If you enjoy exquisite wine or prefer a peaceful evening in Canadian wine country, Nigeria-on-the-Lake vineyards are a great choice to visit.
Wineries are establishments in the food industry that manufacture wine or make it from premium grapes. Some of the top wineries are found in Niagara falls.
Those who enjoy the best wine might think about stopping by the Niagara on the Lake wineries listed below.
10 Best Wineries you should visit at Niagara-on-the-lake :
1. Peller Estate Winery
Operate daily from 10 am to 9 pm; it’s a winery where visitors come to awaken their tastebuds by tasting and learning about various subtleties of wine.
Peller Estate Winery eatery offers an expansive view of the vineyard and delicious food and wine combinations that change every season.
The warm, cozy interior is a cherry on top, making people comfortable exploring the winery with relaxing vibes. The wine club members can taste the featured wines in the Peller Estate Winery.
Here, the winemaker ( person who oversees winemaking), Katie Dickieson, and the Winery chef ( a trained professional in wine culture), Jason Parsons, work as a team to create the most igneous wine and food in Canada.
There is no doubt that this winery is awarded the highest Zagat rating, ‘Extraordinary.’
2. Reif Estate Winery
The Reif family has practiced the technique of winemaking since their working days in a winery in Germany.
In 1977, the first part of the property was purchased by the founder of the estate, winery Ewald Reif. In six years (1938), the Reif Estate Winery owned a 125-acre vineyard under their aegis; hence, it was an established winery along the Niagara River.
In Niagara, a few authentic and old vineyards blocks are situated on the sub-appellation of the Niagara on the lake wineries.
Reif Estate Icewine is one of the best in the Niagara region. It has received more than 100 Gold Awards since 1984. The vineyards flora only Viti’s vinifera variation and all Ontario Wines are within VQA standards and are produced with 100% Ontario Grapes.
This Niagara on the Lake winery provides various exceptional winemaking and sensory tours alongside wedding celebration options. Here the wines reflect the maturity and distinctiveness terroir of the Reif Vineyard.
3. Inniskilin
It was established by Kark J. Kaiser and Donald Ziraldo in 1975. This Niagara on the Lake wineries was dedicated to the concept of producing and bottling great VQA wines.
The historic Brae Burn Barn has the Visitor and Tour center facility, wine-tasting bar, and boutique. It specializes in premium wine varieties, which include world-popular Icewine for taste and buy.
They also provide a public guided tour and self-guided tour. Private tours are too an option here for 15 or more people. Open year-round but is closed on Christmas and New year.
4. Chateau Des Charmes
The Chateau Des Charmes was founded by Paul Bosc (the fifth generation of his family of french winegrowers) in 1978.
Paul and his family members became familiar with Niagara in the 1960s. From the 60s onwards, they started growing and making wines all by themselves. It is a family-run winery where the owners believe in the Estate Winery model.
They make wine from their ingrown grapes in the winery. This Niagara on the Lake wineries are custodians of their property. From day one of their business, they have believed in sustainability.
They not only believe in sustainability, but they are charter members of Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario.
5. Trius Winery
Owned by Trius winemaker Craig Mcdonald, its pioneer in Canadian winemaking.
Situated between the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario. For more than 40 years, they have been working towards premium winemaking, which awards the winery.
This Niagara on the Lake winery harvests its grapes from four Niagara on the Lake appellations.
It is not limited to just making fine wines in the area, but the winery is popular for one of its kind winery tours, vineyard music fests, and movie screenings.
6. Diamond Estate Winery
A 12-hectare Vineyard situated on the exterior of the Niagara on the lake with production amenities. Produce some popular brands, namely 20 Bees, Dan Akroyd Wines, Fresh Wines, Lakeview Cellars, and Sundance Wines.
From wine sampling to a wide range of wine accessories, beautiful gifts are found in this Niagara on the Lake wineries. 20 Bees was the original winery back in the day, but now it’s a part of the Diamond Estate Wine and spirit family.
7. The Good Earth
It is known for its hospitality with many other good phenomena like culinary destinations laid back, relaxing environments.
The Interior view is immaculate, with the rustic patio overlooking the vineyard and flourishing orchard garden. It is full of good people, exquisite wine, and good food.
It provides:
- A gourmet cooking school.
- A restaurant.
- A wine bar.
- A stone oven.
- Plein air painting courses.
- An atmospheric experience you want to take advantage of.
The menu mostly includes Thai shrimp and lobster burgers; for dessert, they whisk and cook fresh fruits from the farm to make the Puff with Chantilly and strawberry.
Everything about The Good Earth Winery is refreshing, and people should come here to experience the exquisite environment of the winery.
8. Jackson Triggs Niagara Estate Winery
Started in 2001, this winery has the most technologically advanced winemaking amenities in Canada. It facilitates the gravity-flow-assisted systems of wine production that terminate pumping, which is a potential wine ruiner.
Adjacent to the vineyard is an 11.5 acres property with the finest vinifera clones and rootstocks, custom grafted in France. It emphasizes the quality of the wine; that’s why they manufacture ultra-premium VQA wines.
Pinot Noir, Carbnet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon are grown in the Delaine Vineyard. Meanwhile, white varietals like Riesling, Semillon, Gewurtztraminer, and Chardonnay round out the plantings.
Besides producing grapes for the ultra-premium label, the Jackson-Triggs Vinyard is also involved in research dedicated to maximum fruit quality.
The research is done by tracking the impact of different clone and rootstock combinations, soils, pruning, and climatic conditions on the grape varietal range.
9. Konzelmann Estate Winery
The landscape of this Niagara on the Lake wineries is the reason for its various mesoclimates. Even a subtle change in the climate, even around a single vineyard, can be crucial for growing trends in viticulture.
It brings changing effects to the flavour of the grapes and the wines. Winemakers are aware of and examine the impact climatic patterns can have on their vineyards.
A fourth-generation winemaker Herbert Konzelmann arrived in Niagara on the lake in 1984 from Stuttgart, Germany. It has a very knowledgeable winery host.
He came with design and aimed to establish a Canadian winery in his family’s name. The huge factor for selecting Niagara on the lake, specifically on the shore of Lake Ontario, was the mesoclimate suitable for the Konzelmann wines.
Since it is enormous and deep, the lake has a moderate effect on vineyard temperatures near the shore. The growing season is extended into autumn since the fall allows the grape to grow into a more natural sweet taste.
In addition to the moisture and heavy dew in the lakeshore vineyards, the morning mist is suitable for Konzelmann wines and gives them a fine and fruity taste.
10. Stratus
This Niagara on the Lake winery is committed to sustainability and producing great quality wines. It’s located on the historic Niagara on the lake. The vineyard is a gravity-flow winery; It is LEED-certified as well.
The Semblance wines are their signature wine, their production pattern and soil quality are incredibly rich, and they have a diversely planted vineyard.
On top of the winery’s sustainability attracts many wine tasters to visit its retail gallery with its proximity to chic tasting rooms. They make wine to devour, along with a warm welcome.
Closing Thoughts
Wineries are exquisite culinary art that can be mastered with passion and an urge to perform best in this art form. Not only winemakers but wine tasters should know how to savor this globally acknowledged drink.
If you are passionate or have no idea what sparkling wine is, you want the heavenly experience of sparkling wine tasting and vineyards wine tours. You should check out the wineries mentioned above.
If you are unsatisfied with the above list, here are some honorable mentions that will help you find what you’re looking for
- peller estates winery
- ravine vineyard estate winery
- the palatine hills estate winery
- Jackson Triggs winery
- Wayne Gretzky estates winery
