HEART OF THE CITY, LOCALS AND VISITORS ALIKE CAN WANDER THE FARM'S 7 1/2 ACRES AND ENJOY THE ANIMALS AND RURAL SETTING.
BRUCE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COLORFULLY INTRODUCING US TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF TORONTO.
THANKS SO MUCH.
>> OH, A PLEASURE.
>> TORONTO'S ASIAN POPULATION HAS LONG SPICED UP ITS MULTICULTURAL MIX.
TODAY, THE CITY BOASTS 6 CHINESE NEIGHBORHOODS, WITH OLD CHINATOWN ALONG SPADINA AVENUE WELCOMING THE NEWEST ARRIVALS.
SO WE'RE IN CHINATOWN, AND THE CHINESE IMMIGRANT POPULATION IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT HERE IN TORONTO, CITY OF IMMIGRANTS IN MANY CULTURES.
>> IN FACT, YES, AND ABOUT HALF A MILLION CHINESE RESIDENTS IN TORONTO.
>> WHEN DID THEY FIRST START COMING OVER?
>> THE MAJORITY OF THE CHINESE IMMIGRATION CAME JUST AFTER WORLD WAR II.
PROBABLY ABOUT 1949, 1950.
>> AND HAS THIS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE WHERE FIRST IMMIGRANTS CAME?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IN FACT, THE JEWISH NEIGHBORHOOD--THIS ACTUALLY WAS ORIGINALLY THE JEWISH MARKET, AND IN MORE RECENT YEARS, THAT MARKET HAS NOW, OBVIOUSLY, ABSORBED MANY DIFFERENT GROUPS--THE CHINESE, CAMBODIAN, LAOS.
PEOPLE FROM CENTRAL AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA, THE CARIBBEAN.
SOUTHEAST ASIAN.
I ALWAYS SAY, IF YOU NEED SOMETHING, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND IT IN CHINATOWN.
>> HA HA HA!
>> OK, SO THIS IS THE FAMOUS DUMPLING HOUSE IN SPADINA.
THIS IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF HOW CHINATOWN CONTINUES TO EVOLVE AND BRING IN NEW PEOPLE FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
THE SUN FAMILY HAS BEEN OPERATING THIS BUSINESS HERE SINCE 2005, AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIAL STYLE OF BEIJING DUMPLINGS.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY BOILED INSTEAD OF STEAMED, AND MOST INTERESTINGLY, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A DUMPLING CREPE.
SO IT'S LIKE A LARGE CREPE WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT DUMPLINGS INSIDE.
>> AH.
JOHN, WHENEVER I COME TO TORONTO, I'M HAVING FOOD WITH YOU.
>> YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME, JOSEPH.
HA!
>> [SPEAKS CHINESE] >> LET'S EAT.
>> TORONTO IS A CITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS, AND IN ADDITION TO ETHNIC HERITAGE OR LIFESTYLE, THEY ALSO AROSE AROUND INDUSTRIAL CENTERS.
ONCE DESERTED AND DETERIORATING, THE DISTILLERY DISTRICT HAS BEEN REBORN AS ONE OF TORONTO'S MOST POPULAR GATHERING PLACES, OFFERING ART, DINING, AND ENTERTAINMENT.
A NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, THE GOODERHAM AND WORTS PLANT WAS ONCE THE LARGEST DISTILLERY IN THE BRITISH EMPIRE.
ALTHOUGH THE LAST WHISKEY WAS MADE HERE IN 1957, THE TRADITION OF CREATING ALCOHOLIC CONCOCTIONS LIVES ON AT THE MILL STREET BREWERY.
BRIDGID, WHAT'S COOKING?
>> OH, WE'RE JUST BREWING UP SOME COBBLESTONE STOUT.
SO THAT BLACK MALT YOU HAVE THERE, THAT'S THE ROASTED BARLEY THAT WE PUT INTO THE COBBLESTONE STOUT, AND THEN HERE WE HAVE SOME HOPS.
THOSE ARE THE BITTERING AGENT IN BEER AND ALSO THE SPICE OF BEER AS WELL.
>> HOW MANY BEERS DO YOU MAKE HERE?
>> WE MAKE ABOUT 20 DIFFERENT STYLES IN A YEAR.
>> THE DISTILLERY MAY BE DEAD, BUT THE BREWING IS STILL GOING ON HERE.
>> VERY MUCH ALIVE.
HA HA HA!
>> WHILE THEY'RE NOT DISTILLING WHISKEY ANYMORE, IN THE SOMA CHOCOLATE SHOP, THEY SERVE WHAT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS FINE LIQUEUR.
WOW.
THAT LOOKS GOOD AND DARK.
AH.
YEAH, IT'S GREAT.
>> HOW ABOUT WE SPICE IT UP A NOTCH?
>> OK. NOW, WHAT IS THIS?
>> THIS IS OUR MAYAN VERSION.
IT'S--A BIT OF A KICK TO IT.
>> CHOCOLATE WITH A TWIST.
SEE?
THIS TAUGHT ME TO ALWAYS TRUST CANADIANS.
THEY ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.
>> IT'S WONDERFUL.
WHETHER IT'S FINE CHOCOLATES OR 5-STAR ACCOMMODATIONS, TORONTO PRIDES ITSELF ON DELIVERING THE VERY BEST.
THE FAIRMONT ROYAL YORK SPECIALIZES IN EXCELLENCE, FROM ITS ELEGANT SURROUNDINGS TO THE VEGGIES IN EPIC RESTAURANT, WHICH ARE PICKED FROM ITS ROOFTOP GARDEN.
SO YOU SAY THIS HAS BEEN HERE FOR HOW LONG?
>> SINCE 1998.
>> AND WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL IMPETUS TO START A GARDEN?
>> THEY SAW A LOT OF BEES AND A LOT OF BUGS UP HERE, AND WITH THAT CAME THE OPPORTUNITY TO START PLANTING SMALL THINGS.
WE STARTED OFF WITH TWO OR 3 BEDS AND THEN IT JUST KIND OF FLOURISHED FROM THERE.
>> FROM THE BEES, YOU'RE MAKING HONEY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> 300,000 BEES.
>> 300,000 BEES AVERAGING ABOUT 55,000 BEES PER HIVE.
WE'RE TAKING IN ABOUT JUST UNDER 500 POUNDS OF HONEY PER YEAR.
>> WE MAY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT TONIGHT WITH OUR CHEESE PLATE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
ABSOLUTELY.
>> LET'S GO DOWN TO THE KITCHEN.
>> PERFECT.
SERVICE PICKUP.
CHEESE COURSE TO FINISH OFF THE EVENING WITH.
>> AH!
WHAT A FABULOUS WAY TO END THIS EVENING.
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SO WONDERFUL, CHEF.
>> AMAZING.
SO YOU HAD A GOOD TIME?
>> I HAD A WONDERFUL TIME, AND I DID NOTICE THOSE TOUCHES THAT CAME STRAIGHT FROM THE GARDEN.
>> WE HAVE THE ROOFTOP ROYAL YORK HONEY THERE.
AS WELL, WE HAVE SOME ALPINE STRAWBERRIES, SOME TOMATOES THAT WE PICKED.
>> FABULOUS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> TAKE CARE.
>> ALTHOUGH TORONTO IS CANADA'S MOST COSMOPOLITAN CITY, IT ALSO HAS ITS NATURAL SIDE, AND KAYAKING FROM THE HARBORFRONT TO CENTRE ISLAND ON THE TORONTO ISLANDS IS A GOOD WAY TO EXPERIENCE IT.
>> WE ARE LOOKING AT TORONTO ISLAND RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS THE LARGEST CAR-FREE NATURE PRESERVE IN NORTH AMERICA.
>> TORONTO IS THE LARGEST CITY IN CANADA WITH LOTS OF CARS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT TAKES ABOUT 15 OR 20 MINUTES TO KAYAK OVER.
YOU CAN ALSO TAKE A PUBLIC FERRY IF YOU LIKE.
SO EVEN THOUGH WE'RE IN AN URBAN SPACE, AND WE'RE REMINDED OF IT BEHIND US, WE'RE REALLY TRANSITIONING TO A NATURE SANCTUARY.
LET'S GO SEE SOME BIRDS.
THERE'S A BIRD SANCTUARY TO OUR RIGHT.
>> THERE ARE ABOUT 200 SPECIES OF BIRDS THAT VISIT OR LIVE ON THE TORONTO ISLANDS, INCLUDING DUCKS, GEESE, HERON, AND THE RESIDENT SWANS.
KAYAKING THROUGH THE PEACEFUL WATERWAYS, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT CAR-FREE CENTRE ISLAND AND ITS CENTREVILLE AMUSEMENT AREA ATTRACT MORE THAN A MILLION VISITORS A YEAR.
WHILE TORONTO ALONE COULD FILL UP ANY TRAVEL ITINERARY, AN EXCURSION TO THE NIAGARA PENINSULA IS A MUST.
IT'S ONLY AN HOUR AND A HALF DRIVE ON THE Q.E.W., THE QUEEN ELIZABETH WAY, TO THE PICTURESQUE TOWN OF NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA WINE COUNTRY.
WINE MAY NOT BE SOMETHING THAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF CANADA, BUT IT SHOULD.
THERE ARE 60 WINERIES AND MORE THAN 400 VINEYARDS IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA.
COOL CLIMATE WINES LIKE RIESLING AND SAUVIGNON BLANC DO BEST, BUT ICE WINE IS THE REGION'S SPECIALTY, AND IT ALL BEGAN AT INNISKILLIN WINERY.
PRIOR TO THE 1970s, CANADIAN WINES WERE A SUGAR-ADDED, SODA-POP-LIKE BEVERAGE, WITH NAMES LIKE BABY DUCK.
IN ORDER TO STRETCH QUANTITIES, WATER WAS ADDED TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT ONE WINEMAKER WAS CALLED "THE HOSE."
THE NEW ERA BEGAN IN 1975, WHEN INNISKILLIN WINERY WAS GRANTED THE FIRST ESTATE WINERY LICENSE IN CANADA SINCE 1929.
WELL, DEBI, THIS IS PRETTY JUST FOR INNISKILLIN, BUT FOR THE NIAGARA PENINSULA WINE REGION.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT, JOSEPH, AND WELCOME.
IT DID BEGIN HERE, AND AN EXCITING BEGINNING.
DONALD ZIRALDO AND KARL KAISER, AS THE COFOUNDER OF INNISKILLIN, WORKED ON A VERY BASIC PREMISE, AND THAT WAS TO PRODUCE PREMIUM WINES FROM PREMIUM GRAPES GROWN RIGHT HERE IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, SOMETHING THAT WASN'T DONE BEFORE.
PRIOR TO THAT, THE PREDOMINANT GRAPES USED WERE FROM A FAMILY KNOWN AS LABRUSCA.
THESE GRAPES MAKE WONDERFUL JAMS, JUICES, AND JELLIES, AND TABLE-EATING GRAPES, BUT THEY DON'T WORK FOR PREMIUM WINE.
>> SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PINOT NOIRS, THE CHARDONNAYS, THE RIESLINGS, THE GRAPES OF EUROPE, AND YOU CERTAINLY CAN'T GROW THOSE GRAPES HERE IN FROZEN CANADA.
>> WELL, THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE DID BELIEVE.
THEY THOUGHT IT WAS FAR TOO COLD HERE TO DO THAT.
HOW DO WE HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NOT THE LAND OF ICE AND SNOW YEAR-ROUND?
SO WE ARE LOCATED ON THE 43rd LATITUDE, SO THAT PUTS US MORE SOUTHERLY THAN THE VINEYARDS OF BURGUNDY AND BORDEAUX.
>> OH.
WHAT KIND OF GRAPES DO YOU HAVE HERE?
>> THESE GRAPES ARE VIDAL GRAPES.
THESE ARE EXTREMELY FAMOUS BECAUSE THESE ARE THE GRAPES WE USE FOR OUR ICE WINE.
>> SO, FROM THE BAD OLD DAYS, WHERE THEY WERE ADDING WATER TO WINE TO CREATE BULK WINE, FROM THOSE DAYS, YOU'RE NOW TAKING WATER OUT OF THE GRAPES TO MAKE THAT REALLY CONCENTRATED FLAVOR.
>> WE LEAVE THAT TO MOTHER NATURE AT THAT MAGIC NUMBER OF MINUS 8 DEGREES CELSIUS, OR 17 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, AND THAT'S WHEN ALL OF THAT WATER STARTS TO FREEZE INSIDE THE GRAPE, AND WHEN WE PRESS, ALL THE ICE STAYS IN BEHIND, AND WHAT WE HAVE IS THAT WONDERFUL, RICH AND CONCENTRATED ICE WINE.
>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO HAVE A LITTLE TASTE OF THAT.
>> WELL, I THINK WE JUST MIGHT HAVE SOME FOR YOU TO TRY.
[LAUGHTER] [POP] >> DEBI, THIS IS THE VIDAL GRAPES THAT I SAW OUT IN THE VINEYARD.
>> WELL, THESE ONES WERE PICKED IN MID-JANUARY.
>> HOW MUCH ALCOHOL IS IN ICE WINE?
>> WELL, NOT AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD THINK.
MOST PEOPLE ASSUME IT'S HIGHER.
IT'S LESS THAN 10% ALCOHOL.
>> HMM.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT ICE WINE IS THAT IT'S NOT JUST ALCOHOL AND SWEETNESS, IT'S THAT CONCENTRATION OF FLAVORS.
IT'S REALLY LIKE THE NECTAR OF THE GODS HERE.
>> EXACTLY, AND THAT'S THE ESSENCE OF ICE WINE.
AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR WITH THAT CONCENTRATION IS A BALANCE BETWEEN THE NATURAL SWEETNESS AND THE NATURAL ACIDITY.
>> WHAT ELSE DO YOU HAVE?
>> WELL, WE HAVE SOME VIDAL SPARKLING ICE WINE.
>> HOW INTERESTING.
YOU KNOW, USUALLY WHEN I'M HOLDING A GLASS OF SPARKLING WINE, I'M THINKING IN FRENCH.
NOW I CAN THINK CANADIAN, EH?
[GLASSES CLINK] >> CHEERS.
>> DURING THE 1980s AND THEIR PASSION TO CREATE PREMIUM WINES BY SUPPLANTING LABRUSCA FRUIT WITH VITIS VINIFERA GRAPES, THE GOVERNMENT INSTITUTED A VINE PULL PROGRAM, WHICH ELIMINATED MUCH OF CANADA'S BACO NOIR, A HYBRID VARIETAL THAT WAS WIDELY USED BECAUSE OF ITS VIGOROUS GROWTH AND RESISTANCE TO DISEASE.
NOT ALL WINERIES JOINED IN THE VINEYARD DESTRUCTION, AND IN FACT, HENRY OF PELHAM HAS ELEVATED BACO NOIR TO NEW HEIGHTS.
IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE WINES FROM THE REGION.
BEING ON TOP OF A PICKER OF BACO NOIR.
THIS IS WONDERFUL.
>> SO, BACO NOIR LOVES OUR CLIMATE, BECAUSE IT RIPENS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
IT TENDS TO SHADE ITSELF, SO WE TUCK THE LEAVES UP SO WE GET A LOT OF DIRECT SUNSHINE RIGHT ON THE BERRIES.
IT'S VERY HARDY.
IT'S A LOOSE CLUSTER.
TAKE ONE OFF, ACTUALLY, SO YOU CAN SEE THE SUNSHINE AND THE AIR CAN GET RIGHT IN THERE.
KEEPS THEM DRY.
HENRY OF PELHAM BACO NOIR WAS THE FIRST RED WINE TO REALLY TAKE OFF IN THE REGION.
>> DANIEL, WAS THERE A HENRY OF PELHAM?
>> YEAH.
HE WAS OUR GREAT-GREAT- GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER.
HE SETTLED HERE IN THE 1790s.
HE AND HIS FAMILY WERE LOYALISTS AND FOUGHT IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, ON THE CANADIAN SIDE OF THAT FENCE.
>> SO YOU HAVE HIM TO THANK FOR THE FACT THAT THIS WINE IS HERE.
>> YEAH, THE ORIGINAL VINEYARDS ARE PLANTED JUST OVER THERE.
SO WE'RE 20 FEET BELOW GROUND.
WE CARRY ABOUT 1,200 TO 1,500 BARRELS AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
A MIXTURE OF WINE VARIETIES, BUT BACO NOIR IS IMPORTANT TO US.
>> THIS IS THE PRODUCT OF OUR EFFORTS IN THE FIELD.
>> YEAH, YEAH.
WE'RE GONNA TASTE THE 2010 OUT OF THE BARREL HERE, BUT YOU CAN KEEP THAT BOTTLE FOR YOURSELF FOR LATER.
>> THANK YOU.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS HERE IN THE LATE NINETIES, YOUR BROTHER PAUL GAVE ME A BOTTLE, WHICH I TOOK HOME AND WELCOMED THE MILLENNIUM WITH.
>> SO LET'S GET THE WINE THIEF IN HERE.
>> OK. GREAT.
>> THERE WE GO.
GO.
SO, BACO MAKES A PRETTY THROATY, BIG, RED WINE.
IT'S INTERESTING IN THAT IT'S GOT LOTS OF COLOR AND RICHNESS TO IT, BUT NOT TONS OF TANNIN, SO IT'S REALLY VERSATILE.
>> I LIKE TO SAY "BACO NOIR" AS IN "TOBACCO," BECAUSE I FIND IT HAS SOME TOBACCO NOTES TO IT.
>> IT DOES, YEAH.
SORT OF CIGAR BOX AND LEATHERINESS TO IT.
>> WHAT DO YOU AGE IT IN?
>> WE ONLY AGE IT IN AMERICAN OAK.
WE FIND THAT FRENCH OAK, WHILE GREAT FOR OTHER WINES THAT WE MAKE, FRENCH OAK IS TOO DAINTY.
IT'D BE LIKE PUTTING PERFUME ON JOHN WAYNE.
IT DOESN'T KILL THE SMELL, SO-- >> WELL, I'M GLAD THAT AN AMERICAN REBEL AND A CANADIAN LOYALIST WERE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER OVER A GLASS OF YOUR BACO NOIR.
>> CHEERS.
>> CHEERS.
WHILE THE WINERIES ARE A SIGN OF THE NIAGARA PENINSULA'S FUTURE, THE VILLAGE OF NIAGARA-ON-THE- LAKE LOVINGLY REFLECTS ITS PAST.
THE MOST HISTORIC TOWN IN ONTARIO, IT CELEBRATES ITS VICTORIAN ROOTS IN THE LANDMARK PRINCE OF WALES HOTEL; THE FACADES OF SHOPS, GALLERIES, AND RESTAURANTS OF QUEEN STREET; AND THROUGH THE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES THAT TOUR YOU AROUND TOWN TO LAKE ONTARIO.
THANK YOU JOINING ME ON MY TORONTO, CANADA/SOUTHERN ONTARIO ADVENTURE.
TORONTO AND THE REST OF SOUTHERN ONTARIO EXUDE EXCELLENCE.
FROM THE VINEYARDS OF THE NIAGARA PENINSULA TO TORONTO'S CULTURAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
TORONTO IS A CITY ON THE MOVE, BRIMMING WITH NEW IDEAS AND STRIVING TO TRANSFORM ITS PAST INTO A BETTER LIFE FOR ITS PEOPLE.
AS IT EVOLVES, IT CONTINUES TO WELCOME NEW IMMIGRANTS, WHO FUEL ITS YOUTHFUL ENTHUSIASM AND STRENGTHEN ITS VISION FOR THE FUTURE.
FOR THE VISITOR, THE EXCITEMENT HERE IS CONTAGIOUS, AND IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO CATCH IT.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, THIS IS JOSEPH ROSENDO, REMINDING YOU OF THE WORDS OF MARK TWAIN: "TRAVEL IS FATAL TO PREJUDICE, BIGOTRY, AND NARROW-MINDEDNESS."
HAPPY TRAVELING.
>> "JOSEPH ROSENDO'S TRAVELSCOPE" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY VOLVO'S OVERSEAS DELIVERY PROGRAM, WHERE BUYERS CAN PICK UP A NEW VOLVO IN SWEDEN, USE IT IN EUROPE, AND THEN HAVE IT JOIN THEM AT HOME; NO-JET-LAG JET LAG PREVENTION; AUBERGE RESORTS' DISTINCTIVE COLLECTION OF LUXURY RESORTS, RESIDENCES, AND SPAS.
FOR A DVD OF TODAY'S SHOW OR ANY OF JOSEPH'S "TRAVELSCOPE" ADVENTURES, CALL 888-876-3399 OR ORDER ONLINE AT TRAVELSCOPE.NET.
YOU CAN ALSO E-MAIL US AT TV@TRAVELSCOPE.NET OR WRITE US AT THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.
>> NOW THAT WE'VE EXPLORED TORONTO AND THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, LEARN MORE AT TRAVELSCOPE.NET, WHERE YOU CAN FOLLOW MY ADVENTURES THROUGH MY E-MAGAZINE, BLOG, PODCAST, AND ON FACEBOOK.
888-876-3399 OR TV@TRAVELSCOPE.NET.
[GLASSES CLINK] >> CHEERS.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE www.ncicap.org--] [BELL RINGS] [SHEEP BLEATING] >> BIODYNAMICS TO THE LAYMAN SOUNDS LIKE WOO-WOO, BUT IT WORKS.
IT'S A WAY OF RUNNING YOUR OPERATION, RUNNING YOUR FARM, RUNNING THE VINEYARD AS A SINGLE LIVING ENTITY.