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Inniskillin Wines is a Canadian winery founded in 1975 by Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser. The winery is located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, and is known for producing premium ice wine using grapes grown in the region.

Inniskillin’s history dates back to the early 1970s, when Ziraldo and Kaiser, two young agricultural science graduates, became interested in the potential for growing grapes and making wine in the Niagara region. They began experimenting with different grape varieties and winemaking techniques, and in 1975, they founded Inniskillin Wines.

Inniskillin’s vineyards are located in the Niagara Peninsula, which has a unique climate that is well-suited to the production of ice wine. The region experiences cold winters and hot summers, which allows the grapes to develop a high level of sugar before they are harvested.

Inniskillin grows a variety of grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. However, the winery is most famous for its ice wine, which is made from frozen grapes that are harvested and pressed while still frozen. The process of making ice wine is labor-intensive and requires a great deal of skill and expertise.

Inniskillin has won numerous awards for its wines, including several gold medals at the International Wine and Spirit Competition. One of the winery’s most famous wines is Inniskillin Vidal Icewine, which is made from Vidal grapes and has a rich, sweet flavor with notes of apricot and honey.

Inniskillin’s winemaking process is carefully controlled to ensure the highest quality wine. The grapes are hand-picked and carefully sorted before being pressed and fermented. The winery also uses traditional oak barrels to age its wines, which adds complexity and depth to the flavors.

In conclusion, Inniskillin Wines is a Canadian winery that is known for producing premium ice wine using grapes grown in the Niagara region. The winery has a rich history and is known for its high-quality wines, which are made using traditional winemaking techniques and aged in oak barrels.

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4.5
1,292 reviews
  • Doris Ramirez
    Doris Ramirez
    2 weeks ago

    I visited Inniskillin vineyard as part of my bachelorette celebration, traveling from the Dominican Republic with two friends, and it was truly one of the most unforgettable experiences we’ve ever had. The vineyard is absolutely stunning, but what made the visit even more special was our tour guide, Leron. He was beyond incredible; kind, funny (very funny), deeply knowledgeable, and so genuinely passionate about what he does. He took the experience to another level, making us feel not just welcomed, but celebrated. He even added a personal touch to our little bachelorette celebration that we’ll never forget. The tasting was equally amazing, very educational, especially for beginners. We learned how to properly taste and appreciate wine in a way that was both approachable and fun. This experience is worth far more than the price. Between the beautiful setting, the thoughtfully designed tour, and Leron’s unforgettable energy, I’d recommend it to anyone, whether you’re a wine lover or just curious. It was the perfect way to celebrate such a special moment in my life!

  • Matthew Wilson
    Matthew Wilson
    4 months ago

    I was very disappointed with my overall experience at Inniskillin Wines. I am a local and a member of a wine club with another winery, so my expectations for a wine tasting maybe different from the average person. We were politely greeted by the staff and our wine was brought to our table fairly quickly. I had a couple of questions about a few of the wines before I ordered and the answers were fine for someone who knows little about wine but I was expecting a bit more of an in-depth explanation. Once our wines arrived at our table, the staff member told us which wines were which but did not explain anything about each of the wines and varietals we tasted. I paid $25.00 for a tasting and basically walked myself and my friends through their tastings. I had to explain to them what to look for from each of their wine selections. I was and am very disappointed with the lack of knowledge shared with us and the overall experience was unacceptable to me from one of Niagara's oldest wineries. I can only assume the staff has a strong knowledge of the wines at the winery, but that information was not shared with us during our tasting. I have come to expect a wine tasting experience at each of the wineries I visit in Niagara and I am not usually disappointed as we have a large number of educated and passionate professionals at many of our wineries, I did not get that feeling at Inniskillin.

  • HK Yang
    HK Yang
    7 months ago

    We toured the Inniskillin Winery. We were lucky to have a private Korean-guided tour just for our family, which made the experience feel even more special. Although I was familiar with Inniskillin wines from seeing them in Korean Air’s in-flight duty-free catalog, seeing the winemaking process, grape harvesting, and the wine cellars firsthand brought a unique charm. Under the warm sunlight, we had a chance to taste their ice wine, and its sweet, rich aroma filled our mouths—a truly special experience.

  • Florina Pal
    Florina Pal
    3 months ago

    We tried this place 2 times one for Ice wine festival and once for Wine and chocolate festival. Each time the food portion was just one bite. Not worth it, most of the wineries give normal size food portions. Even the wine they give for tasting is half the size of a normal wine tasting glass.

  • Chris Cecere
    Chris Cecere
    9 months ago

    Stopped here on our way from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake. What a great decision. The people working here couldn’t have been nicer, friendlier, more accommodating, or knowledgeable. The restaurant menu was as delicious as it was unique. We didn’t realize it was Peach Festival Weekend. Several of the items on the menu featured peaches in a surprising and enjoyable way. Our server—wish I had gotten her name!—was incredibly helpful, kind, personable. She provided excellent suggestions and advice on what to order. She definitely contributed to the wonderful vibes of the winery. Highly recommend a stop here if you are in the area!

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