Appellation
PRINCE
EDWARD
COUNTY
Appellation STATS
2021-22 Annual
Production (9L Cases)
Growing
Degree Days
Number of
Wineries
Number of
Appellation Wines
Common Varieties Pinot Noir Chardonnay Cabernet Franc Pinot Gris
Appellation OVERVIEW
Prince Edward County is located at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, just south of Belleville, and encompasses the County, Amherst Island and a narrow strip of land to the north. At a latitude of 44°N, this is Ontario's most northern appellation and relies on the lake to provide a moderated and productive cool climate growing season.
Limestone BEDROCK, stony SOILS, low YIELDS, excellent fruit CONCENTRATION
Officially defined in 2007 as a VQA appellation of origin, Prince Edward County is separated from the mainland by the Bay of Quinte and completely surrounded by the waters of Lake Ontario. Bays, inlets and coves surround "The County" as it is known, creating more than 500 miles of shoreline, including the well known Sandbanks beach.
Characteristics
TOPOGRAPHY
The topography of Prince Edward County is irregular with deep valleys digging into the broad flat Trenton limestone that is the foundation of this appellation. A gradual rise from north-east to south-west is crossed by a number of long east-west gentle ridges and occasionally steep rugged escarpments.
On the northern and eastern shorelines high rocky bluffs rise to an elevation of a hundred feet or more while the western shore has many inlets with sandy shores and large sand bars which define bodies of water such as West Lake and East Lake.
Prince Edward County is an appellation full of meso climates and terroir conditions that provide the basis for the distinct wines that are produced here.
SOIL
Soils throughout this appellation are mostly reddish-brown clay loam to sandy loam that overlay a limestone bedrock embedded with shale fragments. The stony surface and numerous rock and shale fragments within the soils allow water to drain into the limestone, which ensures good drainage of winter-melt and substantial root penetration for mature vines. This rocky soil also allows good heat conduction and retention and encourages early warming in the spring.
Produced by and shared with permission from the Wine Marketing Association of Ontario/VQA Wines of Ontario.
CLIMATE
Most vineyards in this appellation are located in areas that receive maximum benefit from lake breezes. Prevailing southwesterly breezes travel steadily across the Bay of Quinte which moderate temperatures throughout the year and are especially beneficial during the warm summer months, keeping average temperatures around 22 degrees celsius, with pleasant cooling during the hotter days and keeping cool nights at bay.
Notable Features
The broken limestone bedrock and stony soils of this appellation allows for excellent drainage in the spring and acts like a wet sponge throughout the growing season, forcing vines to grow deeper during the hot summer months and produce small yields with concentrated flavours.
Wine personalities
The limestone and stone flecked clays of Prince Edward County produce low yielding vines and wines of good length that express the minerality and complexity of the soils.
White wines show floral, sometimes herbal overtones and well-balanced acidity. Elegant, cool climate Pinots with pronounced minerality on the finish share the County spotlight.
