Exploring the wineries, craft breweries and distilleries of Windsor-Essex-Pelee Island
Windsor-Essex-Pelee Island is a treasure trove for those who enjoy wine, craft beer, whisky and other spirits. So when you attend Vision 2023, the CPS-ECP National Conference and Annual General Meeting October 17-22 at Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ontario…
May 24, 2023
Windsor-Essex-Pelee Island is a treasure trove for those who enjoy wine, craft beer, whisky and other spirits. So when you attend Vision 2023, the CPS-ECP National Conference and Annual General Meeting October 17-22 at Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, come early or stay afterward to explore the wineries, craft breweries and distilleries of the country’s southernmost destination.
Your timing should be ideal for the fall colours as you tour Canada’s ‘banana belt’–the perfect blend of city and country bordered on three sides by 100 miles of shoreline along Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River and Lake Erie.
You can hire a local driver or company for one of the full-day Essex County wine tours, or do a self-drive tour where you visit several wineries, craft breweries or distilleries with a designated driver. Check websites or call ahead as opening hours could be reduced from the busier summer schedule.
Wineries: Taste the 42nd Parallel
Essex County is home to almost 20 wineries—most in the Lake Erie north shore region. The county was also home to Ontario’s oldest winery starting back in the 1860s on Pelee Island.
As Canada’s southernmost county, Essex is located on the 42nd parallel north, with latitude, soil and long sun exposure similar to the conditions in Bordeaux, France and the wine regions of California. With over 1,000 acres of vineyards producing grapes in ideal conditions in Essex County, it’s not surprising that the region has so many award-winning wines!
Picturesque wineries offer tastings, restaurants, patios with pizza ovens, entertainment, and wedding and special event venues. They have country views, lake views—including Viewpointe Estate Winery with lovely grounds and a view of Lake Erie, and nearby Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery with its own beach—and a lavender field at North 42 Degrees Estate Winery.
Pelee Island Winery, with 150 years of winemaking history, is the largest private estate winery in Canada. Its vineyards are on Pelee Island in Lake Erie and the winery is located on the mainland in the town of Kingsville.
Wagner Orchards & Estate Winery produces high quality fruit and grape wines. A great place for apple picking in the fall, the family business also sells homemade pies, jam, honey, apple strudel and a variety of meats. The Wagners raise their own beef, pork and poultry free of hormones, chemicals and antibiotics.
Sanson Estate Winery and From Field to Fork Foods was established in 1997 on Sanson Farms in Amherstburg, Ontario. It offers food items and food kits including natural meats, produce, homemade soups, tomato sauce and more, and, of course, wine. Sanson’s Baco Noir Reserve has been awarded Best Baco in Canada three times at the All-Canadian Wine Competition.
Ciders are also gaining traction in Windsor-Essex and are now available at Cooper’s Hawk Vineyard, Magnotta Winery, Wagner Orchards & Estate Winery and Walkerville Brewery, among others.
In the spring of 2023, the Carolinia Cider Co. launched its orchard-based cider. The business is the brainchild of sisters Megan and Janelle, two of the four daughters of Doug and Leslie Balsillie who run orchards, berry plantations, market gardens and the retail Fruit Wagon along the shores of Lake Erie. The sisters named their cider business after the Carolinian forest where their parents’ orchard (Canada’s most southerly orchard) is located. Their cider will be available at the Fruit Wagon until November.
Distilleries: Whisky and Other Spirits
Windsor is the birthplace of Canadian whisky. A short distance across the Detroit River from Detroit, Michigan, Windsor was once referred to as Whiskytown for its infamous rum running during the American prohibition era.
In 1858, nine years before Canadian Confederation, Detroit businessman Hiram Walker established the Hiram Walker & Sons Distillery in Windsor. With an innovative distilling process using oak barrels to age and flavour the spirits, the smooth Canadian Club whisky was created. Today this award-winning label is sold in more than 150 countries.
The distillery produces some of the most recognized Canadian whiskies in the world such as Lot 40 100% Rye, Pike Creek 10 Year Old and Gooderham and Worts Four Grain Blend; it is also home to J.P. Wiser’s Canadian Whisky among other renowned brands. Our Vision 2023 conference is offering a tour of the distillery with a stop at the Windsor Yacht Club.
Wolfhead Distilleries in Amherstburg was established in 2016 as the first premium craft distillery in Essex County. Featuring a restaurant, large patio and gift shop, the distillery handcrafts small-batch vodka (premium, grapefruit, banana caramel, Cosmo), whisky (premium, apple caramel, cinnamon, coffee liqueur) and gin (River’s End premium).
Copper Rose Distillers is a new, local boutique distillery in the heart of Windsor. It produces high-end, handcrafted spirits using the finest ingredients and techniques with a commitment to quality. The distillery’s Copper Rose Vodka is a premium quality vodka handcrafted with Canadian rye and distilled 12 times for a silky, smooth finish. The Copper Rose Distillers retail outlet opens in June.
Craft Breweries and Craft Beer Festival
Windsor-Essex is part of a burgeoning craft beer movement across Ontario. The region has more than 15 craft breweries, with each producing craft beers that are unique and flavourful. Many of the breweries offer varied menus or pub-style food. These inviting and comfortable breweries are perfect settings for enjoying time with friends while sampling some seriously creative libations!
Check out the link to all the craft breweries above. Some are located in Windsor while others are in small towns in Essex County. We’ll give special mention to Walkerville Brewery in Windsor, as the biggest and the oldest in our region, along with Crafts Head Brewing Company at 89 University Avenue West in Windsor, which is within walking distance of our CPS-ECP conference venue.
Conference attendees who come to the area a few days early can join in the celebrations at the 2023 Windsor Craft Beer Festival on Saturday, October 14 at historic Willistead Park in Walkerville, an area of Windsor named after Hiram Walker. (While Hiram Walker is famous for distilling whisky, many don’t know he also started brewing beer in 1885!)
About 100 different brews will be on offer, from local favourites to craft beers from some of the best breweries across Ontario. There will be fruity beers, sour beers, hoppy beers and everything in between. Entertainment, local eats and more. The event is rain or shine. Must be 19 and over to attend. Check out ticket information.
Vision 2023: Conference Registration and Hotel Reservations
For further information, conference registration and tickets: http://www.vision2023windsorcps-ecp.ca
Hotel reservations at Caesars Windsor: Discounted rate of $175 (Sunday through Thursday) and $195 (Friday and Saturday) + HST and local taxes per night if booked before September 19, 2023 (subject to availability – book early).
Reservations by phone: 1-800-991-8888. Quote Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons group code ACP1016.
(Be sure to select the week of October 17, 2023)
Vision without a task is only a dream.
A task without a vision is drudgery.
But vision with a task brings a dream fulfilled.
What is your vision?
Photo: Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island
