Vineland Estates Winery and Restaurant

Background: I was looking for an activity for my 30^th birthday. It was late October and the weather was getting a little chilly. I opted for a PRIVATE wine tour and tasting at Vineland Estates after perusing the reviews of the winery online. The private tour is for 10+ people and I opted to add a cheese platter to our tasting.
Location: Before you hit St. Catherines and not quite at Niagara-​On-​The-​Lake, Vineland Estates Winery was about a 1.5 hour drive from downtown Toronto on a Saturday morning. We left the core around noon and arrived at the winery at 1:30pm. Vineland is not hard to find, ample free parking and a very lovely and clean establishment. Washroom is a little dated, so it could use a bit of an upgrade.
Quality and Price: On arrival, I was a little confused to where I was supposed to go and asked the ladies behind the tasting bar about my private tour. They checked me in and we were greeted by sommelier, Andre. The tour and tasting was scheduled for about an hour, but Andre stayed for 2+!! It was incredible! You can totally tell that he loves his job and is passionate about working at Vineland. We were NEVER rushed! He always made us a priority (when some stragglers stumbled into our private tasting in the cellar) by politely asking others to leave.
Andre was not just knowledgeable, he answer any and all questions with enthusiasm and clarity. So much applicable advice and tips made this such a memorable activity. At the end of our session, there wasn’t even an option on the machine to tip the man! He never asked for tips, nor did he ever expect one. We were MORE than happy to give gratuities because of that.
Additionally, despite the private tour being meant for 10+ people, on the day of, only 6 people in total showed up/​attended. Vineland was okay with this and just said that everyone would split the difference on check-​out. It was a super smooth and painless process which I very much appreciated. It came out to just under $ 20pp (including the cheese platter). SO well worth it in my opinion.
The wines themselves were all beautiful, but their most popular and delicious wine for our group, was the 2014 St. Urban Vineyard Riesling (part of the Elevation series). Each one of our group members purchased a bottle for $ 20 to take home. It goes incredibly well with good brie, other soft cheeses, spicy foods, Chinese food, and/​or pork dishes.
Service: Service on the floor and at the tasting bar was okay, maybe a ²⁄₅ or ³⁄₅. But our experience with Andre truly made everyone’s day. We thoroughly enjoyed his company and wisdom, and he never made anyone feel judged or stupid for asking questions.
Overall: Without Andre, our experience at Vineland would have probably landed a comfortable ³⁄₅ grade. But WITH Andre as our sommelier for the private tour and tasting, our experience was a ⁵⁄₅ hands down. Who you have as your guide truly makes or breaks the experience for patrons, and Vineland has found a gem in Andre. Other staff should certainly look to him as a great example of passion and care. I would definitely return to Vineland in the future to sample their restaurant and other wines, and I would recommend the private tour and tasting experience to anyone who asks.

The first time I was there ~2009 for a wine tour (self guided), this was my favorite place and I remembered having ~12 samples (fee all waived) and walking out with~5 bottles of wine. I wasn’t as enchanted this time. I thought the wine was good but I could get equally good wine much cheaper. The place is still gorgeous though.

This is a review of the restaurant only for dinner. In short, overrated, average service, but below what it SHOULD be at an establishment such as this, and good, not great food. I travel to this area for winery tastings and restocking my collection every other year, this is my 3^rd visit to the area, I have absolutely NO need to return to Vineland Estates. Pros – great view, prices what I expected not above for this sort of restaurant, good dessert (best part of the meal). Cons-​WAY over salted food, everyone of the 5 other people had the same complaint so it wasn’t just my food, and the food was just ok… it wasn’t amazing or great which is what I had read in other reviews. Cross this off my list, not going back. In short, skip it.

So I totally love this restaurant in Wine Country.
I have been here twice.
Great patio too with some shading (large umbrellas).
We have had the:
— the charcuterie plate (serves 3 – 4)
— the duck confit (just drops off the bone
— the pork loin
— the burger with short rib
Paired with chardonnay, their sparkling wine and the cab franc.
All was wonderful, including the ambiance.
Wines are very reasonably priced.
Service was fab!
Matter of fact in their wine shop (which we had to check out after) we found the wines were very reasonably priced too.
Lovely location.
Do go! You won’t be disappointed.

We visited a few wineries in the area, and this was our favorite. Their icewines are wonderful! We especially loved the Riesling Icewine with its mango and tropical notes. I wish we would have bought a bottle to take back with us. After our wine tastings, we both enjoyed a glass of icewine on the patio. The view was wonderful, and the wine was fantastic. Overall a great experience with a beautiful view on the deck!

I was on a wine tour for this visit. We were brought into a stone cottage where we met our guide, Andre. He was great! We probably learned the most about wine and growing at this stop than any other; a wealth of information with some humour thrown in. He taught us how to taste wine and pair it. So, if a server asks you if the wine is ok, we know what to look for! The chef presented us with cassoulet. I didn’t know what it was either, but it’s a slow cooked stew. Fantastic! It’s was a little mellow for the Merlot sampling, but both were enjoyable.

Lunch
Ambience: ⁴⁄₅ (Great Patio)
Food: ²⁄₅
Service: ³⁄₅
Value: ²⁄₅
Repeat: Nope
Notes: Have not tried their wine, but my friends did enjoy their reds.

Very quiet environment when we arrived on Thursday evening. The lamp is pretty good. And I love the «chef creative dessert», it changes everyday. All the food materials are from the local farm. I had Ice Niagara Peninsula Vidal 1979. So perfect!

The lunch my mother and I had here was literally flawless.
We were on a self directed wine tasting tour and stopping here was not actually part of the plan– it just goes to show spontaneity does pay off!
For starters we each had a soup– a gazpacho and a curried red pepper soup. They were unquestionably two of the best soups either of us have ever had. The gazpacho was so refreshing on a hot day and absolutely full of flavour! There was this big chunk of cheese in it that just took the soup to a whole other level. The red pepper soup had a very present curry taste, but it wasn’t spicy. It actually had a really nice sweetness to it. In the soup there was also one massive perfectly cooked shrimp. We easily could’ve eaten several bowls each of those soups!
Following that I had a second appetizer as I didn’t have a huge appetite. It was a seared scallop dish with octopus. The octopus was so perfectly cooked it was like butter melting in my mouth. Despite the dish focusing on the scallop, that was the highlight for me. The scallop was cooked perfectly as well as was just so plump and perfect. All the accompaniments on the dish were delicious as well, there was a real sense that everything had it’s place, and eating it almost felt like exploring a garden. My mother had the rainbow trout, which I only had a few tastes of, but those few tastes were delicious! Such perfectly cooked fish.
Overall I would HIGHLY recommend stopping here for a bite to eat if you’re anywhere in Niagara. I can’t wait to go back!

My husband and I had dinner at Vineland Estates recently. We decided to order a la carte instead of the 5-​course tasting menu.
For starters, I ordered fresh oysters which arrived on a long wood board that took up 2 place settings. There were 6 oysters on a bed of «ice» on one end and a tiny pitcher of hot sauce, 1 lemon wedge, and a bit of horseradish on the other.
I tasted my first oyster and felt a crunch. That wasn’t a bed of ice… it was chunks of SALT! And the hot sauce needed to come with a warning — it burned.
My husband ordered «scallop». Please note the singular.
The mains were quite tasty. I ordered rack of lamb. The TWO lamb chops were very nice. But there was a mystery meat in the middle. When I asked, I was told it was «lamb sausage» with «Mexican spices». It was tough as shoe leather, very spicy, and in no way did it resemble lamb.
It also came with one gnocchi which I gave to my husband because he was looking hungry after his HALF cornish hen.
We went somewhere else for dessert.

Had the opportunity to come and visit Vineland Estates Winery and Restaurant a few weeks ago for a friends wedding. What an absolutely beautiful property and outstanding service. The wedding was executed to perfection and the food was some of the best I have had in the region. To top it all off — some of the best wine you’ll ever taste.
If you are going to do a Wine Country trip this summer, make sure Vineland is on your stop list or you are really missing out!

Our dinner reservations were in the Fall so it was dark when we arrived. Therefore the view was not a factor in our dining experience. We were the only party in the restaurant and dined in the sun room which was very cold even with the space heater beside our table.
Presentation and service was excellent throughout the meal.
My first course was the Rainbow Trout with Fried Egg. The Trout was very, very salty (beyond recognition). The Chef couldn’t have tasted it before sending it out. The Fried Egg was intriguing as it came in a batter and was cooked nicely with the yolk slightly runny. As a second I ordered the Sweet Potato Gnocchi which came in a Cream Sauce. Not to my liking, which was fine and dandy but if they are not advertised as Maltagliatti for Pete’s sake cut them all the same size. Its supposed to be Fine Dinning, so get the basics right!
The Restaurants only saving grace was my main. The Beef Cheek was superb. Melt in your mouth (I assume it was Braised) with just the proper amount of Gravy. Very, very good.
All in all it wasn’t worth the drive from Hamilton to Niagara on the Lake. Portions were good but I found it expensive for the quality of food that was served. I got the feeling the Head Chef took the night off because it was slow then let the dishwasher try his hand at the microwave and the Waiter Plated the meals. If the food tasted as good as it looked I would have enjoyed myself.

Over priced small portions.
I think they must have just received a new smoker as everything was over smoked. My wife oredered the duck and the best thing on the plate was the single carrot. I had the tenderloin, which was very good, however the vegetables were not very good. My mom ordered the chicken which she could not finish, as it was too smokey. My wife and I usually split a dessert, however as we were both still hungry we ordered our own. My wife ordered the «the chef’s creation» which was described as fourless torte, when they should have called it a flourless cupcake and even that would have been a stretch. Even the peach gelato was scooped with a melon baller which I guess was in proportion to the ½ cupcake sized desert for $ 10.
I ordered the Cream Brule which could not have been more than an ounce. I could not break through the sugar without hitting the bottom. Even the melon ball portion of gelato looked huge on that small ramekin
The coffee was look warm at best. I truly believe they gave us the dessert sampler by mistake. Total cost was $ 200, should not have been more than $ 75
Will not go back

My boyfriend and I were driving back to Rochester from Toronto/​Niagara-​on-​the-​Lake, and our B&B host recommended this winery as a must stop. We decided to make the short detour, and were immediately impressed by the grounds. We arrived quite early, so there wasn’t much activity. But, the people working here greeted us very warmly, and explained how the wine tastings worked. We were able to taste a great variety of wines, especially the rieslings, which is what they are known for. It was so good, that we ended up buying a bottle. Yum!

Returning to Rochester from Toronto, we used the GPS to find a winery for lunch on the wine trail parallel to the QEW. We were first impressed with a beautiful building complex with a distant but impressive view of Lake Ontario. The host cordially greeted us and even without reservations on a busy Sunday afternoon seated us promptly.
My wife had the lobster risotto and I had a extremely tasty chicken dish. We enjoyed both. Mine was especially good due to the creative fresh veggies served as bed for a deboned breast with the first wing part as a handle. The chicken was ultra tender and complimented the sides well. My wife’s risotto was not short on lobster.
The waitress provided some suggestions for wines that paired well and we took her advise. Her service (along with a helper) was prompt and friendly. Certainly worth a revisit for dinner sometime although a large meal would make me sleepy for the drive home!

Beautiful estate, reminds me one of the winery from Sonoma. Huge tasting room and good reviewed restaurant. Visited for foods and wine pairing which was outstanding.
Large selection of wine menu and prices are reasonable, but nothing was outstanding for my taste. But food was really really good. Will visit again for the restaurant.

Gorgeous view — a hilltop restaurant with a small chapel and gift shop. We arrived shortly after 6 pm and unfortunately the gift shop sign said closed although the door was unlocked. We walked in and asked if they were closed and were told «Yes, we just did, and if I let you in it would never stop.» Hmph, nice answer.
Dinner was delicious, albeit pricey. Started with charcuterie (small but tasty), shrimp risotto (one shrimp), and finally duck confit. The duck was divine! Skin crispy, meat tender, wished there was more! Next time, entrée and dessert, skip the appetizer and 2^nd course.
Luckily we were allowed to buy 2 bottles of Riesling from the menu although it would have been nice to peruse the gift shop.

My friend and I ended up here after a Crush wine tour, and it is superb. The restaurant looks out over the rolling vineyards with a great patio for the summer season, and the wine shop is delightfully rustic. For dinner, we started with an amuse bouche of smoked trout – very good – and moved on to split the duck trio – also good.
The winner, though, was my lamb shank with vegetables and a hearty cassoulet. The meat fell off the bone, pairing very well with the white beans. Utterly divine. My friend enjoyed her scallops, but they can’t compare with the lamb.
My only qualms with the restaurant were 1) the price tag (a VERY expensive meal), and 2) they couldn’t make a good cocktail. After drinking wine all day on the tour, we were a bit wined-​out, so I ordered a dirty vodka martini. Small glass, poorly made, and a little bit of a disappointment.

Oh man… The food here was EXCELLENT.
The wine was good, nothing spectacular…
But what I will never forget is… the Duck CONFRITETTTTT

22 of us had reservations for Dinner at the Vineland Estates Winery yesterday to celebrate Mothers Day/​a 90^th birthday.
Things didn’t get off to a good start. We were met with a cold reception from the hostess. No verbal welcome, didn’t crack a smile. I got the impression we were not wanted. This set the tone for the rest of the evening.
We only had one waiter assigned to our table the entire night. We waited almost 45 minutes after we were seated before any wine was offered which I found odd considering we were at a vineyard. 45 minutes!!! He took everyone’s food orders before drink orders, which I understand…22 mains are a lot to prepare… but we’re at a winery! You’d think they’d be pouring it down our throats. Everyone was getting so impatient. When we asked the water boy if we could order drinks with him, we were denied. They would have made so much more money off of us had they offered drinks upon our immediate arrival.
Our appetizer options were (cut and pasted from their web-​site): Goat’s Cheese Parfait with Merlot & Onion Jam, Niagara Greens & Berry Vinaigrette, Roasted Cluster Tomato Bisque with Benedictine Cream & Crushed Hazelnut Oil or Bluecoat Mussels with RJ’s Pancetta, Cherry Tomatoes & Roast Garlic Cream.
The Mussels were definitely the way to go. Generous portion. Everybody there wished they went with the mussels. Luckily my boyfriend ordered them and shared. My Tomato bisque was awful; overly bitter and in desperate need of more salt (which was not on the table) and sugar. Campbells tomato soup would have been better. The goat cheese parfait was good but it was very rich and had nothing to accompany it other than 2 thin slices of cucumber and a wimpy tomato wedge. Not even a cracker.
Main options were: Cumbrae’s Dry-​Aged Beef Tenderloin with Blue Haze, Sweet Potato Croquette, Classic Demi-​Glacé, Herb Cured Pork Tenderloin with Charred Onions & Dried Cherry and Triple Crunch Mustard or Seared Canadian Salmon, Sauteed Greens, Roasted Fingerlings, in Olive and Caper Remoulade.
Each protein sat atop one baby carrot, one brussel sprout cut in half and some sauteed onions. Are you kidding me? I, by no means, have a ravenous appetite, but I was still hungry when I left. The slivers of pork that I wolfed down in 2 bites were cooked to perfection. The tenderloin I tried was definitely tasty as well. The salmon was alright but again, tiny. I fully understand the concept of quality over quantity but this was simply ridiculous. Our entire party was disappointed. All 22 of us.
Then the kicker– they automatically added 18% gratuity to our bill. No wonder the service was so horrendous! No need to actually make a good impression for your tip.
We should have gone to Swiss Chalet instead…