By Monica Kosior

Although I don’t want to admit it, it’s already happening. The nights are cooler, the mornings darker; fall is fast approaching.

But with the new season comes the all-important grape harvest. After carefully protecting and nurturing the vines and grapes, it will be time to finally pick the fruits of all our Niagara neighbours’ labour.

Whether you want to join the festival crowds at the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival, or stomp your own hand picked grapes, there is a season full of exciting and new adventures awaiting you. Cheers to an amazing summer, I look forward to what the fall brings!

As more events are added, check back often to get the scoop!

Niagara Fall Wine Events

Niagara Grape & Wine Festival

Celebrate the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival all September long with events and parades spanning from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Beamsville. The Pied Piper Parade on Sept. 16 and Meridian Grande Parade on Sept. 23 both kick off in St. Catharines. The Montebello Park Experience from Sept. 15-17 and Sept. 22-24 includes free admission, local bands all weekend long, wine by the glass and food available through festival tokens. It’s one of Niagara’s largest pre-harvest festivals and family friendly events that the region has to offer.

For more information click here.

Dates: Sept. 8 to 24
Location: Varying locations
Cost: Varying costs, purchase all tickets here.

Niagara Grape & Wine Festival
Discovery Pass

Enjoy eight experiences per pass while exploring throughout all of Niagara in September. Choose to complete in one weekend or take your time at your new or favourite wineries. Pairings include roast beef sandwiches with Cabernet Sauvignon, Octoberfest sausage with homemade sauerkraut and Riesling, to meatballs and Pinot Noir.

All food and wine pairings are available without a discovery pass for $10 per pairing.

For more information click here.

Dates: Sept. 9-10, 16-17 and 23-24
Location: Participating Wineries available here.
Cost: $40 + HST/person or $30 + HST/designated driver, purchase tickets here.

Wrapped Up in the Valley

Promises more than pumpkin spice and everything nice. Twenty Valley Association has organized another year of now 20 participating wineries for the passport program. Travel throughout the Beamsville Bench to the Town of Lincoln, tasting and sampling your way while collecting your favourite recipe cards to create your own cookbook. Ticket cost includes tastings at all participating wineries.

For more information click here.

Dates: Nov. 11-12, 18-19, 25-26
Location: Twenty Valley participating wineries here
Cost: $44.25 + HST/person, $30.00 + HST/designated driver, shuttle bus passes available, purchase tickets here.

Niagara Escarpment/Twenty Valley
Fall Wine Events

Fall Handmade Market

Sip and stroll through over 110 artisan vendors at the 13th Street Estate Winery grounds. Gourmet food trucks (Avella’s Wood Fired Pizza Oven, Tide & Vine Oyster Co., Dirty South and more!), 13th Street wine by the glass and live music both days will keep you entertained and fed! Pick up early Christmas gifts for your family (or something special for yourself).

For more information click here.
Dates: Sept. 15 at 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sept. 16 at 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: 13th Street Winery
Cost: $6 admission (under 16 free)

Pick, Stomp & Taste

The secret to all good wine is the people stomping the grapes. Join Flat Rock owner Ed Madronich and the Cellar Crew while hand picking grapes and stomping them in barrels. You will even be able to taste your newly pressed 2017 grape juice. Additional add ons of lunch or dinner are available. Space is limited.

For more information click here.

Dates: Sept. 16-17 and 23-24 at 11 a.m.
Location: Flat Rock Cellars.
Cost: $29 + HST/person Stomp, $50 + HST/person Lunch, $120.00 + HST/person. Dinner, reservations required please call 905-562-8994

Vinyasa By The Vines

If you love yoga and you love wine, why not try both at the same time? Rejuvenate and stretch between sips and between the vines at Back 10 Cellars. Led by PaddleLife, they’ll walk you through all your new yoga moves.

For more information click here.

Date: Sept. 17 at 10 a.m.
Location: Back 10 Cellars.
Cost: $25 + HST, purchase here.

Harvest & Equinox Party

Celebrate both the 2017 Harvest and Equinox with the Westcott family. An intimate setting for only 24 guests, the menu will be created by Bolete and inspired by the upcoming harvest season. Wines will be offered from Westcott by the glass, or Westcott specifically paired wines for each course.

For more information click here.

Date: Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: Westcott Vineyard.
Cost: $100 + HST/person, additional $40 + HST/person for wines paired with each course. Reservations required email reservations@bolete.ca

Dance Glass

We all dance a little better with wine in our systems, don’t we? Sip and sashay your way into learning the Hand Jive. Includes one hour of dance instruction, a 5 oz glass of Creekside featured wine and snacks provided by Sweetie Pie’s Kitchens. Don’t forget to stretch!

For more information click here.

Date: Sept. 23 at 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Creekside Estate Winery
Cost: $20.00/person, reservations required please email reservations@creeksidewine.com or call 905-562-0035 ext. 235.

Good Girth Supper Club – La Vie en Rose

A little bit of France in Niagara. The entire prix fixe dinner menu will make you wish you were dining on a terrace in Paris, but I still say our views in Beamsville are better. Choose from baked Camembert, steak tartare, duck confit, short rib bourguignon and top it off with a pear tarte tatin. Reservations required call 905-563-6333 to book.

For more information click here.

Date: Sept. 23, reservations from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Good Earth Vineyard and Winery
Cost: $60.00 + HST gratuity and beverages

Autumn Pie & Wine Pairing

The only hard decision you will have to make is pumpkin or apple pie tarts. Freshly baked by The Watering Can Pastry Market and perfectly paired with a GreenLane wine, it’s the winning combo for an autumn weekend. You will also have the chance to taste through their Turkey Trio wine recommendations for thanksgiving dinner!

For more information click here.

Dates: Oct. 7-9 at 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: GreenLane Estate Winery
Cost: $12.00 HST/person, reservations are recommended call 905-562-7207 or email info@greenlanewinery.com

The Pinot Affair

For the love of the heart break grape, Pinot Noir. Join other enthusiasts and connoisseurs at nine participating wineries to explore through multiple seminars and tastings. Learn from the winemakers why Pinot Noir has created a love affair in their portfolios. Prix fixe menus will be available at Inn On The Twenty, Bolete and AG Cuisine during this weekend inspired by Pinot Noir.

For more information click here.

Dates: Oct. 13, 14, & 15
Location: List of participating wineries
Cost: Enthusiast Pass $40 + HST, connoisseur Pass $65 + HST, purchase tickets here.

Classic Candy & Wine

The adult version of trick or treating. Instead of stealing your kids’ candy, GreenLane is handing out classic candy pairings with their selection of estate wines. You’ll be the judge of which ones taste best!

For more information click here.

Dates: Oct. 14-15, 21-22 & 28-29 at 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: GreenLane Estate Winery
Cost: $8.00 + HST/person, reservations are recommended call 905-562-7207 or email here

Niagara-on-the-Lake Fall Wine Events

1st Annual Winemaker’s Harvest Picnic

Harvest is right around the corner and this is your chance to dine with Lakeview’s winemakers Thomas Green, Scott McGregor and Jessica Wallace. Start off the night with a sparkling wine and cheese reception, live music by local band Crush in June while you casually enjoy your picnic dinner.

For more information click here.

Date: Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Location: Lakeview Wine Co.
Cost: $55 + HST/person, $100 + HST/couple, purchase here.

Harvest Festival 2017

PondView invites you to join the celebration for this year’s harvest. Cheese and charcuterie boards, The Arepa Republic food truck, wine slushies and wine by the glass will all be offered. Sandy Vine and the Midnights will be performing for the afternoon, so sit back grab a glass and enjoy the start of the new season. This is an all weather event.

For more information click here.

Date: Sept. 16 at 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: PondView Estate Winery.
Cost: Free admission, pre-purchase food & wine packages here.

Party in the Vineyard
— Kenyan Boys Choir Charity Concert

The 19+ event supports the Kenyan Boys Choir, performing traditional songs from Kenya with a mix of songs we know and love. They have travelled all over the world performing and will be available for this one night only in Niagara. Wine by the glass and food will be available for purchase from the Peller Estate portfolio and Chef Jason Parsons’ Barrel House Grill. All ticket tales will be donated to WE Charity.

For more information click here.

Date: Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Location: Peller Estates Winery
Cost: $30 + HST/person, purchase tickets here.

Suárez Wines Release: Calling All Spirits

Lisa Suárez launches her next vintage release and celebrates with you during the Day of the Dead party. The Mule  restaurant from Hamilton will be serving up Lisa’s favourite Mexican foods alongside her wines.  Dress code; your best black and white, Day of the Dead Masquerade masks will be available and a face painter to complete your customized look will be on side.

For more information click here.

Date: Oct. 21 at 7 p.m., Dance Party 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Location: Between The Lines Winery 
Cost: $45 per person, purchase here