Among the many opportunities for enjoyment that Toronto residents have, some can be categorized as quite unique, that is, those that are only available in this region. One such pastime is visiting wineries and vineyards in the Niagara Peninsula area.
Although the image of Canada is associated with the picture of a rugged northern country, in reality this is far from the case. Toronto, in particular, lies at the same latitude as the south of France, and the climate is quite mild.
Lying south of Toronto, the Niagara Falls area has an even more comfortable climate, partly because of the hilly landscape, and partly because it lies between the two Great Lakes, Ontario and Erie, which act as a thermostat.
Because of its weather conditions, topography and soil features, the Niagara Peninsula provides very good opportunities to grow grapes and produce quality wine from them.
As a result, winemaking in the area has been cultivated since the 19th century, and Niagara wines are now internationally recognized, winning many awards in various competitions. They are considered to be wines of the highest quality.
A special place among them belongs to the so-called “ice wines”, in the production of which Canada (especially the Niagara Peninsula region) is generally recognized as a leader.
Other important wine-producing regions in Canada include the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, which is actually the second most important wine producer in the country, and the Prince Edward County peninsula (east of Toronto), which is gaining weight.
However, the Niagara Peninsula continues to hold the title of Canada’s wine center. Among North American wine producers, it is ranked second behind the Napa Valley (northern California).
The Niagara Peninsula also has several advantages that set it apart from other wine regions. First and foremost is the fact that it occupies a unique geographic location, and is a major tourist destination.
It is here that the famous Niagara Falls, which is visited annually by millions of tourists from all over the world, is located. Given the fact that the Falls stands on the Niagara River, which straddles the border between the United States and Canada, the main flow is American tourists who prefer to spend time on the Canadian side.
The city of Niagara Falls, within whose boundaries Niagara Falls is located, has long been the local equivalent of Las Vegas, with many hotels, casinos and entertainment complexes.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, which is situated not far from Niagara Falls, also plays the role of a big tourist center – a lot of Victorian buildings have survived here, the spirit of that epoch is cultivated, numerous festivals and cultural events are held.
It is in this part of the peninsula there are many wineries, visits to which are very popular among tourists. This is facilitated by the fact that various wine associations and state organizations promote this type of tourism and carry out various activities designed to develop it.
In particular, there is an officially compiled Vine Route (“wine route”), which includes those wineries that may be of interest to tourists. Many of the wineries, in addition to the production and sale of wine, receive additional income from ancillary businesses, such as restaurants, conferences, meetings, weddings and anniversaries, the sale of souvenirs, etc. That is, most wineries have a whole complex, tourist-oriented business.
Almost all wineries have stores for selling the wine produced at that winery, with the opportunity to taste it (wine testing). Usually the cost per sample ranges from $2-3 for regular wine, and $3-$5 for “ice wine,” which is much more expensive than regular wine.
Once you have tasted the wines you are interested in, you can purchase the varieties you like in the store or order them in the restaurant to complement the food served. Often wineries hold “wine & cheese” events, where specific types of cheese are offered for each type of wine.
Since the Niagara Peninsula region is in close proximity to Toronto (an hour and a half drive), visiting wineries and tasting wine is very popular among metropolitan residents.
It is worth adding that the small towns that are located on the peninsula have many restaurants, art galleries, there are very scenic views, including a large number of waterfalls, which makes the trip a good vacation.
There are regular wine festivals in the region. These include a young wine festival in mid-September, an ice wine festival in January, and a vintage (collectible) wine festival in June.
It is worth saying that not all the wineries are oriented to serve tourists. While almost all have a small souvenir store with a selection of wine and other products of their own production, but there are wineries that are really impressive – a large well-kept area, interesting buildings, a large selection of wine and souvenirs, restaurants and a banquet hall, etc.
For those who are not very familiar with Niagara Peninsula wineries, we suggest you start by visiting the largest and most interesting ones located around Niagara-on-the-Lake.
- Wayne Gretzky Estates – A modern winery owned by hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.
- Hillebrand Winery – Canada’s first winery to enter the world market with ice wine.
- Inniskillin Wines is the largest and best known exporter of Canadian ice wine
- Jackson-Triggs Winery is a modern winery with a concert venue
- Konzelmann Winery – winery located on the shores of Lake Ontario in a castle-style building
- Legends Estate – winery located on the shores of Lake Ontario, specializing in weddings
- Peller Estates – winery with a nice restaurant, banquet hall and large picnic area
- Reif Estate Winery – primarily famous for its unique garden, which features plants that complement the wines produced at this winery
- Stratus Vineyards – a modern winery, with transparent walls through which you can see the process of wine making