10 Tips To Prepare For Your First Wine Tour

Booked your first wine tour and feeling excited? Congratulations! Wine tours can be a great way to enjoy the Niagara wine scene, sample some delicious wines, and get to know the people behind the wine production process. To help you make the most of your first wine tour, here are 10 tips to prepare for it.

1. Follow a few wineries on social media.

Find your favourite wineries to get inspired by their gorgeous locations and exquisite wines on Instagram. Check out Piliterri Estates Winery, Good Earth Food and Wine Co., Queenston Mile Vineyard and Cave Springs Vineyard for starters!

2. Choose comfortable shoes and clothing.

You’ll be walking and standing during your tour, so make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes and clothing. For a winter wine tour, you’ll want layers as wine cellars and the outdoors will be chilly but tasting rooms are room temperature. For a fall, spring or summer wine tour, consider bringing a light jacket as well, in case the weather changes.

3. Dress up, if you like!

Some guests love to dress up for the occasion, so if that’s your style, go for it! A winery is the perfect place to don your favourite classy dress or outfit.

4. Eat beforehand.

Wine tastings involve quite a bit of wine, so it’s a good idea to eat a solid meal before you come so that you have something in your stomach. Alternatively, you can also do our full-day wine tour that includes a gourmet lunch at a top Niagara restaurant!

5. Make sure you stay hydrated.

Be sure to drink plenty of water during your tour to keep your body hydrated and your mind focused. You can also always ask for a glass of water during your tasting.

6. Learn a wine tip or two.

Ever wondered how to tell a quality wine from an average one? Here’s your chance to learn from the experts! Surprise your friends at your next dinner party with your newly acquired wine expertise. You don’t need to remember everything on your wine tour. Just remember a tip or two. Here’s one wine tip about how oak barrels influence wine flavour to get you started!

7. Discover your favourites.

As you sample each wine, take a few notes about its flavour and aroma. This will help you remember what you liked and didn’t like, and it will also help you select your favourites later on.

8. Take home a bottle or a few.

Many of the wines in Niagara are not available at the LCBO, so pick up a few bottles while at each location. Your Niagara Vintage Guide can help you store them in our vans and give them to you have the end of your tour. Stock up your wine cellar!

9. Ask questions.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions during your tour. Not only do the wineries love sharing their insights, so do our Guides! This is a great way to learn about the wine production process and get valuable insight from the people behind it.

10. Make space on your phone.

You’ll want to take lots of pictures on tour on make sure you have space on your phone.  Many wineries have stunning architecture and design, like Colaneri Estate Winery, which is designed like an Italian pizzia or Wayne Gretzky Estates, which has a skating rink in the winter! You’ll want photos to remember and share your experience with others.

Bonus tip: do some research on Niagara Wine Country.

Most people know Niagara for is famous waterfalls, did you know there are 80+ wineries in the Niagara region? Many are located in Niagara-On-The-Lake, but there’s also a thriving wine scene in the Niagara Benchlands, an area west of Niagara Falls.

Here’s a look at the most common white wine and red wine varieties in Niagara to help you get familiar with this region’s offerings!

Knowing this information ahead of time will help you make the most of your tour.

Now you’re ready to go!

We can’t wait to see you on the next Niagara Vintage Wine Tour!