Wineries of Prince Edward County
Wrapped around Lake Ontario’s Bay of Quinte, the feisty new wineries of Prince Edward County are giving the nearby Niagara wine region a run for its money. Midway between Toronto and Montreal, the area has become a magnet for cideries and breweries as well as award winning wineries. Prince Edward County offers wines for every palette, such as pinot noirs from Waupoos Estates, chardonnays from Closson Chase Vineyard, and the sparkling wines of Hinterland Winery Co. Other artisans are found here too and wine tasting goes well with local cheeses from artisanal producers like
the Black River Cheese company. On the Arts Trail, you can choose among winery tours, art studios and local food producers – what a county!
An enticing alternative to
Niagara wineries
If you stay past the weekend rush, nearby grocery stores, laundry and even five-star restaurants make Sandbanks Provincial Park a civilized wilderness getaway. The feel changes out on the open short of the Park’s south coast, where the winds kick up and make for world-class sailing and sailboarding that’s perfect for thrill-seekers. The ‘locavore’ movement has taken root in Prince Edward County and it’s home to great local breweries such as Barley Days whose fare pairs well with a lunch of fresh local produce. For dinner, the wineries have attracted some first-class chefs like Scott Royce of Waupoos Estates, who serves up gourmet meals balanced with distinctive wines for a memorable dining experience. As the area’s reputation grows, visitors come from the nearby Niagara wineries region and discover a lot more than
great wine.
If you know the Niagara wineries region, you’ll love the diversity of Price Edward County wineries and sights. Explore nearby hiking trails with the family or cool down with some windsurfing and splashing around in the brisk Lake Ontario Waters.
Family fun at Sandbanks
Provincial Park
and sand beaches here pack them in for miles around in the summer. Nearby hiking trails are family friendly and windsurfing or splashing around is an instant cool-down in brisk Lake Ontario. If you stay past the weekend rush, conveniences like groceries and laundry make Sandbanks Provincial Park a civilized wilderness.
The feel of Prince Edward County changes on its southern border, the open shore of Lake Ontario. The waters of the lake roll over the horizon, the winds kick up, and beach activities are the name of the game in Sandbanks Provincial Park. The dunes
- Trisha, Kanata
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Cooking classes a short drive
from Toronto
Summer school is in at the wineries of Prince Edward County. World-class chefs offer fun cooking classes for everyone. Cookery school shows you how to whip up everything from gourmet burgers to fusion dishes using the fresh local produce of South Eastern Ontario. Visitors are often surprised to learn that 2 hours down the road from Toronto, you can find award-winning chefs offer cooking classes for every taste. Michael Hoy of Hoy Estates teaches spicy Thai and Cajun cooking. Cynthia Peters at From the Farm Cooking School has students learning steamy Indian and Middle Eastern dishes. Beyond cooking, The Festival Players performs a full summer season of great Canadian plays while music lovers can choose between
the Prince Edward Jazz Festival and live music at a local pub. For a great way to wrap up a visit, take a stroll through Picton’s historic streets and its architectural gems like the Regent Theatre and Crystal Palace.