De Simone Vineyards

I recently visited De Simone Vineyards while spending the day in Niagara-on-the-Lake. As a restaurant owner who often visits wineries looking for bottles to add to my personal cellar, I was genuinely interested in discovering their wines. Unfortunately, the experience was extremely disappointing. First, the positive note: the server was polite, attentive and clearly embarrassed by the situation. He apologized multiple times and did his best to accommodate us. The issue is clearly not the staff. The problems start with the concept of the place itself. The menu lists charcuterie and wine by the glass, and also shows bottles for sale. However, when we asked to enjoy a bottle at the table, we were told that the winery does not have the license required to serve bottles to guests and that we could only order wine by the glass. This is very difficult to understand at a winery. We were served two glasses of white wine in flute glasses, each priced at $15. The pours were extremely small—so small that it was almost impossible to properly evaluate the wine. Ironically, the same bottle sells for about $30, meaning two modest glasses effectively cost the price of the entire bottle. The charcuterie situation was even more surprising. After ordering it, the server came back apologizing because there was almost no meat available. What we received instead was a very small assortment: a few slices of mortadella, several pieces of cheese, and a handful of crackers. We appreciated that they did not charge us for it, but it also highlighted a serious lack of preparation for a busy Sunday in a major wine-tourism destination. Even something as simple as sparkling juice for my son was served in a wine flute and not even filled properly. Overall, the experience gave the impression of a place focused on maximizing margin rather than creating a proper winery hospitality experience. In a region like Niagara Region—which has many excellent wineries offering thoughtful tastings, proper food pairings, and the ability to enjoy a bottle at the table—this was frankly surprising. Later the same day we visited another winery “Stone wall estate” in the area and experienced the exact opposite: welcoming atmosphere, proper charcuterie, and the simple pleasure of sharing a bottle at the table. Unfortunately, based on this visit, I cannot recommend spending your time here when exploring wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Thank you for your reply. I want to clarify that my review was not written with the intention of attacking your business, but simply to describe the experience we had during our visit. As I mentioned in my review, the server was polite, professional, and did his best in a difficult situation. My comments were directed only at the overall experience, not at the staff. Regarding the license situation, I fully understand that different wineries operate under different permits. My point was simply that, from a visitor’s perspective in a well-known wine tourism region like Niagara-on-the-Lake, the inability to enjoy a bottle at the table can be confusing when bottles are prominently displayed and sold on site. The charcuterie was appreciated, and we did thank the server for the gesture. However, the reason I mentioned it in the review was to highlight that the offering felt unprepared for what appeared to be a busy Sunday in a major wine destination. As a restaurant owner myself, I know how difficult hospitality can be and how much work goes into running a business. Reviews are simply part of the dialogue between guests and businesses, and they reflect individual experiences. I genuinely wish you and your winery continued success.

Everytime I visit the Niagara region, I have to go to De Simone Vineyards. It is one of my favourite vineyards in Ontario. I have tried (and bought) multiples of their wines. My favourites include their Vidal Rosé, Vidal Icewine, Cabernet Franc, Fumé Blanc, and De Simone Red and White (especially the white with the Moscato and Chardonnay blend). Every bottle unique, the taste of each wine is amazing! I make sure to get enough to gift to others and for my own home as well. It is the vineyard I always tell people to visit when they are in Niagara.

We recently visited De Simone Vineyards during the annual Ice Wine festival and had to share our amazing experience. Vincenzo was our host and I must say made our experience fantastic and memorable! Vincenzo and the staff were gracious, accommodating and welcoming and the food paring was absolutely delicious and very generous in portion. De Simone is definitely on our list if favorites and really recommend that everyone visit this wonderful establishment in the Niagra on the Lake region! Definitely 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We were two couples, and had a great time! The wine was great, Julien was very helpful and knowledgeable about the wines, his recommendations were on point. We came from a terrible winery & tasting, so they really made our day and made up for our experience at the other place. Paolo was also very friendly. We'll definitely be back!

OMG, we did a tasting in the winter - the wines are super delicious! It's a cute family-owned winery. If you stop by Niagara-on-the-Lakes this is a must-stop. All the wines are delicious and organic although my personal favorites were the icewine and the rosato.