CANADA: WINE REGIONS
In Canada, the two main wine-producing provinces are Ontario. If exploring wine regions and tasting local wines is the focus of your trip, visit either of these two provinces and you will not be disappointed. B.C. and Ontario wine regions are also renowned for their fine regional cuisine. Fall is the ideal time to visit but spring and summer each have their own special beauty.
Other wine regions in Canada
WINE REGIONS: ONTARIO
In Ontario, the two major wine-growing regions are the Niagara Peninsula in Southwestern Ontario and Prince Edward County located between Toronto and Ottawa. Other wine regions are Pelee Island on the Noth Shore of Lake Erie, and the Toronto and York Region.
Ontario's premiere wine region and Canada's oldest, the Niagara Wine Region boasts more than 50 wineries and vineyards accounting for 75 per cents of Canada's grape growing. About a dozen of the wineries have on site restaurants or cafes. One - Strewn Winery - also offers a cooking school.
PrinceEdward County is a relatively new wine region (launched in 2000) but is beginning to gain recognition and this summer (2007) was awarded VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) status. The region boasts 40 vineyards and 15 wineries - two with full restaurants.
Prince Edward County Wine Tours
Article: Perfect Pairings: Spa and Cycling Niagara-on-the-Lake
What is VQA.
Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara Wine Events & Tours
More on Wines of regions of Ontario.
WINE REGIONS: BRITISH COLUMBIA
Known as the "Napa Valley of the North" the Okanagan Valley in central B.C. boasts about 6,000 acres of winerie and over seven dozen wineries. Some of the most notable wineries are Mission Hill (the largest and most elaborate), Summerhill Pyramid Winery (with bottles aged inside a four-storey high pyramid the most unique), Sumac Ridge and Quails Gate Estate.
A number of wineries (Mission Hill, Summerhill and Quails Gate included) also have fabulous restaurants to rival fine dining establishments anywhere.
WINE REGIONS: NEWFOUNDLAND
While most of the grape growing and wine making takes place in Ontario and British Columbia, several of the other provinces are dabbling in the industry.
Yes. There are vineyards in Newfoundland. Who would have thought. Several wineries produce beverages made from local berries. The best known is Rodrigues Markland Cottage Winery which has expanded from its original blueberry wine to lingonberry (partridgeberry) cloudberry (bakeapple, strawberry and others. Notre Dame Wines also offers a good selection of berry wines including such exotics as Black Crowberry, Rhubarb and Dogberry.
WINE REGIONS: PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Rossignol Estate Winery is open May to October www.rossignolwinery.com
WINE REGIONS: NEW BRUNSWICK
There are eight wineries in New Brunswick. Two of the
main are Bourgeois Farm which produces apple ice wine, various fruit wines and sparkling wines along with others.
www.fermebourgeoisfarms.ca
Waterside Farms Cottage Winery produces blueberry and rhubarb wines from fruit which they cultivate.
www.watersidewinery.ca
For more on New Brunswick wineries: www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca (search: Winery)
WINE REGIONS: NOVA SCOTIA
There are six distinct winegrowing regions in Nova Scotia. On the warm shores of the Northumberland Strait to the fertile Annapolis Valley, 22 grape growers nurture 400 acres of vines and 8 thriving vineyard wineries are producing award-winning wines. The main wineries, Grand Pre ( www.grandprewines.ns.ca ) the largest, Gaspereau Vineyards ( www.gaspereauwine.com) and Blomidon Estate Winery (www.blomidonwine.com).
For more on Wines of Nova Scotia
Think about exploring the vineyards of the Annapolis Valley with a cycling expert and a sommelier as your guides through Nova Scotia’s answer to the Napa Valley.
WINE REGIONS: QUEBEC
In the Laurentian region of Quebec there are half-dozen or so honey houses and wineries producing reds, whites, rose wine and mead. www.laurentide.com
The family-owned Vignoble des Negondos (Vineyard) in Mirabel is the only vineyard in Quebec certified organic.
Look for certified-organic wines white, reds, rosé, fortifies wine and late vintage (ice), walking trails and a picnic area. www.negondos.com
The Wine Route in the Eastern Townships spreads over 132 km (82 miles) and includes 14 wineries. There are also other vineyards in the region. www.laroutedesvins.ca
WINE REGIONS: SASKATCHEWAN
Saskatchewan does not have wine regions per se, but it does have at least a few wineries. Here are two we know of:
D.D. Leobard Winery known for it's fruit wines.
Cypress Hills Vineyards and Winery
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