Sept18-19&25-26
Your Discovery Pass entitles you to 6 wine and culinary experiences designed by winemakers and chefs to celebrate the flavours of Niagara, redeemable at 20 participating wineries across Twenty Valley and Niagara-on-the-Lake over two weekends!
Raise a glass and celebrate the harvest! Our winery partners have carefully crafted delectable wine and food pairings that showcase the best of the season.
Denninger’s apple Riesling sausage, made with Expression Riesling served with curry aioli and Riesling Icewine caramelized onions on a brioche bun. Vegetarian option - Vegetarian sausage
2019 Expression Riesling
Our refreshing and aromatic, semi-effervescent white wine - the West Wind - is paired with a crispy tofu shell stuffed with savory lotus root and rice, alongside a fresh garden salad from Ma Chinese Cuisine. (vegan)
West Wind 2019
We look forward to serving you in the 100-year-old barn, on the deck, or overlooking the vineyard and waterfall while you enjoy our Balls Falls Red paired with Beef Wellington topped off with Gouda Cheese. (vegetarian option available)
Balls Falls Red
Enjoy Chef’s pulled chicken mini slider with Niagara fruit BBQ sauce paired with our 2019 Red Tractor Cabernet Merlot. Snap a photo riding our old Massey Harris Tractor!
2019 Red Tractor Cabernet Merlot
Mom's famous open-faced, root beer pulled pork served on a biscuit topped with corn relish and lemon garlic mayo, garnished with parsley. This family favourite will be paired with our Award Winning 2018 Cabernet Franc for a flavour you wouldn't believe is possible (vegetarian option available). Vegetarian option: Root beer carrot "pulled pork" served on a biscuit topped with corn relish and lemon garlic mayo, garnished with parsley.
2018 Cabernet Franc
Enjoy our 2018 Kitchen Zinc paired with a crispy Baja shrimp taco topped with a fresh local peach salsa amongst the vines. This Sauvignon Blanc blend has everything but ‘the kitchen sink’ in it, including Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Gewurztraminer and Chardonnay. (vegetarian option available) Vegetarian option – Roasted Cauliflower topped with fresh local peach salsa.
2018 Kitchen Zinc
Flat Rock Cellars has paired our most popular wine, Twisted, with a vegetarian samosa from Regional Variety & Gas Bar. This is a family-owned business (just like ours) is a hidden gem in the Bench region and the samosas are made fresh everyday. This gregarious, aromatic, fruit-driven wine plays perfectly with the slight spice of the samosa and will surely dazzle your palate. (vegetarian)
2018 Twisted
Where's the Beef is back at Hernder's! Slowly cooked roast beef simmering in the finest au jus will be waiting for you to be put on a brioche bun with a slice of dill pickle on the side. Paired with our 2016 Cab Franc.
2016 Cab Franc
Nothing goes better with a chip than a delicious dip! Enjoy a spicy and creamy buffalo chicken dip from The Grist Craft Kitchen and Brewery served with tortilla chips and pita triangles. Pairs perfectly with our 2018 Gewurztraminer Late Harvest to balance the heat and cool you down!
2018 Gewurztraminer Late Harvest
Join us at Lakeview Wine Co. for a refreshing and crisp experience. Try our award-winning Lakeview Cellars 2019 Kerner paired with a delicious fresh vegetable spring roll. (vegetarian)
Lakeview Cellars 2019 Kerner (red wine option available)
Enjoy sipping on our 2019 Charmed, an aromatic sparkling wine, paired with a delightful savoury roasted onion and sour cherry tart finished with rosemary and thyme. (vegetarian)
2019 Heritage Collection Charmed
Niagara College Teaching Winery
135 Taylor Road
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905-641-2252 ext. 4070
Enjoy a truly Canadian experience with a pairing of our Tom Thomson Red and White with a traditional Canadian treat: mini tortiere.
2019 Tom Thomson Red and 2018 Tom Thomson White
Peller Estates Winery & Restaurant
290 John Street East
Niagara-on-the-Lake
+1 888-673-5537
Lentil and squash salad with duck confit and harvest vegetables. (vegetarian option available)
Andrew Peller Signature Series Sauvignon Blanc
Enjoy an Antipasto boat, prepared by BarrelHead Wine Pizza Patio at Pillitteri Estates Winery, paired with a glass of wine from our Team Canada Wine Collection.
2018 Team Canada Red or 2018 Team Canada White
Reif Estate Winery pairs their 2020 Sauvignon Blanc with The Guilty Burgers infamous Jerk Pulled Pork Sliders with red cabbage, pineapple salsa and a garlic house sauce.
2020 Sauvignon Blanc
Braised steak and potatoes simmered in a Baco Noir gravy wrapped up in a delicate flaky pie crust, paired with our big, full bodied 2020 Baco Noir. (vegetarian option available)
Featured wine (including vintage): 2020 Baco Noir
Braised Short rib, roasted red pepper sauce, zucchini and eggplant confit. (vegetarian option available)
2018 Cabernet Shiraz
Layers of roasted local root vegetables from Good Earth Farm with creamy goat cheese and a drizzle of Buzz Hot Honey paired with our 2017 Viognier. (vegetarian)
Viognier 2017
Trius Winery & Restaurant
1249 Niagara Stone Road
Niagara-on-the-Lake
+1 800-582-8412
6oz. spicy beef chili with sour cream, jalapeno peppers, Thornloe Cheddar and scallions. Vegetarian option - vegetable chili with white beans and chick peas
2020 Distinction Baco Noir
Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery & Distillery
1219 Niagara Stone Road
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905-468-0099
Crispy Falafel topped with white wine crema, charred local corn, pineapple and red onion & jalapeno salsa (vegetarian, gluten free, vegan option available)
2018 Estate White
Whether you’re a seasoned Discovery Pass professional or a first-timer, here are some tips to help you get the most out of your tour in Niagara.
Your Discovery Pass entitles you to six (6) wine and culinary pairings. You can choose from 20 participating wineries across Niagara-on-the-Lake and Twenty Valley (Niagara West).
Your Discovery Pass is valid for the full weekend, so use the Discovery Pass map to plan a route that leaves you plenty of time to relax and enjoy your experience. Better yet, plan one day in Niagara-on-the-Lake and another in Twenty Valley to get a full taste of Niagara.
After you’ve sipped and savoured the Discovery Pass pairings, give yourself some time to experience the distinct features of each winery. Spend some time sampling new releases at the tasting bar, take in the crisp fall weather on a stroll through the vineyards, or snap some pictures of you and your friends enjoying your Discovery Pass in the vines!
No problem! All wineries have Discovery Passes for sale, so you can purchase another and split it with a friend.
You’re going to love several of the wines that you taste as you make your way through your Discovery Pass, so pick up an empty case from a participating winery and store your purchased wine easily in your vehicle.
Discovery Pass tickets are $49 +HST each and include 6 wine and food pairings at participating wineries. Driver's Discovery Pass tickets are $39 +HST and include 6 culinary pairings with a non-alcoholic beverage at participating wineries.
Your Discovery Pass ticket is valid for the weekend you have selected – either September 18 & 19 or September 25 & 26. Wineries are open for the Discovery Pass from 11am – 5pm daily (unless noted in their description)
You can purchase your tickets online or at any participating winery.
Yes, you can! Each Discovery Pass includes 6 tasting tickets – which means 6 food and wine pairings total. You can divide them up however you'd like.
Most wineries have a vegetarian option. Review the Wine & Food pairings and look for notations of vegetarian or vegetarian options, then plan your route!
Please contact doriana@niagarawinefestival.com no less than 48 hours prior to the event start date. Passes lost within 48 hours of the event start date will need to be replaced at the customer's expense.
E-tickets are not being used during the 2021 Fall Discovery Pass. All purchasers will receive their pass via mail or can pick up at the Festival Office (see 101 section for dates and times).
The wineries follow the Province and Region’s guidelines regarding the passport. The Discovery Pass tasting areas are outside, however, if it is raining OR if you'd like to do additional tastings indoors you will require a vaccine passport after September 22.
All participating wineries have plans for inclement weather. Please note that the Discovery Pass is a rain-or-shine, non-refundable event.
Each winery will determine the safest way to accommodate groups within COVID public health guidelines. Please note that wineries cannot guarantee that groups larger than 6 will be seated together.