Wine region of Ontario: Niagara-on-the-lake

Ontario is famous for its Icewine. I have visited 3 wineries this half year and they all produce Vinters Quality Alliance (VQA) quality Icewine. The tours themselves are all unique, but who cares about the tour, we all just want the tasting!

When you get off the QEW onto Niagara Stone Road, your are in the wine region of Ontario. After about 11 km, you’ll see a very modern boxy structure on your right. That’s Jackson Triggs, our first winery. They are a mid-size operation but with very fine Icewine. Their tour is an affordable $5. The tour guide is very informative. While they may not take you to the field, they take you to the production facility (fermentation sticks…) and their cellar. You get to taste 3 of their wines - a white, a red, and an Icewine. Personal favorite: Gewurztraminer (Proprietors’ Grand Reserve).

Jackson Triggs' vineyard in winter

Icewines Jackson Triggs

After you get back on Niagara Stone Road, continue to Niagara-on-the-lake and you’ll meet John Street less than a kilometer away. Take a right for slightly less than 2 km, you’ll arrive our next destination, the Peller Estate. They are one of the largest in the region that can consistently produce Icewine year after year. Their tasting tour is also an affordable $5. They take you to the field as well as their showcase cellar, where you’ll have your tasting of three wines - a white, a red, and an Icewine. If you ask, the tour guide will even take you through, step by step, how to taste wine so that you look like an expert next time you go to a restaurant. Oh! Don’t forget to try all of their Icewines at the tasting bar. Personal favorites: Vidal and their Icewine jam.

Main entrance of Peller Estate

The vineyard

The Cellar

Continue southeast on John Street. At about half a kilometer, there you’ll meet Niagara River Boulevard. Take a right and cruise along. Take the time to stop by and take some photos or walk along the river. This is the best Sunday afternoon drive according to Sir Winston Churchill - Yes! That Winston Churchill during World War II. After slightly less than 3 km on the boulevard, you’ll arrive our final winery, the Reif Estate. This is a large production. I only visited their tasting bar and shop and bought a bottle of Icewine Carbenet Franc.

Souvenirs!