Pelee Island is Canada’s southernmost point, situated 15 miles off Lake Erie's north shore. Winemaking began on the island in 1866 when Canada’s first estate winery, Vin Villa, was established, choosing Pelee Island as its home. Today, the island has just one winery, but there are over 500 acres of vines. This Designated Viticultural Area rests on the same latitude as some of the world’s most recognized wine regions, including Northern California, Central Italy and Southern France. The island's soils are mostly sandy loam and clay, atop limestone bedrock, similar to what you would find on the Ontario mainland. Growers here take full advantage of the region’s long growing season, extended by the southerly position and moderating lake effect. Over the course of this lengthy growing season, the island's vineyards enjoy the greatest accumulation of heat units of any wine region in Canada, yielding fully ripened fruit for Pelee Island winemakers.