Warm Up With 7 Superb Winter Wine & Cider Tours in Nova Scotia
Published February 13th, 2025
Photography by Jay Kana unless otherwise noted.
Photo by Steph Wallcraft
I kinda like winter. A lot. Maybe because I played hockey as a kid and enjoy skiing. Maybe it’s because my birthday is March 12th, the tail end of winter. I also have a love of Nova Scotia, which might be the Pisces in me, might be my passion for kayaking and it’s definitely my appreciation for this special place in the world I’ve soaked in often.
Bringing those two together, my partner, Steph Wallcraft of RoadTripper.ca and I spent a wonderful winter week exploring Nova Scotia’s wine country. And yes, cideries are included because it’s a fast-growing industry, especially in Nova Scotia where there are apples aplenty.
While Nova Scotia has popularity in warmer months, there’s plenty to partake in during winter in Nova Scotia, especially via wine tours. There’s also an excellent array of food offerings included at each destination winery.
As a bonus point before you fill your glass with this list, if you’re looking for a Nordic spa experience that’s close to Nova Scotia’s wine country, Saltair Nordic Spa and Wellness comes highly recommended from Steph and myself from first-hand experience.
Lastly, please, please, please don’t drink and drive. Have a designated driver with you.
Annapolis Cider Company
Wind your way to Wolfville and your reward is the famous Annapolis Cider Company.
They’ve got award-winning ciders and everything’s done on-site.
The red coloured exterior makes it nearly impossible to miss and upon entering, there’s seating and a retail space.
Indulge in a cellar tour and or a tasting flight during your visit to this cheerful, colourful establishment. Over 10 flavours await you, with the Earl Blue (Earl Grey Tea and Nova Scotia Wild Blueberries) being one of the most popular sellers.
They’ll be celebrating a decade of delicious drink offerings in 2026 and are hyper-local by working with local fruit growers forthe highest-quality fruit grown in the Annapolis Valley.
Benjamin Bridge Vineyards
A cool attraction Benjamin Bridge offers in winter is their Winter Vineyard Adventure Riverside Fire & Wine Tasting, and it’s exactly as wonderful as the name implies.
The hour-long experience takes you for a short walk through the vineyard to the shores of the Gaspereau River. Note that some of it is uneven terrain so be sure to wear appropriate winter footwear.
Our exceptional guide, Ryan, led us to a picnic table with the ingredients for a cocktail that he then kindly prepared for us. Cleverly, they were served in-house made ice glasses!
From there, it was a 30 second shuffle to the fire pit, which was roaring with warmth beforehand and paired perfectly with the S’mores that we made.
Did the gentle movement of the river, fresh snow on the ground and dancing flames make the S’mores taste better? Definitely maybe.
Ryan gave us a history of Benjamin Bridge, the region and answered all of our questions.
Just outside the main building boasts open fire pits and seating areas to enjoy.
The Winter Vineyard Adventure Riverside Fire & Wine Tasting tour runs from mid-November through March on Friday to Sunday, at 1 pm & 2 pm.
This award-winning establishment has a wide selection of wines, sparkling wines and non-alcoholic wines and are dedicated to sustainability.
Bent Ridge Winery
Steeped in Latin culture, Bent Ridge is a small-batch winery, craft brewery with an Italian and Latin flavoured menu, complete with a woof-fired oven. The aptly-named restaurant, Fuego, means ‘fire’ in Spanish.
The patio is converted for winter with coverings and a roaring fireplace for comfortable dining with a terrific view of the mountains.
Wine offerings include a blended white, unoaked Chardonnay, riesling, and a selection of reds.
The first grapes were planted in 2010 and the winery opened in 2018 and today, they should be on your list of wineries to visit. Plus, they’re the closest winery to Halifax!
Grand Pré Winery
The Tasting Bar at the famed Grand Pré Winery has an exceptionally warm and welcoming vibe, complete with wooden barrels aplenty, strand lights and glass enclosures for some of their many wines. They’ve earned dozens of awards and offerings include Tidal Bay, sparkling wines, chardonnay, ciders, pinot noir and more.
There’s select food offerings, including the ever-pleasing for cheese lovers, raclette.
The wine tasting tray suspends the glasses through a creative design and this splendid spot is a great way to spend an hour or two.
Lightfoot and Wolfville
This Annapolis Valley gem specializes in small-lot wines, with offerings that include Tidal Bay, riesling, Chardonnay, pinot noir, cider and more.
The open concept tasting room sets the mood for a memorable experience, led by staff experts.
The restaurant portion is spacious yet the table settings can be intimate, creating a somewhat private feeling for guests. The wine pairings are explained in approachable detail, the cuisine is exquisite and this upscale destination creates an experience like no other.
Their well-rounded menu includes a traditional “Sunday Ham Dinner” and “Friday Fried Chicken Dinner.” Matching their marvellous menu is an ideal wine pairing for each item.
Maritime Express Cider Company
This converted railway hotel in Kentville houses their restaurant, retail store and production space. We popped in for brunch and the upbeat vibe made the visit that much more enjoyable.
With clever names for their ciders, including Conductor Cranberry, Porter’s Perfection, Train Hopper, Wandering Rails and others, it blends the heritage of the community with the modern day cider offerings.
Food portions are sizeable and delicious and if you follow my lead, you’ll grab the fried chicken sandwich.
Planters Ridge Winery
Housed in a modernized barn that’s been there since the 1860’s, this Port Williams winery offers panoramic views of the area from their tasting room and a cozy fireplace to sip your wine by. This state-of-the-art winery produces Tidal Bay, riesling, Chardonnay, sparkling and dessert wines.
There’s also accommodations on site via The Stay at Planters Ridge, which we enjoyed for two nights as we explored this magical part of Canada.
Bonus Beer Tours
The Church Brewing Company
A short walk from the Annapolis Cider Company is where you’ll find this stone-built church that’s more than a century old. Modernized just enough while keeping the spirit of its past in place, the dining room portion is a terrific use of space and there’s an upstairs portion (sorry, no pipe organ) that can be used as well.
There are nine offerings, including an IPA, lager, pilsner, lager, porter and more. Add in a welcoming vibe, fabulous menu, including a fried chicken sandwich and wonderful chicken wings and much more, and you’ve got a great reason to go to church.
Alexander Keith’s Brewery Tour
In the heart of Halifax is the Alexander Keith’s Brewery and after taking a tour, it’s certainly far more than beer. Yes, the beer is good and the tour guides are impressive but more than that, the storied history of the community is highlighted. There are heaps of historical documents, photographs and our tour featured a live musical performance from local musicians.
The hour-long tour takes you through special parts of the building, including part of the production process of one of North America’s oldest working breweries.
So yes, the beer is a tasty attraction but it’s the stories and heritage that seals it.