Kawartha Localist is an editorial series from kawarthaNOW sharing trusted local recommendations, hidden gems, and favourite discoveries from people who know and love this region. It’s what we love about where we live. Kawartha Localist is sponsored by Kawartha Financial Services.
From sparkling waterways to outdoor adventures, the greater Kawarthas is well known for crafting experiences you can’t find anywhere else. But it’s about time it also get the recognition it deserves for being a picturesque wine country destination.
While not as famous as the wine regions of the Niagara Peninsula and Prince Edward County, the Kawarthas has its own share of award-winning vineyards, unique fruit wines, and meads (honey wine), each made by local families using local ingredients.
You can experience behind-the-scenes tours and tastings, celebrate an event, or sit back on the patio to sip a glass while enjoying delicious bites, live music, and unbeatable views. What more could you ask for?
Here are a few wineries, vineyards, and restaurants across the greater Kawarthas producing unique wine experiences.
Experience grape-to-glass dining at Rolling Grape Vineyard in Bailieboro
When Jonathan Drew first planted vines in 2012 and established Rolling Grape Vineyard in 2018, his goal was to bring the charm of wine country to Peterborough County. Today, this grape-to-glass vineyard experience is one of the most loved in the region for a number of reasons, including the food, the atmosphere and, of course, the wine.
Located just south of Peterborough in Bailieboro, Rolling Grape Vineyard is home to 12 acres of vines that can be appreciated from the expansive patio, where there’s always something on the go. From local live music held every Thursday and Sunday to yoga classes, salsa dancing parties, sip and shop events, and more, Rolling Grape Vineyard is a place for connection and celebrating local growers and makers.
Diners also come back time after time for Rolling Grape’s signature wood-fired pizza, for which everything is made in house as much as possible.
As for what to pair with your meal, one of Rolling Grape’s most popular wines is the Marquette, a red wine that’s lighter than a Merlot with earthy tones and dark fruits, as well as the zesty Seyval Blanc, flavourful with pear and grapefruit, that Drew says was well-loved this summer.
You can get a taste of these and more — we’re talking a selection of Pinot Grigio, Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and more — with tastings and flights on the patio, while getting the opportunity to learn about the wine and food pairing. Throughout the year, there are also opportunities to book private wine tours that will take you through the whole vinification process from grape to glass.
Rolling Grape Vineyard is located at 260 County Road 2 in Bailieboro. To learn more and browse the selection, visit rollinggrape.com.
Get a taste of award-winning fruit wine at Kawartha County Wines in Buckhorn
At Kawartha Country Wines, good wine is all about crafting connections with local farmers. At this family-owned and operated winery near Buckhorn, everything is made on the premises with fruit from McLean’s Berry Farm and other nearby growers.
The winery launched with just three wines more than 20 years ago and has since introduced new products every year. Today, there are now more than 50 wines and ciders on the shelves, ranging from sweet to dry.
While you might think of fruit wines as being sweet, one of the bestselling wines is a dry blackcurrant that earned Kawartha Country Wines a gold medal at the All Canadian Wine Championships this summer. Out of over 1,000 entries from more than 200 wineries across the country, Kawartha Country Wines earned six medals, including the top Double Gold for the Haskap Dry and the Sour Cherry.
The ciders similarly saw stellar reviews, with various products earning Double Gold, Gold, and a Bronze. Co-owner Donna Rufa says the accolades are not only a success for Kawartha Country Wines, but they put Buckhorn and the Kawarthas on the map for those seeking out quality wine experiences. The experience is further fostered when you enjoy the wine on the Buckhorn property where there’s always an event on the calendar, including classes, workshops, and live music.
Other favourite blends found at Kawartha Country Wines include blueberry wines, rhubarb wines, and a new velvet cherry mead, made with honey from Honeybees Honey & Co. Not sure where to begin? Kawartha Country Wines offers free samples, or you can book a private tour for groups of anywhere from two to 50 people. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the process and get exclusive samples.
Kawartha Country Wines is located at 2452 County Road 26 in Buckhorn. To learn more, visit kawarthacountrywines.ca.
Sip on mead wine made on-site at Applewood Farm & Winery in Seagrave
Another producer vinting wine from locally grown fruits is Applewood Farm & Winery, located in Seagrave just southwest of Kawartha Lakes.
Husband-and-wife team Stephanie and Matt Passafiume started the winery back in 2000 on his family’s farm in Stouffville before relocating in 2020 to the 104-acre Seagrave property, where a charming and rustic barn invites you in for a sip on the cozy patio.
All the products at Applewood Farm & Winery are made with fruit, much of which is grown on site or otherwise sourced from local farmers. With 32 beehives, Applewood Farm & Winery also produces their own honey which is used to make the farm’s award-winning varieties of mead — including one that’s crafted with their own homegrown lavender (lavender bouquets, pillow sprays, and sachets are also available).
As for popular wines, you won’t want to miss out of the award-winning bestseller, the Trio, made with a blend of raspberries, cranberries, and blackcurrants for an off-dry wine with crisp acidity. The canned crabapple and pear cider is another favourite for a light and balanced blend.
Until the winery shuts down after Christmas, you can enjoy these by the glass or sample flights on the patio or by the campfire. Take your time enjoying the property that’s abundant with offerings including farm animals and a pollinator garden, with food trucks and live music available on some days. In the early spring, you can even pick your own mulberries!
The winery will soon be rolling out their seasonal pumpkin cider and pumpkin moonshine, which will kick off the season when Applewood Farm & Winery is in full swing. From the end of September until Halloween, you can head to the farm for a cider or glass of wine on the patio before wandering through the 30-acre corn maze, picking out the perfect pumpkin in the pumpkin patch, taking a wagon ride, or otherwise enjoying the harvest season on the farm.
Applewood Farm & Winery is located at 2055 Saintfield Road in Seagrave. To learn more, visit www.applewoodfarmwinery.com.
Order wine-based cocktails and fire-prepared shareables at Cheeky Duck Vineyard in Selwyn
After launching his hospitality and culinary career working in farm-to-table restaurants across Europe, Josh Keepfer was determined to create his own space that combined his experience, goals, and philosophies.
What began with Kitchen Pharmacy, a catering company that now does more than 60 weddings and other events throughout the year, turned into Cheeky Duck Vineyard, a seasonal farm-to-table dining experience in Selwyn Township.
The family-run property prioritizes sustainability with a focus on zero-waste and regenerative practices, including the use of runner ducks to assist with grazing and pest control.
Today, the five-acre vineyard produces Baco Noir, Marquette, Vidal, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and La Crescent varieties which are blended together with grapes from other vineyards to produce the wines.
The most popular Cheeky Duck wines are the Merlot, Riesling, and Rosé, which blends the Cabernet Franc and the Vidal. The wine can be purchased in the brand-new Quack Shop at Cheeky Duck Vineyard, where you’ll also find Cheeky Bee Honey made from their own beehives, as well as other locally made apparels and goods.
When you’re dining on the patio, you can not only sip on the wines produced with grapes grown on site, but you can also order unique wine-based cocktails. These innovating drinks pairs well with the intentionally crafted shareable dishes prepared on a live fire, including the rabbit porchetta, Cornish hen, and pavé potatoes that are well-loved customer favourites.
Cheeky Duck Vineyard is located at 1786 Youngs Point Road in Selwyn, around six kilometres north of Lakefield on the west shore of Katchewanooka Lake. To learn more, visit www.cheekyduckvineyard.com.
Learn about and get a taste of international wines at Elmhirst’s Resort in Keene
We’ve given you the scoop on all the places to find locally made wine, but if you’re in the mood from some international tastes you can’t find anywhere else, the North Shore Wine Society at Elmhirst’s Resort is the place for you.
Located on the north shore of Rice Lake in Keene, Elmhirst’s Resort is a year-round retreat featuring 30 waterfront cottages as well as two farm-to-table restaurants and other amenities designed for an elevated stay in Peterborough County.
Last year, fourth-generation owner Greg Elmhirst developed the North Shore Wine Society as an accessible way to introduce international wines that people might otherwise have a hard time finding on their own. It invites people through the wooden door of the underground wine cellar at the resort, which dates back to 1951, to learn about wine, dine on great food, and connect with others wine lovers in the region.
By signing up, you’ll have access to a quarterly e-newsletter with farm-to-table food features from the resort chefs as well as wine education, reviews, and stories from sommelier and educator Christopher Wilton.
Wilton will also be sharing his knowledge and passion during the quarterly in-person dining events, to which members of the Wine Society will have first access. With Greg leading the events, these are “unconventional” meals paired with quality wines from across Ontario and the world, including hard-to-find sips from Chile and France.
Elmhirst’s Resort is located at 1045 Settlers Line in Keene. To learn more about the North Shore Wine Society and to sign up for the free membership, visit elmhirst.ca/wine-cellar/.
Kawartha Localist is an editorial series from kawarthaNOW celebrating the places, experiences, businesses, and communities that make our region extraordinary. Written by people who live here, work here, and have spent nearly 30 years exploring the Kawarthas and surrounding region, each edition shares trusted local recommendations, hidden gems, and favourite discoveries from across Peterborough County, the City of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.
Whether you’re looking for your next hiking trail, favourite patio, scenic drive, farmers’ market, or weekend adventure, Kawartha Localist is what we love about where we live.
Kawartha Localist is sponsored by Kawartha Financial Services.
