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Yahoo
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These are the best Canadian wines under $40 — plus how to tell if a bottle is worth your cash
Plus wine insiders share the secrets to finding the best bottles at an affordable price point. Twenty years ago, asking for Canadian wine recommendations might have raised eyebrows. Today, sommeliers from Toronto to Tokyo are championing bottles from the Okanagan Valley and Prince Edward County. The transformation has been remarkable: What was once considered a novelty has evolved into one of the world's most dynamic wine scenes. The sweet spot for discovery? The under-$40 CAD range, where established producers offer genuine quality without the premium markup of their flagship bottles. Whether you're just beginning to explore Canadian wine or seeking exceptional value, here's how to shop smarter and drink better. If you're looking to switch from your current U.S.-produced bottle or just want to learn more about local Canadian wines, read on for everything you need to know. The golden rule for finding great wine in Canada: Producer over everything When it comes to Canadian wine, experts say quality varies far more by who makes the wine than what grape appears on the label. This is especially important when navigating a relatively young wine scene. "It's very much about producer," says Geoffrey Moss, one of only 400 Masters of Wine globally and an Okanagan, B.C.-based educator. Matthew Landry, sommelier and wine educator, puts it simply: "Always go for the entry-level from a top producer. Chances are, they know what they're doing." A $25 bottle from a respected winery will almost always outperform a $35 bottle from a mediocre one. Know your Canadian wine geography Canada's wine regions span three provinces that dominate quality production. Ontario, anchored by the Niagara Peninsula, produces elegant cool-climate wines. British Columbia's Okanagan Valley delivers both powerful reds and mineral-driven whites. Nova Scotia's emerging scene, particularly the Annapolis Valley, specializes in sparkling wines and aromatic whites. Within these broader regions, certain subzones are producing exceptional results. "The areas around Kelowna, particularly East Kelowna and South Kelowna Slopes, are producing mineral-driven cool climate reds and whites that really speak to the terroir," says Barbara Philip, category manager for BC Liquor. Terroir — the combination of soil, climate and geography that gives wine its sense of place — is increasingly evident in Canada's best bottles. "Vancouver Island, particularly the Cowichan Valley, is a region to keep a watch on for delicious pinot noir," Philip adds. Meanwhile, Prince Edward County has emerged as Ontario's answer to Burgundy, with limestone-rich soils producing exceptional pinot noir and Chardonnay. The insider's secret: Riesling rules Ask any wine professional to name the most undervalued Canadian grape, and riesling emerges as the unanimous answer. This represents perhaps the best opportunity for wine lovers seeking exceptional quality at modest prices. "Perhaps fortunately for riesling lovers, the grape is still misunderstood by a large segment of the population, which pulls down the price wineries can ask for these bottles," explains Landry. "Really high-end, chiselled riesling at the $35 price range is easy to find all across the country." Canadian riesling competes directly with Germany's finest expressions but often costs 30 per cent less. "You can buy some of the top rieslings across Canada, whether from Niagara or the Okanagan, which are truly world-class in quality," Moss adds. From a retail perspective, this insight holds especially true for dry styles. "The great rieslings, the dry styles especially, are still under the radar for many consumers," notes Philip. Decoding Canadian wine labels Canadian wine labels can be challenging to navigate, but understanding key indicators helps you shop more effectively. The most critical information often appears in small print. "The most critical thing to pay attention to is the source of the grapes," emphasizes Moss. "Are they grown in Canada or are they International-Canadian blends, which are largely composed of cheap imported bulk wine with little to no Canadian inputs?" Look for specific regional designations for the best chances of quality. For riesling specifically, alcohol content provides a sweetness clue if you're worried about finding a bottle that's simply too sugary. "For riesling, less than 11 per cent alcohol and you can expect some sweetness," explains Landry. Dry rieslings typically clock in at 12 per cent or higher. Beyond the classics: Exploring Canada's diverse wines While international grape varieties like Chardonnay and cabernet franc anchor many Canadian wine lists, exploring beyond these classics reveals exciting discoveries. Gamay, Burgundy's "other" red grape, produces exceptional results in Canadian conditions. "High-quality gamay can be found from terroir-driven producers like Niagara-based winemaker Thomas Bachelder, Jeff Moote of Divergence and Ilya Senchuk of Leaning Post," says Leah Spooner, a Toronto-based wine writer and communicator. But don't underestimate Canada's potential for reds in general. "We make every type," says Landry, "from powerful Bordeaux blends and savoury syrah in the South Okanagan, to elegant pinot and gamay on the Niagara Escarpment." Where to find the best bottles of Canadian wine While government liquor stores carry many Canadian wines, the most exciting discoveries often require more targeted hunting, experts say. "The majority of the best Canadian wines can only be purchased winery-direct because they are made with the precision that can only be derived from careful, small-batch winemaking," explains Spooner. "Get on the wine trail to see the true quality of Canadian wine." This means building relationships with independent wine shops, joining winery mailing lists and planning visits to wine regions. Best Canadian wines under $40 It's an interesting time to be a first-timer exploring Canadian wine, particularly from British Columbia. A devastating January freeze reduced the province's 2024 grape crop to less than five per cent of normal production. The B.C. government temporarily allowed wineries to source grapes from elsewhere in the country, or beyond the border in Washington, Oregon and California, creating "replacement wines" that showcase producer skill despite extraordinary circumstances. If you're looking for some of the best Canadian wines under $40, here are some recommendations. Canadian white wine Hester Creek Columbia Valley Viognier 2024, $24 Leaning Post Chardonnay 2023, $30 Roche Pinot Gris 'Artist' 2024. $27 Stratus Chardonnay 2021, $35 Tantalus Riesling 2024, $28 Tawse Sketches Riesling 2022, $20 Canadian red wine Bachelder Les Villages Gamay Noir Niagara 2023, $26 Blue Mountain Gamay Noir 2023, $26 Burrowing Owl Syrah 2022, $35 Road 13 Select Harvest Seventy-Four K 2021, $28 Ursa Major Fan Fiction 2024, $28 Canadian sparkling wine Benjamin Bridge NV Brut, $27 Fitzpatrick FITZ Brut 2020, $37
CTV News
21-07-2025
- CTV News
Toronto man identified as victim of drowning in Prince Edward County
A Toronto man has been identified as the victim of one of two suspected drownings in Prince Edward County this past weekend, Ontario Provincial Police say. According to the OPP, officers with the Prince Edward County detachment were called to a resort on County Road 18 shortly after 11 p.m. on Saturday for a reported drowning. 'When officers arrived, members of Prince Edward County Fire and Rescue, Hastings-Quinte Paramedics and civilians were attempting life-saving measures,' police said in a news release issued Monday. 'The individual was rushed to hospital but was later pronounced deceased.' He was subsequently identified as a 51-year-old man from Toronto. On Sunday, shortly before 6 p.m., officers were called to a location along County Road 11 for a water rescue in the area. Police said it was reported that a group had been out in two canoes on East Lake when they decided to go swimming and could not get back into the canoes. 'One person made it to shore, and a bystander went out in his boat and pulled two other individuals from the water. The final person could not be located,' the news release read. Police did not confirm the identity of the missing person. Divers with the police service's underwater search and recovery unit will continue their search of East Lake today, the OPP said.
CTV News
21-07-2025
- CTV News
OPP investigating 2 suspected drownings in Prince Edward County
Ontario Provincial Police say a Toronto man has died and another person is missing following separate incidents on the water in Prince Edward County over the weekend. The first incident took place at around 11 p.m. Saturday on East Lake, about 40 kilometres south of Belleville. OPP were called to a resort on County Road 18 on reports of a possible drowning. When officers arrived, members of Prince Edward County Fire and Rescue, Hastings-Quinte Paramedics, and bystanders were attempting life-saving measures. OPP say a 51-year-old Toronto man was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A second report came in at around 6 p.m. Sunday from County Road 11, saying a group of people had been on East Lake in two canoes when they decided to go swimming and could not get back to their boats. Police say one person made it to shore, and a bystander went out in his boat and pulled two other individuals from the water, but the final person could not be located. OPP divers will be searching East Lake on Monday for the missing person, whose identity is not being released at this time. These incidents follow a drowning in the St. Lawrence River near Gananoque over the weekend, where a 20-year-old Ottawa man died. Officials have been reminding swimmers to take precautions near waterways and to always wear a lifejacket or personal flotation device, especially while boating or participating in water activities.
CBC
21-07-2025
- CBC
2 believed drowned in Prince Edward County on the weekend
Two people are believed to have drowned in separate incidents in Prince Edward County over the weekend, according to Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). One of the two is still missing. In a news release Monday morning, OPP said they were called just after 11 p.m. Saturday to a resort on County Road 18, which borders East Lake near Sandbanks Provincial Park. When officers arrived, firefighters, paramedics and members of the public were attempting "life-saving measures" on a 51-year-old man from Toronto. He was pronounced dead at hospital. Police were called to the second incident on East Lake just before 6 p.m. Sunday. They said four people were out on the lake in two canoes and decided to go swimming, but were unable to climb back into the canoes. One person made it back to shore and two others were rescued by a bystander with a boat, police said. The fourth person's body could not be located and is still missing, according to police. OPP's underwater search and recovery unit will be at the lake today. Neither individual has been identified.
CTV News
16-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Float plane crash lands in Prince Edward County: OPP
An Ontario Provincial Police crest is pictured on an officer's uniform. (Supplied) Two people were rescued without injuries after a float plane crashed landed in Prince Edward County, Ont. Wednesday afternoon. Ontario Provincial Police say the crash happened on East Lake in the Flakes Cove area, about 50 kilometres south of Belleville, at approximately 12:30 p.m. Prince Edward County Fire and Rescue used a boat to rescue the occupants, who had managed to get out of the plane and onto a wing, police say. Police say an increased presence of police and first responders will be seen in the area this afternoon. The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has been notified of the incident. The cause of the crash is unclear.
