Nothing is better than planning a getaway to Prince Edward County! The rural roads of the County are lined with incredible gems like fabulous farms, beautiful beaches, and wonderful wineries. While many flock south for wine in Niagara, Prince Edward County is a rising star. Along with wineries, this southeastern Ontario region is also home to a number of breweries, cideries, and distilleries. And if you’re anything like us and looking for fun experiences, you’ll love our list of unique places to drink in Prince Edward County.
It’s become a tradition for us to head out to The County and dig into its hidden gems. We’re doing the leg work and belly stretching for you! That way you can plan the perfect getaway with our handy guides. Whether you’re looking for the best places to eat in Picton or top wineries, we have you covered!
For those looking for hidden gems, you’ll love these fun boozy spots in the County that offer a unique experience. And mouth-watering drinks too! There’s everything from spirits with chickens to ciders with views!
The Top Unique Places to Drink in Prince Edward County
TerraCello Winery
Along with being one of the best wineries in PEC, TerraCello Winery offers a unique place to drink! Set among the rolling countryside, guests will be transported to Italy at TerraCello.
With long wine making tradition in his genes, the owner, Tony, became the youngest wine maker in the county when he started at 25. Fast forward to today, and he’s still giving you a true taste of Italy with his wine and food.
Creating small batch, non-commercial wine, Tony says he, ‘works with the rhythm of nature,’ to make his wine. Just like his father did! His wines offer a unique flavour that’s smooth. My favourite is his blush!
At TerraCello guests can enjoy their wine in the renovated barn or on the vine-draped patio overlooking the vineyard. Both offer an atmosphere that exudes Tuscany!
In addition to wine, TerraCello is famous for Tony’s fresh Italian pizza. With imported Italian ingredients and an authentic Napoli wood-fired pizza oven, these handmade pizzas are a must try! Gluten free crusts are also available.
There’s also a variety of other Italian appetizers on the menu too. I highly recommend the Caprese salad with handpicked tomatoes from the farm.
One thing to note is that TerraCello accepts walk-ins only, no reservations are available. Plus, if you’re travelling with your pup, the patio is dog-friendly.
TerraCello Winery Information
Address: 2436 Prince Edward County Rd 1, Bloomfield, ON K0K 1G0
Hours: Saturday & Sunday 12pm – 5pm for September
Phone: (613) 243-2523
Kinsip House of Fine Spirits
Set on an 80-acre farm, Kinsip House of Fine Spirits is a gem! Originally a hops farm, even through the prohibition era, it’s no surprise that it has an edge.
The name stems from the joy of drinking with kin and that’s exactly the vibe at Kinsip!
At Kinsip House of Fine Spirits they pride themselves on grain to glass spirits. They grow many of products that go into crafting their alcohol, like corn. Then source the rest locally, like botanicals and herbs.
They offer a wide range of spirits, the most diverse in the County! You’ll find gin, whiskey, vodka, liqueurs and more. Before you buy, enjoy a spirit tasting on their gorgeous property.
Flights come with 3 different samples. The staff at Kinsip are so enthusiastic and friendly, they’ll walk you through the options and help you choose. Plus, they also serve fun cocktails made with their spirits like Aperitivo Spritz and Kinsip Sangria.
Beyond the amazing spirits, the experience and atmosphere at Kinsip are what make it one of the most unique places to drink in The County!
Standing tall, like an enticing Hitchcock film star, is the Cooper-Norton house. The stunning building dates to 1884 and in the back half is where tastings are done in the winter months.
During the beautiful summer days, the house’s side lawn is the perfect spot to enjoy your drink. Watch the nearly 50 chickens roam the farm with their crazy hairdos and names. Say hi to Chickaletta and Chad for me! Along with the house and lawn, there’s also a cozy barn to savour your spirits in.
Our favourite was their Saffron Liqueur that offered a smooth limoncello flavour.
Kinsip House of Fine Spirits Information
Address: 66 Gilead Rd, Bloomfield, ON K0K 1G0
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 10am – 6pm, Friday & Saturday 10am – 8pm
Phone: (613) 393-1890
Huff Estates Winery
One of the largest and most popular wineries in the County also offers unique experiences. Huff Estates Winery produces high-quality vintages with a variety of different wine tastings.
Similar to other wineries visitors can enjoy a traditional wine tasting. No reservations are required and you can take it indoors or on the patio overlooking the vineyard. Next is the Experience Tasting. This tasting includes a brief tour of the production facility, and a guided tasting with premium stemware.
Guests looking for an elevated experience should opt for the Barrel Cellar Tasting. Included in this tasting is a full tour of the facility and a guided tasting in the Barrel Cellar. Along with a tasting of a flight of three wines, you’ll also get to indulge in one barrel sample. Plus, you’ll receive cheese pairings. One thing to note is that this tasting requires reservations.
There’s more to cheese at Huff Estates! The vineyard is also home to a restaurant serving wood-fired pizza. In addition, every Sunday in the summer there’s live music.
The County is best known for its wineries but there’s also a thriving art scene too. Another reason that sets Huff Estates Winery as one of the most unique places to drink in Prince Edward County is its art. The property is home to Oeno Gallery, a contemporary art gallery with intriguing pieces. In addition, there’s a sprawling garden with unique sculptures too.
If you’re looking for Prince Edward County accommodations, Huff Estates is also a luxury inn. You can indulge in a wine tasting, some pizza and wander back to your room. All within steps!
Huff Estates Winery Information
Address: 2274 Prince Edward County Rd 1, Bloomfield, ON K0K 1G0
Hours: Sunday to Saturday 10am – 6pm
Phone: (613) 393-1414
Old Salt Cocktails
One of the most unique places to drink in Prince Edward County is at Old Salt Cocktails! Set along one of the many rural roads in the County, this cocktail bar stands apart for a few key reasons.
The main reason that sets Old Salt Cocktails apart is that its not in a permanent building but a cute mobile trailer! This renovated vintage trailer gives beach vibes with their cocktails and tiki bar-inspired picnic tables. And who can resist cocktails with names like Aperol Betty.
Along with cool cocktails, this fun PEC stop serves up mocktails and what they call ‘dream dogs.’ These classic sausage on a bun come cooked perfectly and stacked with tasty toppings.
Visitors to the County and stop by any time during opening hours May through October. This seasonal mobile cocktail bar also offers memorable tastings. Be sure to book at least 24 hours in advance.
I highly recommend booking one of their Cocktail Tasting Flights. Each comes with either a flight of 3 or 6 mini cocktails. In addition, you’ll learn about the backstory behind each of the cocktails.
Plus, if you’re staying at for a few days in the County and want to bring the drinks to your place, Old Salt Cocktails will do that too! Their at home bartending service is ideal for families or groups who’ve booked an Airbnb or cottage for their stay.
Old Salt Cocktails Information
Address: 883 Closson Rd RR 1, Hillier, ON K0K 2J0
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 12pm – 5pm, Friday & Saturday 12pm – 6pm
Phone: (289)339-8968
Midtown Brewing Company
If you’re a fan of craft beer, you’ll want to head for Wellington to enjoy a fantastic pint from Midtown Brewing Company. Originally a meat packing plant back in the day, it has been transformed into the town’s first and only craft brewery.
Founded by Mark Andrewsky and Paul Lees, the latter being an expat from the United Kingdom. It’s not surprising to hear that Midtown’s forte is traditional English-style beers drawing straight from Lees’ heritage. Midtown offers five core brews: a dry Irish stout, the County Kolsh, an extra special bitter, an India pale ale, and a pilsner. However, you will find Belgian and German style brews on the menu as well alongside the odd sour.
What may come as a surprise though is that Lees began brewing at the early age of fourteen. Why? Because his father wouldn’t let him go to the pubs back home! Clearly that passion has paid off as Midtown Brewing has become one of the top destinations in Wellington!
If you’re not a big fan of beer, never fear! Midtown Brewing offers a decent selection of wines though their cocktails are what really set them apart – especially their beer cocktails! Enjoy sipping on a taste of Europe with the radler (MBC kolsch with lemonade), the snakebite (MBC lager with Waupoos cider), or a beesar (aka a beer Caesar with gin, MBC lager and all the Caesar fixings). Of course, they also have classic cocktails such as the negroni, their spin on a cosmo, and even an Aperol Spritz!
No matter what you’re drinking, it’s always a good idea to enjoy an order of their famous fries with parmesan and garlic mayo. Trust us, these fries make Midtown Brewing one of the top restaurants in Wellington.
Midtown Brewing Restaurant Information
Address: 266 Main St, Wellington, ON K0K 3L0
Hours of Operation: Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 am to 8:00 pm, Fridays & Saturdays from 11:30 am to 9:00 pm
All My Friends Beer Co
While your ELO gals often travel solo to cover more ground for great eats and drinks, the trips we get to do together are the most special. So with a name like All My Friends Beer Co, we knew we had to check it out!
One of the newest players in the Prince Edward County craft beer scene, All My Friends opened in May 2022. Brewmaster Robert Snowdown dabbled in beer making during his college days to later follow his passion by studying at the Institute of Brewing and Distilling in London, England. However, it wasn’t until the pandemic that he took the plunge and put the wheels in motion to open All My Friends with partners Bill McMenomy and Brian Turcotte.
If you’re a fan of IPAs then you’ll want to ensure a stop at All My Friends Brewing Co is on your Prince Edward County itinerary. They’re all about the hops with over half of their beers either being New England or Hazy IPAs. Even some of their blondes and lagers are dry-hopped! Two of their biggest hitters are their Hypnosis and Paranoia brews.
However, Snowdon and his team are fans of experimentation. They ponder three or four new beers each and every month which keeps their small-batch beers fresh and unique – and there’s nothing more unique than their Gusher series. These smoothie sours are out of this world! If you’ve never tried one before, it begins with a sour beer base and later brewers add vast amounts of unfermented fruit puree. This crafts a taste, appearance and mouthfeel that resembles fruit smoothies. You honestly won’t even know you’re drinking beer! They sell out SUPER quick though so be sure to visit ASAP whenever one is released.
Trust us when we say you won’t find anything quite like their Gusher brews and this makes them one of the unique places to drink in Prince Edward County!
All My Friends Beer Co Information
Address: 8 Stanley St Unit 5, Bloomfield, ON K0K 1G0
Hours of Operation: Wednesday through Sunday from Noon to 6:00 pm, Closed Mondays & Tuesdays
The County Cider Company
Would you believe that the first cidery in Ontario calls Prince Edward County home? Or that they’re technically an estate winery? The joys of liquor licensing in Canada! It clearly didn’t stop The County Cider from producing some of the finest hard cider in the province since 1995.
An apple producer for over 170 years, this family-owned and operated business grows 16 varieties of apples across their two orchards. Originally spearheaded by Grant Howes who is known to many as the Grandfather of Cider in Ontario, he took the reigns of the family farm with the vision of producing stellar hard cider from locally grown Prince Edward County apples. In just two years after starting production, you could find County Cider in the LCBO!
Grant unfortunately passed unexpectedly in 2017 and he is still missed to this day. However, The County Cider is now led by his wife Jen who is an absolute firecracker. Harvesting 1600 tonnes of apples each year, the team now produces 350,000 litres of cider each year! European and French cider apple varieties such as Bulmer’s Norman, Yarlington Mill, Dabinett, Michelin, Tremlett’s Bitter and many more are used to craft eight flavours of cider from their flagship County Cider to their County Feral brewed with late-season apples in combination with cranberry and wild raspberry essences.
What’s even more unique is their ice cider. With the style originating from Quebec in the early 1990s, this style is crafted similarly to ice wine as it’s made from frozen grapes in that the juice is extracted from frozen cider. The County Cider’s ice cider is created with Northern Spy, Russet and Ida Red apples as they remain on the trees through the frigid temperatures of winter! Enjoy it unaged or barrel-aged in local COACH barrels with flavours of county oak, ash, cherry and hickory.
No matter which of their beverages you choose to partake in, they are best enjoyed on The County Cider’s gorgeous outdoor patio. Pull up a seat and enjoy some wood-fired pizza or take your beverage to one of the Muskoka chairs in the orchard. Either way, we can confirm that the cider tastes better when you’re sipping on it with the best views in Prince Edward County as your backdrop!
The County Cider Company Information
Address: 657 Bongards Crossroad, Waupoos, ON K0K 2T0
Hours of Operation: Daily from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm for the Bottle Shop & Tasting Room, Friday through Tuesday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm (Closed Wednesdays & Thursdays) for the Patio Restaurant
Enjoy a Unique Taste of Prince Edward County!
As you can see, there is no shortage of unique flavours to be found across The County. Whether you’re a cocktail aficionado, wine enthusiast, or love sipping on a pint of beer or cider on the patio, there’s something for everyone in Prince Edward County.
No matter how you choose to imbibe, please do so responsibly! The County is quite large and often requires driving between destinations. Always stay within your legal limit or if you’d like to enjoy more liberally, ensure you have a designated driver or book your own brewery tour!
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