Niagara-on-the-lake is the perfect little getaway from the city! With just a short hour and half drive from Toronto, you’ll find a charming town filled with a large array of wineries. It’s become my yearly tradition to make a day trip there for a fun summer activity. I haven’t hit all of the wineries yet, but I have been to quite a few and today I want to share my top five favourite wineries. Now keep in mind that I’m not a wine expert over here! I chose these particular wineries not just based on how good their wines are, but also for the overall experience and ambiance.
Trius Winery
Trius winery is like no other! It offers a one-of a kind tour experience that is a MUST when you visit. It’s an hour long guide through five stops with an interactive tour of pretty installations, and tasty treats paired with their award-winning wine. There’s so many picturesque spots like the Rosé Lounge, the iconic Red Cellar and the Trius Sparkling House. Get those cameras ready! They also have the cutest patio where they serve snacks, wine by the glass, and speciality drinks. In my opinion they have the best Rosé!
Colaneri Estate Winery
How about transporting to Italy for the day? You’ll certainly feel all the Italian vibes at this beautiful Romanesque style winery. Colaneri Estate is family owned and make their wines in a traditional Appassimento method of drying grapes. Their wines include a large portfolio of red, white and dessert wines. The wine tasting bar overlooks the production area where you’re able to see the wine making process. I found the wine to be flavourful and on the sweeter side. I brought home a Riesling and a traditional Ripasso, which I can’t wait to get into!
Ravine Vineyard
I love the vibe at the Ravine Winery. It’s a timeless destination that is steeped in family legacy and agricultural heritage. The viticulture is organic and the winery produces a range of white, red, rosé, sparking and ice wine. The Ravine patio overlooks the vineyards and is the perfect summer hangout. I ordered a charcuterie board and a frozé. It was the perfect serving size for an afternoon snack. The restaurant is a farm-to-table concept, with all fresh locally sourced ingredients. I can’t wait to try the menu on my next visit. It sounds and looks delicious!
Two Sisters Vineyards
You can’t visit Niagara-on-the-Lake without visiting Two Sisters Vineyards. It’s definitely my favourite! It’s a very luxurious winery offering the best fine wines. I was fortunate enough to experience both their wine tour and tasting last year and I enjoyed them throughly. My favourite wines were the Merlot, Cabernet Franc and their sparkling wine, which actually won best sparkling wine of 2019! Their restaurant called Kitchen76 is also one of the best in the area. The dishes are beautifully presented with authentic Italian ingredients that pair perfectly with their wines.
Peller Estates
Peller Estates is definitely a classic! They’ve been crafting their quality wines for over 50 years. Their stunning provincial French-style chateau houses a beautiful tasting center, a modern wine shop, and an award-winning restaurant. If you’re into Ice wine, you need to check out their 10Below Icewine Lounge. If offers a really unique experience and just recently, they did a complete overhaul and design, so I can’t wait to go back! Their ice wine is definitely my favourite. It’s not overly sweet with nods of peach, pear and honey. Also, don’t forget to make reservations at their restaurant! Really Phenomenal food with a cozy warm atmosphere. Peller Estates is definitely popular for a reason!
There are so many great wineries in Niagara, but these five really made an impression on me. Which Niagara-on-the-lake winery is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below.
Signing off….Time to wine down 😉
Cheers!
xo
1 Comment
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