11 Best Wineries in Niagara on the Lake
Niagara on the Lake, while known for many things – is famous for being the heart of Canada’s wine region. There are about over 35 wineries surrounding Niagara on the Lake alone, which makes visiting at least one vineyard one of the best things to do in the area.
It’s very hard to choose or narrow down which winery to visit, because there aren’t any ‘bad’ choices. All of the wineries in the area are great in different ways; most are family-owned, have been operating for many years, and have their unique perks.
Some of the wineries are fancy, grand and upscale, while others have more of a charming, farm-to-table setting.
And here’s what most people don’t know – some wineries in the area seem like small businesses, but are actually owned by giant corperations. This doesn’t mean you should avoid them, but I do recommend trying to support some of the small family-owned wineries in the area if you get a chance!
I’ve considered my personal experience (after visiting Niagara on the Lake twice a year for the past few years), and ratings, and come up with a guide below detailing some of the best wineries near Niagara on the Lake, what they offer, and what is unique about visiting them.
Important note: The drinking age in Ontario is 19. People of all ages (including kids) are welcome at the Niagara vineyards, I see families visiting often. To buy or taste alcohol, though, you should have ID on hand in case they ask
So, let’s jump in – the best Niagara on the Lake wineries, and the perks they offer!
9 Best Wineries in Niagara on the Lake
Scroll below for more details of each of the wineries mentioned here, plus MORE that deserve a mention. We are blessed to have so many amazing wineries in this area that are eager to welcome you for tastings, meals, tours and unique experiences
1. Two Sisters Vineyards
Distance from downtown Niagara on the Lake: 5-minute drive or 10 min bike ride
Known for: Being one of the newer wineries, having only opened its doors in 2014!
Restaurant: Yes, it’s called Kitchen 76 and serves lunch and dinner (menus here)
Two Sisters is a gorgeous, classy and upscale Niagara on the Lake winery. For the longest time, I never visited any new wineries because I always felt drawn to coming back to Two Sisters. The interior of the winery and the labels on their labels have an elegant, frilly design. Their vineyards and their building have such an elegant atmosphere.
Two Sisters wine bottles are harder to find across Ontario, because althoug the vineyard is larger – it is a family owned and run business (by two sisters of the Marrota family who started it.)
You can find their wines (especially their most popular, 11th Post in LCBO stores) but their brand is less common, and I think that’s part of why I often pop in here when I’m visiting Niagara on the Lake – it feels like you’re buying something that isn’t easily found elsewhere.
I’ve never eaten at Two Sisters, but their dining area is classy and elegant, like the rest of the building. I’ve done their wine tastings (which you can either book in advance or drop in), and bought many bottles of their wine.
2. Stratus Vineyards
Distance from downtown Niagara on the Lake: 4 min drive/10 minutes by bike
Known for: Being one of the most green, sustainable wineries in the area
Restaurant: No
Similar to Two Sisters, Stratus is one of the prettiest, artistic and fancy wineries in the area. They’re also the first winery in the world to become LEED-certified winery (standing for (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.)
Stratus is a medium sized, boutique winery that provides a more ‘upscale’ winery experience. Although its larger than other vineyards, its still family owned, and all the grapes are hand picked and they don’t use chemicals. They offer tours and tastings, and occasionally, unique events.
3. Pillitteri Estate Winery
Distance from downtown Niagara on the Lake: 9 min drive/23 minutes by bike
Known for: Family-owned since the 60s, wood-fired pizzas
Restaurant: Yes, called Barrels
Pilliterri Estate Winery is a local favourite, and famous for their restaurant Barrels, which serves delicious wood-oven baked pizzas. The land has been family-owned since the 60s by a family of the same name!
They’re also one of the few ‘smaller’ wineries in the area that make ice wine – which is rare drink that is only made at a handfull of places in Niagara. If you visit Niagara on the Lake in winter (which I recommend, its a good Ontario winter destination) be sure to sample their newly bottled ice wine. You can sample it any time of year of course too.
In the summer and fall, Pilliteri has wooden picnic tables overlooking the vineyards where you can enjoy their pizza with a glass of wine. They make it casual, but still ‘nice.’ You won’t be disappointed with Pillitteri regardless of the time of year you come, I believe they are one of the best in the area!
4. Jackson Trigg’s Niagara Estate
Distance from downtown Niagara on the Lake: 4 min drive/8 minutes by bike
Known for: Being one of the largest wineries in Canada
Restaurant: Yes, seasonally semi-outdoors – menu here
Jackson Triggs is one of Canada’s most FAMOUS wines. It’s almost impossible to open a restaurant wine menu and not see at least one of their wines. Visiting their vineyard in Niagara on the Lake where their famous wines are made is a fun, laid back but still a classy experience.
Jackson Triggs serves an excellent lunch at their winery, where you can choose between different grazing boards. Their charcuterie boards are so fresh, and they have many options for different dietary needs (I’m a vegetarian.) It’s an upscale experience, but still elaxed, where you feel at peace with a view of the vineyards.
Jackson Triggs is likely the largest winery in the area, and in the country, so it doesn’t have as much of that ‘small,’ unique charm experience – so if you’re set on that, I’d look elsewhere. But I have been here, and still enjoyed it. It’s a place to kick back, relax and explore for a couple hours. It also has one of the best gift shops that I’ve seen at wineries in the area, with lots of winery, Niagara and Canadian souvenirs.
5. Pellar Estates Winery And Restaurant
Distance from downtown Niagara on the Lake: 5 min drive/10 minutes by bike
Known for: Niagara’s only igloo-like lounge, called “10Below Icewine Lounge“
Restaurant: Yes, its called “The Winery”
Pellar Estates is one of the most popular, famous wineries in the area. It’s large, fancy and bustling winery, with lots going on. Their patio views of the vineyards are gorgeous, and their wine is excellent.
Similar to Jackson Triggs, the Peller estate is quite large and their production is done on a larger scale. That’s part of why its easy to find their wine on menus, and stores all over Canada. (The company that ownes Peller, also owns a few other wineries in the area.) Still, I wouldn’t discourage you from visiting Peller – they’re definitely one of my favourites, and were originally my #1 favourite before I discovered Two Sisters.
Peller and Two Sisters are right beside eachother, so its pretty easy to experience both of them if that interests you!
One thing not everyone knows about Peller Estates their ice lounge in the cellar, which they use to make sparkling wine. Its called the 10Below Icewine Lounge, you need to book one of their wine tours in order to see it. (Advance booking would be highly recommended, especially in the summer and fall.)
6. Inniskillin Wines
Distance from downtown Niagara on the Lake: 9 min drive/23 minutes by bike
Known for: Being the oldest winery in the area, having opened in 1975
Restaurant: Yes, they have one of the more affordable winery restaurants – menu here
Inniskillen Wines is a more low-key, rustic winery in the area. They’re the oldest and the first to be granted a winery licence. They’re right on the Niagara River, so you’d have views of the vineyards with the river and the US land in the background.
I find visiting Innisfillen to be a bit more of a chill vibe than other wineries, because their building is smaller, more homey and simple! Their ice wine is amazing, and something you’ll be able to taste if you do their wine tour.
Inniskillen was named after the Irish family that bought the land, but now the wine is owned by Arterra Wines Canada which is one of Canada’s biggest wine companies. So, its not one of the ‘family owned’ places, but it still has a lot of uniqueness and a story to it. You can also have a laid-back lunch, with options like wraps, salads, and sandwiches or a cheese board. This can be a nice option if you’re looking for something less ‘fancy’ than other winery meals.
7. Trius Winery & Restaurant
Distance from downtown Niagara on the Lake: 9 min drive/23 minutes by bike
Known for: Canada’s largest underground sparkling wine cellar
Restaurant: Yes, (and MICHELIN-star!) Serves lunch and dinner –menu here
Trius, like Pellar and Jackson Triggs, is also a very popular Ontario wine that frequents many local restaurant menus, and shelves at LCBO. Trius wine is owned by the same company as Peller (Andrew Peller Limited) so their bottles are a pretty easy to find outside of the winery too.
Still, the Trius winery in Niagara on the Lake is worth visiting – if not for the wine itself, then the environment and the food. It’s home to the only Michelin-star restaurant in Niagara on the Lake!. The food is very upscale, and they have some interesting and creative dishes. A meal here can finish off a day celebrating a special occasion in Niagara.
8. Bella Terra Vineyards
Distance from downtown Niagara on the Lake: 9 min drive/23 minutes by bike
Known for: Being one of the oldest, family-owned wineries in the area
Restaurant: No
Bella Terra Vineyards is one of the lesser-known vineyards in the Niagara area, but oddly, it’s one of the oldest ones in the area too! Its family owned since 1974, and their wine bottle labels have a fancy, feminine label, which makes them a nice gift to bring home for someone. Its a small boutique winery that is nice to visit with girlfriends, or with mom. They have a patio where you can sit with a view of the vineyards and order wine by the glass.
9. Caroline Cellars Family Estate
Distance from downtown Niagara on the Lake: 9 min drive/23 minutes by bike
Known for: Being a more ‘down to earth’ winery
Restaurant: Yes, their Farmhouse Café serves mouthwatering pub food!
Caroline Cellars is a very popular winery that is perfect for a more casual winery experience. Their interior is all wooden, and they serve pub food in their cozy, rustic restaurant. That’s what they’re going for here, a more laid-back winery experience as opposed to fancy and upscale.
They’re family owned and named after the owner’s mom, Caroline, who first helped them buy the land to start this vineyard in the 70s. By visiting here, you’re welcomed by a generation-old family business. They have a very cute gift shop too. I have yet to visit Caroline Cellars but have heard nothing but good things about them, and its on my list!
10. Konzelmann Estate Winery
Distance from downtown Niagara on the Lake: 9 min drive/23 minutes by bike
Known for: the unique building’s resemblance to a European castle, being right on the lake
Restaurant: No, but they offer several food pairing options with their wines
Konzelmann is very unique as far as wineries go in the area, because unlike many of the other family owned ones, this one isn’t French or Italian inspired – it’s German. It was started in the 80s by Herbert Konzelmann, and has been
Konzelmann Estate looks the most unique. It’s building looks like a chateau in Germany, with its pointy red tiled roof and lighed bricked exterior. It’s won awards and been voted the friendliest and most informative of local wine tours.
A unique experience offered at Konzelmann that I haven’t seen at others is renting a private dome, which sits on an elevated surface facing the vineyards and lake Ontario. The dome rental comes with snacks, and refreshments which you can pair with wine. (I’ve booked this for my husband’s birthday this year – shhh!) So, photos of the estate are to come!
11. Palatine Hills Estate Winery
Distance from downtown Niagara on the Lake: 4 min drive/10 minutes by bike
Known for: Super chill, laid back environment
Restaurant: Yes, but more ‘snack’ type offerings
I couldn’t resist adding Palatine Hills Estate Winery to this list. It’s located right beside Konzelmann Estate (however, not facing the lake like Konzelmann is because its on the other side of the road.) It was started, and continues to be run by the Neufeld family for two generations small! It’s a small, relaxed winery that is worth popping into!
Where to Stay in Niagara on the Lake
Niagara on the Lake is a popular day trip, from Niagara Falls or Toronto, and other places around Ontario. I almost always stay overnight when I visit.
- Prince of Wales Hotel. See my personal review of staying at Prince of Wales here
- Riverbend Inn, is owned by Trius but located adjacent to Pellar Estates Vineyards. Its a property that dates back to the 1800s
There are too many amazing bed and breakfasts in Niagara on the Lake to name right here, so for more suggestions, please see my complete list of best places to stay in Niagara on the Lake
Other Wineries in the Area (Some Further Away but Worth Considering!)
It should be known that Niagara on the Lake isn’t the only place with wineries on the Niagara Peninsula – they are scattered all over the Niagara region, the ‘wine country’ of Canada. I’ll be mentioning a few that are a bit ‘out of the way’ but worth a visit too.
- Lakeview Wine Co. (11 min drive)
- Between the Lines Winery (12 min drive), very small winery, small batched wines and family run
- The Hare Wine Co. (12 min drive)
- Ravine Vineyard (15 min drive), they’re big on farm to table
- Château des Charmes (18 minute drive), a gorgeous elegant French-inspired winery
- Redstone Winery (1 hour drive), this is a bit further out but is located near Jordan Station which is one of Ontario’s cutest small towns.
Final Thoughts
I hope that this article has helped you make a decision on which winery or wineries to visit. When I visit Niagara on the Lake, I often visit at least 1-2 wineries while I’m there. Sometimes it will be lunch at one, and a tour at another.
If it’s your first time in Niagara on the Lake, I recommend getting the full experience by booking a wine tour in advance (they often need to be booked beforehand, especially in the summer or fall, as spaces fill up.)
In addition, a winery visit doesn’t always have to be to buy or taste alcohol – many of them serve excellent dinners and lunches, and are a nice place to just spend time outdoors and learn about their process of farming the grapes and turning them into wine. Some of the best restauants in Niagara on the Lake in the area are run by wineries, or located right on the estate.