Canadian wine regions off the beaten path.
What are some less-touristed wine towns in Canada, for travelers seeking beautiful places with fewer crowds? Answer
Options include Oliver, a small Okanagan Valley town among vineyards and orchards; Naramata, a wine-country village on the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake; and Wolfville, a small town in Annapolis Valley wine country. This page includes 12 options. Click here to see which are close enough to be day trips from major cities like Montreal or Toronto.
Kelowna
This walkable city on the shores of Okanagan Lake in southern British Columbia, Kelowna sits at the heart of BC's wine country and draws visitors with a live…
Oliver
Billed as the Wine Capital of Canada by Tourism British Columbia, Oliver is a small town near the south end of British Columbia's Okanagan Valley, sitting al…
Naramata
Small wine-country village on the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake in south-central British Columbia, Naramata is known for its high concentration of wineries…
Keremeos
Keremeos, a tiny village in British Columbia's Similkameen region, calls itself the fruit stand capital of Canada — roadside stands selling soft fruits, cher…
Queenston
Queenston, in Ontario's Niagara wine country, sits where the Niagara River meets the Niagara Escarpment — the geological point from which the falls began car…
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu sits on both banks of the Richelieu River in southwestern Quebec, a short drive southeast of Montreal, and hosts the annual Internat…
Wolfville
This pocket-sized Nova Scotia town on the Bay of Fundy, Wolfville sits at the heart of Annapolis Valley wine country with vineyards nearby and views across t…
Saint-Hilaire
A South Shore suburb of Montreal on the Richelieu River, Mont-Saint-Hilaire draws visitors with a mix of agrotourism — orchards, a vineyard, a cider house, a…
Kingsville
Canada's southernmost town, Kingsville sits on the Lake Erie shoreline in Essex County, Ontario, with vineyards in the surrounding countryside and a small ce…
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Ontario's first capital under the name Newark, Niagara-on-the-Lake sits where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario, across the water from New York State.
Guysborough
A little waterfront village at the head of Chedabucto Bay in Nova Scotia, Guysborough sits on its own harbour with vineyards in the surrounding area.
Hortonville
A small Canadian village set right at the water's edge in Kings County, surrounded by vineyard country and within reach of upland landscapes and a UNESCO-rec…
Canadian wine towns: quick answers
Which Canadian wine towns can you visit on a day trip from Montreal or Toronto?
Saint-Hilaire and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu are among 2 wine towns on our day trips from Montreal. And Niagara-on-the-Lake and Queenston are among 2 wine towns on our day trips from Toronto.
Which are the highest-rated?
5 are rated gold, including Wolfville, Saint-Hilaire, Guysborough and Kelowna.
Which can you reach by train?
1 of the 12 have a railway station within a 10-minute drive, including Saint-Hilaire.