Ontario Wine Route Makes Finding Vineyards Easy

Since the first winery opened on Pelee Island in 1866, wine has been a delicious part of Ontario’s culture.  Blessed with a temperate climate and diversity of glacial soils, the province is known for producing mature fruit and complex wines.  Visiting the many wineries in along the Lake Ontario coast is easy now, thanks to the Ontario Wine Route and the Wines Council of Ontario.

Most wine lovers idolize Ontario for their flagship product, Icewine, a sweet desert wine which is created by harvesting frozen grapes and processing them immediately.  But Ontario vineyards actually produce 60 vintages, including Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Vinters Quality Alliance ensures the quality and integrity of Ontario wines; their seal guarantees that 100% of the grape content comes from the province.  The VQA identifies four primary appellation (expression of place) systems within the region. 

The Niagara Peninsula
Thanks to the Niagara Escarpment and Niagara Falls, this area enjoys the idea cool-climate conditions for wine growing.  Over 13,600 acres in this region produce Riesling, Chardonnay, Gamay Noir, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc varieties, as home to 85% of Ontario’s wineries.  The rich, fertile soils and cool growing conditions here produce wine grapes with more complexity and intense flavors than those from warmer climates.

Lake Erie North Shore
Located in the southwestern extremity of Ontario, wines from this appellation are characterized by their balance between natural sweetness and acidity.  This comes from the warming effect of Lake Erie, which provides a long growing season due to its shallow waters.

Pelee Island
The smallest of the Ontario appellations with only 10,000 acres, Pelee Island is also Canada’s most southerly point.  This provides the longest growing season of any Canadian winemaking region, and frequently harvests occur two to three weeks earlier than the other regions, sometimes as early as August.  Lake Erie plays an important role here too, generating warm breezes that moderate both summer and fall temperatures.

Prince Edward County
The newest of the four wine appellations, this area borders on Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte.  As the most northern appellation, the area benefits from the Lake for a moderate, cool climate during growing season.  Wines are known as fruity with character due to the excellent shale, minerals and drainage inherent in the soil.

Get a Free Ontario Wine Route Map
The Wines Council of Ontario has produced a free wine route map which is available by calling 800-263-2988 or by visiting WinesOfOntario.ca.  There are many excellent lodging facilities in the region, which makes it a wonderful destination for weekend getaways, especially during the harvest or icewine seasons.