When you hear Niagara, the first thought tends to be the iconic Niagara Falls. But I am here to show you that there is much more to this region than the majestic Falls. Actually, just a short 30 min drive away there is a totally different side to Niagara that is very much worth exploring. I am talking about Niagara Wine Country Trail and the beautiful Peller Estates. The area is reminiscent of the early Napa Valley and filled with vineyards for as long as the eye can see.
Since I did not have much time to visit I had to select just one winery to give me a taste of what the wine country region had to offer. I called several prominent vineyards in the area to ensure that all members of my party would enjoy the experience. And after speaking with Peller Estates my choice became clear. Peller Estates is family friendly and caters to everyone including the younger members of our group. I think the reason they are so family friendly is because the winery itself is a family owned business so they understand how important family is. Our family enjoyed the experience so much that I wanted to share it with you.
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Finding the estate is easy and there is plenty of free parking. During the busy season reservations are strongly encouraged if you want to participate in one of their many tours or if you want to dine in their restaurant. But since we were visiting during the off-season we had no problems walking in and getting signed up on the spot for the upcoming tour.
First Tasting
After registering and paying the fee for the 2 adults (children are free) we took a seat in the beautiful lobby to wait for the tour to start. As soon as everyone was gathered we were escorted to the terrace where the first sampling was going to take place. Our host talked a little about the history of the Estate and the wine making business before speaking briefly about the wine we were about to sample.
This first sample was of a delicious sparkling wine from their signature series. The Ice Cuvee which is made with handpicked Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes was perfectly crisp and refreshing. Had some fruity notes of apricot and hints of apple and honey with a finishing refreshing grapefruit finish. It was the perfect way of starting our sampling and left me with a desire to taste some more. The kids were not forgotten and they were given their own tasting glass with a nice sample of their home made white grape juice.
Next we moved to the vineyards, and got to walk through the vines and learn about how they are maintained and the hand picking process. We also learned about the different instruments used to ensure the grapes are picked at the exact ripeness and the proper amount of sugar needed to produce each type of wine.
Second Tasting
Sample number two was fresh 2015 vintage Private Reserve Sauvignon Blanc. This wine has distinct grapefruit and honeydew notes and a smooth easy to drink finish.
I am not normally a Sauvignon Blanc drinker but I enjoyed this refreshing easy to drink wine as much as the rest of the group did. Some even had second servings.
Our girls had their second glass of grape juice which I must say was really good and a big hit. It really helped them feel as they were part of the group.
Third Tasting
For our third tasting we moved into the Cellars where we were presented with a pairing sample of chocolate with 2015 Vintage Private Reserve Pinot Noir.
It was fun to learn how the oak barrels were stained to have the beautiful finish we could see. And to taste the wine on its own and then paired with the dark chocolate provided.
It was a smooth wine, elegant and easy to drink and I loved how well it paired with the chocolate.
Fourth Tasting
For the grand finale and our last tasting of the day we headed to the 10 below Ice room. We were outfitted with parkas and gloves before learning more about what makes Ice wine so special. If you have never tried Ice wine then you are in for a treat.
Ice wine is a dessert wine and therefore a sweet ending to the tour. We learned how complex the process is. The grapes are hand harvested and pressed frozen. One drop of pure extract is taken from each grape. Then the fermentation is done at the very cool temperature of 15 degrees. This is to preserve the freshness and taste before aging the wine in stainless steel.
The wine was exquisite but very sweet and no more than 1 or 2 oz are needed. The experience of the Ice room was unique and fun and a perfect way to end the tour.
And click here for more ideas on what to do in Niagara.
Conclusion and Important Information on Peller Estates
Peller Estates is a top choice when visiting the Niagara Region. So if you intend to visit here is some information you will need:
Address:
Peller Estates Winery & Restaurant
290 John Street East
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
Canada L0S 1J0
Phone numbers:
Ph: 905-468-4678
Toll free: 1-888-673-5537
Hours:
Open daily Sunday – Thursday between 10AM and 7PM
Friday and Saturday 10AM to 9PM
Summer hours extended to 9PM daily
For other wineries in the area you can check out this website.
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24 comments
I am a big Pinot Noir fan and I didn’t know Ontario has such a big wine culture! But the climate suits it as most of the Pinots I drinks are from the South Island of New Zealand and the south eastern region of Australia. Glad to know I can do waterfall and wines in one day!
If I drink red I like a good Pinot so you have good taste 🙂 Australia has some pretty good wine. Did a wine tour while I was there about 15 years ago. Tons of fun.
Ice wine tasting?! How cool is that! I did some wine tastings in Aussie and loved it! I found out that I like red wine haha.. well the $100 bottle stuff lol
It was my first time trying the Ice wine and yes pretty cool indeed. And thankfully I am ok with $20 bottles however my whisky tastes are a bit more expensive.
Wine tastings are so fun! I grew up in the Finger Lakes region and went to college in Rochester, NY so this is a very familiar area to me!
The tasting was great but it was the tour that made the experience. Plus I loved how they accommodated the kids. If you go back to the area It is definitely worth a stop.
I spend half the year in Italy and so drink a lot of good wine here! The ice wine is something completely new to me, and intrigues me a lot! I’ve actually never tried any Canadian wines, but would really like to now!
My dad was Italian and these wines are very different that the typical Italian wine. The ice wine is like a dessert wine very sweet and must be drunk chilled. Definitely something to try at least once in your life.
I definitely never thought about going to Niagara for wine! But I’m really impressed with your experience. I’m really impressed with the cellars and how they showed how the barrels are stained. Plus Pinot noir is always great! And let’s not forget the ice wine! I have never seen that before. It was also great they had something for the kids.
They were very accommodating and I loved the family atmosphere. Of course all the tastings were delish. Worth a visit if in the area.
Looks like some great stops and I love wine tours (although it’s been awhile since I’ve had the time). I will definitely add this to our itinerary when we make it up that way. The Ice Room looks like fun and I’m sure it was delicious.
Lori – the ice room was amazing. This coming from a Florida girl who hates the cold 🙂 Really very different and a fun experience. And yes the wine was great.
I’ve never been to a winery Ontario before, being from BC, but you’ve described the experience beautifully, and if we are ever in the area, we will have to check it out! I love how they gave your daughters grape juice, that’s such a fun way to include them in the outing!
Megan
It was very sweet of them to include the kids with their own drinks. Really made it a much more fun experience for them.
Mmm, is there anything better than a wine tour?! Pellar Estate looks wonderful!
Wine tours are so much fun and this one was even better because of the unique ice room experience at the end.
I was there last year! Really loved their ice room experience – so unique and memorable. Their icewines were so tasty!!
It is definitely a memorable experience. So glad you got to experience it as well.
Wow! I didn’t know that there is so much to see and do in the Niagara Region, Joella. I would love to visit the Peller Estates one day as seeing your pictures made my mouth water! 🙂
You won’t regret the visit
Niagara is my backyard! Yes we have an abundance of wonderful choices, I have to say my favourite has to be Megalomaniac http://megalomaniacwine.com/
worth a stop!
I will have to try this next time. Thanks for the suggestion
We love wine. We will try it out, thanks for suggestions.
“Wow, your blog post on Ontarios Wine Coountry is incredibly informative and captivating! You’ve captured the essence of this natural wonder beautifully, and your recommendations for exploring the area are spot on. Thanks for sharing such valuable insights and inspiring us to add Ontario to our travel bucket list. Can’t wait to experience it firsthand!”