Wine and Viticulture

Did you know that Prince Edward County is Canada's fastest growing wine region?
Historically our economic booms - barley, canning and dairy - have been fuelled by the land. Our fourth economic wave is again tied to the land. The growth of Prince Edward County’s wine and viticulture industry is nothing short of spectacular and Prince Edward County has officially been designated as Ontario's 4th Designated Viticultural Area (DVA).

Ontario Wine Industry Profile

Starting in the year 2000 we've gone from less than 20 acres of high quality European vines planted to over 600 acres under vine, making us the second largest viticultural area in Ontario. In 2000 we had one winery, today we have almost a dozen with more planned and there is more than $30,000,000 invested in our exciting wine industry.

Why is this occurring?
Prince Edward County offers some of the most unique and suitable soils for growing wine grapes in North America. Our limestone soils favour vitis vinfera vines – those that make some of the finest wines in the world such as Pinot Noir, Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and others. Our growing climate is marginal which also favours excellent ripening of cool climate varieties.

People are interested in wines, consumers are becoming more discriminating in their choices and Prince Edward County offers an opportunity to grow quality grapes to make quality wines. Our reasonable land costs provide us with a competitive cost advantage over almost any other area in North America to acquire land.

Finally, Prince Edward County is an unspoiled and pastoral rural area that is thoroughly enjoyable to visit. Our wine industry investors understand this and as our industry continues to grow visitors will enjoy authentic country wine experiences in The County.

“World’s Best Chardonnay Producer Without a Burgundy Postal Code”
The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business magazine recently profiled winemaker Deborah Paskus, calling her a contender for “World’s Best Chardonnay Producer Without a Burgundy Postal Code” and describing the wine industry’s interest in her involvement in Prince Edward County.

"With soils uncannily similar to Burgundy's Côte d'Or, Pinot from the County could be Canada's next great wine success story." James Chatto, Senior Editor - Food & Drink magazine

Deborah is the winemaker at Closson Chase Winery in Hillier, and the magazine notes the growing industry buzz about the County’s potential for yielding great pinot noirs and chardonnays. The business magazine quotes Deborah’s opinion that County soils are a little difficult to work with but they do seem to have a lot of what vinifera vines want. Wine writer James Chatto said in this magazine profile of Deborah that the experienced Niagara winemaker is quietly confident about her Closson Chase project, and that she actually thinks “the pinot is happier there.” by Beppi Crosariol, April 2005 Report on Business