ONTARIO
A CENTRE OF WINE FESTIVALS
AND ICEWINE
Ontario is the second largest wine grape
producing province in Canada, with 6,900
ha (17,000 acres) of vines and more than 185
wineries. The Niagara Peninsula is the largest
Canadian wine appellation, with 10 additional
sub-appellations, encompassing more than
100 wineries. The wine route starts less
than an hour from downtown Toronto
(www.winecountryontario.ca).
Canada's largest wine festival, the annual
Niagara Grape and Wine, takes place in
September at wineries and other locations
throughout Niagara. The Summer Series takes
place in June with a tailgate party and brunch
by the lake (www.niagarawinefestival.com).
Icewine, made from frozen-on-the-vine
grapes, is an iconic Canadian wine often
touted as Canada's greatest liquid luxury.
Niagara's Icewine Festival offers wine
lovers, cocktail fans and foodies fabulous
winter experiences. Held over two
weekends in January, there are icewine
tasting menus, fireside samplings and lots
of icewine poured at the outdoor street
festival in the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Located in the heart of the Niagara River
sub-appellation, Two Sisters Vineyards
beckons wine enthusiasts to indulge in a
sensory odyssey. The winery offers visitors
an immersive experience, from guided tours
through the vineyards to intimate tastings in
their elegant tasting room. Savour their
acclaimed portfolio of wines, showcasing
the region's terroir in every sip. Two Sisters
Vineyards has garnered prestigious awards, a
testament to their commitment to
excellence. So, whether you're seeking a
leisurely afternoon of wine appreciation or a
memorable outing with loved ones, Two
Sisters Vineyards promises an unforgettable
journey through the heart of Ontario's wine
country. (www.twosistersvineyards.com)
Prince Edward County, Ontario's newest
wine appellation, has been touted as one of
Canada's top tourist destinations. The area's
allure in the past had been its giant sand dunes,
quaint towns and nature trails. It has grown
into an important wine region with over 35
wineries and cideries; some, such as Huff
Estate, with excellent accommodation and
dining (www.princeedwardcountwine.ca).
A visit to Essex Pelee Island Coast (EPIC)
Wine Country could mean meandering along
the shoreline to sample the wares of a dozen
or so wineries, lunch or dinner at a winery and
an overnight stay in a unique B&B (www.epic
wineries.com).
QUÉBEC
SUPER COOL WINES AND CIDERS
Visitors can plan their own tours on the website
choosing from nine distinct wine growing
regions: Appalachian Foothills, Appalachian
Plateau, Vallées Des Outaouais, Deux-
Montagnes, Lake Saint-Pierre, Monteregian
Hills, the Banks of the St. Lawrence River,
Richelieu River Valley, and more (www.vinsdu
quebec.com). Located 45 minutes east of
Montréal, The Brome-Missisquoi Wine
Route links 22 wineries along six suggested
routes in the beautiful Eastern Townships
(www.laroutedesvins.ca). On the route, you
will find the province's first winery, Domaine des
Côtes d'Ardoise, opened in 1980 in Dunham,
which is remarkable not only for its wines but for
its exhibition of sculptures gathered from more
than 80 artists (www.cotesdardoise.com).
With an annual production of over 60
ciders, Montérégie is the pioneer of cider
production in Québec (www.tourisme-
monteregie.qc.ca/en/course/the-cider-
route). Ice cider (made from frozen-on-the-
tree apples) was first made in the Eastern
Townships by a French winemaker, Christian
Barthomeuf, at his winery/cider house, Clos
Saragnat, in Frelighsburg (www.saragnat.com).
THE MARITIMES
LOCAL FLAIR COMING
ON STREAM
Nova Scotia is Canada's fourth largest wine
producing province. Its wine region has
about 22 wineries making quality wines from
100 percent locally grown Nova Scotia grapes
and fruit (www.winesofnovascotia.ca).
A part of Devonian Coast Wineries, Jost
Vineyards, stands as Nova Scotia's largest
winery. Rooted in the coastal inlets of
Northumberland you can step inside this
rustic yet elegant winery boutique, where
shelves groan under the weight of liquid
treasures. Here, you'll find not only Jost's
finest, but also gems from other Devonian
vineyard labels, such as the elegant
Gaspereau Vineyards and the soulful
Mercator. The winery boutique is a haven for
wine lovers, a place where knowledge flows
freely, and each bottle tells a story of sun-
soaked vines. A pioneer in the province's
wine industry, Jost Vineyards crafts wines for
every occasion and every discerning palate.
(www.jostwine.ca/boutique.html;
mercatorwine.ca; gaspereauwine.ca).
The Good Cheer Trail offers an exciting
mix of tours, tastings and special events at
wineries, cideries, microbreweries, meaderies
and distilleries (www.goodcheertrail.com).
New Brunswick has around a dozen
wineries and cideries and about a dozen
distilleries to visit (www.tourismnew
brunswick.ca/food-and-drink). At Motts
Landing Vineyard & Winery in the beautiful
St. John River Valley, wines are made from
estate grown grapes such as the unusual
Louise Swenson grape (www.mottslanding
vineyard.com).
In PEI, the Rossignol Estate Winery offers a
remarkable variety of table wines, fruit wines
and liqueurs. Family-owned Matos Winery &
Distillery offers tours and tastings just minutes
from Charlottetown, and the Beamish Family
Organic Orchard produces craft spirits and
liqueurs reflecting an authentic Island taste
experience at Deep Roots Distillery
(www.tourismpei.com/what-to-do/
culinary/craft-breweries-wineries).
In Newfoundland, Auk Island Winery,
Quidi Vidi Brewery, Port Rexton Brewing Co.,
YellowBelly Brewery, Western Newfound-
land Brewing Co., The Newfoundland
Distillery Company and others, have come
on stream (www.newfoundland
labrador.com/trip-ideas/travel-stories/
ale-tales-story-of-craft-beer).
With all these craft distilleries, breweries,
cideries and roughly 850 licenced wineries, a
good local drink is always near at hand in
Canada.
32
OAK ISLAND RESORT, SOUTH SHORE • TOURISM NOVA SCOTIA/ACORN ART & PHOTOGRAPHY
