Come to Niagara and experience the beauty of its wine region. The Niagara Peninsula produces some of the world’s finest wines, which are internationally recognized for their superior taste and quality. Niagara’s wine region stretches from Niagara-on-the-Lake in the east to the small town of Grimsby in the west. The region is blessed with excellent soil and moderate temperatures, similar to those found in some of the top wine producing regions in the world, such as Burgandy and the Loire Valley in France, Northern California, Oregon, and New Zealand. Its cool springs and long autumns are ideal for growing premium grapes, which are produced into fine wines for you to enjoy!
Many wineries have tasting bars where you can sample and indulge in a variety of wines and learn how to evaluate wine by its colour, clarity, aroma, and flavour. Informative tours are often offered, where you will have the opportunity to tour the vineyards and cellars, and get a rare glimpse of the art of winemaking.
Be sure to take advantage of the onsite boutiques located at many of the wineries, where you will have the chance to purchase premium wines and wine related products. Many wineries also have fine dining restaurants where you can taste the region’s award-winning wines paired with regional cuisine.
In order to visit wineries across the region it is recommended that visitors travel by car to individual wineries. With more than 50 wineries in the region, it is recommended that you plan an itinerary before you arrive. A selection of four to six wineries a day is will give you ample time to get to know each individual winery and there distinctive wines.
Another option is to rent a bike for the day and visit the various wineries in a particular town. Steve Bauer Bike Tours offers customized guided tours for groups of 10 or more people. Individuals can choose from a half a day tour which covers 20 km or a full day tour which covers 30 km. Be sure to call at least two weeks in advance to reserve a tour. To book a reservation or to receive more information please call 905-563-8687.
There are several companies that offer comprehensive bus tours to the region’s various wineries. Crush on Niagara offers tours seven days a week, which depart in the morning and the afternoon, and run approximately four hours through the Niagara Escarpment or the wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake. To book a reservation or to receive more information about Crush on Niagara’s tours please call 1-866-408-WINE or 905-562-3373.
Hop aboard a vintage trolley and enjoy a relaxing tour of Niagara’s wineries with Niagara-on-the-Lake Trolley Wine Country Tours. Visitors can relax as they learn more about Niagara’s burgeoning wine industry from the company’s friendly and knowledgeable guides. Tours run from May to October and are approximately 2 ½ to 3 hours long. To receive more information or to book a tour, please contact 1-888-669-5566 or 905-468-2195.
Niagara World Wine Tours offers individuals the choice of bicycle, van or coach tours throughout the Niagara wine region. Tours run from spring to fall and cover a number of areas including the Niagara Escarpment, the Niagara Peninsula, Jordan and Beamsville. Please call 1-800-680-7006 for more information.
Please note that Niagara’s bus system does not currently offer public transit to individual wineries
For more information about Niagara’s wine region visit www.winesofontario.ca or call 1-800-263-2988