OLiV Tasting Room Niagara-on-the-Lake

If you're at Niagara-On-The-Lake, you should definitely stop by and pick up a bottle of their superb fusion of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. They have a plethora of flavors for you to choose from. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. I ended up taking home two bottles of the dark balsamic vinegar. One was the Cask 18 (great dressing for steak sandwiches on a ciabata roll), while the other was the Strawberry. Really worth going back to.

A bottle of olivs balsamic vinegar is usually $24 for 375 mL but we got a sale for $12 for the chocolate raspberry so it was a great deal. Otherwise, it’s kind of pricey, but the flavors are amazing and there’s so many varieties that are fun to choose from. You get free samples and the staff are very nice. It’s in the heart of the shopping district on Queen Street. Metered parking.

Have been ordering their vinegars for years online! So nice to sample in person. Raspberry, pomegranate, strawberry peach and spicy mango are a must try!

We walked into OLiV based on a glowing recommendation from my sister. I was with my young son and the rest of my family, excited to browse the unique selection of oils, vinegars, and artisanal condiments. My son, curious and wide-eyed, was reading the labels aloud — fascinated by flavors he’d never encountered before. As we moved toward the tasting area, he pointed at the small plastic tasting cups, intrigued, and asked if he could try one. Before I had a chance to explain, we were abruptly cut off by an older, blonde staff member wearing glasses. She snapped at my child — "You can't touch those." He hadn’t touched anything. He was just curious. But her tone and delivery startled him — and frankly, stunned me. Rather than escalate or subject him to further hostility, I told him we’d step outside while the rest of the family continued browsing. Initially, I wondered if her reaction had something to do with bias — I’d hoped it hadn’t. But as we were leaving, I overheard her speaking to another couple (who weren’t people of color) asking a perfectly reasonable question about the origin of the balsamic vinegar. Her answer? Condescending and dismissive: "Well, since you don’t seem to know, there are only two places in the world where they make it." That’s when it became clear — this wasn’t personal. This was simply how she treats people: with a dated, rigid, and unnecessarily cold approach. To be fair, the rest of our group was helped by a different, much friendlier staff member, and they purchased two bottles of olive oil and a truffle-flavored salt. The products themselves are high quality — no argument there. But here's the problem: excellence in product doesn’t give you a pass on poor service. If anything, it demands better. No one wants to spend money in a place where curiosity is treated as nuisance and questions are met with snobbery. OLiV, you’ve built something special with your offerings — don’t let subpar customer engagement ruin that. People will gladly pay more for the same products elsewhere if it means being treated with dignity, empathy, and warmth. I hope you’ll reflect on this. Because hospitality should never feel like a punishment.

I absolutely love visiting OLiV Tasting Room in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The wide selection of extra virgin olive oils, including flavoured options, and balsamic vinegars is amazing. The staff is always friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. It’s a fun, experience every time. Highly recommended for foodies or anyone looking for something unique.