Ontario’s Wine Country

Our travel may be temporarily interrupted, but we can still dream and plan. We’re here to bring you travel inspiration for the trips you’ll take when life returns to normal. – TravelSquire Editors

Touring Wine Country

When you hear the words “wine country,” the Canadian province Ontario probably doesn’t spring to mind, but maybe it should.  The beautiful country north of the Great Lakes is rife with vineyards, and the summer is a great time of year for visitors to explore the area.  Ontario is most famous for its rare and award-winning ice wines, which are sweet but balanced and ideally matched with desserts or rich savory foods, like foie gras or aged blue cheeses. If you’re planning now for summer travel, consider downloading the Wine Country Ontario Year-Round Travel Guide to help find your way around and delve into what the region has to offer.

Canada's wine country on TravelSquire
Ontario Vineyard Courtesy Wine Country Ontario

Ontario is massive and unfamiliar for most people, so the guide provides extensive information about the landscape, the cuisine, the local wines, and how to get around. There are 180 winery properties across the province’s primary wine regions—all four of which are conveniently located in the central area on the north shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario—and the guide overviews each of them. The book also features a pull-out Wine Route map that makes it easy for readers to design their own route through wine country.

Ontario: Canada's wine country on TravelSquire
Riverview Cellars Wines Courtesy Riverview Cellars

Welcoming Winemakers

Visitors are an essential part of the wine industry in the region, so winemakers and grape growers often make themselves available to newcomers. In addition, many other interesting things are happening in Ontario over the summer.  The beautiful, natural landscape, featuring glacial ridges and rich forests, is always great for hikes or bike rides.  There are also sandy beaches, rolling dunes, and of course the Great Lakes.

The guide is available at winery locations and Ontario Tourism & Information Centers (OTIC).  Consumers can also order a free copy by calling 1-800-ONTARIO or check out the free, easy to use electronic version at www.winecountryontario.ca.  Any travelers with a smartphone can also access the mobile web app viewable when you visit the website.

Ontario: Canada's Wine Country on TravelSquire
Courtesy of Wine Country Ontario