Manitoba wineries

Winnipeg wine tour, winery Winnipeg, Manitoba wineries.

Many people believe there are only a few places in North America you could follow a wine route and enjoy touring wineries (notably the American states of California, Washington, New York and Texas, and, in Canada, British Columbia and the Niagara region of Ontario).

It's true that these American states and Canadian provinces have well-developed wine routes to enjoy, with plenty to savour along the way.

But it is also true that the number of regions across North America where wine grapes can be grown has increased in the past two decades.

Newer wineries in ‘new’ grape-growing regions such as Virginia (in the U.S.) and Nova Scotia are producing quality wines and developing their wine tourism.

But you don’t necessarily need grapes to create a quality wine - or a wine route.

Would you be surprised to hear there are five wineries on the Canadian Prairies, and two of these are Manitoba wineries?

While that certainly is modest compared to the more well-trodden wine routes (and the possibility of there ever being wine tourism in the heartland seems remote) I think it's interesting that there are wineries in such 'unexpected' places as the Prairies, don't you?

D.D. Leobard Winery

In Winnipeg, D.D. Leobard Winery has been making fruit wines, and winning awards for them, since 2000.

The Prairies aren’t grape-growing territory, but our relatively short, hot summers are known for growing luscious fruits, particularly strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and Saskatoon berries (or saskatoons, as they are known here, which look and taste like smaller and more tart blueberries).

D.D. Leobard Winery uses all these, and also local rhubarb and wild chokecherries in their products, producing just 3,000 cases annually, making this a specialty quaff.

You’ll have to visit the Prairies to get a taste – this Manitoba winery’s products are available only in some liquor outlets in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

D.D. Leobard is best known for their Iced Strawberry Dessert Wine.

August 2010 Update: It is getting harder to find D.D. Leobard's wines on the shelves, with just a few bottles left and, winemerchants told me, they can't order any more. Has the company that made these delicious wines fallen off the planet?

Sadly, it appears so, though everyone I have spoken to in the past few days says no one seems to know for sure.

Manitoba wine trail - Killarney

There is one other winery to visit in the province, though it is a scenic three hours or so away from Winnipeg (if you get off the big highway and trickle over there on the more southern route).

It is Rigby Orchards Prairie Estate Winery producing wines under their own label and also Killarny wines, named for the town their orchard is near in southwest Manitoba near the Manitoba/Saskatchewan border.

The Rigby family have been farming there since the 1880s, and more recently their brand has been known for quality juice nectars, salad dressings and dessert toppings.

In 1999, the Rigby family established the first estate winery on the Prairies, with their blackcurrant and raspberry wines, both dry and medium-sweet.

Especially recommended - Killarny Organic Boyne Raspberry Wine.

Rigby Orchards Estate Winery offers visits by appointment: (204) 523-8879.

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