Great Prince Edward County Wineries You Should Visit

These Prince Edward County Wineries Should Not Be Overlooked!

As another of Ontario’s established wine regions (aside famous Niagara on the Lake wineries), Prince Edward County is a beautiful region filled with wineries, breweries, beaches, and other things to explore.

From the moment Eric visited on a winery/brewery tour many years ago, he knew it was a place he’d always return to. Now that we’ve visited together a bunch of times (makes a great weekend getaway), we’re always eager to return to explore deeper… and try more wine!

It’s hard to say which PEC winery is the “best” since they are all very different and have their unique features. Some wineries in Prince Edward County have restaurants onsite, some are family-run, and some even have accommodations onsite or nearby.

Having visited a few wineries, our guide covers our experiences in the County and some other need-to-knows for your visit. Whether you’re doing a day tour or staying for a few days, grab a winery map of Prince Edward County and let’s get exploring!

Wineries In Prince Edward County, Ontario

Now that we’ve covered a few of the basics, let’s dive into the wineries of the region. Keep in mind that there are (at the time of writing) just over 30 wineries.

We haven’t been to them all but we are actively working on that! We’ll update the post as we experience more!

Sandbanks Estate Winery

Address: 17598 Loyalist Pkwy, Wellington, ON K0K 3L0, Canada

Named after the famous sand dunes in the region, Sandbanks Estate Winery is arguably the most popular winery in the region.

With a deep local connection to the land and area, you can hop on a tour and get a real sense of the vineyard’s history. You get that “connected” sense when you visit!

The colourful property is full of comfy Muskoka chairs outside. Inside, the tasting room is bright and spacious and full of wine to try/buy.

Tastings can be done at 5 tastings for approx. 7 CAD. Sandbanks is known for its Baco Noir. Eric bought a bottle when he visited (and has bought more in the time since) and once you pop the cork they do not last long!

If you want to check out Sandbanks when you are in Prince Edward County, they would be more than happy to see you!

Huff Estates Winery & Inn

Address: 2274 Prince Edward County Rd 1, Bloomfield, ON K0K 1G0, Canada

As one of the bigger establishments in the area, Huff Estates has a lot to live up to. When we visited, we thought they did an amazing job!

The staff were super friendly and knew their stuff. The tour of the facility was great, too. They run these daily for the public at 11 am (no booking required).

Tastings are simple with 3 wines for 5 CAD and a single for 2 CAD. We ended up doing 3 wines when we visited.

The staff was really nice and the woman who served us did a great job of helping us pick. Try their Pinot Gris and the Unoaked Chardonnay.

Huff is also known for its restaurant with pizza that people rave about. They also often have live music. There’s a massive outdoor area where you can eat, relax, and get great photos of the vineyards.

Known for the fact that they have a winery, Oeno Gallery (with sculpture garden), and accommodations on-site, Huff Estates really has it all for when you visit!

TerraCello Winery

Address: 2436 Prince Edward County Rd 1, Bloomfield, ON K0K 1G0, Canada

Not to be completely opposite to what Huff stands for, but if you want to check out a small, family-run winery just down the road… TerraCello is for you.

Owned and operated by a family with deep Italian roots, this winery and vineyard prides itself on its smaller production and artisan wines.

They boast a green little “Tuscan-style” plot where you can enjoy their indoor and outdoor spaces with wood fire pits, a tasting room, and – being Italian – wood-fired pizza ovens that crank out handmade pizza. It’s raved about as being the best in PEC!

As for wines, they do a really nice Boca Nera – but they do smaller batches so they do run out. In fact, at the time of writing this, their website says that they are “sold out” of their wine until the next year.

That said, don’t worry – you can still visit for pizza paired with a lovely Peroni beer (Eric loves Peroni!).

Karlo Estates

Address: 561 Danforth Rd, Wellington, ON K0K 3L0, Canada

Karlo Estates is known in the region for its full-body wines with fruit-heavy notes. This is because of the grape “hang-time”, their use of wild fermentation, and a reduced filtration process. Check out their Pinot Grigio or their Gewürztraminer (it’s dry).

Karlo does their wine tasting with food pairings – something that is not a standard across most wineries. You might also want to know that the food/winery is vegan-friendly!

With beautiful rustic wood interiors in the old bar that is also filled with fairy lights, the atmosphere is something else at Karlo Estates.

Oh, and if you like cats – the winery is crawling (pun intended) with cats!

Traynor Family Vineyard

Address: 1774 Danforth Rd, Hillier, ON K0K 2J0, Canada

Next up is Traynor Family Vineyard. This family-run established is a smaller operation – but that’s what people love about it. The family/staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and not afraid to experiment.

Aside from their great wines (like their Sauvignon Blanc), they also do a number of “natural wines” like their Pet-Nat. They do their own vermouth which you should try, too! Tasting is simple – with single tastes available and a flight of 7 wines costing only $12 CAD!

You can also pair your wines with some artisan chocolates if that’s more your style. People rave about the food with a taco truck often onsite.

Fun fact: they have an electric car charging station on site. So bring the Tesla if you’re in town!

Trail Estate Winery

Address: 416 Benway Rd, Hillier, ON K0K 2J0, Canada

Tucked away in PEC is a cozy and cute setting with vineyard views. This is Trail Estate, and you should check it out! The winery is known for its great outdoor space with picnic tables, Muskoka chairs, and a sun sail for shade.

The friendly staff pride themselves on their small-batch, artisanal wines that are unfiltered and lack the extra additives or tannins.

Tasting is simple – 4 wines for 8 CAD or by the glass for as little as 7 CAD. You also get to check out their new, modern tasting room. In the summer, it’s a bit more open concept and outdoor tasting is a go!

If you want sweet, try their Barrel-Ferment Riesling but they also do a nice Baco Noir.

Sugarbush Vineyards & Winery

Address: 1286 Wilson Rd, Hillier, ON K0K 2J0, Canada

If you want to check out a self-described “garagiste” winery, then you need to go to Sugarbush. Owned and operated by a PEC couple, they specialize in only making small-batch, fine wine.

When you arrive at Sugarbush, you can tell they mean it – it’s basically one house on some land with vines behind!

Don’t let this fool you, though. You’ll find great wine here. They do wine-by-the-glass in the summer and have a tasting bar under their pavilion which you can enjoy.

Their wine is mainly sold onsite (and at local restaurants) because they don’t make a lot of it.

If you’re stopping by, you should check out their Cabernet Franc with a touch of maple syrup in it!

Waupoos Estates Winery & Restaurant

Address: 3016 County Road 8, Picton, ON K0K 2T0, Canada

Not to be confused with “The County Cider Company” that makes delicious Waupoos Cider, Waupoos Winery is also worth checking out.

Located right on the waterfront in the Waupoos area of Prince Edward County, this winery has lots to offer like wine tastings and a very popular onsite restaurant with water views (a reservation is a good idea).

The property is huge – they actually produce fruit and vegetables on site (which are sold across the street) and have a petting zoo for kids!

We headed inside the main tasting room which is small so watch for large groups because you might have to wait a while. We didn’t sample anything for this reason.

However, you can always check out the wine-related gifts and there’s also a Chocolate/Candy Shop with loads of classic sweets to buy.

Because of their water access, it’s basically the only winery in the area where you can get to by boat which is neat.

Things To Consider Before Visiting Prince Edward County

Before you head off to explore Prince Edward County (an area that is mentioned numerous times in our things to do in Ontario master post), here is some helpful information about the region such as getting around and where to stay.

How To Get To Prince Edward County

Prince Edward County is an island region located very much in Lake Ontario between Toronto and Kingston.

To get there, you simply take Highway 401 EASTBOUND out of Toronto and head for the major city of Belleville.

Once there, you can follow the signs southward into the region. Take Exit 543 to Highway 62 south and follow that basically all the way to Picton (the heart of the PEC region).

You could get off the 401 early (near Trenton – Exit 522 to County Road 40) but our version is the most direct with major roads to follow.

Since the total driving time is about 2 hours – Toronto traffic depending – this makes PEC a doable day trip from Toronto.

If you’re coming from abroad, it makes the most sense to rent a car in Ontario given the distances between things. Most of the wineries have parking onsite as well.

If you wanted to take the train, you could take the ViaRail from Toronto Union Station to Belleville – but then you’d still need to have a car to get to the main part of the region.

Getting Around Prince Edward County

To get around the region, you really only have three options: drive yourself, rent a bike, or hop on a Prince Edward County wine tour.

Driving Around Prince Edward County

The whole region is full of back roads and turns – that’s what makes the drive so interesting.

Stick to Loyalist Parkway (Hwy 33) as the main route through the region but watch for signs for wineries down small side-roads in all directions!

That said, cell reception can be off at times so if you are relying on Google Maps for directions to wineries, it’s best to also grab a paper map as backup. Yeah, a PAPER map. Remember those?

Also, it should go without saying but some people insist on being stupid: if you do tastings and self-drive either wait it out or have a designated driver, please!

Biking Around Prince Edward County

Alternatively, you can rent a bike and explore the region that way. You can take them for the day or longer to explore Sandbanks Provincial Park, wineries, smaller towns, and lakefront areas!

To rent a bike in Prince Edward County, you can check out bike rental companies like Ideal Bike (in Wellington). Many of the accommodations will also have bikes for rent but check ahead if this is important to you.

Pro Tip: If you want a bike rental, staying in Wellington might make more sense since you’re a bit closer to bike to the main area of wineries… but that’s just an idea to consider. The same rules apply as above – be careful if you taste and bike!

Prince Edward County Wine Tours

The safest and most enjoyable way to see the region, learn about wines, and not have to worry about navigating is to book a wine tour.

You can do this through a tour operator in the area like Prince Edward County wine tours. Eric did a tour years ago (with another company) and loved it!

If you are planning on a self-guided tour of the area, you can follow the “Taste Trail” – which includes a number of promoted restaurants, food producers, wineries, and other booze makers (yay!).

You can learn more about the Taste Trail here – but please plan ahead and enjoy responsibly!

Where To Stay In Prince Edward County

If you want to experience the region in more depth – the wineries, the small towns, and the beaches/lakefront – then you should stay a night or two.

Finding a place to stay in Prince Edward County isn’t hard – you just have to know where to look so that you can experience the area to its full potential.

Check here for accommodations in Prince Edward County.

Specifically, you’ll find that the best places to stay in Prince Edward County are Picton and Wellington.

In Picton, check out Merrill House for a B&B feel, Loyalist Lofts for some homely apartments, and The June Motel for a renovated boutique-style hotel with views of the water.

In Wellington – closer to the actual wineries – the Drake Devonshire is a very popular lakefront hotel, The Village Suites offer apartment rentals and the Newsroom Suites provide a cozy guesthouse located right in the heart of the region.

Having said that, we wrote a more detailed post on the best areas to stay in Prince Edward County as well as the types of accommodations you can find there!

Related Articles

If you plan on exploring “The County”, check out these other posts on PEC:

• Things to Do in Prince Edward County
• Where to Stay in Prince Edward County – A Detailed Guide
• Great Prince Edward County Breweries and Cideries

And there you have it – a variety of the great Prince Edward County wineries!

We have no doubt that the region will continue to grow and develop over the years to come – and it will be great to see visitor numbers boom. For now, enjoy your wine, and let’s keep PEC to ourselves!

As always, Keep Exploring, eh?
– E&L

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