7 Best Winery Experiences in Niagara-on-the-Lake
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There are so many fun ways to explore Niagara-on-the-Lake’s wineries beyond standard tasting flights.
You can hop on a bike and cycle through NOTL’s countryside, sip premium wines in a dome with views of Lake Ontario, or snap fun selfies on one of the most Instagrammable winery tours in Niagara.
Prefer to leave the planning and driving to someone else? You can also join a guided winery tour—the easiest way to explore a few of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s top wineries in one day.
Not quite sure what type of experience you’re looking for? Take your pick from full-day wine tours, fun food and wine pairings, and more of the best winery experiences in Niagara-on-the-Lake in this list.
PS: I’m a Niagara local. I also worked in the tourism industry in Niagara-on-the-Lake back in the day (it was my job to help people plan their NOTL trips!)
Table of Contents
1. Niagara-on-the-Lake Cycle & Wine Tasting Tour
One of the best ways to tour NOTL’s wineries is by bike. This way, you can hit several vineyards in one day and soak up the scenery between each stop.
Organized by Grape Escape Wine Tours, this Niagara-on-the-Lake Cycle & Wine Tasting Tour gives you the option of a half-day tour or a full-day tour with lunch.
Both tours include a bike rental, helmet, knowledgeable guide, and a wine tasting flight at three different wineries.
The route they take you on is mostly flat and makes for easy riding, so it’s perfect for avid or beginner cyclists.
FYI: this tour is only offered seasonally from May to mid-October.
2. Wine & Charcuterie Tour
If you like the sound of being whisked from winery to winery without having to plan a thing, you’ll probably love this Wine & Charcuterie Tour.
It includes visits to three wineries: Pillitteri, Konzelmann, and Reif. You’ll sample three to four tastings at each property, along with a mini charcuterie platter (meats and cheeses) at one of the wineries.
There’s also a 75-minute break in Niagara-on-the-Lake Old Town so you can explore the shops and attractions or grab some lunch (at your own expense).
The entire experience is approximately 5.5 hours and includes door-to-door pick-up from wherever you’re staying in Niagara Falls or Niagara-on-the-Lake.
All you have to do is book the tour and then kick back, relax, and enjoy the day.
This tour is hosted by Winery Guys Tours, a family-owned and operated company with fantastic reviews (they currently have a 5-star rating on Google with 500+ reviews).
Want to check out one of NOTL’s breweries too? Winery Guys offers a similar Afternoon Wine, Beer & Charcuterie Tour with stops at two wineries and one brewery.
3. Private Vineyard Dome Experience
Konzelmann’s Vineyard Dome Experience is a must-do activity in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
First of all, the setting is super unique. Picture a luxurious dome perched on a raised platform with beautiful views of the vineyard and Lake Ontario in the distance.
Add in a flight of Konzelmann’s Family Reserve Series (their premium wines) paired with a delicious charcuterie board, and you have all the makings of a fun and memorable winery experience.
Since this is a private 60-minute tasting, it’s a great option if you’re celebrating a special occasion or travelling with a smaller group of people.
The dome is open year-round and it’s heated during the winter—so it’s something you can do in any season.
4. The Trius Tour
Aside from its award-winning wines, Trius Winery is mainly known for one thing: offering the most Instagrammable winery tour in the region.
If you’re planning a NOTL girls’ weekend or travelling here for a bachelorette party, definitely add this winery to your must-visit list.
Guided by one of Trius’ wine experts, this immersive 45-minute tour takes you to several stops throughout the property, where you’ll find over-the-top wine-themed art installations and endless photo opportunities.
Highlights include the Rosé Tower Lookout (complete with a giant pink flower wall and vineyard views), Canada’s largest sparkling wine cellar, and the Sparkling House—where you can snap pics sitting on a cork cage swing, inside a “bubble” bathtub, and beside hot pink neon signs.
Each stop includes a glass of Trius wine, of course—including fun samples like sparkling rosé topped with pink cotton candy.
5. Blind Wine Tasting
This Black Glass Wine Tasting at Between the Lines Winery is a traditional tasting flight with a fun twist.
Each wine sample is served in an opaque black glass so you can’t see what you’re drinking.
As you sip through four mystery samples, you’ll have to use your other senses to try to identify each wine—which makes it a fun little guessing game.
Since Between the Lines Winery is a smaller, family-owned vineyard, this tour is a great way to get slightly off the beaten path and explore beyond the big-name wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Plus, the staff members are super welcoming, knowledgeable, and accommodating. Dogs are welcome as well!
6. The Ultimate Icewine Experience
Peller’s Greatest Winery Tour includes everything you’d expect from an estate tour, along with something you won’t find anywhere else in NOTL: an icewine lounge made entirely of ice.
Complete with an ice bar and benches, 10Below Icewine Lounge is kept at a chilly -10°C—the ideal temperature for harvesting icewine grapes.
A sommelier will give you a brief rundown of the icewine production process at Peller and then pour a glass of Niagara’s “liquid gold” for you to sample.
I can’t think of a better place to enjoy a glass of icewine than inside an igloo-like lounge built from 13,000 kilos of ice.
This tour is a can’t-miss activity in the winter, but you can also try it in any season. (Peller provides a parka to wear while you’re inside the lounge.)
7. Unique Food & Wine Pairing Experiences
We’ve all tried wine and cheese, but what about wine and gourmet chips, popcorn, or doughnuts?
These are just a few of the fun tasting experiences you’ll find at wineries across Niagara-on-the-Lake:
- Lakeview Dessert Flights: Wine tasting flights with a rotating selection of sweet treats curated to match the season. Available daily.
- Konzelmann Sips & Chips: Three premium wines paired with gourmet potato chips (think: truffle oil and pepperoncini).
- Chateau des Charmes Iced & Glazed: Two icewines and one icewine cocktail paired with handmade doughnuts.
- Chateau des Charmes Popping the Bubbles: Three sparkling wines served with three different flavours of popcorn.
