A guide to the best wineries I’ve tried in the Niagara-on-the Lake in Ontario, and my thoughts as an amateur wine connoisseur. If you want to do some Niagara wine tasting, these are great options to start with.
People love to hate on Ontario wine, but Niagara-on-the-Lake is a lovely place to go when you find the family-run, upscale wineries.
It’s easy to check out those LCBO mass producers, but there are tons of smaller wineries where the wine is even better. Here, I’ve listed tons of my favourites that are ideal to visit on a bike day or with a tour.
Niagara-on-the-Lake Wine Tasting
Lailey Winery
My favourite winery in Niagara.
Description: Elegant reds and whites, and even better hospitality. It is bit pricier for a tasting but absolutely worth it. If you get a chance to try “the unicorn”, do it and ask for the backstory.
Best for: Those looking for an upscale tasting with the best wines.
What to taste: Trust me, it’s all delicious. Pick your favourite flight.
Big Head
A serious tasting for wine lovers.
Description: Bold reds, aromatic whites, and experimental wines in the RAW collection that show the natural expression of varietals grown in Niagara.
Best for: Serious wine lovers
What to taste: The “biggest” tasting has a spread, and I recommend prioritizing the RAW Malbec & the Syrah that they’re known for.
Big Head recently got a 100 score from a popular wine reviewer, the first in Canada from him.
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery
Description: A beautiful spot to eat and drink. The tasting menus and wines come together perfectly.
Best for: A dinner date.
What to taste: The FOOD combined with any of their lovely wines.
Bella Terra Vineyards
Description: Italian style wines with tons of red options.
Best for: A stop along a bike route, close to other wineries.
What to taste: Red wines.
Reif Estate Winery
Description: Great European style wines in an elegant tasting room.
Best for: Wine lovers looking for really great wines.
What to taste: I enjoyed their wines across the board!
Stratus Vineyards
Description: Elegant wines in a very modern setting. If you’re looking for something upscale, this is the spot.
Best for: An upscale tasting with art and interesting wines.
What to taste: Ask for recommendations of their best of the year. Stratus consistently wins awards, and has interesting wines.
Want more wine regions to try? Check out these posts.
Leave a Reply