Niagara Grape & Wine Festival

Experience Niagara’s wine country this September during 2023 Niagara Grape and Wine Festival.

Celebrate the Region’s bounty with more than 100 events from September 15 to 29, including wine and culinary tours at the wineries in the Region. Enjoy various activities, local food, drinks, live entertainment and the Meridian Grande Parade at Montebello Park.

Discovery Pass Experience

 Sept 8-10, 15-17, 22-24

For those who prefer to sip at the source, the Discovery Pass Touring Program returns to 27 unique Niagara wineries partners who will roll out the red carpet to Grape and Wine guests on the weekends of September 8 -10, 15 – 17 and 22 -24. Discovery Pass Holders can enjoy six different wine and food pairings from their choice of the 27 participating wineries located throughout Niagara. Saturday and Sunday Discovery passes are $55, plus taxes and fees. Discounted Flex Friday Discovery Passes are just $45, plus taxes and fees. Discounted Driver’s Passes are also available. Get all the Discovery Pass details at www.niagarawinefestival.com/discovery-pass.

According to Grape & Wine Festival Executive Director Dorian Anderson, “Whether you’re a wine lover, a foodie, a live music fan, or you just want to experience one of Canada’s most unique homecoming celebrations, this year’s Niagara Grape & Wine Festival really does have something for everyone in one beautiful location. We can’t wait to welcome new guests who haven’t experienced Grape & Wine yet, and we’re equally excited to watch those guests returning after a few years as they take in all the exciting changes we’ve introduced to Canada’s largest and oldest wine festival.”

For complete Grape & Wine Festival programming details, please visit www.niagarawinefestival.com.

Montebello Park Experience

 September 15-17, 22-24

The Montebello Wine and Culinary Village, located in the heart of downtown St. Catharines, will serve as the hub for Grape & Wine festivities on the weekends of September 15 – 17 and 22 – 24, hosting harvest-themed fun that guests return for year after year, including:

• Wine sampling stations serving 100+ Niagara VQA wines
• Light bites and food truck fare from talented local chefs
• Ticketed lounges and VIP experiences
• 50+ hours of live music
• A Family Fun Zone

Next-Level Ways To Play

Grape & Wine guests who haven’t experienced the Festival for a few years will be greeted with a host of exciting new options to enjoy during their time at Montebello Park, like the In Good Spirits Lounge, a cocktail lounge set in the park’s historic rose garden serving up delicious drinks made with grape-based spirits. Foodies looking to discover new ways to experience food and wine can brush up on topics like pairing international flavours with Niagara wines, creating VQA wine cocktails and more at a series of exclusive educational seminars showcasing female chefs and winemakers at the Food + Drink Marquee sponsored by Niagara College.

Guests eager to take their experience to the next level can take advantage of reservation-only access to specially curated park spaces. VIP Cabanas offer guests premium perks like stylish décor, comfortable seating and two bottles of VQA wine, complete with bottle service from a personal wine steward. Guests who opt for the luxe Harvest Lounge experience can enjoy a private bar stocked with VQA wines hand-selected by Niagara winemakers, comfortable seating areas with a killer view of the musical acts performing on the main stage, private luxurywashrooms and premium food options including freshly shucked oysters and over-the-top charcuterie boards.

An expanded Festival Fun Zone will feature a diverse range of options to further elevate guests’ Grape & Wine experience, including festival hair and makeup stylists, henna artists, a floral pop-up shop, the 416 Coffee Café and more.