How it all started — and why it still matters
When the final months of 2020 arrived, our small team at VineRoutes set out to create something meaningful to conclude our inaugural year. Having launched our website that spring, we were eager to develop a feature that not only resonated with readers but also reflected the enormous resilience of Ontario’s wine community during an exceptionally challenging year.
Rather than releasing a traditional “top wines” list, we wanted to do something that aligned with our core values: championing place, process, and the people behind the bottles. Focusing on the winery—not just a single standout release—felt like the right direction, especially given the countless stories we publish that highlight craftsmanship, terroir, and the visitor experience.
And so, Ontario’s Top 20 Wineries was born.
Now having completed its sixth annual edition, the list remains rooted in our mission to independently evaluate and celebrate the province’s most engaging wine destinations. For the fifth consecutive year, our selections represent wineries from all three of Ontario’s designated VQA appellations: the Niagara Peninsula, Prince Edward County, and Lake Erie North Shore.
How we evaluate
Our panel of VineRoutes wine enthusiasts considers a range of experiential and qualitative factors, with wine quality being the most weighted criterion. Additional considerations include:
- Customer visit experience
- Overall service
- Facility and setting
- Portfolio depth and variety
- Price point and overall value (QPR)
A key distinction: this list recognizes wineries that can be visited and experienced. A functioning, visitor-driven operation is essential for inclusion (our apologies to virtual-only producers).
View the most recent list of Ontario’s Top 20 Wineries
Because we are a small team, our assessments draw from winery visits conducted within the past three years. This rolling window allows us to evaluate more properties, track consistency, and consider multiple visits during the evaluation period—providing a more complete and fair representation of each winery’s performance.
Why this matters
Our goal is to spotlight the wineries that are pushing Ontario forward—whether through vineyard innovation and sustainability, terroir-focused decision-making, or a deep commitment to hospitality and customer experience. Many of the wineries we celebrate excel in all three areas, and their continued evolution reflects the dynamic energy of the province’s wine industry.
With approximately 190 wineries now operating across Ontario, our list highlights roughly the top 10 percent. These are the places that consistently impress, inspire, and demonstrate what modern Ontario wine is capable of achieving.
Each year, we invite you to explore our updated list and discover the remarkable producers who define the best of Ontario wine.
Click on any of the below banners to review current and past lists:
