On a hot summers night in early July two couples friends from Belgium and England are sitting down for dinner at a Cafe in the city of Bordeaux France. They conduct their conversation in English. The conversation turns to the wine selection. The friends scroll down the wine list. It features, of course, wines from France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Greece, Chile, Spain, Hungrey and California.
One of the friends notices at the bottom an Icewine from Canada. He comments. " They have an icewine from Canada perhaps after dinner we could try it" Another speaks "wounder if they make other wines there or is it too cold"
At a nearby table another couple is enjoying their dinner. They smile at each other, the man speaks to his wife. " Canada does make some nice wines from two very lovely regions" His wife speaks; "One is the Okanagan I forgot the other." "Niagara"; he responds.
At a third table sits a couple from Canada. They live in Picton Ontario. Picton is an unincorporated community located in Prince Edward County in southeastern Ontario, roughly 160 km (99 mi) east of Toronto.
The couple from Canada are also wine enthusiast. They have respected the region they are visiting and are enjoying a wine from Bordeaux. They have compared the wine to many varieties of wines from PEC that they have frequently enjoyed back home. The man speaks loudly "I should tell them about winesofcanada.com" His wife smiles " or Intervin international wine awards or Decanter World Wine Awards they would be amazed by all the wineries in Canada winning awards."
The couple goes on to reflect on the wineries they visited in PEC this summer.
Prince Edward County has close to fifty wineries and is a major wine producing region in the country. Among the oldest wineries is Waupoos Estate Winery. Ed Neuser and Rita Kaimins opened their winery in 2001 the first all grape winery in the region. They named the winery after the local village.
Other notable wineries include the Grange of Prince Edward Estate Winery a family run business established in 2002 by Robert Granger and his daughter Caroline. With 60 acres of vineyards, a pastoral setting and a dramatic tasting room housed in a lovingly restored 1826 barn.
By Chadsey's Cairns Winery and Vineyard, named after Ira Chadsey 1828-1905, who was the rather idiosyncratic owner of our 215 acre farm. He was said to have believed that he would be reincarnated as a white horse. As a result, he built Cairns or stone monuments around the horse field behind the original home on the property marking it clearly enough that he would know he was home when he was transformed. Fourteen of the cairns still exist today. When we first arrived on the farm in 1995 we bought a light grey Arabian and she spooked a number of our older neighbours who were sure that Ira was back.
Richard Johnston and his wife Vida Zalnieriunas, have grand plans for their 215-acre farm and are firm believers in the potential of the Prince Edward County wine industry. 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.
Closson Chase began back in 1998 with seven hectares when 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
This charming winery is housed in a heritage barn that has been restored and refurbished to accommodate a tasting room, a shop offering a connoisseur's selection of exclusive wine accessories, crystal and glassware as well as the processing facilities
Karlo Estates Winery is the first Certified Vegan winery in the World. This vegan certification is a result of their belief in the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle on health and environmental welfare. Sherry Karlo is the owner.
Huff Estates Winery one of the larger wineries with a state-of-the-art facility. The doors officially opened on June 12, 2004. The winery is owned by Frank (Lanny) Huff.
Recently creating a buzz for his high quality wine is Dan Sullivan of Rosenhall Run.
Here are all of Prince Edward County Wineries
Niagara Peninsula
Prince Edward County
Lake Erie North Shore
South Georgian Bay Region
Okanagan
Similkameen
Naramata Bench
Vancouver Island
Fraser Valley/Lower Mainland
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