by Jennifer D’Agostino
Wine tours are a great for a weekend getaway or day trip, and lucky for Ontarians, we have one of the best climates for producing wine! Learn about local vintages, sample award-winning wines and gain knowledge about the winemaking process along the way. You can even enjoy artisanal food and cheese pairings with some tours! Here are the best winery tours in Ontario. [Photo credit: iStock]
Inniskillin Wines
Inniskillin opens its vineyards to the public all year round! Open for more than 35 years, Inniskillin has a rich history in the Niagara region. Tour the vineyards, sample the wines and buy a bottle (or two) to take home with you! Inniskillin also has an ice wine tasting bar and private tours are available by request.
Vineland Estates Winery
Vineland Estates Winery offers a traditional tour and tasting to the public. Learn about the history of the Vineland Estates, and get a comprehensive overview of the wine making process. The tour includes a walk-through of the winemaking facility and underground barrel cellar. There’s also a girls weekend option and private tastings.
Peller Estates
Peller Estates offers a variety of different tours for every occasion. The tours are packed with information, samples and fun times for everyone involved! The tour options are always changing, but have included chocolate and wine pairings, a “Best Of” tour, a girls weekend, which includes a tour of the vineyard, tastings and a night by the falls! The tours are updated regularly, so make sure to check the website before booking!
13th Street Winery
13th Street Winery is so much more than a vineyard. Offering tastings, pairings and tours, it makes all the food and baked goods on site! The tour is 45 minutes in length, guided by on site wine experts. Each tour includes a tasting of four 13th Street Winery’s wines.
Kew Vineyards
Open since 1975, Kew Vineyards is situated on gently sloping land, which when combined with the ideal growing temperatures, make for some of the best wine in the Niagara region. Tours take place all year-round, and reservations are recommended for groups of six or more. The vineyard welcomes walk-in tours and samplings for groups of five or less. Kew Vineyards is in Beamsville.
Southbrook Vineyards
Southbrook Vineyards, located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, is home to handcrafted wines which are made in biodynamic vineyards. It offers two tours, one titled “Earthly Infused Food Pairings,” where there are four tastings paired with a four-course meal that includes its environmentally friendly wines. The second is the Southbrook Wine and Ontario Artisan Cheese Pairing where you’ll try the classic pairing in the picturesque Oak Room. You can also book private tasting experiences. All tours must be booked in advanced.
Megalomaniac Winery
Located in the heart of the Niagara region, Megalomaniac Winery offers tours and tastings to those who reserve in advance! The tours include a walk-through of the vineyard, which overlooks the Niagara Escarpment, and some samplings of the superb wines. There is also a tasting bar that is open daily from 11 am to 5:45 pm.
Fielding Estate Winery
This vineyard, located in Beamsville, offers daily tours of its massive grounds. Tour the Beamsville Bench vineyard and learn Fielding Estate Winery’s process of grape growing, winemaking and its rich history. There tasting experiences available that include classic wine and cheese pairings, and a seated tasting.
Trius Winery
There are loads of tours to choose from at Trius Winery. The tours are unique, offering different types of tours from week to week. Choose from a couple’s retreat, a girl’s wine weekend, a walking red wine tour and a sparkling wine tour. Attached to the vineyard is a gourmet restaurant where the entire menu is expertly paired with Trius wines.
Jackson–Triggs Winery
Popular winery Jackson–Triggs opens its vineyard all year-round to visitors looking for an inside look at the winemaking process. Open daily, there is a tasting bar where you can learn about the different taste profiles of the wines.
