Congratulations to the Top 20 Wineries of 2023, standouts from diverse regions throughout the province, determined by our editorial team’s visit experiences, and celebrated for their exceptional wines
In an on-going process, our editorial team tastes hundreds of Ontario-made wines through both pre-arranged and casual drop-in visits, and from these tastings and visits, the team selects the Top 20 Wineries of the year by way of a preferential ballot.
Learn more about the criteria involved in helping us decide Ontario’s Top 20 Wineries each year
This year’s top 20 list is made up of wineries situated within Ontario’s three defined VQA wine regions: The Niagara Peninsula, Prince Edward County, and Lake Erie North Shore. The list calls out remarkable portfolios of wines in addition to exceptional service and other experiential attributes.
Join us in congratulating these highly acclaimed wineries!
Listed in alphabetical order, the top 20 Wineries in Ontario are:
Since 1998, 13th Street Winery has continued to establish itself as one of the top small producers in the province, winning praise for many of its small lot, estate grown table and sparkling wines. The winery has become an experiential visit for its customers, offering a popular bakery boutique and art gallery in addition to its full-service tasting bar. Pop-up events are a regular occurrence during spring, summer and fall months, utilizing the larger outdoor space surrounding the winery. Voted as a Top 20 Winery since 2022.
Situated in the Lake Erie North Shore region, Cooper’s Hawk Vineyards is a boutique winery celebrated for its warm hospitality and diverse wine offerings. With a focus on quality, they produce wines ranging from robust reds to crisp whites. The picturesque vineyard and tasting room provide a serene setting to enjoy their estate-grown wines. The winery’s commitment to sustainability and community engagement, along with their on-site restaurant, adds an extra layer of charm to the experience. This is the first year that Cooper’s Hawk has been voted as a Top 20 Winery.
Experts in crafting premium chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot gris, they’ve helped put Prince Edward County on the map for wine lovers and casual tourists. An early advocate for sustainable practices, Closson Chase crafts fine wines that reflect each individual vintage, capturing the distinct qualities imparted by the soil and climatic variations of the year. Their penchant for producing quality, terroir driven wines matches their focus on the customer experience. Voted as a Top 20 Winery each year since 2020.
CREW – Colchester Ridge Estate Winery
Located within Ontario’s Lake Erie North Shore VQA region, CREW was established in 2001 by the husband and wife team of Bernie and Nancy Gorski who planted 12 acres of vines on their family land. Today, that land has matured beautifully, producing expressive wines, each of which uniquely generates its own experience and interpretation, and represents the experience and talent of each member of their CREW. Also voted as a Top 20 Winery in 2021.
Recently celebrating an exciting re-brand, Flat Rock Cellars is one of only 12 certified sustainable wineries in Ontario. Their strategy here is to combine sustainable, quality-driven vineyard management practices with proven traditional winemaking techniques and an uncompromising commitment to quality and innovation. Utilizing their 5–level gravity flow design, their wine can be crafted using the gentlest of processes from picking of the grapes through to the filling of the barrels. Their ‘Gravity’ Pinot Noir is a true standout and testament to their process. Voted as a Top 20 Winery since 2021.
An artisanal, terroir-focused winery dedicated to crafting premium wines solely from their own sustainably operated and certified organic estate vineyards. Whether single vineyard or estate blends, the wines produced here have a very distinct and pronounced complexity and character which bear a sense of place and time. Voted as a Top 20 Winery each year since 2020.
Nestled in the quaint community of Jordan, the Honsberger Estate is a family run farm that has been in the family since 1811! Originally a site for growing cherries and peaches, the site as a vineyard for wine growing has proven that it is definitely suited to both cabernet franc and riesling – arguably Ontario’s two flagship varieties. The wines are made with little intervention and are left to express the vineyard and its potential. Aside from its portfolio of wines, Honsberger is famous for its visit experience – from its scenic and atmospheric outdoor areas to its indoor restaurant (inside the almost two century-old barn) that cooks up some of Niagara’s most delicious meals. Voted as a Top 20 Winery since 2021.
Kacaba Vineyards is a family-owned, premium small batch winery situated on prime bench land on the Niagara Escarpment. All wines are top quality, made to have finesse and character, such as their award-winning syrah – hands-down one of the best expressions of the variety in the province. But perhaps even more notable when visiting Kacaba is their stand-out customer service and friendly staff, making a visit here a truly memorable experience from start to finish. Voted as a Top 20 Winery since 2021.
The first vegan certified winery in the world is situated on a historic loyalist property. People don’t just come here for the wine, they come to experience the barn (originally built in 1805), the dry-stone bridge and the intimate live concerts (with food and wine, of course) that act as the perfect escape. The winery tends to have a wider array of offerings, consisting of interesting single varietals and eclectic blends that showcase both the style and image of the winery and of its winemaker, the celebrated Derek Barnett. Voted as a Top 20 Winery each year since 2020.
A small operation – husband and wife duo, making their way into the wine business on their own terms. It’s an inspiring story, the type that defines the spirit of entrepreneurship. So many wineries are started this way, yet so few are able to produce as exceptional a product as these folks. This winery has a momentous future ahead of it. Their portfolio continues to expand, featuring more wines made with grapes from other neighbouring Niagara vineyards, in addition to their own estate property. Voted as a Top 20 Winery each year since 2020.
A winery that has become a base for innovation, creativity and eco-centric sustainability. Always a pleasure to visit, taste and speak with the many helpful and knowledgeable service representatives, this is a place that clearly has principles and the initiative to succeed. One of the best quality-to-price-ratio wineries in the province. Voted as a Top 20 Winery each year since 2020.
North 42 Degrees Estate Winery
A 17-acre vineyard, winery and Bistro producing award winning wines from their own estate-grown grapes in Essex County, Ontario. Husband and wife owners Martin Gorski and Suzanne Dajczak, along with the entire North 42 team are truly welcoming, inviting guests to not only taste their wines, but to experience the natural beauty of their surroundings, their culinary team’s delicious creations, and warm southern (Ontario) hospitality. They offer an authentic winery experience where you can personally engage with the owners, learn about their history, the viticultural practices and winemaking techniques. Standout wines here include their Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve – the best in the region? – and their lineup of rieslings. Voted as a Top 20 Winery since 2021.
Nestled in the heart of Niagara wine country, Ravine Vineyard is a charming family-owned estate best known for producing exceptional cool-climate wines and world class farm-to-table dining. It’s a place steeped in history, family legacy and agricultural heritage. Situated in the heart of St. Davids, their charming and historical fifth-generation family property offers a unique escape from the everyday hustle and bustle while being conveniently located only minutes from the QEW. With a commitment to organic practices, the farm-to-table restaurant, set in a historic farmhouse, complements the experience with locally sourced delights. This is the first year that Ravine Vineyard has been voted as a Top 20 Winery.
Founded in 2001 by grape grower and winemaker Dan Sullivan, Rosehall Run has been at the forefront of Prince Edward County winemaking and is noticeably among a select few wineries that can be considered a cut above in terms of quality. Producing consistent, elegant and approachable pinot noirs, chardonnays and sparkling wines as well as innovations with unique varietals. Voted as a Top 20 Winery each year since 2020.
This is a winery built for modern day winemaking, guided by ingenuity and gravity, all with the smallest possible environmental impact kept in mind. Stratus’ signature wines are much more than just a representation of this adaptable state-of-the-art LEED® certified facility; they are wines that rediscover the noble tradition of assemblage – the art of combining several grape varieties to create a single wine. Voted as a Top 20 Winery each year since 2020.
Inspired by a love for Burgundy and dedicated to producing terroir-driven wines of exceptional elegance, depth and character, Tawse’s portfolio is one of the most diverse in the province. The application of rigorous organic methods to every aspect of production, from grape-growing to winemaking, results in wines with year-over-year consistency and excellent quality-to-price-ratio. Voted as a Top 20 Winery each year since 2020.
For over 25 years now, Thirty Bench has firmly placed itself among some of Canada’s finest wineries. A boutique-style operation that’s committed to quality ‘small lot’ winemaking, every wine is limited quantity and very special in its representation of place and time. Originally built on producing world-class riesling wines, the portfolio now includes nine varietals, all made with an artisanal approach at the hands of winemaker Emma Garner. Voted as a Top 20 Winery each year since 2020.
Trius Winery is a Canadian winemaking pioneer that has been crafting fine VQA wines from premium grapes for over 40 years. The winery harvests its grapes from four distinct Niagara-on-the-Lake sub-appellations to create distinctive varietals that reflect the region’s unique taste of place. The wine portfolio showcases exceptional sparkling wines, cabernet franc, and iconic blends. The winery’s restaurant, Trius Winery Restaurant, provides an elegant setting to pair these wines with exquisite, locally-inspired dishes. This is the first year that Trius has been voted as a Top 20 Winery.
Located in the heart of the Niagara River sub-appellation, this is one of Ontario’s most spectacular estate properties – complete with sweeping vineyard views of the 130-acre property. The winery’s elegant tasting room, fine dining restaurant and stunning patio complete the standout visit experience, but there’s something that needs to be said about their wines as well. From complex, full-bodied reds, to elegant terroir-driven whites, everything done here is with class in mind. A heightened experience. Voted as a Top 20 Winery each year since 2020.
On top of picturesque Twenty Mile Bench in Jordan, this family-owned winery is housed in a 200-year-old lovingly restored Mennonite barn and pays homage to the unique terroir it rests on. The gorgeous views are usually enough to draw people in, but it’s the wines and friendly hospitality that keep them coming back. With a specialty in pinot noir and chardonnay, wines produced here are a full expression of terroir, made to reflect a belief in a sense of place and implement low yield, low intervention practices. Voted as a Top 20 Winery each year since 2020.
Announcing a list of wineries, which we feel as a team represent Ontario’s best, holds true to our vision of independently evaluating and highlighting wine tasting experiences from all around the province. Through this innovative review, we aim to encourage an exploration of our local wine industry, whilst learning about the passionate work of often previously unheralded wine makers.
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