10 Stops For Every Thirsty Traveller In Niagara, Canada

Ravine Vineyard

This charming winery is set in the bucolic hamlet of St. Davids. Since opening in 2008, Ravine has won awards for its vintages at an impressive rate. Jaws drop over the Sauvignon blanc and Gewurztraminer as much as the views of a pristine vineyard. In 2011, it was named one of the 20 best wineries to eat and drink in the world by Wine Access magazine. Its appeal is broad, given the outdoor wood-fired pizza oven, fine dining menu and cheese shop, and a wine list that gives nods to some of Ravine’s vinous neighbours. Don’t forget to brush up on your ping pong skills before stopping by, there’s table tennis in the vineyard.

Ravine Vineyard, 1366 York Rd., St. Davids, ON, Canada, +1 905 262 8463

courtesy of Merchant Ale House

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and The Merchant Ale House in downtown St. Catharines is that place. A perennial favourite among the after-work crowd and young hipsters who have dubbed it ‘The Merch,’ this brewpub is known for welcoming anyone craving a pint. There’s always a fresh batch of its flagship ales, lagers and stouts brewing under the pub’s Murray Street Brewing Company banner. Nods to the season are also on tap, such as a strawberry blonde, ginger ale, or blueberry wheat. Look for unconventional pub grub amongst the bar food standards, including vegan ‘wings’ and a substantial fried green tomato sandwich.

Everything about this craft distillery is Instagram-worthy, from its photogenic proprietor to an interior of clean lines, white walls and natural lumber. The real beauty is in Dillon’s line of vodka and gin, made with excess wine from neighbouring wineries, and grapes culled from nearby vineyards. Both spirits have won major international accolades. Dillon’s extensive line of flavoured bitters, pear eau de vie, cherry or rose gin, and absinthe aren’t to be overlooked either. Take a bottle with you to mix a drink later, or join Dillon’s for Sunday brunch in the summer when staff make up creative cocktails to enjoy with gourmet food truck nibbles.

The Good Earth

Owner Nicolette Novak doesn’t have time for pretenses, which is what makes this winery so appealing and approachable to Niagara wine newbies or seasoned oenophiles. Nestled among grapevines and fruit orchards, The Good Earth started as a country cooking school but has grown into a comfortable culinary destination, where visitors can enjoy a glass of Betty’s Blend or Big Fork Red on a patio that epitomizes conviviality. Enjoy wine by the glass or bottle, and seasonal menus while taking in the view of the Niagara Escarpment and losing track of time.

The Good Earth, 4556 Lincoln Ave, Beamsville, ON, Canada, +1 905 563 6333

Brimstone Brewing Co. | © Tiffany Mayer

Brimstone Brewing Co.

This microbrewery in the basement of a repurposed church in south Niagara mixes goth with the light-hearted. The taproom is a favourite gathering place for locals who sip on whimsically named brews, such as Enlightenment Ale, Midnight Mass Chicory Oatmeal Stout and Sinister Minister IPA. Small plates of seasonal, regional fare are prepared by caterer Crave Local Fresh, which considers Brimstone offerings in its menus in order to create the perfect pairing. A pint with spent grain pretzel bites is a staple. Hit this brewery in the spring for the annual Albino Rhino Beer Fest, which features upwards of 30 craft breweries.

Brimstone Brewing Co., 209 Ridge Rd N, Ridgeway, ON, Canada, +1 289 821 2738

Courtesy of Silversmith Brewing Co.

In keeping with former churches converted to suds shrines, Silversmith offers a holy and heady experience amidst the wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake. See the light with its Black Lager, which channels German Schwarzbier with hints of chocolate and coffee. A Bavarian Breakfast Wheat is also part of Silversmith’s flagship offerings, enjoyed in a beer hall decked out in dark wood and stained glass. Fresh oysters and po’boys, along with hop-dusted wings or wurst for landlubbers, are prepared in the brewery kitchen by Niagara’s Tide and Vine Oyster Company.

West Niagara’s newest winery is named for its red clay soil where Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah vines have taken root. Grapes are grown using organic and biodynamic methods, and the terroir-driven wines they produce can be sampled in a modern glass and stone visitor’s centre that also features a restaurant and terrace overlooking the vineyard. Stone oven pizza and bespoke larger mains are matched with Redstone vintages, which also pair perfectly with a simple order of hand-cut fries and garlic aioli.

There’s more than water flowing in Niagara Falls. Craft beer spills from taps on Clifton Hill, the most touristy strip in the region. The Niagara Brewing Co. is a reprieve from wax museums and gift shops selling countless models of snow globes. This brewery serves up an amber, IPA, lager, and a peach radler that’s an homage to the region’s stone fruit industry. Enjoy with beer nuts or charcuterie. Sliders are also an option for those who like miniature food with their full pints.