One of the most southern municipalities in Ontario, Essex County is situated on the 42nd parallel in line with Northern California and Italy! That means warm summers and mild winters for the most part.
Award-winning wineries speckle this community including Feast On® certified stops like North 42 Degrees Winery (home of Bistro ’42) and Oxley Estate Winery! With some of the best growing conditions for grapes, you’ll definitely want to check out the Essex wine route (we recommend doing it by bike in the beautiful weather or getting cozy and going for a winter drive when it’s cold out).
Situated on the shores of Lake Erie, there’s no shortage of beaches to enjoy, fresh-caught perch and pickerel at local restaurants and trails to take in while you’re there. Go for a drive along the beach and be sure to bring some cash for the many fruit stands and markets dotting the area.
Essex (and the greater region of Windsor-Essex-Pelee Island) have a rich history in greenhouse farming and you’ll be dazzled by the fresh, delicious product you can find here!
So what are you waiting for? Start planning your visit.
Growing Oxley Estate Winery
When Ann and Murray Wilson purchased what is now the Oxley Bluff Farm in Harrow in 2010, it was growing... Continue reading→
Local Brewers To Face Off In Friendly Competition In Bid To Be Named Master of the Brewniverse
Brewers from across Windsor-Essex have been busy making special recipes they hope will help them achieve the title of Master... Continue reading→
Meet the winners of the 7th Annual Best of Windsor Essex Awards
Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island is pleased to announce the winners of the 7th Annual Best of Windsor Essex Awards as voted at bestofwindsoressex.ca “For the... Continue reading→
Our perfect day in Essex starts with a coffee at Acorn and Oak Coffee Shop or lunch at Woodcraft Pizza and Bar to enjoy a little craft beer and a woodfired pizza (the name says it all). Windsor and the surrounding area are known for their pizza so it’s only fitting to start your visit this way.
From there, we’d be ready to hop on our bikes to cycle the greenway, stopping for some sushi at Vang’s Thai Sushi for a mix of Thai, Japanese and Vietnamese cuisine and finally heading to the Essex Railway Station to learn about some of the fascinating history of the area.
When it comes time for supper, we’d check out North 42 Degrees Winery or Oxley Estate Winery, both VQA and Feast On® certified wineries serving up their own wine and delicious food. Each with menus that change with the season and views of stunning vineyards, you’ll want to come back again and try the other (or have two dinners- we’re not judging).
Exploring the Region?
Here are a few great places to start.
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