Ontario is blessed with some truly fantastic wineries, and the Niagara Peninsula is the crown jewel, especially if you’re looking for an easy and delightful day trip from Toronto. The Niagara Wine Trail offers a perfect escape to sip and savor some of the best wines in the region.
Each winery has its own unique charm, whether it’s known for bold reds, crisp whites, or a standout menu featuring local ingredients.
Exploring the Niagara Wine Trail is all about discovering the unique grapes and flavors that thrive in this region—and having a great time while doing it! The Niagara Wine Trail is more than just wine; it’s about appreciating the rich soil, the exceptional terroir, and the passionate people behind the vineyards. You’ll learn about the grapes that thrive here, the flavors they produce, and maybe even discover your new favorite wine along the way.
Just be sure to drink responsibly, and consider booking a tour if you want to relax without worrying about driving. You can also make it an overnight adventure by staying in charming Niagara-on-the-Lake and using it as your home base. The antique shops and historic character are definitely huge crowd pleasers!
Niagara Wine Trail: useful travel tips
Where is the Niagara wine trail?
The Niagara Wine Trail winds through scenic countryside between the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario. This sweet spot is perfect for grape-growing, thanks to its unique micro-climate. Stretching across Niagara, Orleans, and Monroe counties in New York, the trail covers over 60 miles of beautiful landscapes, with stunning views of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario along the way.
How many wineries are in the Niagara Wine Trail region?
There are approximately 20 wineries on the Niagara Wine Trail, which offer a variety of wines, from traditional vinifera to unique fruit wines and meads. Some focus on late harvest and ice wines, taking advantage of the cool climate. Others produce award-winning reds and whites, catering to all tastes.
Is there a Niagara wine trail shuttle?
There are several tour companies that offer guided tours of the Niagara Wine Trail, either from NIagara on the Lake or Toronto. This is a great option if you prefer not to drive and really enjoy the wine experience!
There’s even a historic wine trolley if you’re looking for a fun, vintage-style experience around wineries and local heritage sites.
Do you need reservations for wine tasting in Niagara?
Reservations are a good idea, especially during busy seasons or weekends. While some wineries accept walk-ins, others may require you to book ahead. If your group is larger than six, reservations are often necessary to ensure a smooth experience. Plus, reserving can give you access to special tastings or events not available to walk-ins.
To plan your visit, check the winery’s website or call ahead. Popular spots can fill up fast, so reserving in advance can save you from missing out.
The best stops for wine tasting in Niagara
Wine is a very personal endevour, but you won’t know what you like unless you do a little exploring. As with anything else, time and research always pays dividends! Bri, my partner, and I have spent a lot of time on this trail, and here are some of our absolute favourites.
Ravine Vineyard (St. Davids, Ontario)
Ravine is on an historic, family-owned farm in the charming village of St. Davids. It perfectly blends together so many experiences into one. They offer fantastic, award-winning wines, are located on a beautiful vineyard and farm with spacious indoor and outdoor areas, and their farm-to-table restaurant serves up incredible local dishes. The restaurant here is busy enough that, if you’re planning on dining, I’d make sure you have a reservation.
They’re still operated by the fifth generation of the family who owns the farm, and their winemaker Lydia Tomek was one of the youngest winemakers in Canada when she started, and she’s still making incredible wines today. They’ve had great success with their Gamay grapes over the past couple of years. As such, I’d recommend trying a Gamay Noir or Gamay Rose during your visit. And their 2020 Cabernet Franc was recently named one of the top 19 wines in Canada!
13th Street Winery (St. Catherines, Ontario)
This winery is close to St. Catherines and on top of being famous for its award-winning wines, their on-site bakery has won many awards for having the best butter tarts in Ontario (no small feat!). And if you don’t know what a butter tart is, let me just tell you that you’ll want to nab at least half a dozen to bring along with you as you explore the Niagara Wine Trail.
What’s neat about 13th Street is that there’s quite a bit to do beyond just wine. Of course you can have a wine tasting, but you can also walk around their beautiful farmland and grounds, and visit the gallery located on site. They also have live music and events throughout the year, in addition to being the home of a delicious restaurant, so there’s a lot to enjoy. I’d recommend sampling their 2015 Premier Cuvée or their 2020 Reserve Syrah during your visit, since both have placed well in Canadian Wine awards.Their Syrah, in particular, is up there with the best of Ontario, in my humble opinion.
Malivoire Wine Company (Beamsville, Ontario)
Malivoire is a lovely winery to have on your map as you travel through wine country in Niagara. Their commitment to sustainability and quality is evident from the first sip of their wines, and the scenic backdrop of the Niagara escarpment behind the vineyard makes for a picture-perfect photo spot.
There are some names on the list here that you can easily find at the LCBO and so on, but while you’re in the region, you also want to visit wineries like Malivoire, whose wine may not be all over the shelves, but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s any less magnificent. Their Team Principal and GM, Shiraz Mottiar, was actually awarded Wine Maker of the Year from Quench Magazine in 2021, so this winery is about as up-and-coming as it gets.
Wines well worth trying that have won gold in their respective categories are the 2021 Mottiar Pinot Noir, the Bisous Rosé Sparkling NV, the 2022 Pinot Gris, and the 2022 Gamay “Concrete”.
Two Sisters Vineyards (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario)
This is a classic stop on the Niagara Wine Trail.
As you might have guessed, Two Sisters is co-owned by sisters Angela Marotta and Melissa Marotta-Paolicelli. They’ve been planting grapes at this location in Niagara-on-the-Lake since 2007, so they’ve really established themselves as a mainstay winery to visit on a trip to Niagara.
Their stately space boasts beautiful vineyard views from the rear, and memorable tasting experiences in their wine cellar. Their patio out back also serves up some delicious dishes from their restaurant which, like many of the wineries on this list, aims to showcase local flavours and highlight local producers.
Noteworthy, award-winning wines to taste include their 2020 Riesling and the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine.
Stratus Vineyards (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario)
Wine lovers outside of Ontario may have heard of Stratus, and that’s because, in many ways, their reputation precedes them.
Stratus is a unique vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake. They were the first winery in the world to be given an LEED green certification, and they produce wines with a commitment to sustainability. They expertly blend traditional winemaking practices from a variety of cultures along with scientific enhancements to create unique and delicious wines.
As of this year, they’ve even started to implement the use of amphorae (clay pots) to produce new wines. I am a big fan of rich red wines, and Stratus knows how to make them, that’s for sure. I’d recommend sampling either the 2019 Cabernet Franc Decant or the 2020 Cabernet Franc during your visit. I’m annoying picky about my Ontario Cabernet Francs, but they do a marvelous job with them.
Palatine Hills (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario)
Palatine Hills Estate has been a family-owned and operated vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake for over four decades. Their location is surrounded by beautiful vineyards on the property, and their modern farm-style tasting room is a relaxed spot to stop on your trip to Niagara.
I’d keep an eye out for the 2018 Wild & Free Cabernet Franc or the 2021 Wild & Free Semillon during your visit.
Domaine Queylus (Saint Anns, Ontario)
Perched on the Niagara Escarpment, Domaine Queylus began producing wines in 2010, and opened their tasting room and store in 2014. You can come for tastings on their own, or opt for food pairings to enjoy on their patio or inside amongst their beautifully landscaped grounds. They note that, “Selecting only varieties which we have identified as perfectly adaptable to our vineyards’ complex soils and microclimate, we craft premium, cool-climate wines from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.”
Personally, I’d recommend trying their 2018 Pinot Noir La Grande Réserve or their 2017 Merlot La Grande Réserve when you visit.
Cover photo credit: Hubert Kang/Destination Ontario
