Eatdrink #43 September/October 2013

46 www.eatdrink.ca
№ 43 | September/October 2013
wine
The EPIC Wine Trail
Touring County Road 50 along Lake Erie
By JANE ANTONIAK
| Photography by BRUCE FYFE
Head south for a leisurely road trip
along the southern most part
of Canada — the peaceful and
picturesque County Roads 50, 20
and 5 in Essex County between Kingsville
and Amherstburg — and take in EPIC: the
Erie Pelee Island Coast wine route of nearly
20 quality wineries.
This tour will be especially spectacular
in the fall when not only are the trees in
colour but the grapes are in production
along with the incredible vegetable and
fruit bounty of this rich agricultural region
only two hours from London. EPIC is
producing award-winning wines due to the
cool breezes off Lake Erie combined with
the highest heat units in the country.
The two giants of EPIC bookend the
route, Pelee Island Winery on County Road
20 in Kingsville and Colio Estate Wines
just off County Road 50 in Harrow, are the
original wineries of the region and they
playfully fight for dibs on who started first
in 1979/80. Pelee throws down the gauntlet
when it points to grapes being grown on
Pelee Island back in the 1800s (and there
is a museum on the island to back up the
claim). Both wineries today are producing
large volumes (from 350,000 to 450,000
cases annually) and shipping across
Canada and to other countries. Both also
have successful retail outlets in China.
Pelee produces and bottles its wine in
Kingsville, bringing the grapes by ferry
from the island. It also source grapes from
other growers. Visitors can go to the island
by ferry from Kingsville or Leamington (in
season) which is a great day or overnight
trip. On the island you can visit a tasting
room and tour the gorgeous vineyards by
bike or car. There are BBQ stations at the
Pelee pavilion where you can grill your own
Photo courtesy of EPIC