By Chadsey’s Cairns Winery
Prince Edward County
Prince Edward County (PEC) is located 220 km east of Toronto. It is just south of Belleville. The ground is atypical with many valleys and the foundation is limestone. The cracked limestone base and the stony soils allow bilge in the spring, take in all the water which allows the vines to go deep in the Indian summer, and yields a flavor that is potent, rich, full-bodied and robust. The breeze from Lake Ontario gives maximum benefit to the vineyards of PEC.
As you exit the 401 and go south towards PEC, it is an amazing escape from the boring monotony of the 401. You are transformed into the countryside lined with unique vineyards in a succulent canvas of agrarian serenity.
Welcome to my series on vineyards in PEC. Before you head out to a vineyard please read this guide on how to enjoy your trip. In this series, I will cover the following vineyards: Harwood, Casa-Dea, Rosehall Run, Norman Hardie, By Chadsey’s Cairns and Kent He.
By Chadsey’s Cairns Winery
As you enter the winery, there is a decent parking lot and several picnic tables. A nice walk from the parking area to the tasting area. I notice a unique cemetery that is on my left-hand side and on the right is the vineyard itself.
This is as rustic as it gets in PEC.
Richard Johnston and Vida Zalnieriunas started planting vineyards in 1999 which was originally the Chadsey family farm. The vineyard is about 24 acres consisting of Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, St. Laurent, Gamay and Pinot Noir.
Epochal Tasting Room
The tasting room is in an exemplary apple house from the 1850s. This is one of the most authentic PEC wineries that has maintained an affinity with the land. The barn is illustrious and triumphant overlooking Lake Ontario. As you enter it, a frame is formed for the vineyard. History is laid out for you.
Winemaker
Vida’s philosophy matches with Sartre and Confucius. Her past career as a journalist and a psychotherapist has allowed her to be analytical and have an approach of a midwife.
Farmhouse Rental
If you want to experience living in a vineyard, help out in the field and watch the sunset then this is the perfect place to come. The 5 bedroom comes with a well-equipped kitchen with a gas stove and a dishwasher. Guests get complimentary passes to Sandbanks and North Beach and complimentary tastings.
Top Recommendation
2017 Roxey Rose
The rose is oaked and you can get the strawberry freshness and a great wine to sip on your patio.
By Chadsey’s Cairns is located at 17432 Loyalist Parkway in Wellington, Ontario. You have to make a pilgrimage here to this iconic winery.
Photo Credits: By Chadsey’s Cairns Winery by Suzanne Schroeter CC-BY-SA 2.0, Chadsey Pioneer Cemetery by Leonora (Ellie) Enking CC-BY-SA 2.0, The vineyards by Leonora (Ellie) Enking CC-BY-SA 2.0,
Thanks for telling me about new wine brands. Tasting new wine is my favorite hobby.
I love the vibe of this winery so much! I mean, come on… The tasting room is an old apple house?! Amazing!
The vineyard concept is truly unique. There are many around me, and every time I visit or even shop there, I feel the magic of nature within me.
I really enjoy this series where you introduce different wineries. Reading this blogpost is also informative.. Beautiful photos.
This sounds like another winery I’d have my daughter and her friends check out since they love trying different wines. Wow, that tasting room alone sounds so historic, I can only imagine all the history it holds. Definitely seems like a great place to visit one day.
Yes, I certainly would like to experience living in a vineyard that is so different and sounds like it would be a wonderful idea for myself and my girls friends for a trip away from the husbands. We do like to be in the outdoors and to be doing different things from the norm so it would make a lovely welcome change. Of course we would be making the most of complimentary wine tastings each day. It would be a great opportunity to get some more wines for my cellar, we’ve almost run out!!
So love me a winery. There’s a city near me with Prince Edward that has some wineries, so at first I thought this was the same place. Perfect way to spend a spring day. Cheers!
This sounds like such a lovely winery experience, I can almost picture the peaceful setting and beautiful views. I love discovering places like this that combine great wine with a relaxing atmosphere.
I want to try this winery at some time. It is a great experience to have this because it is not easy to look for a winery in this generation.
It is always fascinating to read about vineyards and the owners behind them. They are a diverse and innovative group of people who have decided to explore their love of the land and its wineries. A real treat here!
I’ve never been to a winery before since I don’t drink wine, but this one looks like it would be worth it just for that scenery. And the building would be so neat to explore.
Wineries have a vibe of their own. I have visited wineries in Italy and tasted fine wine and that memory doesn’t leave me.
However, Chadsey’s Cairns Winery offers a comfortable stay and that sounds so amazing!
Thanks for adding another destination to my bucket list.
Driving past that old cemetery on the way to the tasting room feels like a mood. That apple house has so much character compared to those modern spots. I bet the breeze from the lake is refreshing.
My cousin lives in PEC, and we’ve been talking about visiting one of the vineyards there. I love that they offer farmhouse rentals. It sounds like such a nice experience to stay on the property. Do you happen to know how much the rates are?
This looks like such a beautiful place to visit. I love wineries that offer both great wine and a relaxing atmosphere, and this seems like the perfect balance of both. Your photos really capture the experience.