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Category description for Recreation: Food: Drink: Wine: Wineries: Canada: Ontario

Introduction to Ontario Wineries and Their Wines

Ontario, Canada, like many new-world grape growing areas, has been making wine in some form since the beginning of the 19th century. However, the past 20 years or so have seen a major restructuring of the industry, with a new concentration on producing quality products and the emergence of numerous smaller wineries. In 1989, the Vintners' Quality Alliance (VQA) was created to control labelling and wine production standards in Ontario, similar to the appellation control systems of France, Germany and Italy.

Ontario forms the northern cradle of the Great Lakes, and Lakes Ontario and Erie, which temper the winter cold and summer heat, create its wine regions. The VQA currently recognizes three winegrowing areas in Ontario: Niagara Peninsula, Lake Erie North Shore, and Pelee Island.

Southern Ontarians enjoy pointing out to their visitors that much of the province lies further south than the northern part of California. Ontario vineyards also lie in the same latitude as the great European wine regions of Provence in France, the Chianti Classico region in Italy, or Rioja in Spain.

The quality grape growing and winemaking of Ontario wineries have begun to gain well-earned recognition around the world. Total winery production is relatively small, so the better Ontario table wines will be quite hard to find outside of Canada. Icewines (sweet, intense wines made from grapes frozen on the vine) are a major Ontario winery export, and are considered by many to be the best in the world. Ontario Icewine has won numerous international awards.

Many wine references are still woefully out of date concerning Canadian and Ontario wines. This is starting to change, however, as Ontario wines attain ever higher levels of quality, consumer praise, and international visibility.

This category of the Open Directory will provide access to Ontario wineries. Interested Internauts can follow the development of the wines of Ontario through the on-line presentations of the wineries that make them.

Original article by Michael Dunn, with contributions from Tilman Hainle and Rowan Shirkie.

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Created 99-11-27 by Wineward, last modified 02-04-05 by cbooth7575

Subcategories

• Events
• Guides and Directories
• Niagara-on-the-Lake
• Vaughan

Resources in This Category

• Angels Gate Winery

  http://www.angelsgatewinery.com/
  Limited production winery producing red, white, and rosé wines on the Beamsville Bench. Includes product information, a winery overview, pictures, and event listings.

• Applewood Farm Winery

  http://www.applewoodfarmwinery.com/
  Provides information and history of the winery and farm along with description and prices of available wines. Stouffville, Ontario.

• Archibald Orchards and Estate Winery

  http://www.archibaldswinery.com/
  Located east of Toronto in apple country, producing fruit and apple wine and ciders. Product listings and awards, plus events, and recipes.

• Bellamere Country Market & Winery

  http://www.bellamere.com/
  Fruit wine producers located in London, Ontario. Ordering, location and tour information.

• Black Prince Winery

  http://www.blackprincewinery.com/
  Produces a range of red, white, rosé, and dessert wines in Picton. Also represents other small area wineries. Includes online ordering, product details, and awards lists.

• Caroline Cellars Winery

  http://www.carolinecellars.com/
  Produces white, red, fruit and dessert wines in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Includes product and event information.

• Cave Spring Cellars

  http://cavespring.ca/
  Makers of fashionable red and aromatic white wines in Jordan Village, Niagara West. Detailed descriptions of the vineyards and wines, and an events listing.

• Château des Charmes

  http://www.fromtheboscfamily.com/chateau-des-charmes
  A family-owned producer of premium wines including icewine. Detailed product listings with awards, château tours and events, news, and recipes.

• Colio Estate Wines

  http://www.coliowinery.com/
  Producer of wines in the Italian style using local and imported grapes. Located in the Lake Erie North Shore wine region.

• Cox Creek Cellars Estate Winery

  http://www.coxcreekcellars.on.ca/
  Estate winery located north of Guelph that produces fruit, country, and grape wines. Offers tour and tasting events, plus location and ordering information.

• Daniel Lenko Estate Winery

  http://www.daniellenko.com/
  Grower-turned-vintner working with some of Ontario's oldest vinifera vines in Beamsville, Niagara west. Offers a history, wine list, and directions.

• Del-Gatto Estates Winery

  http://www.del-gattoestates.ca/
  Produces red, white, and rosé wines in Cape Vesey. Includes online ordering, pictures, and a company profile.

• Diamond Estates Winery

  http://www.diamondestates.ca/
  Family-owned and operated winery with locations in Beamsville and Toronto. Specializes in Portuguese styled red wines aged in oak. Lists the wines, a history, and map with directions.

• Erie Shore Vineyard

  http://www.erieshore.ca/
  Family-operated producer of estate-grown wines. Contains a brief profile and information about upcoming events.

• Essex County Wineries

  http://www.essexcountywineries.ca/
  Showcasing the wineries of Essex County plus restaurant information, event listings and travel information.

• Fielding Estate Winery

  http://www.fieldingwines.com/
  Produces reds, whites, and icewines on the Beamsville Bench. Includes online ordering, product descriptions, and staff profiles.

• Frogpondfarm

  http://www.frogpondfarm.ca/
  The province's only certified organic winery produces Riesling and a Cabernet-Merlot blend. Includes product descriptions and a downloadable order form [PDF format].

• Golden Leaf Estate Winery

  http://www.goldenleafestatewinery.ca/
  Small winery producing reds and whites in Langton. Includes information about the company, estate, staff, and events.

• Grange of Prince Edward Vineyards & Estate Winery

  http://www.grangeofprinceedward.com/
  Produces red, white, and rose wines in Hillier. Includes product descriptions, vineyard information, a company profile, and event listings. Hillier, ON.

• Harbour Estates Winery

  http://www.hewwine.com/
  Located in a unique physical setting on Jordan Harbour, Niagara west, offering a portfolio of red, white, and dessert wines. Includes winery and boutique information and photographs, tours and events, a wine list and a map.

• Harwood Estate Vineyards

  http://www.harwoodestatevineyards.com/
  Producer of reds and whites in Picton. Includes information about their winemaker, vineyards, and suggested food pairings.

• Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery

  http://www.henryofpelham.com/
  St. Catharines estate with a selection of red, white, and icewines made exclusively from local grapes. Offers wine and award listings, vintage reports, history, along with tours, events, and distribution information.

• Hernder Estate Wines

  http://www.hernder.com/
  Producer of a range of red, white, and fruit wines in a winery build around an historic barn in St. Catharines. Includes product descriptions and event information.

• Inniskillin Wines

  http://www.inniskillin.com/
  Estate winery offering varietal wines and icewines from Ontario and British Columbia. Includes product listings, news, visitor information, and some Japanese translations.

• Joseph's Estate Wines

  http://www.josephsestatewines.com/
  Family-run winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake offers a history, awards, and product list. Selection of reds, whites, icewine, and fruit wines.

• Kacaba Vineyards Winery

  http://www.kacaba.com/
  A Niagara-area vineyard producing wine in small, quality batches, and a narrow set of varieties in quantities that can be produced mainly by hand. Sells winery direct and at fine dining restaurants.

• Kittling Ridge Estate Wines and Spirits

  http://www.kittlingridge.com/
  Producer of Canadian wines, ice wines, distilled spirits, liqueurs and ready to drink cocktails in Niagara west. Offers free tours and tastings.

• Konzelmann Estate Winery

  http://www.konzelmann.ca/
  Maker of Germanic white wines, and complex reds, including a signature riesling, late harvest wines and icewines. Located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, includes tours, events, wine listings, and a family history.

• Magnotta Winery

  http://magnotta.com/
  Large producer of wine, winemaking juice, and beer in various locations. Offers winery tours, investor information, price, awards, and events listings, plus a winery library.

• Malivoire Wine Company

  http://www.malivoire.com/
  Utilizes a unique "gravity-enhanced" winery built into the Niagara Escarpment, producing wines that include rosé and gewürztraminer. Outline of the vineyard approach, winery, and cork choices, along with news, a winelist, and directions.

• Marynissen Estates

  http://marynissen.com/
  Established in 1990, with emphasis on estate grown and bottled wines. Details of available brands, tasting notes, and company history.

• Ontario Wine Society

  http://www.ontariowinesociety.com/
  Non-profit organization promoting the exploration of the province's wines. Includes membership information, event listings, winery links, and a newsletter.

• Pelee Island Winery

  http://www.peleeisland.com/
  Southernmost winery in Canada, located in the Lake Erie North Shore region. Includes site with food and wine matching and events listing.

• Peninsula Ridge Estates and Winery

  http://www.peninsularidge.com/
  Produces Chardonnay, Cabernet and Merlot on the Beamsville Bench. Open for tours and tastings.

• Pillitteri Estates Winery

  http://www.pillitteri.com/
  Produces reds, whites, and icewines in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Also makes the "i baci" brand. Includes online ordering, a company profile, event calendar, and awards list.

• Puddicombe Farm and Estate Winery

  http://www.puddicombefarms.com/
  Historical working farm, with seasonal festivals and school programs. Winona, Ontario.

• Quai du Vin Estate Winery

  http://www.quaiduvin.com/
  Estate winery offering fruit wines, sparkling cocktails, sparkling wines, icewines, maple wines, wine jellies, and traditional reds and whites. There are driving directions, event listings, and online ordering.

• Reif Estate Winery

  http://www.reifwinery.com/
  German born winemaker Klaus Reif operates this Niagara-on-the-Lake winery. Full product descriptions and awards list.

• Royal de Maria

  http://www.royaldemaria.com/
  A winery specializing in icewines, with information about current offerings, awards, and news, plus company information and photographs of the vineyard.

• Rush Creek Wines

  http://www.rushcreekwines.com/
  Produces Kosher fruit and maple wines as well as mead. Includes product descriptions, ordering, and recipes. Located in Aylmer.

• Schönmarke Estate Wines

  http://www.schonmarke.com/
  Canadian dessert wine from the Niagara, Ontario region. Wine details, and distributor and contact information.

• South African Wine Society

  http://www.southafricanwinesociety.ca/
  Non-profit club focused on promoting knowledge about and access to South African wines in Canada. Includes event and membership information.

• Southbrook Winery

  http://www.southbrook.com/
  Wines vinted from Niagara-grown grapes: winemaker of the year, 1999. Website has news, events, winelists, directions (map). North of Toronto.

• Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery

  http://www.sprucewoodshores.com/
  Produces red, white, blush, and icewine in West Harrow. Includes product descriptions, a company history, and pictures.

• Stonechurch Vineyards

  http://www.stonechurch.com/
  Smaller producer of blends and popularly priced varietal wines. Active event schedule. Niagara-on-the-Lake.

• Stoney Ridge Cellars

  http://www.stoneyridge.com/
  Three wine enterprises rolled into one, Stoney Ridge, Wines of Woodend, Cuesta Estates. Formerly small-batch premium red and novel white white producer. Vineland, Niagara west.

• Strewn Winery

  http://www.strewnwinery.com/
  Joe Will and Jane Langdon offer specialized tours and wine country cooking classes at this attractive Niagara-on-the-Lake facility.

• The County Cider Company

  http://www.countycider.com/
  A family-operated winery specializing in hard ciders, located in Prince Edward County on the north eastern shores of Lake Ontario.

• The De Moura Winery Way

  http://thedemourawineryway.com/
  10 acre vineyard and winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

• Thirty Bench Winery

  http://www.thirtybench.com/
  Beamsville, Niagara region producer of whites, reds, and icewines. Includes product and vineyard information.

• Trius Winery at Hillebrand

  http://www.triuswines.com/
  A producer of VQA wines, with a broad tasting, tour, and events program. Offer fine dining at a co-located restaurant, and special events such as Vineyard Blues and Vineyard Jazz.

• Viewpointe Estate Winery

  http://www.viewpointewinery.com/
  Located in Essex County on Lake Erie. Includes a list of grapes planted along with information about the company, the region, and the staff.

• Vineland Estates Winery and Restaurant

  http://www.vineland.com/
  Exemplary facility in Vineland, Niagara region offers premium wines, lunches and dinners and accommodation.

• Vinoteca Winery

  http://www.vinotecawinery.ca/
  Located in Toronto, selling in bulk and by the bottle. Includes a product list, awards, a company description, and information about private labelling.

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