Grey County is quickly becoming one of Ontario's premier destinations for craft beverage lovers. Within a short drive of Blue Mountain, you'll find award-winning wineries overlooking Georgian Bay, craft breweries with deep roots in Collingwood's shipbuilding heritage, and cideries pressing apples from 7,500 acres of local orchards.
Here's your complete guide to sipping your way through the region — and if good food and drink is the whole point of your trip, pair this with our local dining guide and our 48-hour foodie weekend itinerary to round out the weekend.
Wineries
The moderating "lake effect" from Georgian Bay creates ideal conditions for cold-hardy grape varieties. These boutique wineries offer intimate tasting experiences with spectacular views.
Georgian Hills Vineyards
A small-scale Winery & Cidery in the picturesque Beaver Valley (20 min from Blue Mountain) overlooking Georgian Bay. They focus on cold-hardy grape varieties and also produce Ardiel Cider House ciders using heritage apples.
Must Try: Wine & cider flight paired with artisanal kettle chips
The Roost Wine Company
A hilltop winery in Ravenna (20 min from Collingwood) with stunning Georgian Bay views, known for pushing the boundaries of cold-climate winemaking. Their signature blind tasting experience pairs 6 wines with local cheese and charcuterie.
Must Try: Blind tasting experience with cheese & charcuterie
Coffin Ridge Boutique Winery
Grey County's first winery, in Annan (30 min from Blue Mountain), overlooking Georgian Bay from the Niagara Escarpment. Their signature wines — Into The Light White, Back From The Dead Red, and Resurrection Rose — reflect the unique terroir.
Must Try: Wood-fired pizza on Saturdays + wine on the deck
Craft Breweries
Collingwood has earned its reputation as Ontario's Craft Beverage Capital. From the village's only brewpub to award-winning craft operations, there's something for every beer lover. For a deeper dive on the region's beer scene, see our Collingwood and Grey County craft beer trail.
Side Launch Brewing Company — Best Wineries, Breweries & Cideries Near Blue Mountain
A Craft Brewery in Collingwood (10 min from Blue Mountain), and a dog-friendly one at that. Winner of 2016 Canadian Brewery of the Year, Side Launch operates from a stunning 27,000 sq ft facility. Named after Collingwood's ship-building heritage, they brew traditional, highly drinkable beers.
Must Try: Side Launch Wheat, Dark Lager, or Mountain Lager flight
### Northwinds Brewhouse & Kitchen
Northwinds operates at 499 First Street in Collingwood and 180 Jozo Weider Boulevard in Blue Mountain Village. Its website has separate menus and ordering links for the two locations. Choose the branch explicitly when reserving, and use its current menu to decide what to order.
The Collingwood Brewery — Best Wineries, Breweries & Cideries Near Blue Mountain
A Craft Brewery and hidden gem set amongst the natural wonder of Collingwood. Family-owned with a passion for quality craft beer and a welcoming atmosphere.
Must Try: Seasonal rotating taps
Cideries
The Blue Mountains region is surrounded by 7,500 acres of apple orchards — making it the perfect place for craft cider. These cideries turn local apples into award-winning drinks, and several cluster around the charming harbour town of Thornbury, which is well worth a wander in its own right (see our guide to Thornbury).
Thornbury Craft Co.
A Cider House & Brewery in Thornbury (15 min from Blue Mountain) producing Ontario's most awarded craft cider, made with fresh-pressed apples in the heart of Ontario Apple Country. Since 2006, they've also brewed excellent craft beers including their world-recognized Czech-style pilsner.
Must Try: Blood Orange Apple Cider or Dam Dark Lager
Spy Cider House & Distillery
A boutique Cidery & Distillery in Clarksburg (10 min from Blue Mountain) with a James Bond theme, crafting ciders and spirits using local Ontario fruit. The two-story tasting room offers sweeping vineyard views from their four-season patio. Seasonal hours — check their website before visiting.
Must Try: Golden Eye cider + small-batch apple brandy
Grey & Gold Cider
A sustainable, farm-based cidery in the heart of Grey County apple country. Small-batch ciders made with traditional methods and local apples.
Must Try: Traditional dry cider
Craft Beverage Tours — Best Wineries, Breweries & Cideries Near Blue Mountain
Don't want to drive? Several companies offer guided tours with transportation:
- The Beer Bus Co. — Brewery, winery, and "mashup" tours with Cicerone-certified guides
- Canadian Craft Tours — Wine tours including Georgian Hills, The Roost, and Spy Cider House
- Big Blue Air — Helicopter wine tour to Georgian Hills Vineyards
Plan Your Craft Beverage Crawl
Here are three suggested routes depending on your interests.
The Wine Lover's Route (Half Day)
- Start at Georgian Hills Vineyards for a wine and cider pairing
- Head to The Roost for their signature blind tasting with charcuterie
- End at Coffin Ridge for wood-fired pizza and sunset views
The Craft Beer Circuit (Afternoon)
- Tour Side Launch Brewing and sample their award-winning lagers
- Reserve a lunch stop that is open on your visit date
- Finish at Northwinds in Blue Mountain Village for apres-ski vibes
The Cider Trail (Half Day)
- Begin at Thornbury Craft Co. for Ontario's most awarded ciders
- Continue to Spy Cider House for their James Bond-themed tasting room
- Circle back to Georgian Hills for Ardiel Cider House selections
Tips for Your Visit
- Make reservations — Especially for wineries on weekends and during peak seasons
- Designate a driver — Or book a tour with transportation included
- Check seasonal hours — Some venues have reduced winter hours
- Pace yourself — Take advantage of food pairings to extend your experience
- Buy local — Many products are only available at the source or through limited Ontario distribution
When the tasting is done, keep the food momentum going with a dinner reservation from our roundup of the best restaurants in Collingwood and the Blue Mountain area.
Stay Close to the Action
Our chalets near Blue Mountain Village are perfectly positioned for craft beverage exploration — just minutes from Thornbury, Collingwood, and the Village itself. After a day of tasting, relax in your private hot tub and enjoy the mountain views before heading out again tomorrow.
For a party choosing Georgian Hills, the vineyard visit planner explains the separate group inquiry and food-reservation decisions.
At Thornbury Craft, the Cider House visit guide distinguishes first-come dining from tours that need advance booking.
Use the Collingwood Brewery planning page to check the current tour notice and arrange your group’s return transport.
For a reserved outdoor gathering, the Spy Cider House guide explains the fire-shelter group limit and seasonal experience checks.
Use the Grey & Gold Cider visitor notes to check farm visiting hours and arrange a larger tasting party directly.
For the First Street branch, use the Northwinds Collingwood planning notes to select the correct location and coordinate the group’s meal and return drive.
The Georgian Bay Spirit Co. distillery-shop guide covers the Raglan Street retail visit; a production tour needs its own operator confirmation.
For a longer excursion toward Annan, the Coffin Ridge visitor guide covers current tasting arrangements, group seating and the roughly hour-long chalet drive.
The Windswept Cider tasting-garden guide helps plan a seasonal orchard-side visit on Meaford’s 3 Line.
Check Creemore Springs’ tour and group-visit guidance when comparing a casual tasting stop with an arranged celebration.
A Copper Kettle Festival visit needs the festival-specific tour arrangements and new date, even if the group has previously visited Creemore Springs.
For dated beer festivals rather than taprooms, see craft beer events around Blue Mountain.
Or call us at (416) 203-2057
