Prince Edward County has to be one of my favourite tourist destinations in the world – more specifically, one of my favourite wine destinations. Although Ontario’s coolest and most northerly wine region boasts world-class wines that I am consistently raving about, this place is so much more than just a wine destination. Below is an inside guide to some of my most cherished places in the County:
Where to eat
7 Numbers
This is a southern Italian inspired restaurant, where you’ll find delicious food prepared by Chef Jay McColl who takes immense pride in his farm-to-table cuisine that has always been at the forefront of his lifestyle and cooking style. He truly lives the farm-to-table mantra in his daily and professional life (he loves fishing and foraging), using locally sourced food as much as possible.
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Chef Jay is passionate about creating dishes that diners have never tasted before, like an ostrich meatball that I enjoyed, or combining foraged ingredients into comfort foods like his fresh, handmade gnocchi – which I can attest, is the best gnocchi I have ever tasted. The balance of texture and flavours is heavenly. Every dish of the five-course meal is a blissful experience. The gnocchi was the first of two “best ever” dishes of his that I had the pleasure of tasting during my visit to 7 Numbers, the second being the crème brulée.
Chef Jay has trained under and cooked alongside Canada’s most elite chefs, and it shows. His food alone is worth a trip to the County.
Stella’s Eatery
After tasting Chef Leah Marshall Hannon’s food at Élévage: PEC Winter Wine Festival, I just knew I had to check out her restaurant. Chef Leah’s food, and restaurant name, is inspired by her great grandmother Stella. Stella’s community only had a small general store for supplies and otherwise survived off the land through hunting and foraging. Chef Leah reflects this farm-to-table style at Stella’s Eatery by using fresh, seasonal ingredients from local County farmers and suppliers.
The cuisine by Chef Leah is defined by using simple ingredients to bring out fresh, natural flavours and combining them in perfect culinary symbiosis. Comfort food, with a unique signature of her own. She even seems to have an unofficial “Chef Leah Fan Club” as I overheard some other diners joke about as they raved about her food.
My favourite dish during my visit was off their curated Countylicious menu – grilled mushrooms with sea truffle, hominy grits, black garlic emulsion, and walnut. Stella’s Eatery is a one-of-a-kind, exceptional dining experience.
Midtown Brewing Company
Midtown Brewing Company is the perfect place to recharge in Prince Edward County. It’s located on Main Street in Wellington, so it’s the optimal centralized lunch location for the area’s attractions. It has a fun, relaxed atmosphere with a large bar and dining area. Midtown has great beer and pizza in addition to my personal favourite menu item, their delicious burgers. I’m very particular on quality when it comes to handmade burgers and Midtown delivers. When it’s also the local watering hole for industry locals, you know it’s a worthy visit.
Where to drink
Closson Chase Vineyards
Closson Chase Vineyards is hands down one of my favourite wineries. A big old bright purple barn and a large, shaded garden provide the perfect, quiet, rustic setting to drink some of Canada’s best wines. (Not to mention it’s one of the most Instagram worthy places in the County!)
The winery specializes in pinot noir and chardonnay, and winemaker Keith Tyers is making world-class expressions of these grapes with Prince Edward County’s top tier single vineyards. Their entire portfolio focuses on small-lot, high-quality wine. To taste the outstanding wine that Prince Edward County really has to offer, Closson Chase Vineyards should be at the top of your list.
Karlo Estates
Karlo Estates is a must-stop winery in Wellington. Known for producing the world’s first vegan wine, they are now an entirely vegan certified winery and provide a vegan friendly portfolio of wine, as well as dairy-free cheese and plant-based charcuterie. Their wide-range portfolio caters to any wine lover as it includes everything from full-bodied reds to crisp whites, and highly acclaimed port-style wines.
The winery is a spacious barn built in 1805, and includes a welcoming, large outdoor area that’s available to enjoy a glass of wine and a snack that you can take along paths down the vineyard to a more secluded picnic area near their dry-stone bridge. Karlo Estates is always hosting exciting events and live music in their tucked away speakeasy wine lounge, and at their outdoor venue when the weather permits.
Loch Mór Cider Company
Prince Edward County has much more to offer than wine, and this cidery is a true testament to that. An excellent spot to sip premium dry cider on the patio with a beautiful orchard view.
Owners Sara and Gary opened the cidery in 2017 with the intention of producing high quality dry ciders that showcase interesting structure with tannins and complex flavour profiles. Sara is one of three Canadian certified Pommeliers and can offer a wealth of knowledge when it comes to cider and food pairings.
One of my personal favourites from their lineup includes the Loch Mór Pommeau – a traditional fortified cider, and the first of its kind in Ontario. This is a unique tasting experience you don’t want to leave off your sip list. Recently, Loch Mór created a delicious Maple Pommeau made from locally sourced ingredients that brings cider tasting to a whole new level.
Where to Stay
The Drake
Both the Drake Devonshire and the Drake Motor Inn are in the heart of Wellington and only a stone’s throw away from each other. An art-filled hotel that’s retro-chic and colourfully loud is easily the hot-spot place stay when visiting the County. The hotel perfectly reflects the hip, off-beat vibe that the County exudes.
The Drake Devonshire includes a large adult games room with ping pong and shuffleboard, an outdoor tennis court, and is also equipped with one of my favourite dining areas in the County. A large, restaurant area with a beautiful bar and patio that sits right on the edge of Lake Ontario. They also have a fire pit to enjoy outdoors on the beach in the warmer months. You just can’t beat these views.
The Prince Edward County Church
Close to the city of Belleville, but not far from downtown Wellington and wine country, is an 1800s church that’s been converted to a four-bedroom Airbnb. It’s large, spacious, and fully stocked with everything you could ever need for a getaway. The building’s attention to detail, including the new addition to the church, is remarkable and there’s exciting nuances at every turn. There’s even a fully functional confessional booth. An old-meets-new vibe and décor that is so cozy, and SO very cool.
There’s plenty to do with kayaks and a canoe for the water that the property backs on to. With bicycles for riding around locally, and a full library and games, you’ll never want to leave. This is the perfect spot for a friends retreat in the County.
County events
Beyond the regular programming of intriguing designations that Prince Edward County has to offer, there are plenty of events to enjoy, including:
Élévage
Élévage: PEC Winter Wine Festival 2023 was a huge success for the inaugural launch. The weekend event was held at seven winery venues over two days, with each winery hosting a few different producers’ wines along with some cider. This is a great way to squeeze in as many County producers as you can in one weekend and get a true feel for what Prince Edward County has to offer.
At each hosting winery, there is also a local chef showcasing the County’s culinary history of using preservation and fermentation techniques used throughout the winter months, giving a full embodiment of the gastronomy that is Prince Edward County. A fun-filled cultural food and beverage festival for wine amateurs, wine professionals, and foodies alike. Mark your calendars – next year’s event falls on Family Day weekend.
Countylicious
A food lover’s dream, this three-week event spans across Prince Edward County’s local favourites and new-on-the-scene restaurants. The restaurants that participate create a locally themed prix fixe menu that celebrates the natural bounty of the County. This event is ideal for those looking beyond just a beverage-based tour.
Pro Tips
Although Prince Edward County is a quaint countryside, the best destinations it has to offer can be quite far away from one another, located in different small towns within the County. For this reason, be sure to plan your touring spots prior to your visit so you don’t waste a large chunk of your day just driving.
Don’t plan too many stops in one day. The laid-back, easy-going vibe is all part of the County’s charm and is worth spending extra time at each location to fully soak in the environment. Ideally, I find three to five stops throughout the day to be just right.
Finally, look for VQA certified wineries when wine touring in the County. This way you’ll be sure to be tasting the best that Prince Edward County winemaking has to offer.
– Leah Spooner is a contributing editor for VineRoutes