We have rented a car, and will be driving to Niagara Falls from Toronto at the end of September.

My husband and I would like to stop at a few of the wineries along the way, and were wondering what those in the area and past visitors would recommend as some of the best? Looking for those that might offer something more unique, and personable...

Thanks!

Around New Years in 2004, my wine guru friends organised at tasting at a small vineyard near Niagara-on-the-Lake. It was called Lailey Vineyards. The gurus said it was the best, new small winery they'd encountered. We had an appointment booked, and we got quite a nice tour with a comprehensive tasting. (It did help, I think, that we were part of a group of about 12 people.)

We just returned from a weekend in the Niagara area and recommend driving along the winery route from Toronto at Grimsby to take advantage of a few wineries in the Twenty Valley area.

We really enjoyed the views of Toronto across the lake from the patio, and the lunch with wine, at Angels Gate. Peninsula Ridge has a similar spectacular setting and a wonderful restaurant. You will also come across Vineland Estates which we really like, and Cave Springs Cellars in the charming village of Jordan. All well worthwhile stops.
http://www.20valley.ca

From Jordan, you can take country roads (follow the winery map) to Lakeshore Rd. that takes you into Niagara on the Lake. On the outskirts is Strewn winery with a lovely setting, spectacular cuisine and is personal as well.

I would love to visit Lailey, and several others but there is only so much time in a weekend!

I would recommend stopping also by Flat Rock Cellars (www.flatrockcellars.com). It's a newer winery in Jordan. Call ahead and get a tour with Ed, he does a great job explaining their 'natural' wine making process. Also, the Riesling is amazing (if your into German wines, you will particularly enjoy it as it is a bit sweeter).

I highly reccomend stratus winery. I think right now with their stratus red , they have the best canadian red. Beautiful winery with their safe environement wine production.....you'll love it.
ciao

These recommendations are great - thanks to everyone for sharing!

We spent a lot of time in Niagara on the Lake...our favourite wineries are Strewn Winery right in the town of NOL and Pellar Estates...both with fabulous restaurants....we have had wonderful lunches and dinners in both but Pellar have wonderful tasting menues where they pair their wines with each dinner course. The dinners are built around what is freshest in the Niagara Fruit and Vegetable belt. Inniskilin Wineries are world famous makers of ice wine and is also a good bet.

You stated, "on the way" - I would recommend if possible, you do NF in the morning and the wineries in the afternoon, on your back to Toronto, ending with perhaps dinner at Inn on the Twenty, Vineland or Peninsula Ridge. If that is not possible, just note the wineries open later (11 a.m for first tastings - tours can start a bit earlier..)

Excellent recommendations, by all - you didn't mention your exact dates or your day of week - so please note the Grape & Wine Festival is Sept 28 - the busiest weekend of the year, but filled with great events.

There are now 71 licensed wineries in the Niagara area - and mostly they are decent to great. If you are looking for unique and personable overall you will do better on the Beamsville Bench ( the wineries there are just not as established yet) than in NOTL. You can take the QEW to Jordan exit and get onto highway 8 and exit past Peninsula Ridge (Bartlett exit) or the opposite if you are coming from TO to NF.

All excellent recommendations, I would say the winery to see is Daniel Lenko Winery, the winery is open only on the weekends, you can only buy the wine by the case and the tasting is usually done in Mrs. Lenko's kitchen along with pie or kielbassa. There is a cult like following to this winery, a few sips will tell you why.

A few cautions - Inniskillin is under construction right now so I would skip it until it's done. Stratus, which I love too, is quickly running out of their vintages - new ones are being released tho...their shelves are a little bare at the moment.

There is also heavy construction right now in the Beamsville, Jordan area - so your back country routes may have some delays. Oh, and one last caution - they are Niagara wineries - the classification is Niagara and the main areas are NOTL and the Beamsville Bench - not so much Niagara Falls.

Have a wonderful time and let us know how it went!!

Oh...I love this forum - such great tips and advice - again thanks to all!

Our trip to Niagara Falls is actually originating in Toronto, where we will be renting a car on Sep 27th, and driving out to Niagara Falls to spend 2 days, before coming back into Toronto the evening of the 29th - so we will have time to stop and smell the roses!

I was aware of the wine festival, and now I'm wondering if most of the local wineries will be busy with that on the weekend? Does it go during the week as well, or are most of the events planned for the weekend, after we're gone?

I know this isn't really the region for it, but are their any wineries who have a good shiraz?