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Itinerary · By interest

How Wine Is Made

From the vineyard to the barrel cave to the winemaker's own glass: a day that shows you how wine is made, not just how it tastes.

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At a glance

Length
About 5 hours
Stops
3 stops · about 14 km
People
Curious adults (19+ to taste)
Getting around
Car with a designated driver
Cost
About $90–$120 a person in tours and tastings
Season
Year-round; September and October are harvest
Booking
Book all three: these are guided
Area
Niagara-on-the-Lake

Days it works this week

  1. Mon
  2. Tue
  3. Wed
  4. Thu
  5. Fri
  6. Sat
  7. Sun

Every day.

The route

  1. The vineyard and the winery · Niagara-on-the-Lake

    Niagara College Teaching Winery

    Start where winemakers learn the trade: a college teaching winery, with a vineyard walk and the production floor.

    Do
    Vineyard & Production Tour: a guided vineyard walk and a tour of the production facility, then a seated tasting of three wines with questions, $25 a person.
    Book
    Book the tour ahead.
    Hours
    Every dayToday: open 11:00 AM–6:00 PM

    Winery page ›Call 905-641-2252

  2. About 10 min drive · 4 km

    The cellar · Niagara-on-the-Lake

    Chateau des Charmes

    Then underground: where wine ferments and where it ages.

    Do
    Chateau Signature Tour: a guided tour of the fermentation cellar and barrel caves, then a tasting of five wines with a keepsake glass, 45 minutes.
    Book
    Booking recommended.
    Hours
    Every dayToday: open 11am–8pm

    Winery page ›Call 905-262-4219

  3. About 15 min drive · 10 km

    The winemaker · Niagara-on-the-Lake

    Riverview Cellars

    Finish with the person who makes it: a one-on-one tasting with the winemaker.

    Do
    Winemaker's Premium Tasting: one-on-one with the winemaker, with back vintages and barrel samples, $65 a person.
    Book
    Booking required.
    Hours
    Every day, 10:00am–6:00pmToday: open 10:00am–6:00pm

    Winery page ›Call 905-262-0636

Good to know

Ask questions: on a guided tour that is the point. Read our guide How Wine Is Actually Made before you go (on the blog), and the cellar will make more sense. Bring a layer; cellars and barrel caves are cool all year.

Plan B · If Riverview's winemaker tasting is booked

Strewn's Barrel Cellar Tour & Tasting goes into barrel aging with tastings straight from the barrel, $40 a guest, 60 minutes, booking required.

Getting there and back

Niagara-on-the-Lake is about an hour and a half from Toronto on the QEW. The first two stops are about 5 minutes apart; Riverview is about 15 minutes east, on the Niagara Parkway.

Built from each winery's own published details, checked October 2026. Today's hours and the days above are read from their sites every night. Prices, hours and group policies change, so confirm with each winery when you book. Please plan a driver: you must be 19 or older to drink in Ontario. More itineraries