Canada, the second-largest country in the world, contains a plethora of wine areas. Some of the best wine regions in Canada have only been producing wine for the past 200 years. The initial European settlers tried to produce wine with little progress. However, the first commercial winery opened in Canada in the 1800s with great success.
The main wine-producing regions in Canada are Ontario and British Columbia, but Quebec and Nova Scotia also produce a decent amount. Canada is most known for producing Ice Wine, especially in the Ontario and Quebec regions. Canada produces more Ice Wine than everywhere else in the world combined. Besides Ice Wine, Canada also produces many Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and Rieslings. The following are 5 of the best wine regions in Canada that are perfect to add to your next vacation.
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Best Wine Regions in Canada: Western Canada
Namrata, British Columbia
By Josy Austin from A Walk and a Lark
Naramata is a community within the Okanagan region of British Columbia that has some truly tasty wine. It is quite a small area on the East side of the Okanagan Lake but has lots of small micro-climates. Thus, wineries right next to each other will produce really different flavors, even if they grow similar grapes. We found a few fantastic red wines in the region, but the whites really stood out. The area has so many great vineyards so close together. It is perfect if you would like to sample a lot of different flavors and discover which BC wines you like best.
Our favorite winery in the area was Joie. Every single wine we tried there were all just so good. When we visited they had a pizza oven in their garden so you could eat truly tasty pizza while you sampled each wine. Laughing Stock was the best for the experience. They have a stunning veranda where you can look out on the world while you try their tasty wines. You need to book this visit in advance.
We also loved Monster Wines for easy drinking, cheap (but tasty) wines with fun labels. I also enjoyed Bella Wines for bubbles. You try each wine in vintage champagne glasses of your choice and they have a friendly super cute dog that greets each guest. Other wineries worth a try include Kanazawa, Van Western, Poplar Grove, and Little Engine.
This region is still fairly new, so they have grape varieties and styles to match almost any palate. However, they do not always taste how you might expect. You just need to give them all a try to see what you like. If you would like to extend your stay in the area, check out this post on a Vancouver Road Trip.
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
By Josie Keish of Josie Wanders
The Okanagan Valley in British Columbia is home to a diverse and respected wine region in Canada. With over 120 wineries and more than sixty different varieties of wine grown, it is a great area to visit. Some of the most popular red varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and for white wines, you can find Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Riesling. However, the wine the Okanagan Valley is most famous for is Ice Wine.
Ice wine is made when white grapes, usually Riesling grapes, are left on the vine to freeze. This changes the sugars in the grapes which are then pressed to create a delicious dessert wine. While ice wine can be found at many wineries throughout the region, a visit to Summerhill Pyramid Wines is a great option to taste it along with some of their other wines, including some unique organic wines.
The Okanagan Valley wine region not only contains delicious wines and spectacular scenery, but the cellar doors here are often more than just a place to taste some wine. When you visit The Vibrant Vine, they hand you some 3D glasses as you enter to view the colorful art hanging from the walls. Their wine is also pretty good. They accidentally won the best white wine at the World Wine Competition in Geneva in 2013 with a wine called “Woops” that was never meant to be entered.
If music is your thing, then visit Frequency, and hang out in their recording studio. You can learn how they use the vibrations from various music sources during the winemaking process to change the flavors. There really is something for every wine lover in the Okanagan Valley.
Best Wine Regions in Canada: Eastern Canada
Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia
By Hillary Newman from Hillary Newman Photo
When it comes to planning a Canadian vacation based solely around wine, it is easy to forget the little guy. Atlantic Canadians, however, have a best-kept secret hidden in the valleys of Nova Scotia and it is one of the best wine regions in Canada.
The Annapolis Valley is home to a plethora of fantastic wineries that draw crowds to Nova Scotia every year. You can find the ever-popular Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Chardonnay at almost any establishment. However, make sure to try Nova Scotia’s very own regional crisp and refreshing wine, Tidal Bay… a nod to the coast.
Wineries worth stopping by include; Luckett Vineyards, Domaine de Grand Pre, Gaspereau Vineyards, and the newest winery in town, Lightfoot & Wolfville. Each of these vineyards has its own unique style and all take pride in the wine they produce.
Annapolis Valley is not only good for its wines but also for its people. Where else will the owner personally seat you in their restaurant and answer any questions you may have about their winery? Winemakers truly value your feedback and ask for it readily! Where else will they attempt to get to know you and treat you like family friends?
So, if you are looking for a unique winery experience on a smaller scale than Niagara or Okanagan, with the small town hospitality we have in abundance in the Maritimes, check out the Annapolis Valley. It will not disappoint. If you would like to extend your stay in Nova Scotia, check out this post on a weekend in Halifax and surrounding areas.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
One of the most popular and largest producing wine regions in Canada is Niagara-on-the-Lake. With over 80 wineries and about an hour and a half from Toronto, it makes for a great weekend trip. The wineries here offer a variety of one of a kind experiences. Many of the wineries produce small batches of wines, so you will not find them anywhere else in the world. The wines in the Niagara region tend to be a bit more fruity and focus on Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc wines. They are comparable to wines you might find in France.
Stratus is one of my favorite wineries in the region. They are a bit more contemporary and make a delicious Chardonnay. For some of the best Pinot Noirs in the region, make sure to check out Hidden Bench. They have very high standards and only bottle a small number of their wines. Lastly, for the best tour options, stop by Ravine. Ravine offers several different tour options and has a delicious farm-to-fork restaurant on site. We opted to go on a farm tour which included venturing out into the vineyards and learning about the viticulture.
The Niagara region is one of the best wine regions in Canada, due to its location and the variety of wines found in the area. Many of the wines are perfect to consume on a hot summer’s day. I also found many of the tasting rooms to have a relaxed atmosphere and intimate experience.
Prince Edward County, Ontario
By Christin Braatz of Christin Has Fernweh
When I first found out there is a wine region in Ontario, I was surprised. With Prince Edward County being located on the coast of Lake Ontario it benefits from the lake climate. Not to be confused with Prince Edward Island, one of the Maritime Provinces on the East Coast of Canada, it has one of the best wine regions in Canada.
The most common wines are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but some vineyards also grow Cabernet Franc, Pinot Gris, Baco Noir, Merlot, Riesling, Gamay, and others.
The 35 wineries in the region combine their marketing efforts, so there is a comprehensive website of Prince Edward County wine and a map listing them all. This way you can plan your tasting tour around your preferences.
At Black Prince Winery, their Sauvignon reminded me of some European Sauvignons I tried but their Chardonnay was noticeably drier than any other I know. Naturally, the soil is completely different and gives the wine a unique note. The surprise of my tasting there was a free sample of Marijuana wine (weed is legal in Canada of course). Truly a new experience for me. Check out this post if you want to read more about my tasting experience at Black Prince Winery, Ontario.
I consider Prince Edward County a true hidden gem amongst wine regions. The wineries are small and you still get to know the people who run them. Tastings take place in unique spaces, though different from one winery to the other. In my case, it was a rustic small establishment with decor made from wine barrels. It made me feel like I was visiting a friend who happens to own a vineyard.
Final Thoughts on the Best Wine Regions in Canada
There are so many wine regions across Canada it can be hard to choose which one is best! Have you been to any of the best wine regions in Canada or have one to add to the list?
Check out these other wine regions around the world!
11 thoughts on “5+ of the Best Wine Regions in Canada: Unique Wines and Fun Times”
How interesting! I never knew Canada produced wine. The ice wine sounds really interesting. Thanks so much for sharing!
Ice wine is definitely something different!
OK, I learned something new today! I did not realize Canada was such a great place for wine!!! In fact, I learned a lot today. Thanks so much for all the great insight and information in this very well-written and well-researched post! And these images are stunning!!
Canada does have some pretty awesome wine regions! Thank you!
Ice wine???? I had never heard of it until now, so I would be making a point to visit Okanagan Valley, British Columbia just to learn more about how it is made, and more tasting. I am not really a wine lover, but you have taught me more about wine and that I should probably appreciate it more.
Ice wine is so much fun to try! It is very different!
I didn’t know that Canada had such a long tradition on wine, happy to know it now! Even the fact is older than Europe is impressive. Thanks for sharing all this useful information since it’s the first time I also heard about Ice wine as well. I think this post enlightened me a lot.
Hope you can try out some Canadian wine soon!
The wineries all look so beautiful! I was reading thru the other comments – and I can only say I’m relieved to know I’m not the only person who never thought Canada held this much treasure when it comes to wine! ?
They were gorgeous and I def recommend visiting!
“Such a great list of Canadian wine regions! I had no idea that places like Nova Scotia and British Columbia were producing such amazing wines. Your recommendations for unique varietals and the local wine experiences are really helpful, especially for anyone looking to explore beyond the usual spots. I’m particularly excited to visit the Okanagan Valley—it looks stunning and the wines sound delicious! Thanks for introducing me to these hidden gems in the Canadian wine scene. I can’t wait to plan a wine tour!”