Vineland Estates Winery Savour the Wine and the Vineyards

Turning into the driveway at Vineland Estates Winery the stone tower just beyond the weeping willow greets you, while green lush vineyards on either side, invite you in.  Vineland Estates is one of the oldest wineries in the Niagara area, having produced wine for almost 4 decades, while offering a distinguished, elegant, ambiance and bucolic views.

The winery houses historic buildings from a Mennonite homestead dating back to the mid 1800s. They now include the stone tower, a 4-diamond restaurant, large tasting room with wine store, and an intimate event space.  The buildings have been renovated to modern standards yet maintain many aspects of the architectural historic significance from the family that settled the land.

Did you Know:

The Taste of Place Wine Tour is a great way to learn a little bit of the history of Vineland Estates and includes a tour of the underground wine cellar. Well priced at only $25.00 per person.   

The Moyer family made their way from Pennsylvania to Vineland in Lincoln County, Niagara, in the early 1800’s, giving the street its name.  Each family had 100 acres of land, and some of the Moyer family are still involved in farming.  You can find them at Cherry Avenue Farms.  Historical records of the Moyer family can be found at the University of Guelph.  Here’s a pdf if you’re interested.

Moyer road is a fabulous Niagara country road filled with vineyards and nature in a peaceful setting.  The Vineland Estates Winery Restaurant overlooks the 42 acre St. Urban vineyard and the Niagara Escarpment in the distance, gifting a serene and elegant space to enjoy lunch or dinner.  Summer weekends are extra busy, so try a weekday afternoon.  I made reservations and I would recommend you do the same.  The restaurant is open 7 days a week, year-round.

Lunching on the outdoor terrace was a graceful, unhurried experience.  Beyond the light tinkling of fork on plate you hear the sounds of nature, while the summer breeze gently sways the vines laden with fruit ready for harvest.  Of course, the meal prepared with many local ingredients by a world-class chef, was outstanding.  Each course on the Table d’Hote menu can be paired with a wine tasting, giving you the opportunity to experience a variety of Vineland Estates wines. 

The tasting room is in a separate building and there too you can try several wines and purchase them, along with a selection of gourmet cheeses and other wine related items.

One of three vineyards owned by Vineland Estates Winery, the St. Urban vineyard grows a Riesling clone brought to the Niagara region from Germany and first planted in 1979 by the winery’s founder, Hermann Weis. 

As an experienced vintner, it has been said that Weis knew that the Niagara Region would be the perfect place to grow his grapes.  He wasn’t wrong.  There are several excellent wines available at Vineland Estates.  The 2015 Cabernet Franc Reserve, though not a Reisling, was my personal favourite. 

   Travel Tips:

• Try several wines in the tasting room or at lunch, before you buy
• Plan your day so you can savour the experience without rushing
• Travel on weekdays if you can, to avoid the large buses
• This is a destination vineyard so it does get busy
• Lots of great opportunities for photography of the vineyards as well as beautiful well-manicured gardens

I’ve been to Vineland Estates Winery more than once, and each experience has always left me wanting to go back for more.  I’ll be back!

If you’ve been or have any questions, please let me know in the comments below.