The Lake Erie North Shore region of southwestern Ontario was the earliest and most vibrant commercial wine growing area in Canada until the end of the 19th century. Today, as a Designated Viticultural Area (DVA), and with the number of wineries on the rise, Lake Erie North Shore is reestablishing its reputation as one of the country’s best wine regions.
    Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes and during the growing season its surface temperature is considerably warmer. This, combined with the region’s southerly situation and a higher degree of sunshine hours and heat units, ensures a desirable level of ripeness for well structured and flavored wines. Harvest here can be weeks ahead of other Ontario regions. And good thing, as the shallowness of the lake also means it is the first to cool off in fall, bringing and abrupt end to the growing season. The lake’s shallowness also leads to problems during very cold winters when the lake can freeze over, leaving growers concerned about vine hardiness.