Approaching Karlo Estates winery in Prince Edward County, Ontario, you’ll be greeted by a grand barn built in 1805 that’s situated amidst gorgeous natural county grounds. The vineyards lay a baseline for breathtaking skyscapes and old stonework graces the property in the front stone wall, wide walkway and entrance to the barn, and in their must-see dry-stone bridge beyond the grapevines. Once you enter the winery, the monumental barn becomes overly welcoming and cozy, with its’ large wooden bar, and antique furniture and rugs in front of the fireplace. If you’re lucky enough, you may even find yourself comfortably sunk in to a soft, red velvet chair in the speakeasy lounge in the afternoon…evening…(what time is it?) indulging in delicious wine and plant-based charcuterie.

Spencer had spent time working at high-profile Canadian wineries such as Benjamin Bridge in Nova Scotia and Ravine Vineyard in Niagara before landing at Karlo Estates seven years ago. His precision with Burgundian varietals, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay place these wines on a platform amongst the province’s best.

The use of hybrid grapes used by Karlo Estates can’t go without mention. Their portfolio is stacked with delicious wines made from hybrid grapes, including my favourite, the port-style Van Alstine Red. They were the first commercial winery to have Frontenac Blanc plantings in Ontario which they used for their indulgent, white port-style Van Alstine White. Karlo Estates has single handedly proven that the best way to present these hybrid grapes is in a unique fortified style.

Sponsored content, but as always, thoughts are my own.