These Nova Scotia wineries offer great experiences all year

Did you know Nova Scotia is a wonderful wine touring destination? And while summer and autumn are certainly the high season, a number of Nova Scotia wineries stay open year-round. By offering fantastic seasonal experiences, they’ve become great destinations no matter the weather.

The Annapolis Valley is the heart of Nova Scotia’s wine country. If you’re planning to go wine touring in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley, check out the five wineries below. Each one offers something special for visitors to enjoy at any time of year.

Through multiple visits, we’ve put together information on visiting Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley in summer — consider a summer wine tour with Vintage Vino Tours — or taking an Annapolis Valley winter road trip. Have questions about planning a Nova Scotia wine tour? Join our Facebook community!

Please road trip responsibly. If you’ll be wine touring, do so with a designated driver.

Produced in partnership with Tourism Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia: Home of Canada’s first vineyard

Canada’s winemaking history goes back farther than you might think. The very first European grape vines planted in North America took root in Nova Scotia!

French settlers established a hillside vineyard in 1611 in Bear River, 40 kilometres from their habitation known today as Port-Royal National Historic Site. This makes Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley Canada’s original wine region.

Today, the Annapolis Valley is the agricultural heart of the Maritimes. On top of more than a dozen wineries, you’ll also find cider producers, distilleries, family-owned farm markets, and a friendly and welcoming atmosphere at every turn, and any time of year.

What wine is Nova Scotia known for?

The grapes that go into white wines and sparkling wines grow best in Nova Scotia’s cooler climate. This has given rise to Tidal Bay, Nova Scotia’s own appellation wine. Through a designated blend of wines that leaves room for creativity, Tidal Bay is a signature wine that’s off-dry, light, and naturally pairs well with seafood.

More than 20 varietals are available to Nova Scotia winemakers as they develop their own versions of Tidal Bay. The primary 51% must comprise of one or more of l’Acadie Blanc, Vidal, Seyval Blanc, or Geisenheim. These hardy hybrids grow well in Nova Scotia and widely seen in vineyards across the province.

To use the Tidal Bay name, wineries submit their versions each year to be judged by a blind tasting panel. Each example is assessed for the target flavour profile, which is “lively fresh green fruit, dynamic acidity, and characteristic minerality.” Tidal Bay wines can’t exceed 11% alcohol content, and 100% of the grapes used in them must have been grown in Nova Scotia.

When you try a Tidal Bay wine, you’re sampling a melange of flavours you’ll find only in Nova Scotia!

From summer to winter, Benjamin Bridge creates immersive experiences

Benjamin Bridge is a great example of a Nova Scotia winery that’s open and creating great experiences for visitors all year long. It’s nestled in the Gaspereau Valley, which the locals call a valley-within-a-valley as the larger Annapolis Valley surrounds it.

Stop in any time to enjoy a traditional wine tasting or the Bubbles & Bites sparking wine and food pairing. You can even extend your visit by exploring the hiking trails through the vineyard’s 170 acres.

Seasonal events take place throughout the year. For example, book the Winter Vineyard Adventure and a guide will walk with you through the snow-covered vines to the banks of the Gaspereau River, where a roaring campfire awaits. Mix a cocktail in a glass made of ice, then sip on Benjamin Bridge’s signature Nova 7 wine while making s’mores by the riverside with homemade marshmallows.

Benjamin Bridge incorporates inclusivity and sustainability into many of its business practices. The winery is a Certified B Corporation and a member of Regeneration Canada, which promotes regenerative agriculture. Through a partnership with the Mi’kmaq of the Glooscap First Nation, half the proceeds of the Glooscap First Nation Rosé go directly to this Indigenous community.

A series of non-alcoholic wine alternatives, including the Piquette Zero series and the new Nova Zero, lets designated drivers and people who don’t drink be part of any wine tasting experience.

Indulge in great wine and cuisine at Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards

On the edge of the Nova Scotia town that gives this winery its name, Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards takes a year-round approach to farm-to-table dining. In addition to wines crafted to showcase the terroir of its 40-acre vineyard, both the summer patio and the dining tables in the tasting room look out across breathtaking views of Cape Blomidon and the Bay of Fundy’s Minas Basin.

This family-owned farm winery follows organic and biodynamic practices, from winemaking to livestock rearing and fresh produce that goes directly into the dishes they serve. In summer, sit outside with a glass of wine and enjoy pizza from the wood-fired oven. During the winter months, the Taste of Place three-course set of small plates with wine pairings takes centre stage.

If you’ll visit on a Sunday, try the kitchen’s take on a traditional Nova Scotia Sunday ham dinner with all the fixings.

Sip and explore history at Domaine de Grand Pré

As the longest-running modern farm winery in Atlantic Canada, Domaine de Grand Pré offers a gateway to a rich history. The vineyard, which was established in the late 1990s, connects directly to two nearby very significant historic sites.

The Landscape of Grand Pré UNESCO World Heritage Site preserves a remarkable 3,013 acres of farmland that sit below sea level, protected from the tides of the Bay of Fundy by more than 8.5 kilometres of dyke. This system was created by the Acadians, who called this area home until they were expelled from Atlantic Canada by the British in 1755. It was an astonishing feat of engineering for North American settlers in the 17th and 18th centuries.

In the summer, a visit to Domaine de Grand Pré can fill an entire day. Hike through the vineyards, see the expansive view of the farmlands from the Landscape of Grand Pré view park, and learn more about the area’s Acadian history at Grand-Pré National Historic Site. Then, return to the cobblestone patio at Le Caveau, the winery restaurant, to enjoy a great meal.

During the winter, Domaine de Grand Pré draws visitors in with its welcoming tasting room and freshly melted raclette to enjoy alongside your wine flight.

Stay in a cozy farmhouse at Planters Ridge Winery

Planters Ridge Winery, located just outside Port Williams, offers both a year-round wine tasting room and an onsite bed and breakfast. The Stay at Planters Ridge is a three-room converted farmhouse featuring custom-built furniture, ensuite spa bathrooms with heated floors and soaker tubs, luxury toiletries, and European-style breakfasts in the mornings.

Overnight guests are invited to use the terrace on the 160-year-old heritage barn after hours, which has stunning views of the countryside. This cozy accommodation makes an ideal home base for exploring Wolfville and the surrounding area.

Enjoy year-round wood-fired pizza at Bent Ridge Winery

If you’re traveling a little off the beaten path, don’t miss Bent Ridge Winery near Windsor, Nova Scotia. Pulling up to this winery feels like arriving at an old-world cellar thanks to the building’s yellow walls, green shutters, and clay roof tiles. The wood-fired pizza oven operates year-round, augmented by Argentinian grill nights and free music on Fridays.

Bent Ridge Winery is located across the road from Ski Martock, the only ski and snowboard facility in western Nova Scotia. This makes the winery an ideal stop for an afternoon apres-ski of pizza and wine by the enclosed patio’s wood-burning fireplace.

Nova Scotia’s wine region is part of our Southwest Nova Scotia road trip >

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