We spent three days traveling to wineries in the Lake Erie North Shore Region of Ontario. Many of the wineries are within a few miles of the shore of Lake Erie and enjoy the moderating effects the lake has on vineyards. Twelve wineries dot the landscape from Windsor to Blenheim and south. Expect to taste a range or red and white wines including the classic vinifera grapes. Some wineries produce fruit wines. All take pride in producing wines from locally grown fruit.

Wine tourist are largely drawn from the Detroit metropolitan area, an hour and a half away, and Toronto about three and a half hours away. However there are also plenty of wine enthusiasts that travel to the region from other points in Michigan, Ohio and new York as well as Ontario and Quebec. Most wineries are open daily so travelers during the weekdays will find several of the wineries open.

The majority of the wineries are along the Lake Erie shore from Leamington to Amherstburg about a thirty mile stretch that will take an hour to drive between the wineries. Smith and Wilson Estate Wines is the furthest winery from the main area. They are about an hour further east from Blenheim. However the drive is easy along the coast of the lake and worth the visit.

The photo is the new tasting room at Coopers Hawk Vineyards, opening this weekend, November 12th/13th.

If you are looking for a weekend get-away consider traveling to the Lake Erie North Shore wine region. You can visit several wineries each day and enjoy the wines this southernmost wine region in Canada has to offer.

Cheers,
Terry