Lake Erie North Shore
Canada’s most southern wine appellation is Lake Erie North Shore and Pelee Island Designated Viticultural Areas (South Islands), a region that includes all of Windsor and Essex County, and stretches up along the shores of Lake Erie towards London. With the longest growing season in Ontario, our vineyards are able to bring a wide range of vitis vinifera and French hybrid grapes to harvest.
While not as large or well-known as the more northern Niagara region, the history of wine in Lake Erie North Shore goes back to the beginning of wine in Canada. The nation’s first commercial winery was started on Pelee Island in 1866, and grapes continue to be grown and harvested for wine in the sub-appellation of the South Islands to this day.
THE WINES OF OUR REGION
With well over a dozen wineries, you can expect great wine from this constantly evolving appellation. Our most popular wines are made from Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, Merlot, and Chardonnay, with Cabernet Franc as our shining star.
Our winemakers continue to perfect their varietal wines and blends. With each new vintage, you will find more exciting offerings including sparkling wines and even orange wine as possible choices at the tasting bars across the county. At Ontario Wine Society events, these very winemakers join us at your table where they lead us through tasting these exquisite works of art!
WINE AND DINE
From roadside produce stands to many fantastic restaurants, the “bounty of the county” is served up across our region.
Our Ontario Wine Society events showcase the best of our local chefs who work magic with what our region has to offer.
Check out our upcoming events to see what they are producing!