By: Jocelyn Schwalm
Bonnie Heath Estate Winery: The aesthetics of this winery appeals to a vast array of people with their fields of lavender, grape vines and apple orchard. This winery located in Waterford, Ontario has set itself apart with its jack-of-all trades approach to winemaking. The Bonnie Heath Estate Winery not only produces fine wines but its lavender fields mimic those of Provence, France. It concentrate on the quality of their grapes to ensure that every step in the winemaking process is up to its high standards. This winery also provides ciders from their very own apple orchards. The whole operation is run through sustainable methods as the environment is an important part of this winery’s values.
Fielding Estate Wine: Located in the famous Niagara region of Ontario, this winery has won multiple awards within its first few years of being open to the public. Known for its Rieslings, this winery offers the perfect location to sip a glass of white wine while enjoying the Niagara region’s beautiful views. Fielding Estate Winery offers a wine club for wine connoisseurs, as well as wine making classes for those who want to add their own touch to the bottling process. The location of this winery is perfect for winemaking as the micro-climate helps combat their grapes from contracting diseases, ensuring better wine.
Five Rows Winery: The only “Boutique Winery” on the list, Five Rows Winery is a small winery, but the size only contributes to their concentration on better quality. The name “Five Rows” is derived from the winery’s humble beginnings, as they only began with five rows of Pinot Noir grapes. With a strong focus on Pinot Noir, this winery uses the local soil to their advantage. Their philosophy is that their small batches of grapes are guaranteed to enhance the quality of their wine. They hold the belief that the smaller the winery, the better the quality of the wines.
Norman Hardie Winery: Located just outside Toronto, in the pretigious Prince Edward County wine region, this winery is not only home to numerous wines but also doubles as a stone-baked pizzeria. Those who have visited advise to make an early trip, as this winery gets extremely busy around lunch time when the crowds come in to enjoy a homemade pizza with a glass of their famous Pinot Noir. With imported vines from France, Prince Edward County stands out as being a location worth a visit to experience some of the finest wines in Canada.
Oxley Estate Winery: Originally a vegetable farm, this Southern Ontario winery has a wonderful atmosphere complete with what they have deemed a Wine Garden patio. There is an elegant barn right next to the vineyard where events are held, with a view of the entire property. While the wine holds its own at this Essex County vineyard, this particular winery is known for its aesthetic. Oxley Estate produces 14 different types of wine, but it is their white wines that are most sought after. This winery is also one of the few that have developed sustainable wine types for their local customers.