6 Best Sights in The Niagara Escarpment, Side Trips from Toronto

On Jordan's Main Street, Cave Spring is one of the leading wine producers in Canada, with Ontario's oldest wine cellars, in operation since 1871. Go for the Riesling, Chardonnay, and ice wine. It shares ownership with the Inn on the Twenty and Inn on the Twenty Restaurant (next door) and produces custom blends for the latter. There are public tours every day at 1:30 between June and September (only Friday and weekends the rest of the year).

A nice break from the steady pace of Niagara-area wineries, Dillon's set up its celebrated small-batch gin and spirits operation in the Beamsville area, prized for its clean water sources and high-quality produce. But they can't get away from grapes completely, which make up the base of the distinctly flavored gins and vodkas (rosehip, strawberry, cherry, and more).Take a tour (C$15) for an in-depth understanding of the distillation process that includes apothecarian exotics like cassis, bitters, and absinthe. The gift and liquor store could double as a design museum. Outdoor picnic tables are used for summer Sunday food-truck brunches.

Muskoka chairs beside the cedar-framed entrance set the tone for the warm and charming winery within. Inside the modern West Coast–style cedar building with a corrugated tin roof and massive stone chimney, Fielding Estate has envious views of vineyards and Lake Ontario from huge picture windows and a big stone fireplace for chilly days. A young team—husband-and-wife owners and two winemakers—has been making quick strides here. The mostly Chardonnay- and Riesling-producing vineyard has a low yield that enables flavors to be concentrated.

Charming Main Street Jordan, also known as Jordan Village, is a small enclave of cafés and shops selling everything from antiques to artisanal foods. The Inn on the Twenty, the Inn on the Twenty Restaurant, and Cave Spring Cellars are also here. Just a few blocks long, Jordan Village can be fully explored in a morning or afternoon. Home store Chic by Janssen is worth a wander to gawk at items like Siberian fox throws, a bronze bear the size of an actual bear cub, and a C$4,000 cedar canoe. Irongate Garden Elements is a favorite with gardeners.

Eco-friendly Tawse Winery is so committed to producing top-notch Pinot Noir that it installed a six-level gravity-flow system to avoid overhandling the delicate grapes. The investment seems to be paying off, especially considering it's been voted "Winery of the Year" multiple years at the Canada Wine Awards. The rural hillside winery is modern, its big stainless-steel vats visible from the tasting room. Don't leave empty-handed, because tasting fees are waived if you buy two or more bottles.

One of Ontario's most beautiful wineries occupies 75 acres that were once a Mennonite homestead established in 1845. The original buildings have been transformed into the visitor center and production complex. Several tour and tasting options are available, including packages that include chocolate, ice wine, and specialty cocktails. The excellent restaurant on-site serves lunch and dinner, and you can find a guesthouse and a B&B on the property.