Prince Edward County Wine
Encyclopedia
Prince Edward County Wine is produced in Prince Edward County
(PEC) located in south eastern part of southern Ontario
, the most southerly part of Canada
. Prince Edward County was designated as the fourth and newest Designated Viticultural Area (DVA) in Ontario
in 2007. A DVA is a wine producing region for which rules and regulations are set down by the Vintners Quality Alliance
(VQA) of Ontario. VQA Ontario is an organization officially delegated by the government of Ontario to administer and enforce the Vintners Quality Alliance Act, 1999 There are currently some 30 commercial wineries
(as of 2010) and over 50 wine grape
growers in Prince Edward County, cultivating more than 700 acres (1730 hectares) of vineyard
, producing 757 tons of grapes and 6130 hectolitres of wine
annually (as of 2007).
, it has been known for its agricultural products, initially grains
(especially barley
) and later tender fruits — at one time it supplied one third of all canned produce
in Canada. In the late twentieth century the PEC canning industry disappeared as the greater part of the fruit and vegetables sold in Canada are now imported. However, the twenty-first century is witnessing the establishment of a new high value agricultural industry in the County: wine growing, i.e. viticulture
along with wine making.
The first wine grapes were planted in the mid-nineteenth century and achieved some notoriety when Dorland Nixon was awarded a gold medal for his wine at the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition
. The modern era began when Phil Matheson planted an experimental vineyard with vinifera grapes
in the 1980s while Ed Neuser and Rita Kaimins established the first commercial vinifera vineyard for their Waupoos
Estates Winery in 1993. They were granted the second winery licence in the County (after Grant Howes and the County Cider Company in 1996) and opened their winery in 2001. During the first decade of the twenty-first century, new wineries have emerged at a furious pace, with approximately 30 in operation in 2010.
The éminence grise behind the establishment of the County wine industry is Geoff Heinricks, who was the first to propose that Prince Edward County could one day be a major player in the Canadian wine industry. He thoroughly investigated the soils and microclimates of the County and concluded that the cool climate coupled with the all-pervading limestone
base would be an ideal situation for the grapes of Burgundy (i.e. Pinot Noir
and Chardonnay
). He also provided some other strong recommendations including the various relatives and clones
of Pinot Noir (Pinot Gris
, Pinot Blanc
, and Pinot Meunier
), St. Laurent
, Melon de Bourgogne
, Gamay
, and Riesling
, and has given serious consideration to several others. He described his endeavours in a popular book as well as a monograph that is available on line. Geoff and two partners recently opened the Keint-he Winery, though he was dismissed and replaced in 2011 after harvest..
Ward where the Hillier Clay Loam soil formation is predominant. According to Geoff Heinricks, this soil is thin and composed mostly of a mix of limestone and shale
gravel; it encourages the vine roots to reach deep into the underlying limestone where they are then assured of good access to both water and drainage. Most of the other wineries are more widely dispersed over the eastern and southeastern regions of the County. They are planted in a variety of complex soils, but all lie atop limestone bedrock at various layers, gifting the limestone subsoil. The situations of all the wineries are summarized on the County viticultural map.
The following tables list all known wineries in the County as of 2010, including virtual wineries, in order of establishment. The year of establishment refers to the year that substantial investment began, e.g. planting of vines or acquisition of winemaking equipment, rather than the date when the property was purchased or when the winery licence was obtained. Data were obtained from the winery websites, from the Canadian Wine Annual , or from the Prince Edward County Winegrowers Association (PECWA). These sources also provide specific winery websites.
Prince Edward County, Ontario
Prince Edward County is a single-tier municipality and a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario.-Geography:Prince Edward County is located in Southern Ontario on a large irregular headland or littoral at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, just west of the head of the St. Lawrence River...
(PEC) located in south eastern part of southern Ontario
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
, the most southerly part of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Prince Edward County was designated as the fourth and newest Designated Viticultural Area (DVA) in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
in 2007. A DVA is a wine producing region for which rules and regulations are set down by the Vintners Quality Alliance
Vintners Quality Alliance
Vintners Quality Alliance, or VQA, is a regulatory and appellation system which guarantees the high quality and authenticity of origin for Canadian wines made under that system in British Columbia and Ontario. It is similar to regulatory systems in France , Italy , and Germany...
(VQA) of Ontario. VQA Ontario is an organization officially delegated by the government of Ontario to administer and enforce the Vintners Quality Alliance Act, 1999 There are currently some 30 commercial wineries
Winery
A winery is a building or property that produces wine, or a business involved in the production of wine, such as a wine company. Some wine companies own many wineries. Besides wine making equipment, larger wineries may also feature warehouses, bottling lines, laboratories, and large expanses of...
(as of 2010) and over 50 wine grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
growers in Prince Edward County, cultivating more than 700 acres (1730 hectares) of vineyard
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
, producing 757 tons of grapes and 6130 hectolitres of wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
annually (as of 2007).
History
Since Prince Edward County (locally known as "The County") was first settled in the 1780s by United Empire Loyalists fleeing the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, it has been known for its agricultural products, initially grains
Cereal
Cereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...
(especially barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
) and later tender fruits — at one time it supplied one third of all canned produce
Canning
Canning is a method of preserving food in which the food contents are processed and sealed in an airtight container. Canning provides a typical shelf life ranging from one to five years, although under specific circumstances a freeze-dried canned product, such as canned, dried lentils, can last as...
in Canada. In the late twentieth century the PEC canning industry disappeared as the greater part of the fruit and vegetables sold in Canada are now imported. However, the twenty-first century is witnessing the establishment of a new high value agricultural industry in the County: wine growing, i.e. viticulture
Viticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
along with wine making.
The first wine grapes were planted in the mid-nineteenth century and achieved some notoriety when Dorland Nixon was awarded a gold medal for his wine at the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition
Centennial Exposition
The Centennial International Exhibition of 1876, the first official World's Fair in the United States, was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 10 to November 10, 1876, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. It was officially...
. The modern era began when Phil Matheson planted an experimental vineyard with vinifera grapes
Vitis vinifera
Vitis vinifera is a species of Vitis, native to the Mediterranean region, central Europe, and southwestern Asia, from Morocco and Portugal north to southern Germany and east to northern Iran....
in the 1980s while Ed Neuser and Rita Kaimins established the first commercial vinifera vineyard for their Waupoos
Waupoos, Ontario
Waupoos is a community in Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada. Situated on Smith Bay on Lake Ontario, Waupoos is in the centre of the county's cider and wine industry. Located about 13 km from Picton, it is set among apple orchards, wineries, local farms and forested hills.During and after the...
Estates Winery in 1993. They were granted the second winery licence in the County (after Grant Howes and the County Cider Company in 1996) and opened their winery in 2001. During the first decade of the twenty-first century, new wineries have emerged at a furious pace, with approximately 30 in operation in 2010.
The éminence grise behind the establishment of the County wine industry is Geoff Heinricks, who was the first to propose that Prince Edward County could one day be a major player in the Canadian wine industry. He thoroughly investigated the soils and microclimates of the County and concluded that the cool climate coupled with the all-pervading limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
base would be an ideal situation for the grapes of Burgundy (i.e. Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes...
and Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
). He also provided some other strong recommendations including the various relatives and clones
Cloning
Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or...
of Pinot Noir (Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris
Pinot gris is a white wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. Thought to be a mutant clone of the Pinot noir grape, it normally has a grayish-blue fruit, accounting for its name but the grape can have a brownish pink to black and even white appearance...
, Pinot Blanc
Pinot Blanc
Pinot blanc is a white wine grape. It is a point genetic mutation of Pinot noir. Pinot noir is genetically unstable and will occasionally experience a point mutation in which a vine bears all black fruit except for one cane which produced white fruit....
, and Pinot Meunier
Pinot meunier
Pinot Meunier, , also known as Meunier or Black Riesling, is a variety of black wine grape most noted for being one of the three main grapes used in the production of champagne...
), St. Laurent
St. Laurent (grape)
St. Laurent is a highly aromatic dark-skinned wine grape variety of the same family as Pinot Noir, originating in France....
, Melon de Bourgogne
Melon de Bourgogne
Melon de Bourgogne or Melon is a variety of white grape grown primarily in the Loire Valley region of France. It is also grown in North America. It is best known through its use in the white wine Muscadet....
, Gamay
Gamay
Gamay is a purple-colored grape variety used to make red wines, most notably grown in Beaujolais and in the Loire Valley around Tours. Its full name is Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc. It is a very old cultivar, mentioned as long ago as the 15th century...
, and Riesling
Riesling
Riesling is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietally...
, and has given serious consideration to several others. He described his endeavours in a popular book as well as a monograph that is available on line. Geoff and two partners recently opened the Keint-he Winery, though he was dismissed and replaced in 2011 after harvest..
Wineries
The majority of County wineries are in the west central region, particularly in HillierHillier, Ontario
Hillier is a community located in Prince Edward County, Ontario. Established in 1823, it was named after Major George Hillier, military secretary to Sir Peregrine Maitland. It is located on the Loyalist Parkway or Highway 33 and is roughly 30 minutes from Belleville, Ontario.Hillier's population...
Ward where the Hillier Clay Loam soil formation is predominant. According to Geoff Heinricks, this soil is thin and composed mostly of a mix of limestone and shale
Shale
Shale is a fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock composed of mud that is a mix of flakes of clay minerals and tiny fragments of other minerals, especially quartz and calcite. The ratio of clay to other minerals is variable. Shale is characterized by breaks along thin laminae or parallel layering...
gravel; it encourages the vine roots to reach deep into the underlying limestone where they are then assured of good access to both water and drainage. Most of the other wineries are more widely dispersed over the eastern and southeastern regions of the County. They are planted in a variety of complex soils, but all lie atop limestone bedrock at various layers, gifting the limestone subsoil. The situations of all the wineries are summarized on the County viticultural map.
The following tables list all known wineries in the County as of 2010, including virtual wineries, in order of establishment. The year of establishment refers to the year that substantial investment began, e.g. planting of vines or acquisition of winemaking equipment, rather than the date when the property was purchased or when the winery licence was obtained. Data were obtained from the winery websites, from the Canadian Wine Annual , or from the Prince Edward County Winegrowers Association (PECWA). These sources also provide specific winery websites.
Western (Hillier) Wineries
These wineries are almost all located in Hillier Ward, essentially the region south of County Road 1 (Scoharie Road) and extending from the western shore of the county to just east of County Road 2.| Name | Year | Winemaker(s) | Soil | Wines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| By Chadsey's Cairns Winery | 1999 | Vida Žalnieriunas | Brighton Gravelly Sand | Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Riesling, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Muscat Ottonel, Gewürztraminer, Rosita Rosé, Rosarugosa Rosé, Rubenesque Rose, St.Laurent |
| Closson Chase Vineyards | 1999 | Deborah Paskus | Hillier Clay Loam | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir |
| The Grange of Prince Edward Vineyards and Estate Winery | 2003 | Adam Delorme | Hillier Clay Loam | Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet/Merlot, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Fumé Blanc, Brut (sparkling), Assemblage (red blend), Rosé |
| Sandbanks Estate Winery | 2000 | Catherine Langlois | Hillier Clay Loam | Baco Noir, Cabernet Franc, Maréchal Foch, Riesling, Chardonnay, Vidal, Rosé |
| Casa-Dea Estates Winery | 2001 | Paul Battilana | Hillier Clay Loam | Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Cabernet Franc Rosé; blends: CD Rosso (red), CD Bianco (white), Dea's Cuvée, Sassy's Cuvée (both sparkling) |
| Rosehall Run Winery | 2001 | Dan Sullivan | Hillier Clay Loam | Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer; blends: Sullyzwicker Red, Sullyzwicker Rosé |
| Hillier Creek Estates Vineyard & Winery | 2001 | Ben Simmons | Hillier Clay Loam | Gamay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Chardonnay, Vidal Icewine, Rosé |
| Sugarbush Vineyards | 2002 | Robert Peck | Hillier Clay Loam | Gamay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Riesling, Riesling/Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay; blends: Red, Almost Red, Not Red |
| Lift Haus Winery | 2002 | Ed & Kyle Evans | Hillier Clay Loam | Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay |
| Norman Hardie Winery | 2003 | Norm Hardie | Hillier Clay Loam | Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Melon de Bourgogne |
| Harwood Estate Vineyards | ? | ? | Hillier Clay Loam | St. Laurent, Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Friends Rosé, Just Desserts |
| Lacey Estates Vineyard and Winery | 2003 | Kimball Lacey | Hillier Clay Loam | Baco Noir, Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay |
| Redtail Vineyard | 2004 | Gilbert Pronovost | Hillier Clay Loam | Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris |
| Stanners Vineyard | 2004 | Colin Stanners | Hillier Clay Loam | Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay |
| Keint-he Winery & Vineyards | 2006 | Hillier Clay Loam, Brighton Gravelly Sand | Pinot Noir, Meunier, St. Laurent, Chardonnay, Hillier Blanc (Chard/Gris or Noir blends - still white), Pinot Sauvage (sweet Pinot Noir); sparkling: Blanc de Noir | |
| The Old Third Vineyard | 2005 | Bruno François | Hillier Clay Loam | Pinot Noir |
| Karlo Estates Winery | 2005 | Richard Karlo | Hillier Clay Loam | Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Frontanac Gris Rosé, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Quintus (Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Frontanac Gris Dessert, Van Alstine Port (Frontenac Noir, Marquette) |
| Hinterland Wine Company | ? | Jonas Newman | Hillier Clay Loam | Chardonnay, Riesling; sparkling: Les Étoiles, Rosé |
Southern and Eastern Wineries
These wineries are in Hallowell Ward (centre of the County), North Marysburgh Ward (east end of the County), and South Marysburgh Ward, centred on South Bay, the southernmost part of the County, as well as on the mainland, across the Adolphus Reach from North Marysburgh. Grapes are also grown in Atholl Ward (the southwest), but no winery is yet in operation there.| Name | Year | Winemaker(s) | Soil | Wines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| County Cider Company & Estate Winery | 1976 | Jenifer Dean | Brighton Gravelly Sand | apple ciders |
| Waupoos Estates Winery | 1993 | Amy Mumby | ? | Auxerrois, Baco Noir, Cabernet-Merlot, Chardonnay, de Chaunac, Geisenheim, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Vidal, [blends] 26° Brix, Honeysuckle, Ice Wine, Maple Ice, Pearl Noir, Rosė, Ruby, White Rabbit |
| Long Dog Vineyard & Winery | 1999 | James Lahti | ? | Pinot Noir, Gamay/Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris |
| Black Prince Winery | 2000 | Terence van Rooyen, Michael Fallow, Geoff Webb | Pontypool Sandy Loam | Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Chambourcin, Baco Noir, Maréchal Foch, Chardonnay, Melon de Bourgogne, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Vidal |
| Lighthall Vineyards | 2001 | Glenn Symons | Percy Fine Sandy Loam/Ameliasburgh Clay Loam | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir |
| Del-Gatto Estates (Bella Vigne) | 2002 | Pat Del-Gatto | Solmesville Clay Loam | Frontenac, Leon Millot, St. Croix, Baco, Geisenheim, Chardonnay; blends: Two Shades of Red, Bin 222 (white), Rosati Rosé |
| Huff Estates Winery | 2003 | Frédéric Picard | Percy Fine Sandy Loam, Ameliasburgh Clay Loam | Gamay, Merlot, Merlot/Cabernet, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, First Frost Vidal, Cuvée Peter F. Huff sparkling, Rosé |
| Bergeron Estate Winery | 2003 | David Bergeron | Lindsay Clay | Gamay, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Vidal/Riesling |
| Thirty Three Vines Winery | 2004 | Paul Minaker | Lindsay Clay | Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Riesling |
| Exultet Estates | ? | Gerry Spinosa | Percy Fine Sandy Loam | Pinot Noir |
| Half Moon Bay Winery | ? | Brian Mitchell | Farmington Loam | Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris |
| County Road 8 Winery | ? | Jenifer Dean | Elmbrook Clay Loam | ? |
| The Devil's Wishbone | ? | Paul Gallagher | Farmington Loam | Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris |
Virtual Wineries
Virtual wineries are those which do not possess their own physical winery, but lease equipment and space from another winery which has excess capacity. A virtual winery may own or control its own vineyards, and always has its own winemaker or consultant.| Name | Year | Winemaker(s) | Winery Location | Soil | Wines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnyard Wine Company | ? | ? | Redtail Vineyard | ? | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, sparkling |
| Fieldstone Estate Vineyards | ? | Frédéric Picard | ? | Hillier Clay Loam | Cabernet Franc |
| Jamie Kennedy | 2007 | Dan Sullivan, Jamie Kennedy | Rosehall Run Winery | Hillier Clay Loam | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay |
Vineyards
As in any wine region, not all grape growers also make wine. Many sell their grapes to local wineries under contract, and often with significant input from the winery into the viticultural techniques employed in the vineyard. This table lists many of the most prominent such vineyards, but it is not comprehensive and may include some that are no longer active. Some growers will eventually start their own winery. In addition, all wineries listed above grow grapes in their own estate vineyards. Reference sources are the same as for #Wineries.| Name | Year | Soil | Varietals Grown | Customer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black River Vineyards | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Bloomfield Estates Winery | ? | Hillier Clay Loam | ? | ? |
| Cold Creek Vineyards | ? | Hillier Clay Loam | Pinot Noir | ? |
| Connell Farm | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Domaine Calcaire | 2001/sold 2006 | Hillier Clay Loam | Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Lauren, St. Laurent | ? |
| Domaine Darius | ? | Hillier Clay Loam | ? | ? |
| Hilltop Cellars Inc. | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Hubbs Creek Vineyard | 2002 | Hillier Clay Loam | Pinot Noir, Dolcetto, Pinot Gris | ? |
| Little Creek - Big Lake Vineyards | 2001/sold 2006 | Hillier Clay Loam | Pinot Noir | Domaine Calcaire (Black Prince), Domaine La Reine (Closson Chase) |
| The Ridge Estates Vineyard (Ridgeview Vineyards) | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Ridge Stone Estate | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Robert Thomas Estate Vineyards and Winery Inc. | ? | Ameliasburgh Clay Loam | ? | ? |
| Roberto Lorenzoni | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Terra Fertilis (Trivia Vineyard) | 2009 | Hillier Clay Loam | ? | ? |
| Two Bridges Vineyards | ? | Ameliasburgh Clay Loam | ? | ? |
| Vignoble Plamondon | ? | Ameliasburgh Clay Loam | ? | By Chadsey's Cairns Winery, Bergeron Estate Winery, Lift Haus Winery |
| A Vineyard at Shattered | ? | Hillier Clay Loam | ? | ? |
| Wicked Point Vineyard | ? | Farmington Loam | ? | ? |