The wine lover's guide to Niagara, Canada
Niagara Region | Destination Ontario
Fertile, complex soil conditions and a unique climate are the winning combination for growing grapes and producing quality cool-climate Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc, as well as delightful rosé, sparkling wine and Icewine.
Explore two distinct appellations, or grape-growing areas, in the Niagara Peninsula.
Most wineries offer tasting opportunities and a variety of tours of the vineyard and wine-making facilities. Some also provide food options, from flight-pairing snacks to full-service dining rooms and restaurants.
Round out your visit to Niagara’s wine region by staying overnight at a vineyard.
Wine Country Ontario is a great source for even more detail as you plan your visit. Consider customizing a guided half or full-day winery tour with a local specialist.
Niagara Escarpment and area
The band of lush land between Stoney Creek and St. Catherines is home to well over 50 wineries and scenic vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see.
Bounded by Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment, this area includes the wine-rich Beamsville Bench, Twenty Mile Bench and Short Hills Bench.
Here are some of the highlights to get you started.
Hidden Bench Estate Winery
Guests love the award-winning Chardonnay and Rose, as well as the attentive and down-to-earth service and the stunning setting at this organic winery estate.
Hidden Bench has been acquiring national and international awards including a prestigious “Best in Show” at the Decanter World Wine Awards.
Location: 4152 Locust Lane, Beamsville
Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery
Celebrate world-class wine and food in an idyllic setting.
Every winery in this region offers lovely views, but Peninsula Ridge really shines with vistas of the Niagara Escarpment, the rolling vineyards and Lake Ontario. On a clear day, you can even see the Toronto skyline. It’s the perfect spot to savour a Cab Sav, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir or Chardonnay.
Location: 5600 King Street, Beamsville
Megalomaniac Winery
The elevated tasting room at Megalomaniac boasts the highest altitude in Niagara, and the expansive windows and outdoor patio offer incredible views.
Book a vineyard tour, pull up a chair for tastings or linger over sparkling brunch, lunch or dinner while soaking up a show-stopping view.
Location: 3930 Cherry Avenue, Vineland
Tawse Winery
Sustainable practices are at the heart of the organic and co-forward winery, such as a multi-level gravity-flow system, a wetland bio-filter and geothermal, energy-efficient technology.
Voted Canadian winery of the year several times, proving their terroir-driven Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and other varietals are equally impressive.
Location: 3955 Cherry Avenue, Vineland
Featherstone Estate Winery & Vineyards
From the delicious wines to the seasonal cheese, deli, and hummus nosh boxes served on the verandah, there are many reasons to love this picturesque and eco-conscious winery.
Here is another one: the Muddy Paws Wine Trail, which, each July, welcomes good dogs and dog lovers for wine, food, and tail-wagging fun in partnership with Vineland Estates Winery.
Location: 3678 Victoria Avenue, Vineland
Creekside Estate Winery
Enjoy unbeatable wines and a laidback atmosphere and relax over a glass of Sauvignon Blanc or Syrah and cheese and charcuterie on the outdoor deck overlooking a small pond.
Check out the onsite grocery store and Chef-made, to-go food boxes as you stock up on your favourite wines.
Location: 2170 Fourth Avenue, Jordan Station
13th Street Winery
Just west of St. Catharines, this boutique winery offers a selection of exceptional wines, a bakery, an art gallery and private accommodation options.
Location: 1776 Fourth Avenue, St. Catharines
Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery
Six generations of winemakers have built Henry of Pelham into one of Ontario’s premier wineries, turning some of the first vineyards planted in Canada into reliable producers of fine wines.
Try some of those vintages for yourself at the winery’s Coach House Café, which serves fine wines paired with gourmet menu items like veal cutlet sandwiches, chili-peperonata and melted provolone or beef tenderloin.
Location: 1469 Pelham Road, St. Catharines
Cave Spring Vineyard and Inn on the Twenty
Cave Springs Vineyard specializes in sensational Riesling and is located across the road from the upscale Inn on the Twenty, an elegant hotel, restaurant and spa.
Alternatively, book the Estate House at Cave Spring, a Victorian-style farmhouse set on the Beamsville Bench to maximize views of Lake Ontario and vineyard vistas.
Location: 4043 Cave Spring Road, Beamsville
Vineland Estates Winery
Stop in for a tour of this gorgeous estate, taste the award-winning Riesling among other varietals in the mid-1800s wooden ‘cathedral’ barn, pair with local cuisine at their signature restaurant and stay the night in the B&B cottage or estate guesthouse.
Location: 3620 Moyer Road, Vineland
Niagara-on-the-Lake and area
From the Welland Canal, the Niagara River and the shores of Lake Ontario to St. David’s and Queenston, the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is the heart of the region’s second appellation in the top corner of the Niagara Peninsula.
Home to over 35 wineries, discover unforgettable wine and wine-related activities.
Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery and Distillery
After retirement, hockey great Wayne Gretzky decided to open up his own winery and distillery just seven kilometres outside Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The estate produces wine, beer and spirits, remains open year-round, and naturally also features an ice-skating rink.
Take a tour, sip wine or brews under the patio heater, watch skaters on the ice rink, take a cocktail class or enjoy a tasting flight.
Location: 1219 Niagara Stone Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Trius Winery and Restaurant
Owned by the Peller Family, Trius is home to the largest underground sparkling wine cellar in Canada.
The winery has a solid social media presence, showing off its fun, eclectic – and electric – atmosphere and through uniquely Instagrammable wine tours. Visit the Sparkling House for a tour and samples of their selection of Trius bruts, bubbly, Rosé, and more, and enjoy on locally inspired Niagara country cuisine.
Location: 1249 Niagara Stone Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Jackson-Triggs Estate Winery
Established in 2001, Jackson-Triggs Estate has become one of Canada’s most renowned wineries for its forward-thinking approach to winemaking and roster of memorable events.
The winery is also home to an incredible outdoor Amphitheatre where concerts and other live performances take place each summer. They also host monthly ‘Savour the Sights’ dinners consisting of five courses and fine wines, served at different locations throughout the immense winery. Tastings include a 25-minute outdoor presentation of a selection of wines, including Riesling, Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, and Icewine.
Location: 2145 Niagara Stone Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Konzelmann Estate Winery
Stunning lakefront vistas, gorgeous architecture and great wines evokes the old-world vineyards of France and Italy.
Relax and enjoy award-winning wines including 30 different whites, reds, sparkling wines and dessert wines. Enjoy a tasting to see how they vary or relax on the patio with a glass or bottle of your favourite.
Location: 1096 Lakeshore Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Peller Estate Winery and Restaurant
Peller Estates Winery has been creating beautiful wines for more than 50 years and has also developed some of the region’s most immersive wine and culinary experiences.
Executive Chef Jason Parsons and winemaker Katie Dickieson work together to curate complimentary food and wine pairings at the Winery Restaurant and the Barrel House Grill.
Guests are also invited to visit the 10Below Icewine Lounge, an igloo-like structure built from 13,607 kilograms of ice. Peller Estates offers tours, including a three-sample offering and the Greatest Winery Tour, as well as a visit to the underground barrel cellar. Reservations are recommended.
Location: 290 John Street East, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Reif Estate Winery
Reif Estate Winery is a pioneer in Ontario’s Icewine. The first vintage of Vidal Icewine was produced in 1984 and has continued from the same vineyard plot.
Tours and tastings of their internationally acclaimed Icewine are available. And in season, you’ll want to visit their aromatic sensory garden.
Location: 15608 Niagara Parkway, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Chateau des Charmes
Founded by fifth-generation French winegrower Paul Bosc in 1978, Chateau des Charmes was the first commercial vineyard in Canada to open its doors to visitors.
It was also the first to experiment with the European Vitis vinifera grapes, long popular in Mediterranean wine regions. Chateau des Charmes’ wines are known for balance, finesse and structure.
The estate offers tours in both English and French, by reservation only. The tours take you through the winery, sharing distinct spaces and learning experiences in winemaking, along with tastings at the Wine Bar afterward. The wine tastings provide a flight of tour VQA wines, which include one notable Icewine.
Location: 1025 York Road, St. Davids
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery
Ravine Vineyard is an inviting, 14-hectare organic winery in St. David’s Bench.
The unassuming family farm is comfortable and down-to-earth, and it welcomes guests with tours through the vineyards and wine rooms, tastings, and an authentic farm-to-table dining experience.
Location: 1366 York Road, St. Davids
Riverbend Inn and Vineyard
Housed in a glamorous Georgian mansion on seven hectares of vineyards with manicured lawns and stunning gardens, Riverbend Inn and Vineyard is the perfect location for a wine lover’s home base.
The beautiful inn welcomes guests with elegant rooms overlooking the vineyard, a fine dining experience at the restaurant and delectable wines at the Riverbend Antique Bar.
Last updated: May 31, 2024