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Wine Tasting off the Beaten Path on the Beamsville Bench
Published by Angela Jill, Writer
Country: Canada 
The Experience
The Niagara escarpment dips down into rolling vineyards and finally into Lake Ontario – a “bench shape” that is both beautiful to look at and fundamental to the growing conditions that allow Beamsville to produce great wines. With eight wineries in walking distance and a scattering of wineries not too much further away, wine connoisseurs and travellers will have a wealth of diversions here for day trips or a holiday weekend. The Beamsville Bench wine tour route is connected to the Bruce Trail, Canada's oldest and longest hiking trail, which runs along Niagara's escarpment, an official UNESCO biosphere reserve.
It is amazing how many people end up at a restaurant or winery in Niagara's wine country, having never heard of it before they saw the signs on the side of the highway between Toronto and Niagara Falls. Beamsville, part-way between two of the most famous destinations in Canada is a hidden gem and a destination in its own right.
Each Beamsville Bench winery has something different to offer and a different ambiance to experience. Each, however, is beautiful, and the delicious smell of fermenting wine is the first warm welcome. When a great Gewurztraminer at Angels Gate Winery is being fermented, for example, the smell of tropical fruits wafts through the air.
One of the highlights here is Fielding Estates Winery. When you approach from Locust Lane, Fielding Estates looks like a modern Muskoka cabin. Here, in addition to the wine tours and tastings available, you can purchase wine by the glass, which you can enjoy on the patio. The ambience here can't be beat, relaxing in an adirondack chair, wine in hand with a beautiful view of the emerald-green vineyards and lake sprawling out before you.
Angels Gate Winery is another must-see. Their beautiful California mission style building is surrounded by well-maintained gardens, a snapping-turtle pond, and of course, vineyards. A great place to stop for lunch, Angels Gate Winery offers a tapas-inspired patio lunch, where you can take a break from the day and enjoy sipping on one of their great wines such as their Riesling or sparkling varieties.
For a very high-end, posh experience, Hidden Bench Winery is the place to go. A little bit exclusive in their approach to service, they offer one-on-one personalized tastings in their beautiful, angular crystal glasses, each tailor-made for a specific varietal or blend. Hidden Bench Winery makes an excellent Fumé Blanc, but pretty much everything is stellar here.
Often, you hear the sounds of the great out doors in this part of the Niagara escarpment, which is more country than city. Chirping birds and rustling leaves are replaced though by music and laughter during the many festivals that occur throughout the year. Graze the Bench, an event which takes place during the first weekend of June, offers live music, food and wine pairings at wineries all along the Beamsville Bench. During the following weekend there is a run for casual runners, who can enjoy wine samples along the way, and, following that, there is a strawberry festival, when Beamsville's second-favourite fruit is also celebrated. A little later in the year, the Grape and Wine Festival takes place every September, to celebrate the years harvest, and the Ice Wine Festival takes place in January.
About 20 years ago, the only thing you would find in Beamsville would be doughnut shops. With new wineries cropping up every year, and great, local restaurants and beautiful, lakeside B&Bs, this is a great way to get out of the city and experience one of Canada's favourite micro-climates.
It is amazing how many people end up at a restaurant or winery in Niagara's wine country, having never heard of it before they saw the signs on the side of the highway between Toronto and Niagara Falls. Beamsville, part-way between two of the most famous destinations in Canada is a hidden gem and a destination in its own right.
Each Beamsville Bench winery has something different to offer and a different ambiance to experience. Each, however, is beautiful, and the delicious smell of fermenting wine is the first warm welcome. When a great Gewurztraminer at Angels Gate Winery is being fermented, for example, the smell of tropical fruits wafts through the air.
One of the highlights here is Fielding Estates Winery. When you approach from Locust Lane, Fielding Estates looks like a modern Muskoka cabin. Here, in addition to the wine tours and tastings available, you can purchase wine by the glass, which you can enjoy on the patio. The ambience here can't be beat, relaxing in an adirondack chair, wine in hand with a beautiful view of the emerald-green vineyards and lake sprawling out before you.
Angels Gate Winery is another must-see. Their beautiful California mission style building is surrounded by well-maintained gardens, a snapping-turtle pond, and of course, vineyards. A great place to stop for lunch, Angels Gate Winery offers a tapas-inspired patio lunch, where you can take a break from the day and enjoy sipping on one of their great wines such as their Riesling or sparkling varieties.
For a very high-end, posh experience, Hidden Bench Winery is the place to go. A little bit exclusive in their approach to service, they offer one-on-one personalized tastings in their beautiful, angular crystal glasses, each tailor-made for a specific varietal or blend. Hidden Bench Winery makes an excellent Fumé Blanc, but pretty much everything is stellar here.
Often, you hear the sounds of the great out doors in this part of the Niagara escarpment, which is more country than city. Chirping birds and rustling leaves are replaced though by music and laughter during the many festivals that occur throughout the year. Graze the Bench, an event which takes place during the first weekend of June, offers live music, food and wine pairings at wineries all along the Beamsville Bench. During the following weekend there is a run for casual runners, who can enjoy wine samples along the way, and, following that, there is a strawberry festival, when Beamsville's second-favourite fruit is also celebrated. A little later in the year, the Grape and Wine Festival takes place every September, to celebrate the years harvest, and the Ice Wine Festival takes place in January.
About 20 years ago, the only thing you would find in Beamsville would be doughnut shops. With new wineries cropping up every year, and great, local restaurants and beautiful, lakeside B&Bs, this is a great way to get out of the city and experience one of Canada's favourite micro-climates.
When to Go to Beamsville Bench Winery
The best time of year to take a Beamsville Bench winery tour is between June and September each year. The second weekend of June is when everything seems to get going, with the restaurants opening to more regular hours, and during these four months, the weather is great - warm and sunny. If you can, try and plan your trip to coincide with one of the weekend festivals that occur throughout the year
During the Ice Wine Festival (Twenty Valley and Niagara-on-the-Lake have theirs on consecutive weekends in January/February) there is also a lot going on and it's beautiful with all the snow and sometimes ice sculptures! Check twenty-valley website for exact dates.
During the Ice Wine Festival (Twenty Valley and Niagara-on-the-Lake have theirs on consecutive weekends in January/February) there is also a lot going on and it's beautiful with all the snow and sometimes ice sculptures! Check twenty-valley website for exact dates.
Odds n' Ends
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, as many of the wine tours involve going up and down stairs, wandering through vinyards and exploring wine cellars. Beamsville Wine tours and tastings can cost anywhere between $1 for four tastings at Angels Gate Winery and $10 for 3 tastings at Hidden Bench Winery.
If you do decide to drive, make sure you have a designated driver, as Ontario's laws have clamped down as of late, and any more than 0.05% blood-alcohol can get your licence confiscated.
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario puts out a free map of all of Ontario's wineries, which show you where the vast majority of Ontario's wineries are, from Beamsville to Niagara on the Lake, as well as Pelee Island. These should be available, for free, from any winery and sometimes LCBOs as well.
There is not a lot of night life in Beamsville, so if a late-night dinner at a local restaurant doesn't satisfy you, consider staying in Toronto or Niagara Falls and doing Beamsville as a day trip.
If you do decide to drive, make sure you have a designated driver, as Ontario's laws have clamped down as of late, and any more than 0.05% blood-alcohol can get your licence confiscated.
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario puts out a free map of all of Ontario's wineries, which show you where the vast majority of Ontario's wineries are, from Beamsville to Niagara on the Lake, as well as Pelee Island. These should be available, for free, from any winery and sometimes LCBOs as well.
There is not a lot of night life in Beamsville, so if a late-night dinner at a local restaurant doesn't satisfy you, consider staying in Toronto or Niagara Falls and doing Beamsville as a day trip.
Want a Guide?
- Grape Escape Wine Tours
- This tour company offers Niagara region wine tours, including an afternoon tour of some of the wineries on the Beamsville Bench. Most tours leave from Niagara Falls/Niagara-on-the-Lake, and some leave from Toronto.
Places to Eat
- Good Earth Cooking School
- A great place to taste the best that Ontario has to offer. Fairly close to Mountainview Road (the road with all the wineries) and surrounded by orchards and vines, this is a great place to try your hand at making your own food or to enjoy some of their creations on their seasonal patio lunch. Check website for hours - not open every day.
- August Restaurant
- A restaurant that specializes in locally grown foods.
- Vineland Estates Winery
- This is a winery in a neighbouring town. They offer fine dining, great service and a great patio in the summer. They are open all year and have amazing food. This is definitely a place to have a great, late dinner and a few bottles of wine.
Recommended Places to Stay
- Villa Bacchus
- This is a luxury B&B within walking distance to all of the wineries described in this experience.
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Carpe Diem! Book to do this experience now!
Enquire now
Beamsville Bench Dinner and Winery Tour - Wine tasting at 5 Wineries & Gourmet multi-course Dinner
Starting from $138.00 per person.
Starting from $138.00 per person.
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