PEI Wineries, Vineyards & Meaderies? Oh My!
Do you know the difference between a winery and a vineyard? Okay, so a vineyard is like an orchard and grows grapes whereas a winery fulfills the next step and produces wine. The ultimate difference is that a vineyard doesn’t technically make wine. Now, do you know what a meadery is? Well! Mead is an alcoholic beverage that’s created by fermenting honey and water. It’s also referred to honey wine.
Prince Edward Island is now home to at least five wine producers with products displayed in island liquor stores, and around the world! The island may be small, but the people here like to dream big.
Here’s a list of PEI wineries you have to check out if you appreciate both wine and PEI.
The Rossignol Estate Winery
The founder, John Rossignol, moved to Little Sands, PEI, in 1990 from Ontario and found himself making wine. Delightfully surprised by the creative energy this craft stirred within him, Rossignol turned his hobby into PEI’s very first commercial winery. The first Rossignol product made its appearance in 1994; now, the company has a remarkable assortment of premium quality table wines, fruit wines, and liquors produced without the use of pesticides (points to Rossignol for being eco-friendly!). John Rossignol recognizes fruit wines as the true regional product for the Maritimes and Eastern Seaboard, so he’s on a mission to establish with consumers that fruit wines are a great choice.
11147 Shore Rd, Murray River
COVID-19 Hours: Sat & Sun 11am-5pm
902–962–4193
http://www.rossignolwinery.com/
Matos Winery & Vineyard
In 2007, after researching the quality of a 50 acre piece of land on PEI, the Matos family decided to establish a vineyard in St. Catherines, 23 minutes Southwest of Charlottetown. Jamie and Heather Matos are both from the island of Pico in the Acores, which is found off the coast of Portugal on the Atlantic Sea. Jamie Matos ran an accomplished U-Brew business in Ontario for 20 years while also making efforts toward creating a superior wine. Owning his own vineyard and winery was always his dream. He even travelled the world to find the perfect location. It turned out that PEI was the place!
3156 West River Road, Rte 9, Saint Catherines
Tue to Sat 10am-5pm, Sun & Mon 1pm-5pm
902–675–9463
https://matoswinery.com/
The Island Honey Wine Company
Charles and Laura Lipnicki own “La Serena Farm” which is where the Island Honey Wine Company stands today. There they produce mead, aka honey wine, as well as other products like honey, mustard and self-care items such as soap and lotion. They opened in July of 2017 and operate this mini paradise in harmony with nature. A herd of sheep mow the grass, bringing fertility to the soil, and ducks keep the insects and pests at bay. The Lipnickis focus on producing world class meads that’s true to the Island by using local, climate friendly ingredients, and their honey which truly reflects the time and place.
820 Millboro Rd Rte 243, New Glasgow
Mon to Sat 11am-5pm, Sun 12pm-5pm
902–626–9362
https://www.islandhoneywine.ca/
Canoe Cove Meadery
Daniel Ficza knew he would run his own business one day so he got a head start by keeping bees at 18 years of age. Daniel and his wife Beatrice are from Switzerland but have been in Canada since 1984. In 1994, they started “Honeydew Apiaries” which is now known as Canoe Cover Meadery, home to over 200 beehives and found just 25 minutes Southwest of Charlottetown. The Ficza family started with producing honey and repurposing byproducts into candles and skin care items and then started producing mead which eventually found its way to the shelves of PEI liquor stores.
980 Rte 19a, Canoe Cove
Everyday 12pm-5pm
902–314–3959
Newman Estate Winery
This family run winery was created with the community’s generous support and would not be what it is today if it weren’t for that neighbourly care. Winemaker and president Mike Newman planted the first Newman Estate grapevine in 2008 which allowed him to produce his first market wine in 2011. Now, Mike runs the winery in the summertime and takes on engineering contracts throughout the off-season. Today, the Newman Estate Winery offers three types of wine: White, Red, and Green.
2404 Gladstone Rd, Murray River
Saturday 11am-5pm & Sunday 12pm-5pm
902–969–6421
https://www.newmanestatewinery.com/
Visit your local PEI liquor store and look for the “local” or “PEI” wine section, or just ask an employee for assistance. You’re guaranteed to find a wine (or mead) from one of the wineries listed above. If you really like what you taste, you can extend your wine appreciation experience by taking a trip out to one of these wineries for a tour!
Other Sources:
https://www.purewow.com/food/difference-between-vineyard-and-winery#:~:text=A%20vineyard%20is%20a%20plantation,licensed%20property%20that%20makes%20wine.&text=Conversely%2C%20a%20winery%20can%20operate,brought%20in%20from%20outside%20vineyards.
https://www.ratebeer.com/brewer/13142/sort/1/
https://freemarketplace.ca/ad/canoe-cove-meadery-prince-edward-island/
https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/local/pei-beekeepers-win-bronze-for-honey-wines-at-world-competition-59556/
