Prince Edward County
A small Island (
1,048.3 km² (404.8 sq miles) sitting in the north east corner of Lake Ontario.
Prince Edward County is a mecca for artists, nature lovers and anyone looking for a getaway … for a weekend break or for life. Renowned for its sailing, fishing and giant sand dunes, The County also offers live theatre, artists studios and galleries, unique regional cuisine and a flourishing wine region
Here we find one of Canada's hottest wine regions. One that just a few short years ago was unknown.
Prince Edward County was designated as the fourth and newest Designated Viticultural Area (DVA) in Ontario in 2007.
The first wine grapes were planted in the mid-nineteenth century and achieved some notoriety when Dorland Nixon was awarded a gold medal for his wine at the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition. The modern era began when Phil Matheson planted an experimental vineyard with vinifera grapes in the 1980s while Ed Neuser and Rita Kaimins established the first commercial vinifera vineyard for their Waupoos Estates Winery in 1993 . They were granted the second winery licence in the County (after Grant Howes and the County Cider Company in 1996 and opened their winery in 2001. During the first decade of the twenty-first century, new wineries have emerged at a furious pace, with approximately 30 in operation in 2010. Even more important the wines are achieving world class. All the wineries are listed here
Rosehall Winery
Waupoos Estates
Waupoos Estate Winery named after the local village was the first grape winery to open in the region in 2001 by Ed Neuser and Rita Kaimins.
The winery sits majestically perched on a gently sloping hillside overlooking Lake Ontario in beautiful Prince Edward County. Surrounded by orchards and perfectly manicured vineyards,
the Winery offers an array of wines at the Tasting room, shopping in the Boutique and Dining in the full service Gazebo Restaurant.
Amy Mumby is the winemaker she produced PEC first icewine. Their Baco Noir is a must buy wine.
Black Prince Winery
The Black Prince Winery was conceived by John Sambrook (General Manager of the Opimian
Society) in 2000, who wanted to establish a winery in this lovely, picturesque
area of Prince Edward County. This region has the viticultural landscape to
produce first-rate wines with the vineyards located on a fertile, sandy loam
ridge The Black Prince was an Edward (Edward County), eldest son of Edward III.
Terence van Rooyen is their wine consultant winning numerous awards including
Chardonnay du Monde
for their '08 Chardonnay Terroir Elite VQA
By Chadsey's Cairns Winery and Vineyard
A winery build within a collection of old barns dating back over one hundred years.
Richard Johnston and
Vida Zalnieriunas own the winery. They began planting vines in 1999 with 3000 Riesling in the field next to the Applehouse
Ira built in about 1850, which now houses their tasting room and store. Look for the 2007
Riesling
Closson Chase is a quality-driven producer that has helped spearhead the birth of the Prince Edward County wine industry. Since 1999, it has been committed to creating distinctive wines that rival the world’s finest. Set in Hillier, Ontario, the estate is over 30 acres of south facing, limestone-rich soil under vine; planted high density to the classic Burgundian-varietals of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with small yields, French-inspired vinification and careful barreling in 100% French oak.
Geoff Heinrick and Deborah Paskus studied the soil of Prince Edward County determining
that outstanding Burgundian could do well.
After producing successful wines Seaton Mclean and his wife Sonja Smits who had purchase a country home in the area offered to back Deborah leading to the open of Closson Chase in 2004
Deborah Paskus has been called by some the Master of Chardonnay.
Owner Larry Huff grew up in Prince Edward county. When the the wine industry began to grow Larry and his wife
Catharine also form PEC . Combined their passion of wine with their love of PEC.
Frédéric Picard is the winemaker. They collected over fifteen medals for their wines in 2010.
Their 2006 Cuvee Peter F. Huff won Best sparkling in Canada .
2007 South Bay Chardonnay won White Wine of Year in three major competitions. Add to the list of winners their
2008 Reserve Gamay and the list continues.
The list of good wineries in PEC goes on. Norman Hardie opened in 2005, Norman Hardie an Ontario winemaker decided to start his own
winery and named the winery after himself and why not; he does all the work.
The location was selected for the combination of great soils, microclimate
and gentle sloping topography.
Sandbanks Estate Winery is owned Catherine Langlois.
Catherine studied winemaking in Burgundy. She worked briefly for an Ontario
winery before seeking her own property in 1999.
Cabernet Franc 2009 VQA and
Baco Noir Reserve 2007 VQA
are among their medal winning wines. One to buy is the
Baco Noir VQA (0)
The Grange of Prince Edward Estate Winery is a family run business established in 2002 by Robert Granger and his daughter
Caroline.
The building that houses the winery is actually a barn that was built in 1826.
Caroline Granger
President & CEO has set a high standard for viticulture and wine production. Her passion to produce authentic, handcrafted wines using traditional vinification methods, modern processing facilities and 60 acres of thriving vineyards have resulted in the award-winning wines of Trumpour's Mill and Grange of Prince Edward single vineyard wines.
Rosehall Run
Dan Sullivan has over 14 years of experience in producing some of Ontario's finest wines. I recently tasted his wines and was amazed. A great place to visit and enjoy what Prince Edward County has to offer. The winery is owed by Dan and his wife Lynn opened in 2006 ( first harvest ws 2004) they have 150 acres with 23 acres planted icluding Chardonay, Ehrenfelser and Pinot Noir
In recent years a number of new wineries have opened with good success. they include. Bergeron Estate Winery,Casa-Dea Estates Winery, Cold Creek Vineyards, Del-Gatto and Hillier Creek Estates just to name a few. We also have to mention the winery of winemaker Richard Karlo. Richard has been making wines since 1985.
Richard is not only regarded as one of Canada's finest winemakers he is also a judge.
The winery is located in the hub of Prince Edward County ("The County"). Its 93 rolling acres of Burgundian soil straddle the regions of Wellington and Hillier. You will find it on historic Danforth Road, built in 1799.
It was Charles and Mollie Lacey's dream to own their own winery. They first purchased a house and some land in Prince Edward County in the '80s with the intention of retiring there and later added the land beside them, where their dream would come true after Charles and his son Kimball attended a grape seminar at one of the local wineries. Today Lacey estate Winery is a booming family business.
Kimball Lacey, Winemaker produces only 100% estate grown award winning wines
So many good people, so many great wineries producing amazing wines and the beat goes on. Watch for new wineries like Keint-He Winery & Vineyard,s Redtail Vineyard the The Old Third Vineyard . I can't list all the wonderful wineries of Prince Edward county here.
Its a region discovered by winemakers and wine drinkers. A region to be aware of and wines to taste, the future is bright!
See More on the Wineries of PEC
and all the Ontario wineries
1. Labels 2. Proper
Labeling
3. Cawston, BC 4. Paying
for Etiquette
5. Nova Scotia 6. Walnut Wine .
7Christmas Wines 8.Tilman
Hainle 9.Canada's
Wine History 10. Wine
Tasting Manners
11. Hospitality
12. Fraser Valley 13. Wine Language
14. Top Wineries in
BC 15. Summerhill's Cipes Gabriel Brut
16. Quaility 17. Lulu Island 18. Prince Edward County
