Niagara Jet Adventures presents 'Wine & Water Wednesdays'

By Michael DePietro

What could be better than enjoying a glass of wine on a warm summer evening overlooking the lower Niagara River? How about skipping along the water’s surface in a state-of-the-art jet boat featuring three marine power Cadillac CTSV engines totaling over 1,650 horsepower?

If that sounds like fun, then gather your friends and family and check out Niagara Jet Adventures’ “Wine & Water Wednesdays.”

Each Wednesday through Aug. 28, Niagara Jet Adventures is offering a special “Sunset Cruise” at 6 p.m., featuring on-shore pre- and post-tour wine tastings provided by some of Niagara’s best wineries.

The tour runs 45-60 minutes and allows visitors to enjoy a scenic sunset over some of the Niagara region’s most beautiful landmarks, including the lower Niagara River, Old Fort Niagara, Fort George and Lake Ontario.

Described as a “flat jet-boat ride,” the “Sunset Cruise” is tailored as a smoother, more leisurely experience that doesn’t go into the thrashing white-water rapids.

However, if you or your group are of the type who likes their wine with a “side of exhilaration,” Niagara Jet Adventures spokeswoman Jeanine Bombard said all you have to do is ask.

 “If we have a boatload of guests and they all really want to go into the rapids, we’ll take them in there, for sure,” she said.

Best of all, tickets for the “Sunset Cruise” are now half-off the normal purchase price. Standard seating in either the wet or dry decks are $34.50, while premium co-pilot seats are $42.

Participating wineries at Wine and Water Wednesdays include:

• Wednesday, July 24 – Arrowhead Spring Vineyards
• Wednesday July 31 – Schulze Vineyards & Winery
• Wednesday Aug. 7 – Victorianbourg Wine Estate
• Wednesday Aug. 14 – Honeymoon Trail Winery
• Wednesday Aug. 21 – Arrowhead Spring Vineyards
• Wednesday Aug. 28 – Flight of Five Winery

Take-home bottles of wine may be purchased onsite, however drinks are not allowed on board the jet boats.

But the fun is.

In just its first year, Bombard said visitor reactions have been overwhelmingly positive thus far and attendance is growing every week.

 “The guests love it. It gives them an opportunity to sample different wineries from the local area, which gives the wineries exposure. It also gives them an opportunity to see our different water routes here and it shows how different we are from our competitors. We are a USA company and that’s huge,” she said.

“Wine & Water Wednesdays” offers the kind of experience one simply won’t find anywhere else, which is really saying something considering Niagara Jet Adventures was voted as TripAdvisor’s No. 1 “Bucket list thing to do in WNY” in 2017.

Bombard said it’s an experience people simply shouldn’t miss.

 “The weather here is beautiful, the water’s beautiful, and the wineries have been wonderful, so enjoy it. Come on down and get a taste of all of it,” she said.

“Wine & Water Wednesdays” tours are scheduled by appointment only. For more information, call 716-745-7121, or visit https://www.niagarajet.com/.