Our Region

Windsor-Essex County & Pelee Island is located in the most southern part of Canada, nestled between Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair. There are more than 100 wineries in Ontario located in the Lake Erie North Shore, Niagara Peninsula, Pelee Island and Prince Edward County. In the past six years, Ontario wines have been recognized with more than 125 international awards for excellence.
The location and climate have created a unique natural environment, resulting in flora and fauna found nowhere else in the country, as well as providing an ideal region for grape growing.

Ontario has four wine-producing regions:

• The Lake Erie North Shore gets the most sunshine in Canada and is close to warm, shallow waters that create an ideal microclimate for grapes to grow. The area includes Harrow, Colchester and Point Pelee and is only a short drive from Windsor, Detroit, Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Toledo, Ohio.

• Pelee Island is Canada's most southern point with a longer growing season than anywhere else in the country. It is Canada's oldest wine region with grape growing operations dating back to 1866. Pelee Island is a short ferry ride from Lake Erie North Shore wineries.

• The Niagara Peninsula is recognized globally as an outstanding wine-producing region. With complex soils and climate similar to Burgundy, the Loire Valley, Oregon and New Zealand, the region is ideal for growing grapes. Encompassing Niagara-On-The-Lake, Grimsby, Beamsville, Jordan and Vineland, the Niagara Peninsula is a short drive from the Toronto, Buffalo, New York, and Rochester, New York, areas.

• Prince Edward County has the coolest climate of all Ontario wine regions and has just recently begun producing wine grape crops. The area includes Bloomfield, Picton and Wellington and is about half-way between Toronto and Kingston on the North Shore of Lake Ontario.