Which wineries in NOTL and which restaurant for dinner?
 

I live only 45 minutes from NOTL and have been there several times but, when it comes to wineries, I just wing it and there seem to be so many now....Taking a sister and law and her husband next week..they have never been...which ones are the most worth going to, best wine, atmosphere, etc. Any suggestions for dinner(casual)?

They're not in Niagara on the Lake, but my choices would be Vineland Estates (Vineland) and On the Twenty (Jordan).

Right...after I posted the question here, I did more research online and it seems to be a preference to do the Beamsville/Vineland area ones. When we did a few of the NOTL ones, atmosphere varied and you needed to pay for tastings in many of them. Is that the norm now?

Many of the wineries charge for tastings and then waive the charge if you buy something... too many people just drive around now and try to get drunk for free so the tasting charges discourage the riff-raff... for a great tour of the region's prettiest, consider Penninsula Ridge, Vineland Estates, Peller Estates, Chateau de Charmes, and Herdner Estates... also for views there's Angels Gate, Flat Rock,and East Dell.... Hillebrand offers a good tour and tasting... the wineries restaurants are very pricy, so I would recommend casual dining at The Old Angel Inn Pub or the Irish Harp Pub in the Village, Zooma Zooma in Jordan Village, or the Old Winery Restaurant on Stone Road (hwy55)... all are yummy and not overpriced... have fun

Also you can check the maps for locations on winesofontario.org and plan ahead...

Okay..they are(guests) coming earlier than planned so need to figure this out for Wednesday...was thinking(map at LCBO) exiting QEW at Victoria and stopping at Vineland first then heading west...are your suggestions all west of Vineland? So, keeping in the Beamsville/Jordan neighbourhood.

A dinner you will never forget at the "REST" It is in (believe it or not) a strip plaza just off the main street in NOL (turn left at the golf course) and you think ahhhh maybe this isn't such a great idea. It is.

I would recommend taking the QEW to exit 68 to King St and visiting Penninsula Ridge first... then get on King St headed east and follow the signs to Angels Gate (right on Mountainview)... then back to King St east to Victoria (turn right) to visit Vineland Estates... then back onto King St (right turn) head for Jordan Village... there are charming shops and Zooma Zooma as well as the pricier On The Twenty... then head back to the QEW east toward Niagara on the Lake and exit 38... follow the signs for NOTL to Hwy 55(Niagara Stone Road)... if you have time stop at Southbrook, if not, stay on 55 to Hillebrand... then along 55 to the village... If you wish, turn right on John St. and visit Peller before stopping in the nearby village of NOTL....

This trip takes you west out to the furthest winery and works it back to finish in the village... you will impress your guests and take a couple of hours... Using King St. as the "spine" makes it easy and lets you see some of the best wineries.... have fun and post back on how it worked for you... remember to use the map on the website and you can't get lost....

horatio... how did it go?