Located along the picturesque shores of Lake Ontario, Sandbanks Winery provides an experience like no other. Crafting their award-winning wines for over 20 years has earned them a loyal following for their full-bodied reds and crisp whites. They are renowned for their welcoming and fun atmosphere, outdoor tasting bars, and picnic area. They offer a variety of specialty tours and tastings, lively events, and the seasonal Shorelines Bistro Food Truck make Sandbanks Winery the perfect destination for your Wine Country visit.
Hours
May – September
Daily 11 am – 6 pm
October – April
Daily 11 am – 5 pm
WINEMAKER PROFILE
Catherine Langlois brings a rich reflection of her personal passions to everything she does, including the success of her Sandbanks Winery. Uncompromising excellence, a keen ability to work collaboratively with nature and people, and an understanding that exceptionality requires dedication have placed Catherine Langlois at the pinnacle of the wine business in Ontario. And if you’re a bit of a rebel, that doesn’t hurt either.
Born and raised on a farm in Île d’Orléans, Quebec, into a family of artists, Catherine has the creative lineage ideal for nurturing the talents of a visionary winemaker, but she is also a pragmatist with feet firmly on the ground or, more precisely, in the vineyard.
After pursuing hotel and restaurant management in Quebec, she earned a scholarship to study the art of winemaking in the renowned region of Burgundy, France.
Returning to Canada, Catherine spent time learning more about the wine industry through her career selling Ontario wines. With this solid front line business experience, the ambitious young winemaker changed tracks to pursue a dream of making her own wines. Sandbanks was born.
Unlike many who came to Prince Edward County to focus specifically on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, for which the soil is uniquely suited, Catherine had a larger vision.
In 2001, she began by planting 5 acres of Baco Noir, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Vidal Blanc, Geisenheim, and Marechal Foch, and she would initially focus on crafting full body, memorable red wines at a decent price. Her instincts proved to be right.
The initial 100 cases that came from the basement winery in 2003 has grown to an impressive 75,000 cases in 2018. And while the growth has been remarkable, what remains unchanged is Catherine Langlois’s vision to continue to produce award winning wines that pair perfectly with delicious food, and that are meant to be shared in harmony with family, friends, and that celebrate life.
