Food & Drink.
The Hillier sub-region holds the densest cluster of Prince Edward County vineyards, planted on reddish-brown clay loam and sandy loam over limestone bedrock with shale fragments — the terroir that defines Ontario's most northern VQA appellation at 44°N. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir ripen this far north because Lake Ontario moderates the climate.
Black River Cheese Company in Milford and Fifth Town Artisan Cheese on the eastern ridge anchor the cheese trail alongside the vineyards.
The brief.
The Prince Edward County VQA appellation was officially defined in 2007, with primary varieties Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Cabernet Franc. Tasting rooms cluster through Hillier, Wellington, and Bloomfield along the Loyalist Parkway corridor.
The marquee window runs late May through November, with harvest peak from late September through mid-November. Black River Cheese Company is a historic farmer-owned cheddar and curd factory in Milford on the Black River; Fifth Town Artisan Cheese makes sheep's- and goat's-milk cheeses in a LEED-certified plant on the County's eastern ridge.
Tasting-room hours and harvest-season reservations are operator-dependent.
3. places.
- 01
Prince Edward County VQA appellation (Hillier sub-region)
Ontario's northernmost VQA wine region (44°N, defined 2007); densest cluster of vineyards through Hillier, with additional tasting rooms in Wellington and Bloomfield.
- 02
Black River Cheese Company (Milford)
Historic farmer-owned cheddar and curd factory on the Black River; cheese-trail anchor in the south-eastern County.
- 03
Fifth Town Artisan Cheese (eastern ridge)
Sheep's- and goat's-milk artisan cheesemaker in a LEED-certified plant; second cheese-trail anchor.
Today's read.
Cool but comfortable for layered effort · light winds · clean air.