Fall Wine Touring in the Niagara Peninsula

With the harvest in Niagara kicking off, now is a great time to visit Ontario's major wine region. Here are a few things to do and places to eat and stay during the fall wine season.

Niagara Wine Events

Niagara Fall Wine Festival — Sept. 16 to 25

The Niagara Fall Wine Festival will celebrate its 60th year with wine seminars, wine and food tastings, a parade, live music performances and more.

The Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort will present The Wine and Culinary Food Experience, with more 100 VQA wines and food prepared by local chefs using local ingredients.

Musical guests will perform at Montebello Park on the WestJet Centre Stage during both weekends of the festival. Admission to the park and the performances is free.

For visitors with children, the festival will feature family activities such as "Mr. Grapes Sparkly Birthday Party" and a tween hangout area.

Event tickets can be purchased individually or guests can buy the Niagara Wine Festival Discovery pass for $30 per person at niagarawinefestival.com. The pass is valid both weekends of the festival and allows the holder up to six winery experiences at 37 participating wineries. 

Taste the Season — November

The Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake are opening their doors to visitors during the fall wine season. During the weekends of November 5 and 6, 12 and 13, 19 and 20 and 26 and 27, Taste the Season touring pass holders can visit one (or more) of the 26 participating wineries to sample VQA wine paired with local foods.

Taste the Season touring passes entitle the holder to one wine and food pairing at each of the participating wineries over the course of one weekend. Passes are $44.25 per person and can be purchased at wineriesofniagaraonthelake.com.

Niagara Accomodations

White Oaks Conference Resort & Spa

Located in the heart of wine country, White Oaks is only 15 minutes from the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and all the major attractions.

253 Taylor Rd. SS4, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, L0S 1JO; (905) 688-2550; reservations@whiteoaksresort.com

Inn on the Twenty

Stay at Inn on the Twenty at Cave Spring Cellars and have the opportunity to eat at one of the best winery restaurants in the world, On the Twenty.

3845 Main St., Jordan, ON, L0R 1S0; 1-800-701-8074; info@innonthetwenty.com

Silver Birches by-the-Lake Bed and Breakfast

In the heart of Beamsville, Silver Birches is only 25 minutes from Niagara-on-the-Lake.

4902 Mountainview Rd., Beamsville, ON, L0R 1B3; (905) 563-9479; info@silverbirchesbythelake.com

Restaurants in Niagara

About Thyme Bistro

About Thyme Bistro offers fine dining in a casual setting and features a wine list of local Niagara wines.

3457 King St., Vineland, ON; (905) 562-3457

Ravine Bistro

Visit another one of the world's top winery restaurants as chosen by Wine Access at Ravine Vineyard.

1366 York Rd., St. Davids, ON, L0S 1P0; 905-262-VINE (8463); info@RavineVineyard.com

Benchmark at Niagara College

The Canadian Wine and Food Institute at Niagara College opened Benchmark to showcase its culinary programs and offer students and guests local, fresh and affordable food.

Hospitality and Tourism Building, Niagara College Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus; (905) 641-2252 ext. 4619; OpenTable Reservations