Grand Bend - Dark Horse Estate Winery

If wandering through a vineyard in autumn as the leaves change colour is your ideal way of spending a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, let us recommend a visit to Dark Horse Estate Winery. Or if a chunky sweater and boots with the onset of autumnal temperatures and hanging out indoors is more your speed while sipping reds paired with a charcuterie board including a selection of cheese, Dark Horse does that well too. In fact, the winery’s tagline is “Come for the sunsets, Stay for the wine”. And on the terrace is just the spot to tuck in for both. 

Located near the shores of Grand Bend and right next to the Huron Country Playhouse, Dark Horse Estate Winery is one of the finest in the county. It’s a winery that owner John Rasenburg calls an “agri-tourism destination winery”. It blends his love of farming with his strong entrepreneurial spirit (Rasenburg and wife Sue Ann also started JMR Electric in nearby Exeter), and the dark, rich, loamy soil of the county they love, as noted on their website.

Wine tastings are available from Thursday to Sunday and as days turn chillier, wine lovers begin thinking more of red wines. The red options here include the baco noir, cabernet franc, merlot, marquette, and Unapologetically Sinful (widely available at the LCBO). For those who like a few bubbles, the Méthode Cuvé Close and traditional Méthode sparkling are available for purchase at the online shop, along with their selection of white wines. 

With a wide range of wines under the brand One Horse Town, vineyard and facility manager Craig Horlor explained that the name is a reference to being located in a one-winery town. Indeed, since opening in July of 2016, Dark Horse Winery remains the only “horse” in town.

This autumn, Dark Horse will once again host the “Discover your Palette” event on Nov. 20. The event will feature samples from five area caterers with wine pairs featuring Dark Horse Estates Winery wines.  

More than just a winery, a full-service banquet facility (weddings in a winery anyone), ballroom, private event spaces and tasting rooms, barrel cellar and full production facilities are also located onsite. 70665 B Line, Grand Bend www.darkhorseestatewinery.com