10 Picture-perfect Wineries To Visit Across Canada This Summer
(Photo: Courtesy of Hinterland Wine Company)
A glass of wine enjoyed among fields of twisting grapevines—what better way to spend a summer afternoon? According to Canada’s vintners association, there are now more than 700 wineries operating across the country, and every year they play host to nearly four million visitors. Here are some of the most picturesque options in each wine region.
The Hatch, Kelowna, B.C.
This winery works with various Kelowna-area vintners, producing a range of pinot gris, shiraz, chardonnay and orange wines. Housed in a converted garage, its tasting room has the relaxed atmosphere of a craft brewery. From the gravel patio, there’s a stunning panorama of Okanagan Lake.
Liquidity Wines, Okanagan Falls, B.C.
You could mistake this view of the Okanagan Valley for a pastoral landscape painted by an 18th-century master. Winemaker Alison Moyes’ peppery pinot noir is the star of the winery’s cellar.
CheckMate Winery, Oliver, B.C.
Winemaker Philip McGahan is focused on creating world-class merlot and chardonnay—his wines have garnered the attention of critics and restaurants alike. His modern-industrial tasting room, designed by acclaimed Seattle architect Tom Kundig, rivals Liquidity’s for its scenic spot in the Okanagan.
13th Street, St. Catharines, Ont.
If you ever wished you lived at a winery, now you can—for the weekend, at least. Visitors can rent out the Vineyard Cottage, a refurbished farmhouse, set in the middle of Niagara wine country. The winery’s tasting room and extensive sculpture gardens are just next door.
Pearl Morissette, Jordan, Ont.
One of Niagara’s smallest wine makers is set on a working farm, with heritage cows and pigs munching in their paddocks. The winery is also one of the prettiest, set against the rise of the Niagara Escarpment. Sign up for their newsletter to hear about upcoming tastings (they’re held only on occasion), or book a dinner in the winery’s much-heralded restaurant.
Hinterland Wine Company, Hillier, Ont.
Working inside a converted dairy barn, Vicky Samaras and Jonas Newman produce sparkling wines using traditional, charmat and ancestral methods, which give their wines distinct flavours and mouthfeel. Everything they create is a limited release, so you’ll want to nab a few bottles while you’re there.
Lighthall Vineyards, Milford, Ont.
There’s nothing fancy about the gravel drive, the metal barn or the ramshackle outbuildings, but the wine created at this Prince Edward County winery is some of the best around. A bonus: they also make their own brie, peppery blue and manchego cheese from local fresh sheep’s milk, the better for savouring a chilled glass of sparkling rosé.
Omerto, Charlevoix, Que.
With the St. Lawrence river to one side and ski hills to the other, this winery demands a visit. But here’s the twist: its wines are made with tomatoes, not grapes, according to a recipe that’s been passed down in owner Pascal Miche’s family. His wines, made using a blend of tomatoes grown on his property, are surprisingly similar to dry whites and fortified wines.
Magnetic Hill Winery, Moncton, New Brunswick
Perched on a hill overlooking rolling vineyards and farmland, this winery is known for its sparkling fruit wines. Resurgo Rosé, made from rhubarb, strawberries and blueberries, recently won best sparkling fruit wine at The All Canadian Wine Championships.
Luckett Vineyards, Wallbrook, N.S.
One of the province’s most established wineries also commands a sweeping view of the Bay of Fundy. Sip on a glass of Phone Box white (a blend of L’Acadie, Traminette and Muscat grapes) while knocking back local oysters harvested that morning.
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