Just imagine: It’s a rainy weekend, and you and several strangers have been invited to the secluded home of a famed billionaire, only to find that the relaxing vacation has been upset by a murder — and if the case isn’t solved, you could be next.
The plot sounds like something out of an Agatha Christie novel, and the setting a grand manor in the English countryside. However, the mystery lies in territory much closer to home: the rich and vibrant viticulture between the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario.
The 12 wineries of The Niagara Wine Trail always offer engaging sights and sumptuous varietals, making the 24-mile trail a worthwhile destination for oenophiles. But its Hallowine Murder Mystery Tour, October 25–26, 2008, pairs Halloween hijinks with the pastoral vineyards, giving new meaning to the term holiday spirits.
Participants are outfitted with their first clue and a wine glass to carry along the trail for sampling at the Niagara County stops, including Arrowhead Spring Vineyards in Lockport, Eveningside Vineyards in Cambria and The Winery at Marjim Manor in Appleton. Each stop offers guests yet another clue (not to mention, another tasting) until someone cracks the case and discovers the murderer’s identity.
An afternoon drive through rural Western New York in autumn, basking in stunning fall foliage and spooky fun, is reason enough to traverse the trail. But the attractive B&Bs in the area — Maplehurst Bed & Breakfast, an 1830s farmhouse in Lockport, is surrounded by seven of the wineries — and scenic Niagara Falls just minutes away, make this an area to visit year-round.