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Wines of Canada

Wineries to Watch for in 2021

CheckMate Estate Winery

Angels Gate 4260 Mountainview Road Beamsville ON L0R 1B2

Located on 10 acres on the Beamsville beach of the Niagara Peninsula the winery was founded by a group of wine loving friends on a property that was once owned by the congregation of Missionary Sisters of Christian Charity in Ontario. In 1995, the land was converted into a vineyard, construction of the "mission style" building began in June of 2001. The state of the art wine making facility is built underground, the earth naturally keeps the cellars cool. Grape receiving, crushing, and fermentation occurs in half of the underground facility, with the finished product transferred to French and American oak for aging until it is ready for release The tasting room features, along with their wines, the Angels Gate Tower, a 41-foot structure featuring a photo history of the vineyards, and other educational displays The winery currently have over 250 acres of vineyards including their Estate Winery 6.5 acres, Kew Vineyards 85 Acres, Mountainview Vineyards 15 acres first panted in 1950, Angels Step Vineyards 25 acres Kew Ridge Vineyards 60 Acres, Wismer Vineyards Emerald Shore, and the St John Vineyards Winemaker Philip Dowell named winemaker of the year at the Ontario wine awards.

Applewood Winery 2055 Saintfield Road Scugog Ontario Port Perry, ON

It would be hard to find a better fruit winery or meadery. In fact at the All Canadian Wine Championships they won Best Fruit wine of the Year for their N/V Madrigal Meade.  They recently announced: After 20 years of growing and making wines in Stouffville... We are very excited to announce we have started a farm of our very own in Port Perry.  We have had a great fall and have been overwhelmed by the support shown by our new community and customers that have made the trek to our new home. This should be a very exciting time for the Applewood Passafiume family watch for them in 2021.

Charles Baker Virtual Twenty Mile Bench

A virtual winery producing only Riesling wines. Started in 2005 as Ontario's first virtual winery; this pioneering effort in Ontario focuses entirely on making wine from one grape- Riesling. With winemaking based at Stratus, Charles Baker has the flexibility to focus on capturing the essence of the Niagara Escarpment through this great grape. This ‘virtual' winery is loosely based on grassroots winemaking ventures flourishing in wine regions around the world. By producing wines harvested exclusively from single mature vineyards of Riesling, this project brings the passionate efforts of independent grape growers to market. The grapes are grown at Picone Vineyard located on the Twenty-Mile Bench. 2017 Riesling, Picone Vineyard named best white wine at Ontario wine awards 2020.

Big Head Winery 304 Hunter Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

Winners of two Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Ontario Wines in 2019. Andrzej (Andre) Lipinski a successful winemaker and consultant in Ontario who opened his own wine company featuring Big Head Wines. The name Lipinski draws from his childhood, a self-deprecating salute to his, well, big head! Andrzej immigrated from Poland and taught himself how to be a winemaker. His determination and hard work has made him successful and sought after winemaker. Indeed a winery you must keep your eye on.

Creekside Estate Winery 2170 Fourth Ave Jordan Station, ON L0R 1S0

This is a winery always seems to win key awards and receive accolades from their peers. They produce very distinctive wines. Creekside Estate Winery opened in 1997 in small-town Jordan, Ontario. The Winery is run by a passionate (some say fanatical) group of industry veterans who have decades of experience in their respective fields. The team of self-described cork dorks love what they do, and have fun doing it. Winners of Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Ontario Wines in 2019. Iconoclast Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon. Look for more great wines in 2021.

Dancing Swallows Vineyard Ltd. 8704 Essex Road 9 Amherstburg, ON

The Hutchins Farm came into the family on October 24, 1881.  Through the generations the style of farming has gone through many changes, evolving from a full mixed Victorian farm to the current mix of cash crop and vineyard. It took a few years for the the winery to establish itself. They began back in 2006. They took half an acre out behind the barn and planted a test plot vineyard.  28 rows of different varieties and rootstock; 25 vines each: Baco Noir, Cabernet Foch, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Gamay Noir, Gewürztraminer, Geisenheim 318, Marechal Foch, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Regent, Riesling, Syrah, and Zweigelt all became close friends.  Some did well, some did poorly, some did too well (overly vigourous vines don’t make balance wine). They made wine from all of it.  Some good, some bad, some weird.  After 5 years we started to get a sense of what varietals and rootstocks were suited to the site.   People are now talking about how good their wines are. Yes a winery to watch in 2021.

Fielding Estate Winery 4020 Locust Ln Beamsville ON L0R 1B2

For 15 years, the Fielding Family has been welcoming guests to Fielding Estate Winery nestled on Niagara's Beamsville Bench. It has been one of the stars of Ontario for years I keep waiting for it to burst into super stardom 2021 could just be their year. The wines are premium quality VQA wines, produced from 100 percent Niagara-grown grapes, which reflect both the characteristics of our estate vineyards and the growing conditions of the vintage from which they originate. The winery is owned by Heidi and Curtis Fielding. In 2012, Curtis was crowned the Grape King by the Ontario Growers of Ontario for his commitment to the industry and acted as the ambassador throughout the 2012/13 season. Curtis has also been a recipient of a 40 under 40 award as well as a finalist in Young Farmers of Canada.  Richie Roberts, Fielding's winemaker, came to Fielding Estate Winery after studying at Brock University’s prestigious Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute to be the head of the winemaking team For the winter Fielding has set up domes to cover their out door tables.

Hidden Bench Estate Winery 4152 Locust Ln Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0

You cannot talk about Ontario's finer wines with out mentioning Hidden Bench. They are Certified organic,estate winery producing some very fine wines. The winery is owned by Harald Thiel who began his pursuit of making world class wines in 2003. Thiel chose Beamsville Bench believing that the terroir and climatic tempering effect of the Niagara Escarpment provides the best potential to produce truly world class wines in Ontario. It is word of mouth that makes the wineries reputation . On trip advisor one person stated "best wines in Niagara". Recently their Cabernet franc was named one of the ten best in Canada. In September they introduced their Rachis & Derma Gamay to their portfolio!

Lakeview Wine Co. 1067 Niagara Stone Rd Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0

Lakeview wine company is a division of Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc. ("Diamond Estates" or "the Company") (DWS-TSX Venture). In 2017 they opened a state of the art wine tasting facility in Niagara-on-the-Lake.  The facility will be named The Lakeview Wine Company, coincident with the 25th anniversary of Lakeview Cellars. The Niagara - on- the - Lake wine company founders Andrew Green and Murray Marshall started in 2000. They began by purchasing two small wineries Lakeview Cellars & Birchwood Estates. Over the years they have purchased a number of wineries. The winery produces some of Ontario's top-selling wine brands, including EastDell, 20 Bees FRESH, Lakeview Cellar,McMichael Collection, Seasons, Canadian acting legend Dan Aykroyd’s line of wines as well as the top-selling kosher wines Tzafona Cellars. They have ventured into British Columbia withe purchase of Backyard Vineyards. They did well at the All Canadians. You had better keep your eye on Lakeview in 2021.

Organized Crime Winery 4043 Mountainview Road Beamsville, ON L0R 1B2

The Organized Crime Winery is a VQA estate winery located on the Beamsville Bench of the Niagara Peninsula.  Their vineyard is south facing producing small quantities of wine. Owned by winegrowers Jan and Krystyna Tarasewicz. and Ania de Duleba. Consulting winemaker Greg Yemen. They won seven awards at The National Wine Awards of Canadathe country’s largest annual competition of Canadian wines. Including Platinum for their 2017 Cuvée Krystyna Chardonnay.

Potter Settlement 1445 Potter Settlement Rd, Tweed, ON K0K

They may be away off the beaten path but not when it comes to producing quality wines. They recently won four medals at an international wine competition in the USA. The winery was founded in 2000 by Sandor, Ken and Maureen Johnson on land that has been owned throughout the generations by the family since the early 1800's.  Potter Settlement consists of 10 planted acres of vinifera, hybrid, and VQA-recognized grapes.”

Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery 1366 York Road, Box 340 St. Davids, ON L0S 1P0

Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery is biodynamic and organic winery Ravine opened in 2008. The winery is owned by the Harber family. Also known as the Upper Lowrey Farm, the family has milled, farmed and canned fruit at Ravine for 5 generations. The farm is known to be one of the first commercial grape vineyards in the area with 500 vines planted in 1869. Located on a lush rolling hillside farm in the Village of St Davids. There is a rich history to be told about the farm and the buildings of Ravine Estate. The home in which the tasting room and hospitality centre of Ravine Vineyard is located is considered to be one of the top fifty most architecturally significant houses in all of Canada. The winery is housed in a heritage home that dates back to 1815. The building has been painstakingly restored and is set amidst our lush rolling vineyards. Ravine Vineyard won The Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Ontario Wines for their 2010 Reserve Chardonnay. The winning wines were announced on Friday June 27, 2014. In 2012, Ravine Vineyard accepted the Lieutenant Governor’s award for the 2010 Reserve Cabernet Franc Picone Vin. Any winery that has Lydia Tomek as their winemaker, you need to keep your eye on them.

Rosenhall Run Winery 1243 Greer Rd Wellington, ON K0K 3L0

The winery opened in 2006 is located in the heart of the Hillier Wine District, Rosehall Run Vineyards offers an intimate, authentic look at viticulture in the County. The founders are : Dan Sullivan, Cam Reston, Lynn Sullivan, Cindy Zwicker Reston . The adventure began in 2000 when they purchased a 150-acre farm on Greer Road in Hillier. With over 30 years experience as an Ontario winemaker, Dan is now recognized as one of the top winemakers in the region. The quality of his wines is solid prove. Think of a major wine completion and Rosenhall has most likely won an award from them. There is no doubt this is a winery to watch in 2021.

Strewn Estate Winery 1339 Lakeshore Road Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0

One of Niagara-on-the Lake older wineries with a super reputation for its wines. It was established in 1997 by winemaker Joe Will and his wife, food writer Jane Langdon Located on the former site of the Niagara Canning Company, it is Canada's first winery cooking school and its teaching "highlights the close relationship between food and wine." International Wine & Spirit Competition honoured their Cabernet Franc 2017 as one of the worlds best.

Two Sisters Vineyards 240 John Street East Niagara on the Lake, ON L0S 1J0

The winery is located at the northern tip of the Niagara River sub-appellation bordered by the Niagara River to the East and Lake Ontario to the North. The winery is owned by two sisters Melissa Marotta-Paolicelli and Angela Marotta between them they have seven children hence the seven grapes on the logo. They won a double good at the All Canadians (2020)for their Chardonnay. At the 2019 All Canadian Wine Championships our 2016 Blanc de Franc was awarded Double Gold and named Best Sparkling Wine of the Year Adam Pearce, a Niagara College Wine and Viticulture graduate, leads the winemaking team with his low interventionist methods. Keep your eye on Two Sisters in 2021

Tawse Winery 3955 Cherry Avenue Vineland, Ontario

What can you say about a winery that seems to win every award possiableyear after year? Situated on the lower slopes of the Niagara Escarpment, Tawse is a family-owned organic winery, voted Canada’s Winery of the Year in 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2016.  Moray Tawse purchased 6 acres in 2001. In 2005 he opened his state-of-the-art winery, complete with a six-level, gravity-flow design, geo-thermal system and a wetland bio-filter. Director of Viticulture and Winemaking is Paul Pender. Jessica Otting is the winemaker. 2021 will be another good year for the winery.

13 th Street Winery 1776 Fourth Ave, St. Catharines, ON L2R 6P9

A twitter selection. The winery get a large number of good comments on twitter. They have earned all the respect they receive. The winery opened in 1998. Doug & Karen Whitty and John & June Mann are the owners, purchasing the winery in 2008 Jean-Pierre Colas joined 13th Street as winemaker in 2009 and brought with him a rich heritage of wine-growing knowledge from his native Chablis in France followed by ten years of experience in Niagara. This is my dark horse entry for 2021 . It is going to be a very good year for the 13th Street Winery.

British Columbia

Painted Rock Estate Winery

Checkmate Artisan Winery 4799 Wild Rose Street Oliver, BC V0H 1T0

Anthony von Mandl owner of Mission Hills Winery bought the winery and vineyards of Antelope Ridge ( Original name was Domaine Combret ) because of its success with Chardonnay. Antelope Ridge was the supplier for Mission Hills award winning Chardonnay. He certainly made the right move, under the master craftsmanship of winemaker Philip McGahan the winery has produced two extraordinary Chardonnays 2015 and 2016 Little Pawn Chardonnay, were both awarded a perfect score of 100 by noted author and wine expert John Schreiner. The 2017 gets a 98!

Church and State Victoria and Oliver
Church and State has two locations the original home in Victoria and the newer location in Oliver. However, its the wines that are import and they indeed have an amazing cellar. The 2017 Merlot is a true masterpiece, how a really good Merlot should be. The 2017 Syrah is equally as good. Keep your eye on this winery in 2021.

Clos du Soleil   2568 Upper Bench Road, Keremeos, BC, V0X 1N4

Clos du Soleil is a small artisan winery and estate vineyard in the Similkameen Valley, BC. The valley provides the natural beauty to enhance their organic vineyards. The name Clos du Soleil, a French term meaning an enclosed Vineyard of the Sun, refers to the rocks, soil, and sun, which together define this very special piece of land where Clos du Soleil grows their grapes.  Most important its the wines that place the winery on our list of summer wineries to watch. They won 4 medals at Decanter World Wine Awards.

Country Vines 13060 Steveston Hwy Richmond, BC V6W 1A3
Located in Richmond just north of the Massey Tunnel on Steveson Highway is the Richmond Country farms one of the areas most popular farm markets. Everyone knows it. What everyone may not know is they have opens a winery. Lucas Hogler, is a first a Farmer, second a Wine Maker. Do not over look this winery The wines are GOOD!

Deep Roots 860 Tillar Rd. Naramata
A young winery making a very good impression with their wines. The winery is owned by Bryan and Debra Hardman. The Hardman family has been growing apples in Naramata since 1919. Their son Will is the winemaker. Won two platinum awards at the 2020 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor's Wine Awards, along with a couple of silver. This is indeed a winery to watch for in 2021.

Dirty Laundry Vineyards 7311 Fiske St Summerland, BC V0H 1Z2

Come for the fun return for the wines.  Dirty Laundry Vineyard has some of the oldest vinifera vines in the Okanagan Valley. The Scherzinger Vineyards was purchased by Ron and Cher Watkins, They changed the name to Dirty Laundry in 2005. Success followed and expansion was necessary so the Watkins sold to Bob Campbell, Hermann Teichtmeister and partnership in 2007. The group expanded, planting about 50,000 vines on several sites in the Summerland area. Expansions begun in 2010, including separate wineries for white and red wines, are designed to grow Dirty Laundry to a production of 20,000 cases. The winery has tripled its tasting room, added a conference and party room, added parking for buses and has build a new patio cantilevered over the vineyard. The Marketing company that came up with Blasted Church suggested Dirty Laundry. Back in the 1800’s a former railway builder named Sam Suey decided he’d had enough of the hard labour pounding spikes and laying track, and opened a laundry in Summerland where the labourers could bring their work clothes for washing. While they sat around waiting for the clothes to air dry, the men would play cards and gamble. Soon Suey spotted another opportunity. He converted the floor above the laundry into a gaming hall and bordello.  They have won numerous awards over the years.

Four Shadows Vineyards  250 Upper Bench Rd S, Penticton, BC V2A 8T1

Four Shadows is a family owned and operated vineyard and winery. Since 2011, Joka & Wilbert Barren have grown grapes on the Naramata Bench. As of September, 2017, they now have their winery license. Wines are produced with the assistance from Tightrope’s Lindsay O’Rourke and consulting winemaker Pascal Madevon. Both are well known and respected in their field. A combination that will produce outstanding wines. Six varieties are grown in the Four Shadows vineyard: Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Zweigelt. Double Gold for their 2018 Chardonnay at the All Canadians.

Forbidden Fruit 620 Sumac Rd, Cawston, BC V0X 1C3

The winery is located on Ven'Amour Organic Farms, a certified organic tree fruit farm, vineyard and nature estate along the banks of the pristine Similkameen River in Cawston. The location of this farm is surrounded by natural desert habitat and old growth river bottom forest giving the feeling of a pristine garden. Kim Brind'Amour and Steve Venables are the owner/managers. The winery is the latest development of Ven'Amour Organic Farms. The family farm has been Organic since 1977, receiving Certified Organic Status in 1984 the year Certification began in BC. The first winery in the Pacific Northwest to win top medals in both the grape wine and the fruit wine categories in the same competition. They did extremely well at various wine completions in 2020. Remember Forbidden Fruit Vineyards in 2021 for grape and fruit wines.

Kraze Legz Vineyard and Winery / SKAHA Vineyard 141 Fir Avenue Kaleden, BC V0H 1K0

Barbara and I had had the pleasure of visiting the winery in 2020. They have a most impressive cellar of wines. The winery is owned by Gerry and Susan Thygesen. They say come for the wine stay for the view. True enough but you could also say come for the view return for the wines. They produces some really good reds. The pinot black amazing. The port style wines unbelievable. Watch for more "good" wines from Susan and Gerry in 2021.

Maverick Estate Winery 29686 Highway 97 Oliver, BC V0H 1T0

Already know for its superior line of wines, Maverick was sold in 2020.The Estate Winery has been acquired by Andrew Windsor , the former winemaker at Tinhorn Creek Estate Winery, and his partner, Jan Nelson, formerly a marketing executive at Tinhorn Creek and Black Hills Estate Winery. Their silent backers, according to industry sources, are Bob and Barb Shaunessy, the former majority owners of Tinhorn Creek until that winery was sold in 2017 to Andrew Peller Ltd. You take that combination of experienced owners and a respected winemaker you have a winery worth keeping your eye on.

Monte Creek Ranch Estate Winery 2420 Miner's Bluff Road Monte Creek, BC V0E 2M0

Even though they are still a pretty young winery located in what many consider to be off the beaten path they have proven they can make consistently good wines year after year. Located just east of Kamloops, the Sidhu family has planted British Columbia’s largest acreage of winter-hardy Minnesota hybrids . The Sidhus are immigrants from the Punjab in India who have succeeded in horticulture in Canada. In 2001, the Sidhus expanded to blueberries, becoming one of the largest producers in the Fraser Valley. Soaring land prices sent Gurjit, who has a diploma in horticulture, looking for cheaper farm land in the interior to plant more blueberries. In 2007 he bought Monte Creek Ranch, a historic property on the south side of the Thompson River and at the junction of Highway 97 and the Trans-Canada Highway. Their 2018 Reserve Riesling’ was just awarded 95 Points – GOLD at the 2020 Decanter World Wine Awards!

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 829 Douglas Rd, West Kelowna, BC V1Z 1N9

In Summer of 2018 they broke ground on a 15,000 square foot visitor center, dining lounge, and private tasting room in West Kelowna.  This project built by Ciccozzi Architecture is now complete and expected to become one of the grandest winery experience centers in British Columbia.  Along with new facilities they added a new winemaker Jeff Hundertmark. Jeff is an award winning winemaker from Ontario. They are a winery to watch in 2021.

Nk'Mip Cellars 1400 Rancher Creek Road Osoyoos, BC V0H 1V0

Year after Year Nk'Mip Cellar (pronounced ñk-meep) has been producing high quality wines under the leadership of winemaker Randy Picton. The tradition will continue in 2021. Nk'Mip Qwam Qwmt Riesling Icewine 2012 received a score of 100 by wine expert John Schreiner. The 2017 Qwam Qwmt Syrah won platinum at the 2020 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor's Wine Awards, along with additional gold and silver awards.

Painted Rock 400 Smythe Dr. Penticton, BC V2A 8W6

Consistently high quality wines year after year. Focused on crafting ultra-premium, terroir driven red wines, Painted Rock Estate Winery was founded with a family legacy in mind by John and Trish Skinner in 2004. Named InterVin International Winery of the Year for 2018/2019, the winery produces primarily Bordeaux red varieties, along with a Chardonnay, Rosé and Syrah. The vineyard, growing about 50,000 vines, has been developed on property south of Penticton and east of Skaha Lake that old-timers still call Braeside Farms. 60-acre Blackhawk property is owned by John Skinner. It was decided to plant the primary red components of the classic Bordeaux blends, including a small planting each of Malbec and Petite Verdot to provide spice for their blend and to broaden blending options for their winemake. Painted Rock's 2018 Cabernet franc is just one of their numerous wines to watch for. 2017 Red Icon named Wine of the Year by Decanter You can never take your eye off Painted Rock!

Ruby Blues  917 Naramata Rd, Penticton, BC V2A 8V1

Barbara and I visited the winery this fall and were quite impressed with their cellar of fine wines. This small but funky winery is owned by Beat and Prudence Mahrer, formerly of Red Rooster Winery. In a song by the Rolling Stones" Goodbye Ruby Tuesday " there is a line: " catch your dreams before they slip away." It reflects why the Mahrers returned to start a second winery to allow Prudence more contact with the people. On the production building there is a 30 meter mural symbolizing the lyrics from the song. However they had to change the name to Ruby Blues due to copy-rites issues. Winners of four Lieutenant Governors Award of Excellence for Canadian Wines for their Viognier alone. If their is one person yo knows how to grow grapes in the Naramata it is Prudence.

Tightrope Winery 1050 Fleet Rd, Penticton, BC

Tightrope Winery of Naramata, BC. In its début at the prestigious Dan Berger’s International Wine Competition, Tightrope has won a total of ten medals: three gold, three silver and four bronze. Graham and Lyndsay O’Rourke have had a passion for the fine art of winemaking for years. Lyndsay is a a very talent winemaker. Their wines are awarded year after year. Graham has been focused on growing the award-winning grapes to make the wine and on sustainability. Graham sat on the committee writing guidelines for the vineyard portion of the Sustainable Wine-growing B.C. (SWBC) program, developed by the B.C. Wine Grape Council.

Therapy Vineyards 940 Lower Debeck Road Naramata, BC

Jacq Kemp, a very experience winemaker has come to Therapy Vineyards. With the aid of experience winemaker Bradly Cooper who knowledge of the bench is well know, the wines should be quite good. Jacq loves producing sparking wines. They use only traditional small barrels and winemaking techniques that result in wines with stylistic layering and complexity. The 10-acre vineyard has 10- to 14-year-old vines that have produced bountiful crops and have produced several award-winning wines. With its west-facing orientation and close proximity to the lake, Therapy Vineyards is able to enjoy long, hot days and a long growing season. Their 2018 Chardonnay  won Gold in the 2019 BC Lieutenant Governor Wine Awards.

Time Winery 361 Martin St Penticton, BC V2A 5K6

The urban winery located in downtown Penticton in what was once a movie theatre. We vised the winery in early September and were quite impressed with their fine cellar of wines. The winery produces Time wines, Evolve and McWatters Collection all extremely good wines In July of 2020 the winery was purchased by Ron and Shelley Mayert under the new parent company Five Vines Cellars. The Mayerts are committed to keeping TIME Winery family owned and operated, with a focus on handcrafted, small batch wines What will they do in 2021.

Upper Bench Winery 170 Upper Bench Rd Naramata, BC V2A 8T1

Gavin and Shana Miller, Wayne and Margareta Nystrom are the owners of Upper Bench since 2011.. Gavin Miller is a well-known and respected winemaker, who has created award-winning wines for some of the region's renowned wineries he has worked at in his 14 years in the industry. They also hand-craft their own line of gluten-free, artisan Brie, blue, and washed-rind cheeses using 100% Canadian pasteurized cow’s milk. Their 2019 Riesling was named Wine of the Year at the 2020 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor's Wine Awards. Also look for their 2018 Zweigelt.

 

Quebec

Le Chat Botté   633 Rte 202, Hemmingford, Quebec J0L 1H0

The winery is owned by Normand Guénette et Isabelle Ricard. translated into English the name is Cat's Boot. They produce straw wines. The winery was founded in 2004. Facilities were expanded in 2017. Le Chat Botté a toujours produit des vins 100% québécois depuis ses débuts. Nous sommes fiers de vous annoncer que tous nos vins 2016 ont obtenu la certification Vins du Québec! Vignoble Le Chat Botte double good Finger lakes Le Chat Botté Rosé Pamplemousse

La Cantina, Vallée d'Oka  Lower Laurentians Quebec

Located in the Lower Laurentians, a few minutes from Lac des Deux-Montagnes. The owner is Daniel LaLande. He also owns Vignoble Rivière du Chêne in St-Eustache. One of just a handful of Quebec wineries to win at the 2020 All Canadian Awards. The winery will open to the public in 2022 but the wines are here. Le vignoble La Cantina, Vallée d'Oka est situé dans les Basses-Laurentides. Le domaine propose deux gammes de vins à découvrir; L’empreinte distinctive du vigneron et l'empreinte C. Le site sera ouvert au public à compter de 2022! La Cantina Vallee D'oka Rosé Du Calvaire 2018-Gold

Vignoble de L’Orpailleur 1086 rte 202, C.P. 339 Dunham, Québec J0E 1M0
One of the best known and most successful wineries in Quebec. The owners are Harvé Durand, Harles-Henri De Coussergues, Frank Furtado and Pierre Rodrigues . The 2019  L’Orpailleur Blanc   won double gold at the All Canadian wine awards.  Orpailleur Chardonnay 2018  won best chardonnay FINGER Lakes. They will continue to impress in 2021

Vignoble du Marathonien 318 Rte 202, Haveloc Quebec J0S 2C0

Consistent quality! Located in the far south close to the US border. Owner Jean Joly trained as a marathon runner, which accounts for the name. Jean's wife Line is co-owner of the picturesque winery. They produce Vin de Glace Icewine. The 7,000 vine plants, aged between 15 and 20 years spread over an area of ​​two hectares, allow the vineyard to produce three white wines each year, two reds, a rosé, an ice wine and a late-harvest wine It produces white wines, red ice wine and late harvest. The majority of plants are French hybrids like Seyval Blanc, Cayuga, Vidal and Geisenheim. The red varieties DeChaunac Maréchal Foch and are very well adapted to the Cool climate. Since 1994, the Vignoble du Marathonien has been awarded more than 100 medals, including more than fifty Gold, Grand Gold and first prizes in various competitions around the globe. Best Dessert Wine of the Year Vignoble du Marathonien, QC        2018 Vendange tardive sélective

Maritimes

Domaine de Grand Pré, NS   11611 Evangeline Trail Grand Pré, NS B0P 1M0

The winery was founded in 1978; the first winery in Nova Scotia. In 1993, Swiss businessman, Hanspeter Stutz, bought Grand Pré. Stutz was undaunted by the challenge of purchasing and restoring the vineyard. Now, with his vision and determination, Mr. Stutz has successfully established Domaine de Grand Pré as a proud and viable winery. It is a family business with son Jürg winemaker, daughter Beatrice manages the restaurant. The only winery in Nova Scotia that offers the full wine & dine experience. Award winning restaurant named Le Caveau; built in the original 1828 house. Grand Pre became an UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2012 Domaine de Grand Pré has a unique approach to winemaking. Unlike most New World wineries producing Old World wines, such as Chardonnay, Hanspeter believes wine producers should develop distinct varieties, styles and vineyard practices based on particular soils and climates. To achieve this, Domaine de Grand Pré has partnered with the Agriculture Canada Station in Kentville, Nova Scotia to develop unique Nova Scotian varieties. Try their gold metal winner      2018       L’Acadie Blanc

Gaspereau Vineyards 2239 White Rock Road Gaspereau, NS B4P 2R1

Situated in the beautiful Gaspereau Valley seven miles from Wolfville. Once an apple orchard the vineyard was planted in 1996 on the ideal south facing slope followed by a successful harvest in 1999. The winery opened in 2004. The winemaker is Nova Scotia-born Gina Haverstock, whostarted her wine-making career at Gaspereau Vineyards in 2006. Gina’s role in the company has expanded from wine maker at Gaspereau Vineyards to overseeing the winemaking team at Jost, Gaspereau and Mercator Vineyards as Head winemaker at Devonian Coast Wineries. They won two Lieutenant Governor'ss Awards in 2020.

Petite Riviere Vineyard 1300 Italy Cross Road Crouston, NS

Petite Riviere Vineyards is a destination winery in the LaHave River Valley Wine Region on the south shore of Nova Scotia. A small boutique winery started in 1994, named after the Petite Riviere, the river that flows through the heart of Valley. The winery is owned by Sean Sears and his wife Barbara Thomson. Barbara is also a winemaker. However in 2015 they brought in world class winemaker Christian Perlat from Burgundy, France, to be the head winemaker. Since purchasing the winery the production has increased ten fold. In the fall of 2020 , the winery launched a new aperitif wine, which is herb based,

Les Pervenches Vineyards 150, chemin Boulais Farnham QC

The winery originally opened in 1991. It waspurchased by Véronique Hupin and Michael Marler in 1998. Les Pervenches was the first producer of Chardonnay in Québec and specializes in the production dry wines. Both of their products (white and red wine) were awarded gold medals in 2004. All the grapes and wines are certified organic and biodynamic.  Many consider Les Pervenches to be the adventuours leaders in Quebec wines. Véronique Hupin and Michael Marler’s Les Pervenches are the pioneers of biodynamic/organic winegrowing in Quebec.

 

Fruit Winery

Frozen in Time Ltd Markland , NFLD Mail: P. O. Box 98 Whitbourne, NF AOB 3KO

Located 50 miles west of St. John's, the province capital. The estate original building was once a cottage hospital build in 1935. When the hospital closed Dr. and Mrs. Marie-France Rodrigues moved in. Starting with only a desire to make blueberry wine as it was made in the past and offer employment opportunities in their community Founded in 1993 as Markland Cottage Winery, Rodrigues Winery is Newfoundland's first winery and has continued to grow in both capacity and in the variety of wines produced from wild berries and pesticide-free fruit to become Canada's largest exclusively fruit winery. production in 2004 should produce 17 000 cases of wine The winery was purchased 2016 by the Krol family and renamed Frozen in Time. Frozen in Time president Marek Krol hopes to develop a 402-hectare blueberry farm, Frozen in Time produces high quality, premium berry / fruit wines and liqueurs. The variety of wines produced from local wild berries and pesticide-free fruit include Blueberry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Cranberry, Cloudberry, Black Currant and Birch. Our wines have expanded over the years and have been honoured with a variety of national and international awards. The addition of a traditional European copper pot distillery allows the winery to produce liqueurs, as well. In 2017, Krol created a television show called Living Wild TV, which is aired on Cottage Life, Travel + Escape and the Outdoor Lifestyle Network. The show is about how to live off the land using natural foods. In the same year, he also started another show called Cooking for a Cause, in which various celebrities cook natural food for different health and wellness disorders. Wines can be found in Europe and USA.

Northern Lights Estate Winery 745 Prince George Pulpmill Rd Prince George, BC V2K 5P4

Northern Lights Estate Winery (NLEW), a division of Family Fast Foods Ltd. started construction in 2013 with the Winery scheduled to open in the summer of 2015. The winery is named for the impact the Northern lights had on the history of the area it is built, along with the history of the local first nations culture, and the cut banks in which sits NLEW will produce a variety of fruit wines and blends using fruits primarily produced on site including blueberry, strawberry, haskap, gooseberry, apple, cherry, raspberry, black current, and rhubarb. The orchard will include over 2 acres of land at the bottom of the Nechako cut banks and leading up to the banks of the Nechako River. The production facility and wine tasting room will be built into the cut banks and overlook the orchard, Nechako River, and the downtown of Prince George The winery is owned by shareholders, Pat Bell, Brenda Bell, Doug Bell, and other shareholders of Family Fast Foods. Ltd. Northern Lights plans to become a premier tourist destination center expanding the presence. acceptance, and knowledge of quality fruit wines. The property will include an outdoor natural amphitheatre which will follow the natural contours of the Nechako cut banks and overlook the orchard They did well at the 2020 all Canadian Awards. Out look for North Lights in 2021.

 

Mead ~ Cider

Bulwark Cider 7153 Highway 12 New Ross, NS

Owned by by Dominic Rivard and Germain Bergeron. Dominic is an an internationally-renowned and award-winning wine master, recognized as a specialist in fruit wine, dessert wine, and ice wine production.  The winery/ cidery sits on 20 acres of fruit orchards and berries near Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia. All wines are 100% produced from luscious crops of apples, cranberries, and wild blueberries hand-picked at our farm and neighbouring estates. The Winery also produces excellent quality and well valued grape dessert wines. Bulwark sends dozens of kegs each week to its network of about 40 bars and restaurants that sell its ciders on tap. More than a third of the company’s business is from exports of fruit wines and ciders to Asia, and Bulwark is about to enter the United Kingdom, which consumes 70 per cent of the world’s cider. Cidermaker Dominic Rivard

 

Miel Nature inc. 675 Chemin de la Beauce, Beauharnois, QC J6N 3B8

Miel Nature Inc produces more than 89 honey products and manages an apiary of more than 800 hives. The company acquired in 2000 by Elena and Ali Agougou has existed since 1980. It specializes in the production of cold extracted honeys. Miel Nature meadery, recipients of over 232 medals, rank among the most awarded couples in their field for their remarkable creations. In 2020 they took home 7 medals from Finger Lakes International wine competition. Another 14 medals from the Quebec Cup.

Island Honey Wine Company 820 Millboro Rd - Wheatley River - PEI

The Island Honey Wine Company opened on July 2017. It is situated in the scenic rolling hills of Prince Edward Island between Charlottetown and Summerside in the quaint village of Wheatley River. Charles and Laura Lipnicki are the owners of "La Serena Farm" where the Island Honey Wine Company is located Despite been a young winery they are receiving amazing reviews. Platinum Medal Winner at the National wine awards. Keep an eye on this meadery for sure! .

No Boat On Sunday Halifax, Nova Scotia

Remember the name :}. No Boats On Sunday pays homage to a time when Halifax was once Canada's busiest gateway port. With the hectic day-to-day routine this brought about, the hardworking locals decided they deserved some time to unwind, pull up their oars, and get back to the things they loved – like enjoying time with family and friends. With that, the ‘No Boats On Sunday’ policy was born. No boats meant no work. More Importantly they make good cider.

Rosewood Estate Winery & Meadery. 4352 Mountainview Road Beamsville, Ontario L0R 1B2

The Rosewood story begins over 80 years ago when R.W. Roman’s passion for beekeeping and mead began as a teenager in Ukraine. After arriving in Canada, he continued keeping bees alongside his son, Eugene Roman, who quickly fell in love with the craft. Years later, during Eugene & Renata’s honeymoon to Niagara-on-the-Lake, the two fell in love with the region for its natural beauty, people and wines. Here the concept of Rosewood began, as Eugene promised his new wife that one day he would build a winery with her. Not only are they a very successful winery they produce very good meads. Keep you eye on their meads in 2021.

Wards Cider 2287 Ward Rd Kelowna, BC V1W 4R5
Ward's Ciders operates under the business name Canada West TreeFruits. Also the home of The View Winery. Ward's Picker's Hut Premium Cider is perhaps the best cider I have ever enjoyed. Ward's Picker's Hut Premium Cider is also outstanding. A cidery to watch in 2021 along with The View's wines.

MEAD

Meil Natural 395, chemin du canal Melocheville J0S 1J0

Miel Nature se spécialise dans la production du miel extrait à froid. Le principe est naturel et est réalisé de façon traditionnelle. Nous offrons une gamme variée de 78 produits dans notre boutique. Miel Nature est l’un des plus grands fournisseurs d’hydromels de la Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ). Nous offrons une gamme variée de produits (produits tonus, biostimulateurs, de fantaisie et nos 18 hydromels) et nos 3 hydromels mousseux. Actuellement, Miel Nature produit au-delà de 78 sous-produits à base de miel et gère un rucher de plus de 600 ruches . Afin de démystifier et de vulgariser le monde des abeilles, Miel Nature offre des visites guidées éducatives, à l'année. Doté d'un laboratoire oenologique et alimentaire, Miel Nature offre aussi des consultations aux entreprises qui le demandent pour développer et contrôler la qualité des nouveaux produits. Miel Nature specializes in the production of cold extracted honey. The principle is natural and is carried out in a traditional way. They offer a varied range of 78 products in our store. Miel Nature is one of the largest suppliers of mead to the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ). They offer a varied range of products (toning products, biostimulators, fancy products and our 18 meads) and our 3 sparkling meads. Currently, Miel Nature produces over 78 honey-based by-products and manages an apiary of over 600 hives. In order to demystify and popularize the world of bees, Miel Nature offers educational guided tours, year round. Equipped with an oenological and food laboratory, Miel Nature also offers consultations to companies which request it to develop and control the quality of new products. The owners of the Miel Nature meadery, recipients of more than 232 medals, are among the most awarded couples in their field.

 

Honourable Mention

Alvento Winery , Vineland Station, On up and coming.

Colchester Ridge Estate Winery, Harrow, ON -The Crew always on the edge.

Hillier Creek Estates, Hillier, ON -People are talking about their wines.

Legends Estates Winery,Beamsville, ON  - award winning wines

Hinterland Wine CO - good sparking wines and cider

Colio Estate Wines, Harrow, Ontario,ON -  Producing good wines since 1980

Sandbanks Estate Winery, Wellington,ON - excellent reviews 

Meldville Wines,  Beamsville, ON - winemaker Derek Barnett.

Niagara College Teaching Winery, ON  - wow the students change every year but my gosh give credit to the instructors some really good wines come out of here.

Palatine Hills Estate Winery -NOTL- It is their time to shine.

Castoro de Oro Estate Vineyard - Outstanding collection of wines.

La Frenz -Naramata BC - producers of some of Canada's best fortified wines.

Tugwell Creek Meadery -Sooke BC- They remain one of Canada'd best mead producers

Phantom Creek - Oliver BC - Amazing facilities. they are new so time will tell.

Tinhorn Creek - International Wine & Spirit Competition honoured their Oldfield Reserve Cabernet Franc 2016 as one of the worlds best.

Domaine Acer - Quebec - produces maple wine.

La Vallée de la Framboise Inc., QC    -  2019   Le Matapédien a double gold winner for fruit dessert wine. Douce Anna also won double gold for a fruit fortified wine.

Cypress Hills Vineyard & Winery, SK  - double gold winner at All Canadian.

Pommies Cider Co Caledon, ON -receiving very good reviews.

Intermiel Mirabel, Saint-Benoît, Quebec - everything honey. Highly rated mead.

Dead Horse Cider Co - Winkler Manitoba - up and coming!

Shrugging Doctor - Winnipeg, Manitoba, is a producer of wine, mead, sangria, cider, spirits and other alcoholic beverages .

L'Acadie Vineyards - Nova Scotia - never over look winemaker Bruce Ewert.

Best Wineries to Visit in 2023!

Best Wineries to Watch for in 2023

Best Wines of 2022

 

 

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