As shocking as it sounds, Niagara-on-the-Lake is famous for wine. Apparently, the surrounding lakes provide a moderate micro-climate, making the area ideal for growing fruit, including grapes.
Dotted along the landscape are just under two dozen wineries. The specialty of the area are the Icewines. Made from frozen grapes, the wine is sweet and usually considered a dessert wine.
Most wineries accept walk-in guests, and offer tastings for free. Alternatively, there are plenty of tours which shuttle you around to a few vineyards in the area. Usually, these include a formal sit down tasting, with a bit of education about the wines and the region.
Some of the vineyards we tried and enjoyed include:
- Southbrook Organic Vineyards
- Pondview Estate Winery
- Pillitteri Winery
- Stratus Winery
If you are also into beer, we felt the Oast House Brewery also made a nice stop.