Reasons to Wine and Dine in Niagara

If you’re like most people then the draw to a Niagara winery is simple. There is wine there. Good wine. In fact some of the best wines in the world start in the quiet vineyards in Niagara, Ontario. Great wine in a phenomenal setting is probably all you were looking for out of the area, but it’s not all you’re going to get.

The owners and winemakers at  the incredible vineyards throughout the region have been taking steps towards making the Niagara wine region  an all encompassing destination, including adding incredible offerings to keep you at the properties longer.

If what you’re looking for is more than just a sip and tip experience, these wineries offer you the chance to linger and take it all in a little deeper. Heck, you’ll even have time for a second glass.

Chateau des Charmes

The wine you’ll fall in love with: Gamay Noir

The property:  Overlooking the Niagara Escarpment, this award winning vineyard will offer plenty of eye candy to go with your favourite vintage.

The owners: The Bosc family are 7th generation  winemakers whose passion for the business runs as deep as the vines.

The bonus: Family friendly events that pair fantastic wines with the arts. Most recently the property featured their Earth & Sky film nights ($15) and music markets (admission is free; food and wine are pay as you go!). There’s still time to catch offerings in early September.

Peller Estates

The wine you’ll fall in love with: Signature Series Sauvignon Blanc

The property:  25 acres of lush vineyards and stunning views of the coutryside that surrounds it keep guests coming back to sip and savour.

The owners: The Peller family began making in British Columbia but in 1969 they purchased a licence to make wine in Ontario. Almost 50 years later their wines continue to be a family affair, netting awards worldwide.

The event: The food is as much of a draw as the wine at Peller Estates. It’s why their Kitchen Table Dinners, featuring celebrity chef Jason Parsons are always a sell out affair. Join Chef Parsons as he explains the dishes he creates and then partake in a 7-course paired tasting menu. Cost is $165 per guest plus tax and tip.

Jackson Triggs

The wine you’ll fall in love with: Delaine Syrah

The property:  Set on 11.5 acres on the Niagara Peninsula the property reaps the benefits of a unique terroir.  Along with the views and guided tours of the vineyard, guests to the property can peek in on one of the most technologically advanced wineries in the country.

The winemakers: Marco Piccoli (Niagara) and Brooke Blair (Okanagan) are the winemakers behind the label’s  award-winning offerings.

The events:  Relax over a meal to remember at the Savour the Sights Dinner Experience. Five courses of regional cuisine, each in a different location of the winery, means you’ll learn as you go from some of the best in the business. Tickets are $135 per person plus tax and tip. And there is still time to enjoy the the summer concert series hosted in the winery’s on-site amphitheatre.  Performances run into September.

Can’t decide?  Why not choose to visit several Niagara wineries on one visit?

The event: Taste the Season.

Each November the wineries across the region open their doors from 11-5, Friday through Sunday an offer a fantastic pairing. Make your way from winery to vineyard sampling the best of the region. Each group can also pick up a designated driver touring pass that offers all of the samples along with non-alcoholic drinks at spots like Iniskillen, Diamond Estates, Pondview and others in the region.