Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hours of operation vary by day and month, so check the website for the most accurate in-
formation. The Old Court House faces Queen Street, but the bus stop is located behind the
building on a service road connecting two public parking lots.
You may think Canada is all cold weather and maple syrup. Think again! The Niagara-on-
the-Lake region contains more than 30 wineries and is the center for the crafting of world-
class wines in Canada. Whether you tour by car, bus, or bike, you can taste the spirit of
Niagara in every wine you sample in this region.
“Wine country” refers to the approximately 42 square miles of fertile plain bounded by
Route 405 to the south, the Niagara River to the east, Lake Ontario to the north, and the
Welland Canal to the west.
Most people exploring wine country find accommodations in Niagara-on-the-Lake. A
majority of people use their cars to explore while others hop on a tour bus. It is impractical
to walk to wineries because of the distances involved, but cycling through wine country is
gaining in popularity.
Inniskillin Winery
All contemporary Canadian wineries have roots that reach back to the
Inniskillin Winery
(1499 Line 3 Rd., NOTL, 888/466-4754,
www.inniskillin.com
,
10am-6pm daily May-Oct.,
10am-5pm daily Nov.-Apr., tasting fee $1 per sample). In the early 1970s, the founders of
Inniskillin decided to create world-class wines and were granted the first winery license in
Ontario since the Prohibition era.
Their work of cultivating wine grapes adapted to Ontario's unique climate launched an
entireindustry.Drivingintothewinery,you'llnoticearchitecturewithhintsofFrankLloyd
Wright. The estate originally belonged to Darwin Martin, who employed Wright to build
several structures in the Buffalo area.
Although many of the vintages have received medals at tasting competitions, Inniskillin
is particularly known for its ice wines. Tours ($5) are available and the Market Grill (open
daily during summer) offers food pairings to complement their wines.
