Best Wineries In Ontario: Top Picks For Wine Lovers

Wine lovers keep returning to Ontario for a reason. Cool-climate elegance, limestone-flared minerality, and those luminous Icewines meet a deeply developed hospitality scene that makes tasting both accessible and memorable. From storied Niagara estates to limestone-laced vineyards in Prince Edward County, you can sip exceptional bottles in settings that range from minimalist modern to classic barn-chic.

Here is a curated look at the standouts, along with practical tips to plan a smart, flavour-first route. Then, dive into detailed profiles of each winery, with what to drink, why it matters, and how to make the most of your visit.

Wineries in Ontario At A Glance

Ontario’s two most visited regions are the Niagara Peninsula and Prince Edward County. The Niagara Escarpment’s slopes and Lake Ontario’s moderating effect produce refined Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc. Prince Edward County, cooler and breezier, lays down lean yet powerful Pinots and Chardonnays from fractured limestone and clay. Icewine remains a signature across the province, and you will find biodynamic and organic leaders pushing quality ever higher.

Before the list, use this snapshot to compare highlights at a glance.

Winery	Region	Known For	Standout Accolade	Avg. Visitor Rating
Inniskillin	Niagara-on-the-Lake	Iconic Icewine, historic estate	Grand Prix d’Honneur at Vinexpo for Icewine	~4.7/5
Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate	Niagara-on-the-Lake	Gravity-flow architecture, broad portfolio, concerts	Multiple “World’s Best” IWSC trophies	~4.5/5
Peller Estates	Niagara-on-the-Lake	Icewine leadership, polished hospitality	IWSC Sweet Wine Producer of the Year	~4.3/5
Tawse Winery	Beamsville Bench	Organic and biodynamic precision	Canada’s Winery of the Year (Canadian Wine Awards)	~4.3/5
Hidden Bench	Beamsville Bench	Single-vineyard Chardonnay, Pinot, Riesling	NWAC Winery of the Year 2024	~4.2/5
Southbrook Vineyards	Queenston Bench	Biodynamic pioneer, elegant reds and whites	Consistent 90+ critic scores	~4.2/5
Henry of Pelham	Short Hills Bench	Baco Noir benchmark, family heritage	Top Ontario Winery at 2024 National Wine Awards	~4.1/5
Norman Hardie	Prince Edward County	Burgundian-style Chardonnay and Pinot	Global critic praise for County labels	~4.7/5
Closson Chase	Prince Edward County	Limestone Chardonnay and Pinot, iconic barn	Repeated 93+ scores for estate bottlings	~4.5/5
Hinterland Wine Company	Prince Edward County	Sparkling-first mindset, creative cuvées	Golds at Ontario competitions for fizz	~4.2/5
Rosehall Run	Prince Edward County	Precision Pinot and Chardonnay, sustainability	Regular mid-90s critic scores	~4.6/5
Sandbanks Estate Winery	Prince Edward County	Crowd-pleasing styles, lively patio scene	Multiple Ontario Wine Awards	4.8/5
Waupoos Estates	Prince Edward County	Waterfront tastings, wine and cider	Award-winning Clafeld ciders	~4.0/5

Planning your route through the wineries in Ontario matters as much as the wineries themselves, especially on summer weekends.

• Book tastings ahead of time

• Aim for 3 to 4 stops per day

• Start with lighter whites, end with Icewine or reds

• Leave time for a vineyard walk

Inniskillin

Inniskillin is the winery many people outside Canada first learn about. Its pioneering role in proving Ontario’s potential and its world-famous Icewines keep it at the top of countless lists.

Signature Bottles

Expect a faithful lineup of Icewine classics. Vidal Icewine remains a touchstone for its balance of peach, apricot and blazing acidity. Riesling Icewine brings citrus lift and a sleeker profile. On the dry side, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc show a clean, cool-climate line that makes food pairing easy.

Why It Stands Out

Inniskillin’s Niagara-on-the-Lake estate feels grand yet welcoming, a fitting backdrop to wines that helped define Canada’s modern industry. The Icewine program is meticulous from harvest to bottle, and the dry portfolio continues to overdeliver for visitors who want a full tasting flight, not just a sweet finale.

Plan Your Visit

Tours often highlight the winery’s history and the production steps that make Icewine so distinct. Opt for a structured flight that finishes with Icewine, then compare Vidal to Riesling to see which profile you favour.

Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate

A few minutes down the road, Jackson-Triggs couples high-tech gravity-flow design with a large portfolio that performs across price tiers. It has the scale to host events yet the focus to deliver quality.

Signature Bottles

Look for Chardonnay and Riesling with crisp orchard fruit and a mineral line, Cabernet Franc with violet and spice, and a Merlot that leans on plum and subtle oak. The Proprietors’ Reserve labels are a smart step up if you want extra detail and length.

Architecture And Ambience

The gravity-flow build shapes how the wines are made, with gentle handling from crush to bottling. A glass-and-steel aesthetic, generous tasting bar, and seasonal amphitheatre concerts make the estate feel vibrant without losing sight of what is in the glass.

Plan Your Visit

Reserve for weekend tastings, especially in summer. If the schedule aligns, add a concert to your day, then sit under the evening light with a bottle of Chardonnay and local cheese.

Peller Estates

pellerestates.ca fronts a polished hospitality program that invites long, lingering visits. Thoughtful pairings, a refined dining room, and an Icewine legacy make it a crowd favourite.

Signature Bottles

The Icewine trio of Vidal, Riesling and Cabernet Franc offers a tour of sweetness with real tension. The Private Reserve series adds depth to table wines like Chardonnay and Merlot, with fruit clarity and oak detail carefully judged.

Hospitality And Pairings

The estate brings culinary and cellar together, so you can match a flight to small bites or settle in for a full meal showcasing local producers. It is a great place to introduce friends to Icewine with proper food pairings that highlight acidity and texture.

Plan Your Visit

Book a tasting and a table in sequence. Begin with a cellar tour, taste Icewine at the end of a flight, then head to the restaurant for a seasonal dish with a dry estate Chardonnay.

Tawse Winery

tawsewinery.ca proves how organic and biodynamic farming can drive clarity in the glass. On the Beamsville Bench, its slopes and soils shape benchmark Ontario Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Signature Bottles

Single-vineyard wines like Robyn’s Block Chardonnay show flinty mineral notes, green apple and laser focus. Pinot Noir tends to red cherry, fine tannins, and a savoury line that gains detail with time in the glass. Riesling and Cabernet Franc hold their own, delivering brightness and poise.

Farming First

Organics since the start and biodynamic certification speak to a slow-build approach that rewards patience. You taste it as acid-snap and purity, especially in the Chardonnays. A tasting flight comparing vineyards makes the case in one sitting.

Plan Your Visit

• Vineyard slopes, escarpment breezes, living soils

• Focused tasting flights by grape

• Relaxed patio with vineyard views

Hidden Bench

Hidden Bench is a study in terroir delineation. Three estate vineyards and a thoughtful, low-intervention touch yield some of the region’s most articulate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling.

Signature Bottles

Start with Estate Riesling for lime, wet stone and length. Move to Felseck or Locust Lane Chardonnay for pear, citrus oil and a savoury, lees-driven finish. Pinot Noir trades in red fruit clarity, crushed rock, and silken tannins that turn heads at the table.

Vineyard And Cellar

Organic farming, hand work in the vines, and measured oak give the wines transparency. Concrete and neutral vessels appear where they fit, supporting texture without blur. It is the kind of place where single-vineyard flights make sense, because the differences are clear.

Plan Your Visit

Book a seated flight that compares vineyards side by side. If the weather cooperates, take your glass outside and look across the slopes to turn tasting notes into landscape.

Southbrook Vineyards

southbrook.com built its reputation on biodynamic viticulture and a calm, inviting tasting experience. The wines are crisp and honest, the atmosphere relaxed and learning friendly.

Signature Bottles

Expect clean, vibrant expressions of Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and rosé. The Triomphe labels offer excellent value, with Cabernet Franc showing lively red fruit, gentle tannins and a savoury finish. White wines lean toward apple, citrus and a lightly saline edge.

Why It Stands Out

Southbrook stuck to sustainable farming long before it became a trend, making it a standout on many wine tours. That commitment still shows in the glass, and in the way the team explains each pour. If you are curious about biodynamics and organics, this is an easy place to ask every question you have.

Plan Your Visit

Enjoy a guided tasting with a cheese slate, then step outside for a short vineyard walk. If you are building a mixed case, add a Triomphe red, a classic Chardonnay, and a sparkling to cover all bases.

Henry Of Pelham

A foundation story runs deep at Henry of Pelham. The Speck family converted a Loyalist-era farm into a modern estate, and today their Baco Noir and Riesling are fixtures in cellars across the province.

Signature Bottles

Baco Noir is a house signature, with dark-fruit generosity, gentle tannins and peppery accents. Riesling runs the gamut from dry and lime-spiked to off-dry with stone fruit. Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir round out the reds with savoury detail.

Heritage And Energy

The coach house tasting room carries historic charm, while the surrounding vineyards tell a story of hillside farming and careful site matching. Solar arrays and sustainable practices tie heritage to the future in a way that feels right for Ontario wine.

Plan Your Visit

Choose a mixed flight that includes Baco, a Riesling and a Cabernet Franc, then spend time in the heritage spaces. On sunny days the lawn is a fine place for a short break between tastings.

Norman Hardie

normanhardie.com sits at the heart of the County’s cool-climate reputation. The wines owe more to limestone and latitude than to flashy winemaking, which is precisely why fans return year after year.

Signature Bottles

County Chardonnay is taut, citrus lit and saline, with a long, mineral finish. County Pinot Noir shows sour cherry, crushed rock and a whisper of spice. Both age gracefully, shifting from primary fruit to savoury depth over five to seven years.

The County Effect

Prince Edward County’s shallow soils over fractured limestone make vines struggle just enough, concentrating flavour without weight. That terroir comes through clearly in Hardie’s restrained, acid-forward style.

Plan Your Visit

• Wood-Fired Pizza Patio: casual, lively, perfectly tuned to the wines

• Vineyard Stroll: short walk, stone-studded soils, lake breezes

• Tasting Strategy: taste Chardonnay first, Pinot second, then circle back to see how the Chardonnay opens

Closson Chase

Closson Chase helped define the County’s modern reputation. The red-clapboard barn is as photographed as any Canadian winery building, and the wines live up to the visuals.

Signature Bottles

Expect a range of Chardonnays from taut to richly textured, all with a limestone thread. Pinot Noir lands in the elegant camp, favouring red cherry, fine tannins and savoury herbs. Vintage variation is part of the charm here, and the team embraces it.

Place And People

Planted at the turn of the millennium and guided by a team that prizes clarity, Closson Chase bottles feel finely cut. The tasting room’s simple, rustic design keeps attention where it belongs, in your glass.

Plan Your Visit

Book a seated tasting to compare different Chardonnay bottlings. If you are building a cellar, pick a current-release Chardonnay for near-term drinking and one top cuvée to tuck away.

Hinterland Wine Company

hinterlandwine.com brings energy and a sparkling-first mindset to the County. The team has a playful streak that shows up in seasonal projects, yet the core wines are built with precision.

Signature Bottles

Traditional-method sparkling leads the range, with Blanc de Blancs and rosé cuvées that are crisp, creamy and refreshingly dry. Still wines vary by season, often showing bright fruit and a lifted, aromatic style. Occasional skin-contact or limited releases add a creative twist.

Why It Stands Out

Sparkling fits the County’s climate, and Hinterland treats that as a feature, not a limitation. The vibe is relaxed, the flights are fun, and the bubbles pair well with a sunny afternoon and a platter of local snacks.

Plan Your Visit

Try a flight focused entirely on sparkling, then add one still pour to compare textures. In cooler months, ask about disgorgement dates to see how time on lees shapes flavour.

Rosehall Run Vineyards

Rosehall Run is a north star for County Pinot and Chardonnay, with a sustainability ethos and a cellar that favours clarity over flash.

Signature Bottles

Single-block Pinot Noirs draw you in with raspberry, cherry and a savoury undertow. Chardonnays land on citrus, pear and gentle creaminess, with oak supporting rather than shaping the wine. Sparkling releases offer tidy structure and long, mouth-watering finishes.

Craft And Site

From the beginning, the team committed to estate work and a precise, site-driven voice. The underground barrel spaces and careful fermentation choices highlight fruit and place, which shows up as nuance and balance in the glass.

Plan Your Visit

Take a mixed flight that starts sparkling, then Chardonnay, then Pinot. The pacing makes each variety shine and sets up effortless food pairing later in the day. The elegance of Roseshell Run Vineyards makes it one of the more romantic options on our list.

Sandbanks Estate Winery

sandbankswinery.com is one of the County’s most popular stops, known for a lively patio scene, approachable wines and friendly tastings that welcome first-timers and seasoned tasters alike.

Signature Bottles

Look for bright, fruit-forward styles in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, plus seasonal rosés and occasional sparkling. Balance and drinkability are the through line, with plenty of value across the range.

Patio Energy

Sandbanks leans into the social side of wine. Flights are easy to navigate, staff keep the pace upbeat, and on sunny days the grounds are a magnet for groups exploring the County.

Plan Your Visit

• Reservations: especially on weekends and holidays

• Best Flow: start with white and rosé, then red, then a sweet or sparkling finish

• Takeaway: grab a chilled bottle for a lakeside sunset later

Waupoos Estates Winery

Waupoos Estates is County wine with a lakeside frame. Orchard, vineyard and shoreline share space, making it a rare spot where you can pair a tasting with a waterfront stroll.

Signature Bottles

Expect clean, aromatic whites with floral and stone-fruit notes, light and lively Pinot Noir, and site-friendly Cabernet Franc. The on-site cidery produces crisp apple-driven ciders that have picked up accolades of their own.

Setting And Choice

Few wineries can match the setting. Tasting a flight, then stepping out toward the water to let the breeze lift the aromas, turns a simple stop into a small escape. Wine and cider flights side by side keep both fans happy.

Plan Your Visit

A sit-down tasting followed by a relaxed walk through the property suits the place. If you are planning a special occasion, ask about private spaces and seasonal dining hours.

Why Ontario Wine Keeps Winning Fans

Ontario’s best bottles reflect cool nights, long summer days and the sheltering effect of the Great Lakes. Those conditions bring acidity, detail and freshness, qualities that make Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling sing. Cabernet Franc thrives too, giving reds with lift rather than heaviness. In winter, Icewine producers count on sustained sub-zero nights to freeze grapes on the vine, concentrating sugars and aromas while retaining spin-bright acidity.

That climate story pairs with a culture of craft. Organic and biodynamic leaders have set a high bar for farming, while a new generation of winemakers prefers restraint to heavy-handed manipulation. You taste this across Niagara and Prince Edward County, where estate wines carry a clear sense of place and year.

To make the most of it, build tasting days around variety. Start with a structured, terroir-first flight on the Beamsville Bench, then pivot to a signature Icewine stop in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Next day, drive to the County for limestone-firm Chardonnay and Pinot, with a sparkling interlude before sunset.

One last thought. Ontario’s tasting rooms are built for conversation. Ask questions, compare notes, and let the staff steer you toward something new. The best moments often come from an unexpected pour.