Winnipeg Wine Aficionados’ 11 Favorite Wineries and Markets
There are two types of people in the world: those who love wine, and those who can’t stand it (mostly because they’ve had a good glass before). Some of our wine-loving friends told us where to find the good stuff in Winnipeg.
We checked them all, and we’ve got the 10 best wineries and wine markets waiting for you!
1. Piazza De Nardi
Everyone knows Piazza De Nardi as the spot to get all things Italian, and we all know that Italian wine can’t be beat. That’s not all there is though—you can also find wine from Chile, South Africa, France, and more if you explore a bit.
Our favorites are the Vivera Etna Rosso and the Halos de Jupiter; both taste great with some brie! You can choose from over two thousand selections which can be a bit mind-boggling, but the place hosts wine tastings to help you decide.
If you’re lucky, you can also bump into some stalls that give out free samples. It’s usually either wine or cheese, ensuring your visit is as pleasant as possible.
2. Jones & Company Wine Merchants
Jones & Company don’t make their own wine, but boy do they offer the best ones around. Most of the bottles are wines we’ve never even heard of, making each tasting different from the last.
Speaking of tastings, the place features a tasting bar with rotating selections of two new bottles a day. When we came over, the sommeliers let us taste more than once and you can bet we got drunk on the Pinot Grigio and Rosso.
If you can find it in your budget and want to enhance your tasting experience, there are artisanal bread, cheese, and chocolates available too. Don’t take too big of a bite though or you’ll overpower the wine’s taste.
3. The Commons at the Forks
The Common is the best place in town to get draft wine. If you’ve never heard of draft wine before, let’s just say it tastes the same as bottle versions but at much cheaper prices.
Tiny cups are available if you wanna taste a bit before buying, but we suggest skipping this and just getting full glasses right away. The lines are crazy long so you usually have to wait 5-10 minutes per refill.
We also suggest you watch out for the tasting events that pop up every now and then. These things are usually where new selections are tested for cheap, making it a great opportunity to taste wines you may never see again!
4. The Pourium
Wine tasting is a regular thing at The Pourium, with new events held pretty much every week. Aside from having thousands of bottles on hand, there are in-house chefs that prepare some of the best complimentary food in Winnipeg.
If we were to pick something that made this place unique, it’d be the huge collection of budget wine in addition to the higher quality stuff being affordable.
The budget drinks aren’t cheap in quality either; each budget selection tastes way above its pricing.
For those of you who want to save even more though, the expensive stuff regularly goes on sale too. You have to watch the website like a hawk, but it’ll be worth it when you get your first $100 bottle for $60!
5. Grant Park
The Grant Park Liquor Mart is all about wine events, which include wine tastings of course. About 1 to 3 events are held per month, so there’s really no bad time for you to go.
Our favorite one to go to is the Winnipeg Wine Festival usually held at the end of September. Pretty much every bottle is put on sale throughout the event, and you can get a ton of free samples too!
Before you head to any of these events though, we recommend attending Grant Park’s Wine 101 class. You get to learn about all types of wine, what to look for, and even get a list of potential bottles based on your preferred tastes.
6. Ellement Wine & Spirits
Ellement is a Winnipeg wine shop that takes natural wine very seriously. Natural wine is basically wine made using traditional harvesting and production methods, with no flavorings or anything added.
Knowing this, you can expect all the bottles to taste exactly how they’re meant to. We liked tasting the stuff from different countries since it sort of gives you a taste of how this magical drink tastes for other people.
The South African selections, for example, have a bit of an earthy blueberry taste while the Chilean ones taste a bit like cherries. Regardless, we’re confident you’ll find something for your palette.
7. Shrugging Doctor Beverage Company
Shrugging Doctor has a very calm atmosphere, intensifying whatever flavors are in your glass. We’d say the best selections here are the dessert wines, specifically the blueberry and cranberry wines.
As a winemaker, you won’t find anything here anywhere else. It’s also worth mentioning that the business has won numerous awards for its wines, meaning you’re getting nothing but the good stuff.
If you plan on visiting, buy a glass of blueberry wine along with the Manitoba Charcuterie. You can visit more than once too, since the selections rotate pretty often.
8. Harth Mozza & Wine Bar
Harth Mozza and Wine Bar is an Italian restaurant first and a winery second, but the wine alone makes visits worth it. Everything including some rare selections is available for you to choose from.
Wine tastings are usually only offered to customers ordering meals, so we suggest getting the black cod since it pairs well with pretty much anything.
The cozy ambiance works wonders too and lets you savor each flavor note the way the makers want you to. We had some glasses along with some cheese boards and we’d say the cheese tasted just as good as the wine.
9. Patent 5 Distillery and Tasting Room
Patent 5 only offers homemade stuff, usually gin, rum, liquor, and cocktails. Wine events pop up every now and then, and when they do, they’re worth going to.
The atmosphere is nothing short of romantic, making the place great for dates and anniversaries. It’s great for broke couples too, since admission costs just $10.
When the wine comes in, the selections are usually locally made, but that doesn’t equate to a lack of variety. We were surprised to find each bottle tasted different.
As a bonus, bartenders can mix anything and everything. You can try mixing wine like a cocktail and see where that takes you!
10. The Winehouse
Featuring wine from 24 different countries and in 28 different varietals, the Winehouse is the place for the picky drinker. If you’re still dipping your toes into the world of wine though, then this spot welcomes you too.
The staff was friendly and knowledgeable when we went, and we can assure you it’ll be the same when you visit. They’ll help you sort through what you may want before you even know what you want.
If you’re not in a rush to drink, we suggest waiting till a sale comes on since the discounts can get crazy huge. We’ve seen promotional wine go for as low as $2 a bottle, and these are wines you won’t find anywhere else!
11. Dead Horse Cider Company
Dead Horse is one of the few cideries and wineries in Winnipeg, and we can see why. It’s pretty hard to set up a business and compete with local wine this good!
We first found out about this business through a farmer’s market where the samples were an instant hit. The wines went very well with some of the local cheese in the market.
Everything offered is more affordable than the selections in most groceries, so there’s very little risk in buying whole bottles.
If you’re not yet convinced, you can always ask for samples and the sommeliers will be more than happy to give you as much as you need.
How much wine do you get in a tasting?
You usually get 60ml of wine per tasting. This amount is enough to take a sip and evaluate the wine’s aroma, taste, and finish, without getting intoxicated.
Wine tastings offer just enough per glass so you still have room for more.