Visitors think that in order to tour a winery in Ontario, they must go to the Niagara Peninsula. But, for people living in the greater Toronto area, an alternative has emerged. All the wineries I have mentioned below have wine tastings and friendly knowledgeable staff.
In the Halton Hills, north of Hwy 401 and Trafalgar Road, 3 miles west on the 10th Side Road, is Scotch Block Farm Winery. One of the new wineries springing up in Ontario during 1999, Scotch Block is located at Andrews Scenic Acres. Here, you can buy fruit and grape wines.
Further east, in the township of Vaughan at Weston Road and Highway 7, northwest of Toronto, you have 3 wineries: Vinoteca, Magnotta, and Cilento. These are located in an industrial area, and you wil not see any vineyards.
Vinoteca has good bulk table wines in returnable containers. Magnotta offers bulk wines and premium bottled wines made from imported and local grapes. They are well known for their reasonably priced wines of quality. Cilento is a new winery. It's worth the drive there just to pick up bottles of Cilento's excellent Riesling.
The wines from the above 3 wineries are as good any from the Niagara Peninsula (they all own vineyards or contract vineyards in Niagara). All have some wines that are designated VQA and have won awards in international competition.
Further east, you will reach Southbrook Farms and Winery. This is a patch of countryside in a sea of urban sprawl. There are no vineyards here either, but the fields of vegetables grown give you the impression of vineyards. Look for the silo painted like a pumpkin. Also on site is a country store with fresh produce, baked goods, and in spring, bedding plants. If possible, take time for the wine tour. The wine cellar is worth a look. Small donation to charity as fee for wine tastings.
Head north on McCowan Rd to Stouffville to Applewood Winery 12442 McCowan Rd. They specialize in fruit wines and feature a mead honey wine.
Also in Stouffville is Willow Springs Winery 5572 Bethesda Rd. They have a very stylish wine boutique with a vineyard just behind it. The wines are both fruit and grape.
The next winery further east at south Port Perry, is Ocala Orchards Farm Winery. Here you get locally grown grape and fruit wines. You can tour the vineyards during the growing season, as well as see how the wines are made.
The final stop is Archibald Orchards & Estate Winery north of Bowmaville. Here, apple wines are the specialty, made from produce grown in their own orchard. Some of the wines are blended with other fruit. Family events are planned for most weekends in season.
Another wine area is developing further east in Prince Edward County (near Picton). For more information, check out my Prince Edward County Page.
All the wineries have promotional events (ie. tours, barbecues, family events).
If you don't have plans on a Sunday, why not consider taking this alternative wine tour? If you wish more information on any of the above wineries, scroll down the page.
Pictures - Southbrook Farms/Grapes at Ocala Orchards
Scotch Block Country Winery
10th Side Road, Halton Hills Phone (905)878-5807. Open 8 to 8, 7 days a week. Small fee for wine tasting. This winery just opened and is inside a fruit and vegetable stand in a country setting of farmland. Grapes will be planted in the future at this location. Currently, grapes are brought in from the Beamsville Bench to make their grape wines. They are also licensed to make fruit wines and icewine. Andrews Scenic Acres website
Picture - Scotch Block Country Winery
Vinoteca Winery
527 Jevlan Drive, Woodbridge, Ontario Phone (905)856-5700, fax (905)856-8208. Open seven days a week. Excellent selection of bulk wines in the $85.00 - $100.00 range for 18 litres (24 x 750 ml bottles). Feel free to self-serve sample a number of them. The bulk wines are a better value than Magnotta, but do require a $5.00 deposit on the plastic container. Try the Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio bulk wines. Bottle wine selection includes VQA selections and blends of international and domestic grapes. The wine store is very small, but all selections are well-presented. Vinoteca website
Cilento Wines
672 Chrislea Road, Woodbridge, Ontario. Telephone 1-888-245-WINE email:cilento@ica.net Open seven days a week. Dark wood shelves and tasting bar gives the wine store a feeling of comfort and elegance. Most wines are VQA. Regular promotional events, eg. barbecues, free wine tastings and tours. Wines are of exceptional quality. Try the non-oak Chardonnay and oaked Cabernet Sauvignon. Cilento
Magnotta Winery
Head office at 271 Chrislea Road, Woodbridge, Ontario Phone 1-800-461-WINE and branches in Scarborough, Kitchener, Mississauga, Beamsville. Open seven days a week. The best of the three wineries in the Woodbridge area. Wine store is most spacious with displays of awards, tasting bar, wine accessory section in gift shop. Most helpful staff. Wines vary in price from inexpensive international series blends to award-winning Ice Wines and Grappa in one-of-a-kind crystal containers. Magnotta
Southbrook Farms Winery
1061 Major McKenzie Drive, Maple, Ontario Phone (905) 832-2548 Open seven days a week. Winery and fruit/bake stand. This winery is best known for its award-winning Framboise (Raspberry wine). Southbrook makes VQA wines from grapes grown primarily at Reif Estates Winery. Wines are also made from a blend of California and local grapes. Types include Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon. There also is a Gamay/Baco Noir blend. Winery is in an old barn. Picnic tables are available in season. Food can be purchased on the premises and eaten overlooking fields of crops. Promotional events can be found year-round. Nominal tasting charges are given to local charities. Fruit and vegetable store on site. Check out their wonderful jams, honey, mustard, flavoured oils and vinegars. Southbrook
Applewood Farm Winery
12442 McCowan Rd. Stouffville Ontario 905-642-4720. This is Stouffville's first winery and the second one in the Markham region. They produce fruit wines and feature Meade, a honey wine with deep historical roots.
Willow Springs Winery
5572 Bethesda Road Stoufville 905-642-9463 Call for hour business hours. You can tell that a lot of planning and investment has gone into this property. The wine boutique is first class. Grape and fruit wines offered. Their Geisenheim is a very good first effort and reflects many characteristics found in a German wine made from the same grape. A vineyard is in the back of the property. In my opinion, you are going to see great things from this winery.
Whittamore's Farm Winery
8100 Steeles Ave East, Markham (6km east of Markham Rd) Phone (905)294-3275. Small fee for wine tastings. A local landmark for 45 years. Right at the Markham/Toronto border, in an area of greenery surrounded by urban sprawl it is located on a pick-your-own farm for strawberries, raspberries and vegetables. The wine selection is similar to Scotch Block (the winemaker is the same for both wineries). Wines include Gamay and Baco Noir, apple wines and icewine. Grapes are brought in from Niagara. From September 1999, group winery tours and family events will be available. Whittamore's
Ocala Orchards Farm Winery
971 High Point Road, between Whitby and Port Perry west of Hightway 12 (905) 985-9924. Open Wednesday to Saturday from January to April, and 7 days a week from May to December. VQA grape wines, fruit wines made from apples, cherries, plums, raspberries, blackberries and more. Free wine tastings and tours. Fruit juice for children. Blossom Festival in May, Harvest Festival the last weekend in September, Artisans weekend in December. Gift shop with cheeses, sauces, jams and crafts. Try the Seyval Blanc and Chardonnay. Ocala website
Picture - Archibald Wine Shop
Archibald Orchards & Estate Winery
6275 Liberty Street North, 2km North of Taunton Road in
North Bowmanville (905)
263-2396. Email:archibalds@archibalds-estatewinery.on.ca
Winery open February to January 1. Farm market open
September to
December. Closed some holidays. Fruit wines and ciders made
from apples. Free wine tastings. Try the McIntosh-oak aged, and Spiced Winter Apple. The Spiced Winter Apple is an award-winning sweet dessert wine. This author prefers it to the far more expensive Ontario Ice Wines.
A fun fall outing for the entire family. Corn maze,
petting zoo, fresh baked goods for sale,
pick-your own apples. Lovely store with gift items, custom gift baskets, jams. Fall harvest, Halloween and Christmas
special events. Call for details.
Archibald
Orchards
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