A nice red or white wine, sipped slowly while surrounded by good company in a warm, comfortable setting, has a lot to offer.

The only thing that beats that – wine, and dinner.

In the Niagara region, there are more than 50 wineries, and they do more than simply manufacture wine. They are pretty much all set in beautiful, natural green surroundings, to start with, and they offer tours of their grounds, vineyards, and winemaking facilities.

Most, too, employ some of the best chefs around and offer wonderful dinner settings throughout the season.

THE NIAGARA FALL HARVEST

The grape harvest in Niagara starts from the middle to the end of September. Baco Noir is one of the first hybrids chosen, followed by others. Ripe, high-quality fruit is checked in the fields in September and October. All but a few late varieties are picked and harvested by the end of October.

NIAGARA GRAP E & WINE FESTIVAL

The Niagara Grape and Wine Festival was founded in 1951. The event runs from mid-September to the end of September. Today over 100 wineries participate in this popular Niagara event. Live music, and of course food and wine tastings are the main activities. Signature Discovery passes are made available for purchase. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, a variety of wine tastings and food pairings are available at various wineries throughout the Niagara region.

THE NIAGARA WINTER ICE WINE HARVEST

The province of Ontario is the world’s largest producer of ice wine. Many growers who left their grapes on the vine for the winter season will have picked their grapes by the middle to end of December. January is a busy month; if December temperatures were mild, growers are hoping for freezing temperatures this month.

NIAGARA ICE WINE FESTIVAL

In January, wineries in Niagara hold an event called the Ice Wine Festival. There are discovery passes available, where local wineries offer food and wine pairings.

THE SUMMER NIAGARA WINE SEASON

Most of the time, the grape vines start to bloom in June. The flowers have turned into grapes by July. In August, the grapes get bigger and ripen because they have been out in the sun for a few months. This is the time when the wineries get ready for the harvest in the fall. Summer is when visitors can participate in the Niagara New Vintage events and festivals.

Niagara is the perfect place to visit if you’re a wine lover. Check out our page for a list of wineries and other great things to do when staying at our hotel.