Within the last quarter century, the Niagara Region has created quite the stir in building a notable world class wine experience.  Ontario wine producers have built an empire to boast of with over 70 wineries scattered through Niagara and approximately 16,000 acres under vine. As always, if you would like to explore these wineries and indulge in the palette of tastes, delightful restaurants, and of course the wine making experience, then a winery tour will be in order.

In order to extract as much as possible from your wine tour it is important to be prepared. Due to the fact that the wineries are spread out over a rather large areas, the wine counsel of Ontario has divided the wine region into seven districts; Winona, Grimsby, Beamsville, Vineland, Jordan, St.Catharines, and Niagara on the Lake.  The best destination well suited to tourism is Niagara on the Lake which is also conveniently the closest to Niagara Falls. Here you will find a variety of ways to tour the wineries including self guided tours with your own vehicle, organized bus tours, and bicycle tours.

I’d start off with a guided tour of one of the larger wineries.  This will give you grounding on how wine is made, and offer you a chance to take part in tutored tasting.  Some larger wineries like Hillebrand offer several educational seminars daily, approximately an hour in length teaching courses such as “The Art of Wine Making”.  Learning the grape to bottle process before tasting will prepare your taste buds, and give you some insight to what your tasting.  Definitely a unique experience to learn about wine growing, fermentation, and barrel aging.

Bicycle tours with guides are available to tour the wine country.  Expect a slower pace and to see approximately 3 to 4 wineries for the day. If you are planning to purchase wine it’s no problem at all as most tour companies will pick up your orders by end of tour for you. Although the bicycles themselves usually have large baskets to carry what you need.

A bus tour is probably the most convenient as they may even pick you up from your hotel or accommodations.  There are perks to being with a designated group, like being able to taste the difference of bottled wine to the equivalent wine from the barrel.  Guided tours will give plenty of history, and grape growing insight that you may not get outside of the tour company.  Also, lunch’s and/or snacks are sometimes included in the price which allow you to sit back and enjoy the good life.

Now, if you are planning on creating your wine experience from scratch, here are some pointers that will help you through the process:

1.    Take your time – Plan to visit 3 to 6 wineries in the day.  Get to know not only the wine, but the wineries themselves and the people who run them.

2.    Target some Smaller Wineries in NOTL – Smaller wineries offer tours for guests and are usually guided by the owners themselves. Unlike the larger wineries that feel more scripted. Also, expect more as some smaller wineries vintage is equal to if not surpass some larger wineries.

3.    At least one Meal - As most wineries have scrumptious restaurants, sit down and relax in a vineyard styled atmosphere for a meal. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

4.    Mix it up; Big and Small – Some larger wineries offer variety and courses that smaller wineries don’t so mix it up with the styles and types of wineries you are going for.

5.    Sip like the Pros – Learn to sip and discard the rest. Your judgment may be impaired so be sure to have a designated driver, or sip responsibly!