The first Canadian vineyard was planted in the 17th century in Nova Scotia, but the country’s largest wine-producing province is Ontario, where two-thirds of Canada’s vineyard acreage is situated. The Niagara Peninsula is one of the appellations in Ontario recognized by Vintners Quality Alliance (VGA). It is especially famous for its icewines, as well as for its annual Niagara Grape & Wine Festival, recognized as the country’s oldest and largest event of its kind.
The Niagara Grape & Wine Festival is held in the city of St. Catharines. It was created by viticulture researcher George Hostetter, who was at the time working for Brights Wines, and agricultural journalist Bevis C. Walters to celebrate the grape harvest and raise awareness of the region’s successful grape and wine industry.
The inaugural event, then named the Niagara Grape Festival, was held in St. Catharines in September 1952. The event was temporarily moved to Niagara Falls in 1954 but it eventually returned to St. Catharines. The name of the festival has changed many times since its inception, but today it is known as the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival.
The Niagara Grape & Wine Festival is a multi-day celebration of Niagara wines that includes about 100 events such as wine tastings, wine and food pairing classes, culinary classes, vineyard and winery tours, live music, and parades. All the main events take place in the historic Montebello park, which comes alive each September to offer an unforgettable experience to wine lovers from all over Canada and beyond.
The Montebello Wine & Culinary Village brings together dozens of local wineries and food vendors so that visitors can taste more than 100 Niagara wines and enjoy perfect food and wine pairings. The festival experience also includes live music performed non-stop, yoga sessions, family fun with special activities for kids (craft stations, mascots, inflatables), and parades.
The Niagara Grape & Wine Festival hosts two parades you shouldn’t miss, the Grape & Wine Grand Parade and the Pied Piper Parade. The Grape & Wine Grand Parade is a beloved local tradition featuring elaborate floats, dancers, entertainers, and live music, while the Pied Piper Parade is a parade exclusively for children.
Entry to the Montebello Wine & Culinary Village is free, but some of the festival events are ticketed. And, of course, you need to pay for the wine and food. The Niagara Grape & Wine Festival uses tokens as currency; you can buy them on site or pre-purchase online. Average wine and food samples range from 2–3 tokens; you also use tokens to pay for a commemorative glass with the festival logo. Those who want to experience more of the Niagara’s grape and wine industry can also purchase the Discovery Pass for six wine and culinary experiences across participating wineries.
Photo: niagarawinefestival.com
