Ontario is one of the greatest foodie destinations in Canada thanks to its multi-cultural populations, diverse agricultural conditions and seasonal climate. Expect to enjoy an appetising array of culinary delights, world-class wineries and breweries, a variety of festivals and fun food trails. These include, among others, the apple pie trail, the butter tart trails and, of course, the maple syrup trail.

From fertile farm fields and vineyards to freshwater fisheries, great passion and innovation goes into everything grown, raised, produced and served in this extraordinary state.

Wineries

Ontario’s wine regions sit within the 41st and 44th degrees north, the geographic heart of wine-making excellence.

Ontario is home to hundreds of vineyards producing a wide variety of red, white, rosé and sparkling wine, plus specialties like Icewine, Mead, maple wine, fruit wines, and even lavender-infused dessert wine.

Tour gorgeous wineries, meet passionate winemakers and taste award-winning vintages in Ontario’s established and emerging wine destinations.

If an hour or so is not long enough to explore the vineyard, why not opt for an overnight stay? Stay in the on-site Nordic-style Vintner’s cottage at Trail Estate Winery or perhaps in a Georgian style mansion at Riverbend Inn, just outside historic Niagara-on-the-Lake. If a fireplace, soaker tub and giant bed is more your style, check out Inn on the Twenty, an upscale boutique hotel in Jordan.

Breweries, cideries and distilleries

Ontario is the proud producer of world-class beverages. Whether you prefer is beer, cider or spirits, you're going to be blown away by the quality and variety on offer. Here's your ultimate guide to Ontario breweries, cideries and distilleries Take a deep dive into the different worlds of craft beverages, browse articles, specific spots, travel to different destinations and get the important information to know before you go.

If you’re a beer connoisseur always on the hunt for new flavours, you’ll love Ontario’s ever-growing craft beer community. Brewers and beer crafters are constantly challenging and reinventing the landscape of local beer, from taste to design, while continuing to honour old-world brewing techniques and traditions. Craft breweries are located in over 110 communities across Ontario and most will feature a tap room with beer flights available to sample. Enjoy the well-earned flagship flavours and explore the new seasonal blends that often are inspired by and celebrate the character of the local area.

Southern Ontario's lakes create the perfect microclimate for producing apples and over 15 varieties are grown. These and other fruit are transformed into creative craft ciders from over 60 local cideries across Ontario. Visit a craft cidery to tour the orchards, taste the flavours and discover why cider is making such a splash in Ontario.

Tours and tastings are available at most Ontario crafter distilleries and are a great way to get a behind the scenes look at the distilling process. Locally sourced fruits and herbs are used alongside traditional methods to create superb whiskeys, rums, vodkas, and gins.

Food trails and festivals

Take a culinary tour around the world without leaving the province this summer at Ontario’s delectable food festivals. As well as festivals celebrating world cuisine why not check out some true Canadian ones! The Ottawa Poutine festival takes place every Spring. Poutine is the ultimate comfort food of french fries and cheese curds, topped with warm gravy. Find all sorts of creative variations at this event. Other festivals include the Lebanese Food Festival in July. Hosted at the St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, the festival features music performances, cooking demonstrations like those at the saj bread booth, carnival rides and, of course, plenty of delicious hummus, tabouli, falafel and chicken shawarma.

One of Canada’s largest street festivals takes place along Danforth Avenue in Toronto, every August. The festival features entertainment, arts and crafts, live music, special menus and sidewalk tasting tables to sample all the best Greek cuisine and naturally, plate smashing.

Ontario has a fantastic range of guided and non-guided food and drink tours. Sip and savour your way around this beautiful province.

If you love cheese, pay a visit to Oxford County in Southwestern Ontario, the renowned Dairy Capital of Canada, and the birthplace of Canada’s commercial cheese industry. Explore the area along the Oxford County Cheese Trail, a self-guided route that features factory tours with cheesemakers, cheese-inspired menus at local restaurants, museums devoted to the history of dairy, family-friendly farm attractions and more.

The Niagara Icewine Festival takes place over three weekends every January. The fun festival, created to showcase the delicious Icewine of Ontario, has been known to turn the entire region into a roaring event where guests explore the region's wineries via tasting tours and other events such as ice skating, chestnut roasts, Icewine Brunch, and even the Icewine Gala.

Other tours include foraging for wild edible plants, searching for the buttery-ist pies and exploring city markets. Whichever one you choose, one thing is sure, you won't go hungry!