The Great Atlantic Canada Road Sip
Atlantic Canada’s provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island have come together to create The Great Atlantic Canada Road Sip for travellers who love a tipple in 2022. This inspired by Canada’s first winery, brewery, cidery and distillery trail – the Good Cheer Trail in Nova Scotia. With picturesque landscapes and mountains, bucket-list worthy adventures, and a delightfully delectable drinks scene, this is the perfect location to escape and unwind over an aperitif this year. Read on for Atlantic Canada’s roundup of the best wineries, cideries, distilleries and breweries from each of the four regions.
NEW BRUNSWICK
Explore a 19th century estate while sipping on some sparkles
Originally a strawberry and raspberry picking farm, Magnetic Hill Winery opened in 2005 selling only three wines. Since then, this completely renovated 1867 estate has developed an array of different wines annually that are available for purchase at locally, or on one of their fabulous tastings and tours. Visitors can also save themselves a drive after their tastings and indulge in a queen size bed, clawfoot bathtubs, and feather pillows after their tour at this unique antique home featuring carefully restored original flooring, doors, stairs and woodwork of the 1800’s.
https://magnetichillwinery.com/
Tours from £16
Get a taste of the UK with an Atlantic Canada twist at Red Rover Cidery
Noticing the previous lack of cider houses in Atlantic Canada, two British expats founded New Brunswick’s first craft cider company, serving their first customer at “The CiderHouse” in February 2014. This cidery uses fresh pressed apple juice from local farmers to create high quality craft cider; crisp, refreshing, fruity and gluten free. Red Rover began with four ciders with flavours designed to complement the seasons of the year, and have since developed additional specialty ciders playing with traditional Fredericton stereotypes depending on which side of the Wolastoq/St. John River people live on. As a result, two of their most popular ciders are the “North Cider” and the “South Cider”.
https://www.redrovercider.com/
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
Pop in for a pint and some iceberg spotting at Quidi Vidi Brewing Company Limited
Nestled in the charming fishing village of Quidi Vidi, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Quidi Vidi Brewing Company Limited is known for its famous iceberg beer which is actually made with iceberg water! With a wonderful team developing host of other flavours to try, from plum and pear, to Oktoberfest Marzen and more, there is something for everyone as well as views to die for. With the ocean and cliffs of Newfoundland and Labrador at guests’ feet, this brewery is no doubt one of the most scenic tap rooms in the world, letting them to drink your beer as they take in the sounds of the coast.
https://www.quidividibrewery.ca/collections/our-beer
Get a taste of the Newfoundland and Labrador Sea at Newfoundland Distillery Co.
They say the closer you get to sea level, the better the distillation process and Newfoundland and Labrador’s first distillery certainly knows it. Newfoundland Distillery Companies spirits have won a number of awards since their foundation in 2016, and for good reason. Their flavours are entirely unique, using local ingredients to create particular hits such as their seaweed gin and gunpowder and rose rum. Picked from the land or sea surrounding their base at the calming shores of Clarke’s Beach, Conception Bay, this distillery is a quintessential Newfoundland and Labrador Experience for any travellers Great Atlantic Road Sip.
Tastings start from £6
https://thenewfoundlanddistillery.com/
NOVA SCOTIA
Enjoy a gastronomic experience in the gorgeous Gaspereau Valley
With awe-inspiring architectural designs, and fabulous fire pits to keep visitors warm in the cool climates of the Bay of Fundy (that bear a remarkable resemblance to France’s region of Champagne), Benjamin Bridge Vineyards is the perfect place to sip sparkling wine and unwind with loved ones in 2022. Their menu features tasting flights for those who like a variety, and a rotating by-the-glass menu of exciting seasonal small-lots. Better yet, when patrons undoubtedly fall in love with their selection while looking over views of the picturesque Gaspereau Valley, they have the unique opportunity to order them time and again from Flint Wines as Benjamin Bridge Wines are the only Atlantic Canadian wine one can buy in the UK.
Tastings start from £7
https://www.novascotia.com/eat-drink/taste/benjamin-bridge-vineyards/6454
‘Tap’ your foot while Breton Brews on Nova Scotia Cape Breton Island
Located on Keltic Drive in Sydney, Breton Brewing is the star of Cape Breton Island. Their Black Angus IPA speaks to the hardy, rustic character of the place, the people and the beer. Visitors can lose themselves in the dark flavours of Cocoa Envy Chocolate Porter or find yourself down-home with one sip of Let’s Jam! Strawberry Rhubarb Sour. At Breton Brewing’s own ‘taproom’, visitors can head inside with bites from the food trucks and tap their toes to “Music on Tap” every Friday night. With Breton only shipping within Nova Scotia, this is an essential stop on an Atlantic Canada Road Sip.
https://www.novascotia.com/eat-drink/taste/breton-brewing/7708
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Celebrate that prohibition is no more with a host of flavoured moonshines
In homage to PEI’s prohibition days, Myriad View Artisan Distillery Company is the producer of Canada’s first legal moonshine. This unique distillery was founded when the family first moved to the island, noticing that while everyone drank moonshine, there was nowhere one could buy it. This delectable distillery also distils vodka, gin, rum, brandy, whiskey, pastis and Dandelion Shine, a moonshine flavoured with dandelions and aged in used whiskey barrels. Visitors can stop by this beautiful spot, overlooking the water on the Northumberland Strait, for free tastings and tours while they dive into Prince Edward Island’s culture and history.
Taste test wonderful wines while adding to your art collection at Rossignol Estate Winery
With panoramic views of the Northumberland strait, Rossignol Estate Winery has much more than just good wine. This beautiful winery has a variety of table wines, fruit wines and liqueurs that visitors can enjoy while touring the farm, vineyard, and taking in the panoramic view of Northumberland Strait. Not only this, but with an adjoining art gallery, guests can have a truly cultural day out while they shop for their next feature piece to take home as a memento from their Great Atlantic Canada Road Sip.