If you’ve ever wanted to sip a crisp glass of wine while being eyeballed by an extremely fluffy alpaca, your oddly specific dream is about to come true.
Just outside the city in the Blue Mountains region at Alpine Ridge Alpacas, you can now walk an alpaca and get some steps in, and then cap it off with a charcuterie board and a wine tasting, all in the same afternoon. Does that sound like the ideal, most wholesome day out for you? Then keep reading!
The experience kicks off with a guided stroll through open farmland, with an alpaca as your co-pilot. You’ll learn some fun facts about their habits (they hum when they’re content, apparently, and they love to nibble on human hair — who knew?!) and maybe even find out which alpaca shares your sun sign. If you’re lucky, you’ll get paired with a photogenic one who’s totally chill about photo ops.
Pro pic tip: stand beside the alpaca, not in front of them, lower yourself to their eye level, and say “cheese!” Bring your best smile because an alpaca’s selfie game is strong!
Now, the real treat comes after the walk: a short drive over to a local vineyard, where you get to relax with a wine tasting flight and a grazing board situation that feels straight out of a curated Instagram picnic. Think cold rosé, cured meats, soft cheeses, and the satisfying knowledge that you just made a new woolly friend.
It’s not a party bus or a rowdy winery tour — this is cottage-core escapism for those of us who crave serotonin in the form of animals and fermented grapes.
The whole thing is also under two hours from Toronto, making it perfect for a weekend day trip when you want something more memorable than your usual park hangout. It’s also one of those activities that sounds made-up until you’re doing it. Once you’re there, though, it all just makes sense.
So, whether you’re an animal lover, a wine nerd, or just deeply into niche weekend adventures, this is one of those “why not?” experiences that feels uniquely Ontario.
Spots tend to book up fast on long weekends, so if drinking Pinot with a passive-aggressive alpaca sounds like your vibe, don’t wait too long.
