Prince Edward County has become one of Ontario's most talked-about food and drink destinations, and a good trip here is half tastings and half meals. The county is small, the producers are close together and many wineries serve food, so you can build a day around a few well-chosen stops. This guide explains what to expect and how to plan.
Start with the wines
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the county's signature grapes, grown on thin limestone soils in a cool climate that gives crisp, mineral-driven wines. Closson Chase Vineyards, on Closson Road near Hillier, is known for exactly these two grapes and offers a seated, guided tasting in its barrel cellar that you reserve through its website, plus a casual garden for wine by the glass when the weather allows. Norman Hardie Winery on Greer Road has a walk-in tasting bar that pours a flight of four wines, and a curated tour and tasting on weekends by booking. Huff Estates in Bloomfield combines a tasting room with Oeno Gallery and an inn.
Do not skip the sparkling wine
The county's cool conditions are a natural fit for bubbles. Hinterland Wine Company, also on Closson Road, specialises in sparkling wine and is open daily, so it makes an easy second stop after Closson Chase. Tasting a traditional-method sparkling wine next to a still Chardonnay shows how much the same grapes can vary.
Cider and the east end
Cider is the county's other drink. The County Cider Company, a farm cidery in the Waupoos area, makes ciders from more than sixteen apple varieties grown on site, with new flavours appearing often, and sells take-home four-packs and growlers. Waupoos Estates, nearby, is a winery, cider house and restaurant on Waupoos Bay, with a boutique, tastings by booking and a restaurant that serves lunch and dinner on selected days and brunch on Sunday. Make Waupoos a half-day stop if you want a long lunch with a view.
Pizza and casual food
Not every meal needs to be formal. Norman Hardie serves wood-fired pizza from its oven in the warm months and runs a winter food programme with indoor seating among the barrels and fire pits when the weather is cold. Huff Estates has a wood-fired pizza restaurant and patio in season. These casual, first-come spots suit lunch between tastings, and they are good for families and groups who do not want a long sit-down meal.
Village tables
The villages hold the county's restaurants. Picton has the widest choice, with cafes, wine bars and restaurants on and around Main Street. Wellington has a compact cluster of cafes and places to eat near the waterfront, including a lakeside restaurant at the Drake Devonshire. Bloomfield is small but has an Italian American restaurant known for handmade pasta and a public house that takes bookings. Reserve for Friday and Saturday dinners, even in the cooler months, and check the hours of any casual place before you rely on it, because many shorten their hours after the summer.
Booking and timing
Reserve barrel-cellar tastings, curated tours and any group visits in advance, and expect to walk in at tasting bars and casual patios. Groups of six or more generally need to contact the winery. Weekends are busiest, and weekday visits are calmer. In winter, many patios close, but tasting rooms and winter food programmes continue, so a cold-season trip is still a good one for eating and drinking.
Taste safely
Distances between producers add up, and the county's rural roads are poorly lit. Pick a designated driver, book a local tour or stay within walking distance of your tastings. The Waring House has a restaurant on site, and the inn is within walking distance of a cidery and a winery, which makes it one of the easier bases for a food and drink weekend. Huff Estates Inn and Winery and The Bloomfield Inn also put you close to tastings and village dining. Whatever you plan, leave room for a few bottles to take home, bring a cooler bag, and ask the staff at each stop what they would pour next.
