Top 15 Niagara Falls Wine Tours

A trip to Niagara Falls isn’t complete unless you’ve included a visit to Ontario’s famous wine region in Niagara-on-the-Lake and along the Niagara escarpment.  Wine is the liquid currency here that is worth its weight in those heavy cases of bottles and it would be a shame if you didn’t do one of the guided Niagara Falls wine tours.

Whether you’re coming as a day trip or spending a weekend getaway staying in one of the charming properties along Queen Street, you have to include one of these winery tours in your itinerary.  You’ll learn about the origin story of ice wine, go behind-the-scenes in the wine-making process, and discover the secrets to food pairings.  To help you out, here’s a list of the top 15 tours to consider that give you a mix from ones that include meals, to those looking to cycle, and more!

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Why book Niagara Falls wine tours?

If you’re skeptical, I can totally relate.  It’s no secret where the wineries are located near Niagara Falls.  If you have a car or are renting a car (and saving money with car rental coupon codes), then why would you want to book a tour?

Here are the reasons why you would want to book a Niagara wine tour:

1. You won’t need a designated driver (DD).
2. You’re running a special event (bachelor/bachelorette party, wedding party, family excursion).
3. You want a guided experience so you learn more about Ontario wines whether you’re a connoisseur or enthusiast.
4. You prefer structured experiences to ensure you make the most of your limited time in Niagara Falls.
5. You couldn’t be bothered to plan and book the tours and food pairing experiences.

Tips on how to be a wine tour pro

If it’s your first time going on a wine tour, there are a couple of tips to make sure you have an amazing time.

• It goes without saying but be prepared to drink!
• In all seriousness, that means to make sure you eat a proper breakfast or lunch before you head out especially if your tour doesn’t include a meal.
• Set the right expectations.  Even if pairings are included, don’t expect this to be an unlimited feast.
• Be considerate to your other tour mates whether it’s overall etiquette on the bus or during the tour, or during tastings (i.e. don’t hog all the food).
• Think about what you want to buy.  If you’re from outside of Canada, know what your import limits are back to your country (i.e. wine duty exemptions for the US).  Also, it’s just a good idea to know how much wine you already have at home and what your soft or hard limit is on budget and how many bottles you want to bring back home.
• Don’t expect to drive after your wine tour so plan your itinerary accordingly.

Niagara Falls wine tours

Here are 15 of the best wine tours in the Niagara region.  Each one is different and catered to different traveller needs and interests.  Hopefully you find one that’s perfect for you and your group!

Traditional Wine Tours

Niagara-on-the-Lake wine tour with cheese pairing

This tour is the classic Niagara Falls wine tour that’s perfect for those staying by the Falls and want to head to Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) for half a day.  With this guided, small-group tour, you’ll be able to sample a variety of wines, including Ontario’s famous ice wine, and also pair it with cheese.  You’ll also learn why NOTL is a perfect region for grapes and how it compares with Napa.

With these types of tours, you normally get one full winery tour and this usually happens at either Konzelmann Estate Winery or Jackson-Triggs.  At the other vineyards, the focus is mainly the tasting.

One guest said:

We had marvellous personal attention as we visited several wineries throughout the Niagara Falls/Lake Region. All the winery hosts knew our tour guide, which facilitated our tours significantly, as we always felt like “insiders” throughout the day’s visits. Would highly recommend.

While the wineries may change, here are the locations that you can expect:

• Wineries – Palatine Hills Estate Winery (interchangeable with Jackson-Triggs), Konzelmann Estate Winery, Marynissen Estates Winery, and Pondview Estate Winery
• Cheese pairing – Pondview Estate Winery although some of the other wineries have started to offer pairings as well

Konzelmann Estate Winery tour and tasting

This is a single 45 minute winery tour of Konzelmann Estate Winery, one of the most popular vineyards in the region.  During this tour, your guide will take you through the winery and you’ll learn about the winemaking process.

At the end of the tour, you’ll sample several grape varietals such as pinot noir and merlot.

The wine, icewine, and chocolate tour

This is s unique wine tour that not only includes 3 wineries but in addition gives the opportunity to visit the 10 Below Icewine Lounge at Peller Estates and a chocolate factory to wrap it all up.  This is the only guided group tour that includes the icewine lounge.

One thing to note is that this tour is primarily wine tastings.  Unlike some of the other tours, this does not take you through behind-the-scenes of a winery.

A recent guest said:

I really enjoyed the whole experience of the wine tour. The wineries were really beautiful, especially the Ice wine lounge – that is a must see! I expected to love the wineries, and tasting, however was extremely pleased with the tour guide John McKinnon, who told us many interesting stories, made stops on the way for us to see the breathtaking views more up-close, didn’t mind taking pictures of us, recommended where to eat, and was hilarious! We had a blast! I recommend this to everyone coming to Niagara! Thank you.

While the wineries may change, here are the locations that you can expect:

• Wineries – Peller Estates Winery, Reif Estate Winery, Konzelmann Estate Winery
• Chocolate Factory – Chocolate F/X

The great Canadian wine & cheese guided tour of Niagara on the Lake

This guided Niagara Falls wine tour packs up to five wineries in a single half-day which is impressive.

If you love wine and cheese this tour is for you.  Get an in-depth guide of these wineries, get a chance to meet the owners or representatives, and sample the very best of wines and ciders in the region.

While the wineries may change, here are the locations that you can expect:

• Wineries – Wayne Gretzky Estates, Konzelmann Estate Winery, Small Talk Vineyards, De Simone Vineyards, and Between The Lines Winery (other wineries they’ve gone to include The Hare Wine Co.)

Wine tasting and pairing afternoon tour

This is an all-inclusive wine tasting tour that’ll take you round trip between Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Falls.  It includes visits to 5 vineyards for wine tastings and food pairings.

The groups are kept small and timing is set to be after the lunch-rush at the wineries to make sure your tastings aren’t crowded.

As one person put it:

You get a lot of wine, snacks & fun for a small price.

While the wineries may change, here are the locations that you can expect:

• Wineries – The Konzelmann Estate Winery (charcuterie board), Between the Lines (charcuterie, cheeses, and an ice wine in a chocolate cup), De Simone, and Small Talk Vineyards/Shiny Apple Cider (previous wineries include The Hare Wine Co.)

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Tours with meals

Niagara-on-the-Lake small group wine tour and picnic lunch

This is a small-group wine tasting tour where you’ll visit 4 wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake that brings you to the smaller, family run wineries. What we like about this one is that they don’t take you to the “usual suspects”.

The 4 vineyards mentioned are below but note that they can change:

• Reif Estate Winery
• Marynissen Estate Winery
• Caroline Cellars Family Estate Winery
• Lakeview Wine Co.

Each winery tasting will consist of three or four wines per tasting.

Depending on the time of year, a picnic lunch will be provided or you’ll be taken to a restaurant if it isn’t available.

This is the perfect 4 hour tour that covers some of the region’s best wineries, capped off with a brilliant picnic lunch.

Niagara-on-the-Lake wine tour with lunch

This is a guided Niagara Falls winery tour that takes you to 5 different wineries in the Niagara-on-the-Lake region.  You’ll start off with a 1-hour wine crafting tour of Diamond Estates where you’ll learn the behind-the-scenes of how wine is made.  At each of the wineries you visit, you’ll be able to sample 3 wines.

Lunch at Caroline Winery is the third stop, at The Farmhouse Cafe although the overall consensus is that it isn’t a gourmet meal so don’t come in with high expectations.

This is a great choice for folks that want to try a lot of wineries in a short span of time.

While the wineries may change, here are the locations that you can expect:

• Wineries – Diamond Estates, The Hare Wine Co., Reif Estate Winery, Marynissen Estate Winery, Caroline Cellars Winery (previous wineries include The Kolzman Estates Winery, Between the Lines Winery, and Colaneri Estate Winery)
• Lunch – Caroline Winery

Full day tour with 3-course gourmet lunch

This is a full day wine tour with a highly knowledgeable guide.  Over the course of the day, you’ll visit 4 top wine producers in the Niagara-on-the-Lake region.  With each visit, you’ll learn how the wine is made, have generous tastings including ice wine.

Lunch is normally after the second vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

While the wineries may change, here are the locations that you can expect:

• Wineries – Pondview Estate Winery, Pillitteri Estates Winery, Between the Lines Winery, Hinterbrook Winery (other wineries visited in the past include Palatine Hill Estates)
• Lunch – Hobnob

Half-day winery tour with tastings and optional lunch

Join a guided winery tour of Niagara’s wine region.  They offer 3 tour options depending on your interests and travel plans.

1. 4 hour tour without lunch (4 wineries)
2. 4 hour tour with lunch (4 wineries)
3. 5 hour deluxe half-day tour with gourmet lunch (2 wineries)

Each tour covers different wineries so make sure you pick according to what you’re looking for.

• 4 hour tour without lunch – Ravine Vineyard Winery, Pillitteri Estate Winery, Inniskillin, and Reif Estates Winery
• 4 hour tour with lunch – Creekside Estate Winery, Cave Spring Winery, lunch at Inn on the Twenty, and Kacaba Vineyards
• 5 hour deluxe half-day tour with gourmet lunch – Chateau des Charmes Winery, Inniskillin, and lunch at Queen’s Landing’s Bacchas

All tours include free time to explore historic Niagara-on-the-Lake.

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Cycle and Wine Tours

Cycle and wine tasting tour with optional lunch

One of the best ways to see the wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake is by bike and that’s exactly what we did in our 3 day Niagara Falls itinerary that goes beyond the Falls.

If you end up buying wine along the way, your purchases will be delivered to you at the end of the tour which is one of the advantages of doing a tour versus renting a bike on your own like we did.

On this tour, you’ll start with one of the region’s largest wineries with a full vineyard tour.  Your second winery is where you’ll be having lunch and wine tasting.  After lunch, you’ll conclude with 2 wineries that are more boutique and small-production.

While the wineries may change, here are the locations that you can expect:

• Wineries – Inniskillin, Caroline Cellars Winery, River View, Reif Estate Winery (Jackson Triggs used in the past)
• Lunch – Caroline Winery The Farmhouse Cafe for lunch or River View for cheese pairing (Inniskillin used in the past)

Vine & dine bicycle wine tour with lunch

The grand tour of wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake by bike.  This guided winery tour includes stops at 4 award-winning wineries where you’ll do 3-4 tastings each including ice wine.  At 1:30PM, you’ll have a gourmet lunch to power you through to your third and fourth stops.  In total you’ll bike roughly 18-20 kilometers.

As with other bicycle tours of the region, it is well-suited for novice cyclists as the roads are very flat and easy to ride.

While the wineries may change, here are the locations that you can expect:

• Wineries – Trius Winery, Caroline Cellars Winery, Reif Estate Winery, Marynissen Estate Winery
• Lunch – Boxed lunches from Bricks & Barley at Reif Estate Winery

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Brewery Winery, Cidery, and Brewery Tours

The Compromise Tour – winery, winery & cidery, and 2 breweries

The Niagara region isn’t all about wine.  You might be surprised to find out that there are a variety of other types of alcohol made here.  In this tour, you’ll be visiting wineries, breweries, and cideries while in the comfort of a Mercedes Benz van.

This half-day small-group tour will give you a chance to tour the facilities, enjoy numerous samples, and even walk away with a complimentary glass growler.

While the wineries and breweries may change, here are the locations that you can expect:

• Facilities – Wayne Gretzky Estates, Small Talk Vineyards, Niagara Oast House Brewers, The Exchange Brewery

Afternoon wine, beer & charcuterie tour

This is another tour that combines the best of wine and beer in Niagara-on-the-Lake.  With a professional driver and guide, you’ll visit 3 different wineries and 1 brewery.  Overall, you’ll have 12-16 different tastings, including craft beer and icewine.

You’ll also have a charcuterie board to learn what pairs well with which wines.

It’s recommended that you eat lunch before the tour.

While the wineries and breweries may change, here are the locations that you can expect:

• Facilities – Niagara Oast House Brewers, Konzelmann Estate Winery, The Hare Wine Co., Lakeview Wine Co.

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Private Tour

If you prefer a tour tailored just for your group or as a couple, consider these private wine tours.

Private winery tour of Niagara-on-the-Lake

This is a private tour for you and your group that takes you to 6 wineries in the Niagara-on-the-Lake region.

The advantage of a private tour is that you can adjust it to your interests and speed.  For instance, if you’re interested in photography, your driver and guide can make suggestions and help with photo taking.  Perhaps you’re interested in specific types of wines.  Your guide can adjust the itinerary to include different wineries from the standard 6.

In addition to the wineries, you’ll also get to visit the Queens Royal Park, the Gorge Lookout, Queenston Heights Park, and the Floral Clock.  This means that this tour is more of a complete tour of NOTL and perfect for those that are short on time and want to see as much as they can.

One thing to keep in mind is that tastings and food are not included.  You can make a special request for a picnic but this will be at an extra cost.

While the wineries may change, here are the locations that you can expect:

• Wineries – Ice House Winery, Reif Estate Winery, Two Sisters Winery, Peller Estate Winery, Konzelmann Estates, Jackson-Triggs

Niagara Escarpment boutique winery tasting tour

Instead of the traditional route of only exploring wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake, this is a custom tour that gives you a chance to explore wineries that aren’t often included in tours.  Many of these are hidden gems!

Unique to this tour as well is that they include pick ups in Niagara Falls on the USA side.

As a private tour, you are in control of the itinerary and timing so you’ll be able to explore at your own pace.

One thing to keep in mind is that tastings and food are not included.  You can make a special request for a picnic but this will be at an extra cost.

While the wineries may change, here are the locations that you can expect:

• Wineries – Hernder Estates, 13th Street Winery, Honsberger Estate Winery, Flat Rock Cellars, Vineland Estates, Megalomaniac Winery and Kacaba Vineyards

Wine Tours Comparison Table

To make your choice easier, I’ve put together a handy table that allows you to sort the Niagara Falls wine tours based on what you’re looking for.

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All images courtesy of Viator

Have you been to Niagara Falls and/or Niagara-on-the-Lake and have an experience of a wine tour that you’d like to share?  Have any questions about Niagara Falls wine tours?  Just drop a comment down below!