Kew Vineyards Estate Winery — Attraction in Lincoln

As a local resident living just a few minutes from Kew Winery, I don’t usually leave negative reviews. However, after our recent experience, I felt it was important to share.

I’ve visited Kew Winery before with adults and had no issues, but yesterday was a very different experience. I arrived with my family of four and was meeting another local family there—making us a group of eight (four adults and four children). We chose a large outdoor table under the trees, surrounded by open grass, which seemed ideal for a relaxed family afternoon.

Shortly after we sat down, a staff member (a woman with short blonde hair) approached us without greeting and asked if we had checked in at the front. There was no one at the front when we arrived, so we assumed seating ourselves was fine. Our children, who are not toddlers or babies, were quietly playing a travel-size tic-tac-toe game nearby, enjoying the space.

When I mentioned we were a group of eight, she immediately pointed out that the table had a maximum capacity of six and that everyone—including the kids—must be seated at the table. I explained the children would likely be sitting on the grass or quietly playing, and that we would be mindful of other guests. She dismissed that entirely, insisting it would be too “disruptive,” and left abruptly, saying someone would come to clear the table (which took quite a while). At that point, we chose to leave.

The entire interaction felt unnecessarily unwelcoming and rigid. It left us feeling uncomfortable and embarrassed—especially as locals simply trying to enjoy a nearby venue with friends. The family we were meeting (also local) felt the same and has also decided they will not return.

Upon reflection, we will not be returning to Kew Winery. We’ll also be letting our broader network of local families and friends know about this experience. It seems Kew does not wish to accommodate families with children—again, not babies or toddlers, but well-behaved kids enjoying outdoor space. If that’s the direction the winery wants to take, it should be clearly stated.

It’s unfortunate to feel unwelcome in your own community—especially at a place that presents itself as a relaxed, outdoor-friendly...

We arrived about 30 minutes before closing but the staff was happy to accommodate us. We did not feel rushed at all.

There is a dining room set up with a large dining table to accomodate a large group or a few samples groups, high bar tables in the bar area and a beautiful inviting patio; or you can sit at a bench looking into the vineyard or one of a few picnic tables that give the el fresco vibe. We sat on the patio to enjoy one of September's beautiful Saturday afternoons. Bees were buzzing on the flowers next to us but did not bother us in the least.

Wines are available by the glass or by the flight, sparkling, white or red. We were told that Kew was known for their sparkling wines, so we chose one in our flights. The rose was dry and refreshing as was their Pinot Gris Rose. I bought a bottle to take home. Wines were brought out one at a time, with time taken to explain each varietal. The staff were very knowledgeable.

The only slight disappointment was the cheese plate. It was inexpensive so I didn't expect anything spectacular but it was cheddar and smoked gouda with some rounds of baguette. A little wedge of blue or brie would have been lovely. However, we went for the wines, not the cheese.

I look forward to a return visit and try...

We usually visit the Niagara region several times a year and when we do, set up our own tour. Todays was our first visit to this winery. For this tour our group was 7 but included only 4 ‘active’ tasters. This was the second of four winery visits that were completed this trip (Kacaba was the only repeat). The facilities were picturesque with a definite estate winery vibe to them. We did not make a reservation for this tasting visit and we were taken in upon arrival - excellent. Tastings for smaller groups could be taken inside but given our group size and the fine weather, did our tasting outdoors. A very good, comfortable setup. Our server for this visit was very good. The tasting was in the form of a wine flight. She was very knowledgeable with respect to each of the varietal options. Given the limited selection of red wines, some white wines were selected for our flights. The whites in this case were very good and several bottles were purchased by our party for consumption later. Overall, an excellent experience this visit. We may return in the future if the preferences for our group include white,...