Crafted and cultural: Alcohol consumption has dropped worldwide in the last decade – with the notable exception of the craft craze, which is going strong.
Plus, there's a keen interest in locally made drinks tied to culture, sustainability and ethical production, evidenced by more purchases of artisanal brews, small-batch hard ciders, and low -or no- alcohol mocktails whose branding resonates with consumers' values. If you fall into this camp of libation lover, bring your glass to Atlantic Canada this fall – you'll find an array of beverage options (including non-alcoholic ones) crafted by talented vintners, brewers, distillers and growers, alongside gorgeous tableaux as wineries, orchards, and seaside landscapes transform under the season's paintbrush.
Start your journey on the Good Cheer Trail, the first winery, brewery, cidery, distillery and meadery route in Canada. Visitors can collect stamps with their samples of locally made libations, which can be redeemed for prizes. There are more than 90 stops to choose from, with opportunities to sip the latest vintage of Tidal Bay wines, try single-malt whisky straight from the cask, and much more.
Nova Scotia might have Canada's smallest wine region, but it packs a big punch. Raved about in Wine Enthusiast, the area was one of the first stops for European explorers, who planted vines for wine production as early as the 17th century. Today, there are more than 70 growers and around 20 wineries in the province, a quarter of which produce sparkling wines that take advantage of a hyper-extended growing season.
Nova Scotian wines have a distinctive flavour – a crisp freshness that carries the tangy salinity of an invigorating ocean breeze. Local wines are proudly poured at restaurants, wineries and tasting rooms across the province.
Teetotalers can also partake in local drinking culture. Nova Scotia is home to Atlantic Canada's largest non-alcoholic drinks market, Luminate Co. Wellness Market, which offers more than 120 varieties of alcohol-free beers, wines and ciders, along with ready-to-drink mocktails.
Storyteller: Gina Haverstock, head winemaker at Devonion Coast Wineries in Malagash, is the first winemaker outside BC and Ontario – and the first woman – to win the 2024 Wine Growers of Canada's Karl Kaiser Winemaker of the Year Award. While PEI is known as “Canada's food island”, the province also boasts a booming craft beverage scene. Eater Magazine recently lauded PEI watering holes like The Dali Café in Charlottetown, which serves drinks alongside drag bingo and duelling pianos; Hopyard Beer Bar in Charlottetown, which features one of the biggest craft beer menus on the island; and Island Honey Wine Company in Wheatley River, where visitors can sample expertly made mead.
HOP, SIP, SWIRL tours leads memorable tasting journeys to local wineries, cideries and distilleries. At each stop, guests can sample drinks and bites and take a tour to see the behind-the-scenes action.
Not drinking? Not a problem You can sip tasty beverages sans alcohol throughout the island. Try the raspberry cordial at Anne of Green Gables Chocolates; or the flavourful non-alcoholic craft beer made by Libra Beverage Co. Storyteller: Mitch Cobb, CEO of Libra Beverage Co. and founder of Charlottetown-based brewery Upstreet, launched Libra after deciding to cut down his alcohol consumption as part of a holistic health and wellness journey.
New Brunswick's wine industry is young, but growing steadily. Wine regions here stretch from coastal shores to fertile valleys, producing cool-climate grape and fruit wines. Sip local wines at tasting rooms across the province, as well as at farmers' markets, restaurants and bars.
A popular option is Magnetic Hill Winery in Moncton, which is located next to the Magnetic Hill Illusion. After indulging in local wine and cheese boards, guests can stay overnight at the onsite guesthouse. Big Sky Ventures in Chipman makes wine from an unexpected ingredient – sea buckthorn.
Boasting 190 bioactive nutrients, the deciduous shrub has been used in various applications for hundreds of years. Products include Mellow Moon, dry with a citrus zest; Twisted Stick, packed with bold flavours and a berry finish; and Orchard Glow, carrying a hint of sweet field apples. Visit Big Sky Ventures' orchard and winery to sample all three in a tasting flight.
Join a guided tasting of the best New Brunswick flavours. Uncorked Tours, based in Saint John, hosts a tasting room in the historic Saint John
City Market, where visitors can sample local beers, wines, ciders and spirits. NB Sight Sipping Tours leads excursions through rolling countryside and river valleys that are particularly pretty in fall.
Along the way, guests meet talented local growers and sample the fruits of their labour. Storyteller: Anna-Marie Weir, CEO of NB Sight Sipping Tours, is an expert in New Brunswick's wine and agricultural regions, emerging distilleries, and cider farms, with over 30 years of experience in local tourism and hospitality.
Fredericton Capital Region ranks among the most taprooms per capita in Canada, with one taproom per 5,400 people? In 2024, the Fredericton Taproom Trail will expand beyond Fredericton to encompass taprooms throughout the region. Visitors can walk, cycle or rollerblade the trail, collecting stamps at each location to win prizes.
The Newfoundland Distillery Company is known for launching the first rum crafted, distilled, and barrel-aged entirely within the province. The distillery – located on the shores of Conception Bay – sources all ingredients locally, either from the land or sea. Recently, the business introduced Newfoundland and Labrador's first locally crafted whisky.
The province might have the longest wine history in North America. It is the probable location of Vinland, an area mapped and settled by the Vikings around 1000 AD. An archaeological discovery at L'Anse Aux Meadows in the early 1960s suggests the area was the main base of Norse explorers. Today, wine production in Newfoundland and Labrador encompasses not just grapes, but also blueberries, strawberries and raspberries.
One place to try it is Auk Island Winery, which makes its wines using wild berries handpicked by local residents along with iceberg water. The onsite ice cream shop sells homemade wine ice cream.
In the charming seaside village of Quidi Vidi is Quidi Vidi Brewery, acclaimed for crafting iceberg beer made with iceberg water. The brewery offers one of the most scenic taprooms in the world, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and dramatic cliffs.
Newfoundland and Labrador's icebergs are also a key ingredient in Crystal Head Vodka, which is manufactured in St. John's by Globefill – a brand founded by actor Dan Aykroyd and artist John Alexander, who also designed the bottle. The spirit is made from Canadian peaches and cream corn blended with local glacial water.
