Niagara-on-the-Lake: Wine & Cheese Tour with 3 Wineries & Pickup

Summary

Niagara wine country tastings cheese pairings with local stories

You’ll ride through Niagara-on-the-Lake’s quiet backroads with a local guide, tasting wines (including their famous ice wine) at three different wineries. Enjoy cheese pairings in cozy tasting rooms and learn vineyard secrets from friendly staff. Expect laughter, new flavors, and maybe even a moment or two that stays with you long after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

“If you can taste the peach in this, you’ve got a better nose than me,” our driver Frank joked as he handed us our first glass at a sunlit estate just outside Niagara-on-the-Lake. I grinned, swirling the wine, honestly not sure what I was supposed to find — but it smelled like spring after rain, and that was good enough for me. The group was small, mostly couples and one mother-daughter duo from Toronto. Frank kept things light, telling us how some of these vineyards started out as fruit farms before the whole region got famous for ice wine. He said the route changes every day depending on which wineries have space (“it keeps us on our toes”), so you never quite know where you’ll end up.

The second stop had this old barn-turned-tasting room with creaky floors and a view of rows and rows of vines stretching toward the lake. That’s where we tried the ice wine — thick, sweet, almost syrupy but not too much — paired with a crumbly blue cheese that surprised me (in a good way). There was this moment where everyone went quiet, just tasting and nodding at each other. I liked that nobody rushed us or tried to sell anything; the staff answered questions about harvests and weather like they’d been doing it forever. I asked about the frost on the grapes for ice wine and probably sounded clueless, but they didn’t mind.

By the third winery, I’d lost track of which blend was which — but I do remember standing outside in the breeze with a glass of something red and earthy, watching a couple of sparrows hop along the stone wall. The cheese pairing here was softer, more mellow; someone said it tasted “like summer,” which made all of us laugh because none of us could explain why. Frank rounded us up gently when it was time to go back (“last call for photos!”), and we piled into the van feeling just loose enough to swap stories about favorite bottles.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Niagara-on-the-Lake wine tasting tour

• Pickup from hotel Niagara Falls or Niagara-on-the-Lake
• Visit first estate winery for wine tasting
• Visit second winery for wine and cheese pairing
• Visit third winery for wine tasting and history
• Return to original departure point

Top questions

How many wineries are included in the Niagara-on-the-Lake wine tour?

The tour includes stops at three separate wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Is lunch provided during the half day wine & cheese tour?

No, lunch is not included; it's recommended to bring snacks as only tastings are provided.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included for accommodations in Niagara Falls or Niagara-on-the-Lake (Canadian side).

Are specific wineries guaranteed on this tour?

No, specific wineries may change daily due to availability; routes are adjusted accordingly.

What types of wines are tasted on this Niagara-on-the-Lake tour?

You’ll taste three to four wines per winery, including award-winning ice wine.

Is there a minimum age requirement for this tour?

Yes, participants must be at least 19 years old.

How long does the wine & cheese half day tour last?

The experience lasts approximately four hours.

Are tasting fees included in the price?

Yes, all winery tasting fees are included in your booking.

What’s included

Your afternoon includes hotel pickup and drop-off from either Niagara Falls or Niagara-on-the-Lake (Canadian side), all tasting fees at three different wineries (with generous pours), bottled water for between stops, guidance from your driver or host throughout, plus one special wine-and-cheese pairing along the way before heading back relaxed and maybe just a little tipsy.