November 4, 2020by Britt DixonNo CommentsBlog, Food & Booze, Wine & Food

Where are Ontario’s Wine Appellations?

Ontario has three recognized Viticultural, or grape-growing areas, where the soil and climate create unique growing conditions.

These three areas are the Niagara Peninsula, Prince Edward County and Lake Erie North Shore.  

If we dive deeper into the Niagara Appellation, we find that decades of grape growing experience and geological research has identified 10 distinct growing areas or sub-appellations.  

Diverse soils, sheltered slopes and lakeside vineyards all add unique characteristics to the Ontario wines we enjoy.

So, if you take a wine like a Riesling, a grape that takes on the character of the soil and climate where it is grown, you may notice differences in your glass depending on if that wine comes from Niagara on the Lake or the Beamsville Bench.

And although there are three recognized grape growing regions in Ontario right now, there are many exciting emerging wine regions in the province.

From Georgian Bay, the Huron shores, to north of Toronto and the Ottawa Valley, innovative winemakers are experimenting with new grape varieties and new wine styles in these emerging areas. 

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Written by Britt Dixon
Britt Dixon is a digital creator & social media marketer and loves telling stories about Ontario wine. She teaches others about local wine through her regular #SippingOntario video series, and interviews with winemakers and producers on her social media channels.  Britt also works with wineries producing video content to help them share their stories and grow their brands on social media. She’s a TV expert, freelance writer and contributor, and also loves hosting events and tastings. Britt’s passion for the Ontario wine industry started young. Growing up in Niagara she would pick grapes and make wine with her Papa. She has a Certificate in Ontario Wine through Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute.