Go Mad for Maple in The County this March 🍁🥞

There is nothing sweeter than the first sign of spring, especially when that sign is sweet maple sap flowing through the trees. Here in The County, sugarbushes are already hard at work tapping maple trees and getting ready for their annual harvest.

Maple season celebrations have been impacted by COVID-19 for the last two years, and it’s no different in 2022. The annual Maple in The County festival is on hold for another year, but there are plenty of other ways to enjoy the region’s maple syrup this year. Read on to put together a maple tour and get your fix this spring.

Stop by a Sugarbush

While the Maple in the County festival is not going forward this year, the sap is still flowing at the affiliated sugarbushes. If you’re looking to pick up some syrup from the source, Sweetwater Cabin/Hubbs Sugarbush, Fosterholm Farms, Vader’s Maple Syrup, Nyman Farms, Loha Farms, Roblin’s Maple Syrup and Justin’s Maple Syrup are open throughout the season for sales of quality maple products.

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Attend a Maple Madness Event

Maple Madness is a new event series in The County which takes place every weekend throughout March, with different events and specials throughout the area to bring you a taste of maple. In addition to maple syrup producers, craft beverage producers, restaurants, and other County businesses are getting in on the fun. Here’s just some of what you can experience this month:

Waupoos Estates Winery & Restaurant

Head down to Waupoos to enjoy a maple-inspired two-course pre-fixe menu experience for $35pp. These dishes are created by Executive Chef Scott McInerney and are driven by Waupoos Restaurant’s their farm to table philosophy. Don’t forget to check out their Maple-themed drink specials while you’re there. Waupoos Estates is open 10am – 3pm each weekend throughout March. While you’re there be sure to stop across the street at Clafeld Cidery & Market to purchase maple products from the property.

Three Dog Winery and Moonlight Kitchen

Head to Three Dog Winery to celebrate the first harvest of the season with maple waffles and traditional French Canadian maple baked goods from Moonlight Kitchen alongside sugar shack experiences and bonfires. All of that Fun for the whole family!

County Shores

Over at County Shores there’s plenty of maple-y fun to be had. Enjoy their grounds on the beautiful Bay of Quinte while playing maple trivia and enjoying a maple-inspired menu filled with delights like Maple Pulled Pork, Maple Butter and fresh Maple Cinnamon Rolls. You’ll also have a chance to learn about the maple syrup harvesting process, watching as sap turns to maple syrup in their wood-fired evaporator. On every weekend throughout March.

Walt’s Sugar Shack

Walts Sugar Shack is open every weekend from February 19th-March 28th from 10:00am-4:00pm, and will be serving up a pancake and sausage breakfasts to showcase the best of their maple syrup harvest (some weekends will feature other menu items – check their Facebook page for updates). The store will be open for you to purchase, baked goods, beef, pork and of course Maple featured products! Free coffee will also be available.

Kinsip House of Fine Spirits

Head just north of Bloomfield to Kinsip for a maple-y outing where you can enjoy warm maple syrup cocktails made from their famous maple whisky and whisky barrel-aged maple syrup. Be sure to follow their Facebook and Instagram for more details.

The Waring House

Enjoy the iconic taste of maple at The Waring House with their Maple Cream Tea feature, plus a variety of Maple themed items on their weekend menu. Be sure to follow them on Facebook for up to date hours and menu details.

Related: 10 Fun Facts About Maple Syrup

Koopmans Maple Mountain

Get your hands on locally produced golden maple syrup at Koopmans Maple Mountain. This maple syrup is featured beautifully in maple candy, sugar and maple butter, which you can purchase alongside their maple syrups products while supplies last throughout March. While you’re there, be sure not to miss candles from The Sugar Shack Candle Co., which includes scents such as Maple Pancakes as part of their collection.  Note, Koopmans will not be open the first weekend in March, but will be open every other weekend.

Drake Devonshire & Motor Inn

The Drake is getting in on the fun with some maple-themed additions to their famous brunch menu. Plus, if you book a two night stay at the Drake Motor Inn this March they’ll include maple-inspired brunch for four.

The County Cider Company

County Cider is opening again after a long winter, just in time for maple season! They are celebrating with a maple-y food speicial of maple apple meatballs and maple apple hand pies for dessert. But you can’t go to County Cider without trying some of their cider! Luckily they have some cider perfect for the occasion: choose from Maple Bourbon Cider and Coffee Maple Cider in pints, or go the non-alcoholic route with mulled cider.

Prince Eddy’s Brewing Company

Make maple syrup season even more rad with a visit to Prince Eddy’s Brewing Company. They’ll be serving up a twist on their popular C.R.E.A.M Ale, this time made with dark maple syrup from Walt’s Sugar Shack. They’ll also be selling a limited number of 50ml maple syrup bottles in collaboration with Walt’s. Plus, enjoy a maple-filled pop-up from The County Canteen consisting of steamed bao buns three ways: Maple Five Spice Pork Belly with Maple Hoisin and Kimchi, Maple Soy Glazed Salmon with Maple Tonkatsu Sauce, Pickled Daikon and Carrot, and Crispy Tofu with Maple Gochujang Sauce, Garlic and Ginger Mayo, Cucumber, and Kimchi. Are you drooling yet?

In addition to Prince Eddy’s, three other breweries are celebrating maple throughout March. Barley Days, Midtown Brewing and Matron Fine Beer all have maple-y plans up the sleeves of their plaid flannel shirts, so be sure to follow them on Instagram for updates about their Maple Madness plans.

The County Canteen

Speaking of The County Canteen, they’ll also be cooking up a maple feast as their Picton Main Street restaurant throughout March. On the menu is Pork Belly with Maple Cotton Candy, a Waffled Ham and Cheese Melt with Maple Butter, and a Maple Old Fashioned. Dining at The County Canteen is first come, first served, so head there early to guarantee a table.

Sugarbush Vineyards

One of the things we love most about maple season is getting outside in the early spring weather, and a great place to do that is at Sugarbush Vineyards. Go for a hike on their 2km Walking Trail that loops through the Sugarbush and Vinyard, which is open from 11:00am-4:00pm (dogs welcome). Play maple trivia as you hike, be on the lookout for fairy doors and beware of bigfoot lurking back there! After you’re done, head back to the winery for complimentary hot chocolate and a maple cookie! But if it’s wine you’re craving, wine will be available to taste, enjoy by the glass, or to purchase to take home. Be sure to wear good boots  as it could be muddy or snowy. They will be collected cash donations or non-perishable food items for the Wellington Food bank.

Lacey Estates Winery

Head to Lacey Estates Winery on Closson Road for 100% estate grown, small batch wines and while you’re there enjoy a perfect pairing of smoked sausage appetizers with maple cheddar and maple chevre.

Fifth Town Artisan Cheese

Want even more maple cheese in your life. Down in Waupoos you’ll find Fifth Town Artisan Cheese where you can sample and purchase a selection of cheeses infused with the sweet nectar. Let maple chevre, maple bourbon capreggio goat taleggio, and maple chestnut rum cressy blue cheese grace your cheese boards this March.

7 Numbers Picton

For an Italian twist on Maple, head to 7 Numbers Picton. All month they’ll be serving up maple specials like maple-brined pork belly and maple creme brulee.

Norman Hardie Winery

Join Norman Hardie Winery and Vineyard for some fine wine alongside home-smoked maple-smoked trout on their lunch menu and enjoy it all from their heated enclosures. While you’re there be sure to pick up some local maple syrup from their retail stores.

Rosehall Run

Rosehall Run is getting in on the maple fun with featured maple products for sale — Nyman Farms Pure Maple Syrup & Kinsip Whisky Barrel Aged Maple Syrup — alongside featured products for sampling and wine pairing, such as Maple Cheddar Cheese Biscuits with Pink Peppercorns.

Huff Estates Winery

Huff Estates is going all out this year with a complementary menu of maple munchies. Don’t miss such craveable snacks as “ultimate” maple bacon french toast, maple buttermilk pudding cake, maple chili, and maple blondie bars.

Hello Bonjour

Local cafe Hello Bonjour is the perfect hangout spot for Maple Madness. Open Saturdays & Sundays 8:00am-1:00pm for this event, this is a spot you want to check off your list! They’ll be serving up organic & gluten free blueberry pancakes (serve with maple syrup, of course!), maple pecan butter tarts, and extra large vegan maple “bacon” cinnamon rolls.

Sandbanks Estate Winery

You won’t want to miss maple season at Sandbanks Estate Winery. With maple s’mores, maple hot chocolate, and maple-inspired menu features each week, you’ll find something for everyone here.

Indergaard Farm

At Indergaard Farm you’ll find Walt’s Maple Syrup in their farm stand alongisde their farm fresh free range eggs. They’ll also be serving up free popcorn flavoured with Walt’s Maple Syrup. If that hasn’t already made this a must-visit stop, you’ll be excited to know that you can also visit with their alpacas and chickens!

Lakeside Motel

The Lakeside Motel is also getting in on the maple fun. On Fridays from 4-8PM, Saturdays from 9-11AM and 4-8pm, and Sundays from 9AM – 2PM throughout March, you can head to this enjoy maple in delicious style. Think Maple themed charcuterie boards, Waffles served with Kinsip Whiskey Barrel Aged Maple Syrup (or Walt’s Sugar Shack syrup if you prefer), Maple bacon, granny smith and gorgonzola pizza, as well as Maple themed caesars and cocktails. They’ll also have local artist Trevor Norris playing live music on Saturday March 12th from 5:30 – 8pm with campfires to get cozy by, as well as a heated enclosure.

Gillingham Brewery

Head to Gillingham Brewery to experience their CG County Maple Ale. An annually celebrated Canadian Spring treat fused into a delightful medium-bodied brew. A combination of honey, brown and caramel malts brewed with 100% Canadian maple syrup from LOHA Farms here in Prince Edward County. Expect aromas of soft whiskey notes which elude aged oak barrels. A smooth silky palate that finishes with a gentle hop bitterness that’s precisely balanced and lingers warming maple syrup. The perfect Canadian Spring Ale!

Karlos Estates

Karlo Estates is offering gluten-free buckwheat pancake medallions topped with Melt vegan “butter” paired to their 2020 Bubble, Sausage Party Toronto Seitan Salami paired with their 2020 Ontario Chardonnay, and maple-candied pecans with Fleur de Sel paired to their 2018 VanAlstine White. All of these delights will be available for purchase Saturdays and Sundays at the winery.

Also get tickets to their “Dinner and a Show” tasting series by clicking the link in our bio or on our website. All March “Dinner and a Show” Tastings will not only feature a local musician and a one plate meal paired to three wines, and a delectable maple treat will be offered to finish the meal. Check out all “Dinner and a Show” events on our events page.

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Cook Up a Maple-y Recipe

Grab your bottle of County-made maple syrup and cook up one of these recipes we’ve previously shared here on the blog:

Smokin Rednex County Maple Dressing

Ingredients
2 cups vinegar of your choice, such as apple cider|
1 cup County maple syrup
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon each salt and pepper

Instructions
Mix and drizzle at will.

County Cider Company‘s Honeycrisp Cocktail

2 oz Rye Whiskey
1 tbsp Maple Syrup
1/2 oz Orange Juice
a twist of Orange Peel
3 dashes of bitters
4oz of County Apple Cider

In a tall glass (or awesome cocktail mug) stir together the whiskey, maple syrup, and orange juice. Add the bitters and orange peel, then top off with the cider.

Flame & Smith‘s Ember Roasted Squash with Maple Syrup, Whiskey, Candied Pecans, and Torched Herbs

This recipe is a little more involved, so we’ve have a downloadable recipe card for you!

Download Flame + Smith’s Ember Roasted Squash Recipe

The Apple of Our Eye

If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, what will an apple smoothie protect you from? Or a whole, fresh baked apple pie? Or a cider or two?

Although harvest season lands in September, many of our apple-growers and cider-makers are open year round. We’ve peeled, sliced, diced, chopped, chomped, baked, cooked, juiced and brewed our way through the versatile fruit to get to the, ahem, core of everything apples in The County.

We hope you like them apples!

Article by George Amaro & Karen Orme

Updated August 2022 by Visit The County Staff

While grapes are the current apple of The County’s eye, orchards have been here since the early settlers. The apples provided the settlers with fresh fruit in the fall, and they used them in many different ways including in cider. During the 20^th Century – particularly during the County’s canning heyday – apples were also processed into pie filling, cider vinegar, and plain juice.

Today, you can find apples in every way, shape and form in The County. You can pick your own or can buy them at farm stands or grocery stores. Or taste their deliciousness in yummy desserts or try them in soups and salads at restaurants. You can sip them in smoothies, slushies, and of course, fresh, local cider.

Cider Insider

The region is home to eight cideries. An official cider trail, PEC Cider Route, is launching soon. Follow it on Instagram @pecciderroute, hashtag #pecciderroute.

Apple Falls Cider Co.

Apple Falls Cider Company creates ciders from apples grown and hand-picked at Campbell’s Orchards, including Honeycrisps, Northern Spys, and Golden Russets to name a few.

Premier is their signature beverage: a “very simple, traditional, clean and easy drinking cider … with green apple tartness and notes of lemon.”

Clafeld Fruit Winery & Cider House Market

Clafeld’s cider maker, Amy Baldwin, creates naturally infused ciders with dried flowers and herbs. Their flagship product is a “straight-up” cider called Smashed Apple. A few other favourites are Elderflower (made with dried elderflowers), Hey Lady, a rose cider run over Baco Noir grape skins, and Oh Beehave, which features local honey.

The award-winning cidery uses apples only from their orchards – or their neighbours’ – with some of the trees dating to 1975. They grow 14 different varieties, which are harvested by hand and pressed and processed on site.

Cold Creek Vineyards

The new kid on the cider block opened its doors in early July 2020 with its 2019 Cuvée Madeleine Cider, and promptly sold out by August!

But fret not, because you can drop by and sample, or purchase their latest release, Éirinn go Brách Cider. The 2019 vintage is described as a “traditional, semi-dry sparkling cider.” It is created with pressed Northern Spy apples, fermented in French Oak Barrels until dry, and then bottle conditioned with no fining or filtration.

County Cider Company

The late Grant Howes, known as the “grandfather of cider in Ontario,” founded the County Cider Company over 25 years ago. Today, it’s one of The County’s most popular tourist stops. They offer distinctively delicious ciders, as well as wood-fired pizza and a stunning location. The cider house sits high above a vineyard, overlooking Lake Ontario.

The company’s signature creation is its Waupoos Premium Cider, made from cider-specific apples cultivated in their orchards. These varieties include Binet Rouge, Brown Snout, Kingston Black, Yarlinton Mill, Michelin, Dabinett and others.

Crimson Cider Company

As the weather cools and other businesses head indoors, Crimson Cider Company is heading in the opposite direction. They’re embracing the outdoors and expanding their patio to offer guests the pleasure of sipping hot, mulled cider around a fire pit. Watch for it in late September/October.

The relatively new cidery is located in the original stone house that dates back to the 1850s, which fits in perfectly with their keeping-it-real-County philosophy. All of their small batch, craft ciders feature pure, local ingredients as much as possible.

While the eponymously named Crimson Cider is their flagship beverage, they offer seasonal favourites such as Mint to Be, a cucumber and mint-infused variation. Others include Bee Mine, featuring local honey, and Oh So Sappy, made with Roblin’s maple syrup. 

Fieldbird Cider

Using apples and pears harvested in their farm orchard, Fieldbird Cider offers both still and sparkling ciders, all of which rest in oak at some point in the fermentation process. Among its repertoire: Buzzing Chatter, a blend of Ambrosia and Northern Spy apples, is a Riesling-like sipper, and Sing-Song Cider, made in the traditional method of sparkling wines. The cider master and owner Ryan Monkman pens the poetically written tasting notes on the bottle labels.

Loch Mór Cider Company

If you’re looking for a unique tasting experience, then head to Loch Mór Cider Company on Friday evenings or Sunday mornings. That’s when pommelier, Sara Boyd, will take you on an hour-long stroll through the apple orchard – glass in hand, of course!

One of only three pommeliers in Canada, Sara will chat about cider making, the various apple varieties, their history, and how they’re grown. You may even get to sample a few. At this time, tours, which can be booked online, are limited to single social bubbles.

Another unique – and decadent – tasting alternative at Loch Mór are chocolate and cider pairing flights. Various ciders are served with handcrafted, artisan, dark chocolates from the award-winning Angela Roest at Centre & Main in Warkworth. Available Thursday – Sunday. Reserve in advance.

Stock & Row

Stock & Row Farm Cidery is located in Bloomfield, just down the road from Kinsip Fine Spirits. Their tasting room and outdoor seating area overlooks a youthful apple orchard and beautiful vineyard complimented by incredible sunset views.

Their ciders are all made with 100% Ontario apples, low sugar and full flavours in mind. Enjoy our tasting flight which includes their classic dry cider, Slow & Low, their key lime cider, Lime Crush, their black raspberry tea cider, Cold Tea, plus an exclusive rotation of on-site small batch ciders. Know what you want? Pints are available as well.

Cider Sips at Wineries

Hit the cider trail one day, then follow PEC’s wine route the next, where you’ll discover several wineries offering signature cider vintages among their wine offerings. Both beverages begin as fruit juice and share a similar fermenting process. Because apples contain less natural sugar than grapes, cider typically has a lower alcohol content than wine.

The Old Third has a huge fan following for its traditional method sparkling cider produced from local, Golden Russet apples. Hinterland Wine Company, known for its sparkling wines, does a lovely Cherry Cider. Farmhouse Cider from The Grange of Prince Edward Vineyard & Estate Winery, is a Normandy-style cider, still and dry, is made with a blend of nine varieties of apples.

Pick Your Own Apples + Shop

Here are a few more ways to enjoy apples. In addition to many farm stands that sell the fruit from other local growers, there are a few must-visit apple-centric markets.

Campbell’s Orchards

A visit to Campbell’s Orchards is a must at any time of the year, but especially so as the temperatures drop, and apples – all 23 different varieties of them – ripen for a pick-your-own outing. This season, picking is in small guided groups. On weekends, book a seat on the Campbell Express wagon-ride through the orchards. Bag-your-own-apples is also available at the fruit and vegetable market, along with caramel or candy apples, baked apple fritters and pies, apple butter, cider, and more.

Creasy’s Apple Dabble Farm

From September to the end of October, the bounty of Creasy’s Apple Dabble Farm’s 45-acre orchard fills its picturesque market setting in Waupoos. Over two dozen varieties of apples fill bins, including Honeycrisp, McIntosh, IDA Reds, Gala, and three different kinds of crab apple. Holly Creasy-Tyne, who works at the market, says the secret to storing apples is to keep them in the fridge to slow down the ripening process. Creasy-Tyne’s grandfather began by selling apples on his front lawn. Her father then expanded the business. Empire is among her favourites. “It’s like biting into a memory,” she says, taking her back to a day as a little girl in the orchard with her dad who picked an Empire fresh from the tree for her. “When I bit into it, it was so crisp and juicy, and tasted so good.”

Maw’s Lakeview Orchard

Maw’s Lakeview Orchard has two locations for grabbing pints, or bushels, of apples. Enjoy the scenic drive to its family-owned orchard farm in Cressy, or pop by its Waupoos market stand for a sampling of apples and homemade jams. The farm produces over 500,000 pounds of apples each season.

Learn About Apples

Sign up for a fall farm-to-table workshop at Littlejohn Farm, and you’ll likely find yourself hands-on with apples, whether it be helping to harvest the onsite orchard that produces eight different varieties, or baking them into a pie or a galette. The agri-tourism and sustainability learning centre offers several workshop topics and learning sessions for groups and corporate team building.

Savoury and Sweet Apples

Apple Pies

The only thing better than apple pie as a comfort-food dessert, is one baked by Moonlight Kitchen. Chef Suzanne Lafrance and her husband André Giroux, both former restauranteurs, sell their home-baked goodies, from tourtières to fruit pies, at the Wellington Farmer’s Market. Or call in an order for pick-up or local delivery. Lafrance uses a mix of five to seven locally sourced apples in each galette-style apple pie for optimal texture, taste, and cooking. For example, Honeycrisp, Zestar!, and Ginger Gold retain their crispness, while McIntosh and Paula Red “melt” more, releasing their juices. Special orders welcome.

’Tis the season for apples at My Pies, a sweet little shop in Wellington baking up a storm of savoury and sweet pies. Piemaker Jessica and husband Chris Loane launched the bakery in 2020, quickly gaining a loyal following for their use of local, seasonal ingredients packed into mini individual serving and regular size pies. Call ahead to pre-order large quantities of pies.

Apple Sweets

Apple Pie is one of Slickers County Ice Cream’s top-selling favourites. And justifiably so. Known for its fresh, local ingredients and unique flavours, Slickers’ artisans make and bake fresh, delicious crust pies filled with apples, browned butter and cinnamon, topped with sweet butter and brown-sugar crumble, then smash them into its signature vanilla ice cream. And here’s a scoop … new this fall, Caramel Apple featuring a homemade caramel swirl, and Candied Caramel Apple with candied maple syrup and brown sugar pieces in every lick. Yum!

Apple Sours

Canadian Vinegar Cellars pairs two of The County’s claim-to-fame ingredients – wine and local fruit. Its Apple Pie Vinegar is a perennial best seller, blending County-grown Marechal Foch grapes and apples aged six years in wooden casks. Preservative-free, the vinegar is drinkable as an aperitif on ice, made into a tea, used as a sauce or dip, or drizzled on desserts.

Drink This Apple

Given the health benefits of apples, it’s no surprise they’re often a staple superfood ingredient in wellness drinks. Wellington is home to two health-conscious eateries incorporating lots of apple-based nutrition on their menu. The Good Place does a delicious Apple Pie Smoothie that brings together apples, bananas, yogurt, cinnamon and granola. Apples are also part of the café and specialty grocer’s fresh-pressed green juice. 

Apple Slices

Some fun facts about Ontario’s favourite fruit.

• Apples are believed to have originated in Kazakhstan. They made their way to Canada in the early 17^th Century. The first trees were planted in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley around 1633.

• If you ate one of the 7,500 varieties grown around the world every day, it would take you more than 20 years to try them all!

• According to the Ontario Apple Growers, there are 15 main varieties of apples grown across nearly 16,000 acres in the province. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada lists 40 varieties grown across the country.

• The top five varieties in Ontario (based on acreage planted) are McIntosh, Gala, Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, and Empire.

• The McIntosh is the national apple of Canada. It was discovered in Dundas County near Brockville by its namesake, Ontario farmer John McIntosh in 1811.

• In 2017, apples accounted for 41.5 per cent of the total marketed production of Canadian fruit when ranked by weight (over 345,000 tonnes in total).

• Every Canadian eats, on average, 86 apples per year.

• It takes four apples to make a glass of pure apple juice. It takes about 36 apples to make one gallon of apple cider.

• So, do apples really keep the doctor away? Maybe. The average apple has 5% of your recommended daily vitamin C, and 170mg of potassium, which keeps your heart healthy.

• Apples emit ethylene gas that accelerates ripening of other fruit in close proximity. To ripen avocados, tomatoes, etc., faster, just place them in a paper bag with an apple.

• Can’t get enough apples? Check out Carol Martin’s book, The Apple: A History of Canada’s Perfect Fruit.