Ocala Orchards Farm Winery Ltd. (or Ocala Winery for short) opened to the public as a licensed Ontario winery in the summer of 1995.

Fifteen acres of orchards and twenty acres of producing and maturing vineyard provide the fruit for Ocala’s wines. The license under which Ocala Winery operates dictates that at least 50% of the orchard fruit and grapes used for its wines must be grown on-site. Any fruit that is purchased to support wine production must be Ontario, Canada fruit only. Ocala’s orchards and vineyards currently produce 90% of the fruit used in on-site wine production.

Ocala’s vineyard is made up of Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Auxerrios, Muscat, Vidal, Seyval, Baco Noir, Marechal Foch, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. As new blocks of vineyard are planted not all varieties are in full production.

The orchard of over 3,000 fruit trees produces several apple varieties (MacIntosh, Empire, Spartan, Red and Golden Delicious, Gala, Northern Spy and Cortland among others), pears, plums and cherries. Berry crops include black currant, raspberry, elderberry, gooseberry and Northern Hardy kiwi.

The winery itself is housed within a renovated 100 year old, board and beam dairy barn. The processing area, barrel room, tank room, warehouse, lab, and tasting room are all on site.

On occasion, Ocala Winery enters selected fruit and/or grape wines into regional, Canadian and International wine competitions. Over thirty awards are on display behind the tasting counter.

Non-alcoholic Sparkling Juices are another Ocala product. In less than five years this part of the Ocala Winery has grown from a test run of 300 bottles to over 22,000 bottles per year. “Sparkling Apple”, “Sparkling Grape” available in red or white, “Sparkling Fruit Medley” a blend of apple, raspberry and plum are all available in 750ml and 200ml bottles.

Web: www.ocalawinery.com