Cool climate areas are prime areas for making elegant sparkling wines. Champagne is a cool region in France, and is well-known for their sparkling wines, for example. In Canada our sparkling wine industry has been booming in my opinion. As I am in BC, I see a great growth in sparkling wine production, and I have seen sparkling wines from Ontario and Nova Scotia. Prince Edward County in southern Ontario is quite a cool climate region; cooler than the Niagara region, which is on the south side of Lake Ontario. On my summer trip to southern Ontario I had a few people at the i4C Celebration tell me that I should try the sparkling wines from Hinterland Wine Company in Prince Edward County. All they make are sparkling wines. I took their advice and made the visit.
If you visit Hinterland Wine Company’s website there is information about their wines, where you can buy them, tours, etc., but nothing about the owners. I think that they must be quite quiet and humble about their wines, and let their wines do the talking for them. That being said, I researched other websites about them, Jonas Newman and his partner and wife, Vicki Samaras. They have a family and grow the winery in size, and with more equipment, when possible. They use both Charmat and Methode Champenoise to create their sparkling wines. I did have a chance to try four of their wines, with one being a cherry cider. On their wine labels is a prominent deer with antlers outline, as well as on the logo for the winery. I am not sure of the significance of this. Can someone post a reply and let us all know?
My Tasting Notes
Hinterland Whitecap 2016 Method Charmat (ON $22) – Lightly sweet stone fruit, flowers and an apple cider note on the nose. Citrus and apples, tart and dry with medium, creamy bubble. Heavier mouth feel. Some nuttiness later on. Also picked up some salty minerality. 
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Hinterland Borealis 2016 Method Charmat Rosé (ON $23) – This sparkler is made with the Charmat method (like Prosecco). It has a pale, wild rose petal colour. Light strawberry nose. Dry with higher acidity and medium bubble. Flavours of red cherries and apples. There is a nice creaminess to the bubble. Tasty.
Hinterland Sparkling Cherry Cider (ON $18) – Taking a break between my first two sparkling wines and the sparkling wine that follows, I was given their cherry cider to taste, and it was quite enjoyable. It has a medium intensity nose of red cherries, along with carrots (which may sound odd, but it is good). It is dry and has a heavier mouth feel. Tart red cherries along with carrots (good) and a floral component. The bubble is heavier and creamy on the palate.
Hinterland Blanc de Blancs 2013 Method Traditional (ON $39) – Lots of bubbles fill the glass when poured. Medium golden colour. Nice toasty, citrus nose, along with a hint of lees. It’s dry, fuller bodied, with a medium bubble. Really tart apples and prominent oak on the palate. Medium creamy bubble.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
You can purchase their wines online on their website. Many restaurants in southern Ontario also have their wines for you to enjoy with your meal. Three of their wines are also sold through the LCBO.
