One of the first Vegan wineries in Canada, located in Ontario, lies one of our region’s unmatched Vegan wineries, Karlo Estates in Prince Edward County.
For those who love gourmet cuisine, the intersection of plant-based eating and award-winning wines comes to mind: Karlo Estates.
Sherry Karlo and Saxe Brickenden offer a unique family like experiance, and the wine is amazing!
In their portfolio of luxurious wines produced ethically and with full-bodied taste, they include a special series called Vega. In this guide, we will explore the art of vegan food and wine pairing using Vega.
Approach to Vegan Winemaking at Karlo Estates
Not everyone knows that there are vegan wines, but the winemakers at Karlo Estates know exactly how to preserve all the properties of wines without any animal products.
Fining involves the use of milk protein casein, albumin (egg whites), gelatin (animal protein), and even isinglass (protein found in fish bladders).
At Karlo Estates, these fining substances aren’t used; instead, either bentonite clay or naturally settling of juices is applied.
The “low-intervention” approach has allowed them to achieve great results in creating wines that retain their taste characteristics. All wines of the Vega line are made through wild fermentation and have only undergone minimal filtration.
Additionally, their vegan credentials apply to the whole bottle, which uses vegan-certified packaging, vegetable ink, and adhesives that do not contain any animal ingredients.
Profile of the Vega Wine Blend
In order to find the perfect vegan dish for our wine, we should understand its taste characteristics. Karlo Estates Vega White consists of three grape varieties, including Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Gewürztraminer.
- Sauvignon Blanc gives acidity and flavors that are close to the taste of green apples.
- Pinot Gris adds fruitiness and minerality with hints of peaches and citrus fruits.
- Gewürztraminer is known for its floral notes, including rose, lychee, and exotic.
These wines can be characterized by a strong minerality that evokes the feeling of salty cashews or wet stones. On the palate, the wine will be rich, fruity, and full-bodied with a long-lasting finish, making Vega White a great fit for modern vegan food.
The Karlo Estates Wine I Have Tried
Note: Prices may vary, as these prices are what I paid at the time.
WHITES & ROSÉ
2024 Three Witches — “The Great Entertainer” · $29
White Wine | Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer
A playful, aromatic blend of citrus, green apple, peach, and tropical fruits like papaya, layered with delicate floral notes. Creamy on the palate with refreshing balance, it finishes with thyme, gooseberry, and flinty minerality.
Little Bug White — “The Good Kitty” · $26
Dry White Wine | Vidal, Frontenac Blanc, Frontenac Gris
Intensely fragrant, with white wildflowers, green melon, and a touch of smoke on the nose. The palate dances with honeysuckle, orange blossom, citrus peel, and crisp, refreshing acidity, followed by notes of lemon zest, watermelon, white peach, and apricot.
2022 Patio Reserve Rosé — “The Beauty Queen” · $22
Rosé | Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Marquette
Bright lemon and lime combine with cooked pear, strawberry, and candy floss. Gooseberry, white pepper, and violet aromas complement a medium-bodied, flinty, and savory finish. Drier than most rosés, with lovely complexity.
2024 Bubble — “Oh, you shouldn’t have!” · $39
White Sparkling | Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon
Light, dry, and floral with fruity notes of yellow apple and honeycomb. Toast, brioche, fresh dough, and hints of white chocolate create a Champagne-like elegance. On the palate: lemon curd, almond paste, and orchard fruits. Gold medal winner at the All Canadian Wine Championships.
REDS
Pinot Noir — “The Southern Belle”
A lighter-bodied red with a lively, aromatic nose of cherry, red currant, raspberry pie, wood spice, vanilla, green menthol, and fresh tea leaves. On the palate, bright red fruits mingle with earthy hints, red beet, mushroom, and red citrus, leading to a long, layered finish.
Karlo Estates takes special pride in this variety — often called “The Heartbreak Grape” because it’s so tricky to ripen fully. Luckily, their cool Prince Edward County vineyards are ideal: warm days help the grapes develop flavor, and cool nights act like nature’s fridge, keeping everything perfectly balanced.
2022 Petite Pearl — “Black Wine” · $37
Dry Red | Property-grown Petite Pearl
Medium-bodied and lush, with white pepper, delicate florals, candied fruit, coffee, and cedar on the nose. The palate offers stewed blackcurrant, plum pudding, and velvety tannins, finishing long and satisfying.
2023 Triumvirate — “The Snob” · $35
Dry Red | Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Deep purple in color, with ripe plum, black cherry, dark chocolate, and a hint of purple candy on the nose. Creamy on the palate, with sweet dark fruits, cocoa notes, soft tannins, and balanced acidity.
2023 Estate Malbec — “The Romantic Cowboy” · $59
Dry Red | Estate-grown Malbec (VQA Prince Edward County)
Aromas of charred strawberry, white pepper, and violets, with hints of cedar, toasted oak, and smoke. On the palate: plum, black cherry, blackberry, vanilla, liquorice, and tobacco, with soft, fine tannins leading to a smooth cocoa finish. The only Malbec planted in Prince Edward County.
2022 Quintus — “Our Take on a First Growth Bordeaux” · $79
Dry Red | Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Deep garnet with a nose of violet, raspberry, wild strawberry, vanilla, toasted marshmallow, tobacco, and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, with ripe red and black berries, cherry, blackberry, dark plum, and cassis, rounded by black olive, liquorice, and sweet oak.
2022 Sextus — “The Third Vintage” · $165
Dry Red | All six classic Bordeaux varieties, including Carménère
The first wine in ~150 years to blend all six benchmark Bordeaux red varieties. Critics call it a “unicorn.”
FORTIFIED
Van Alstine Red — “The Big Finish” · $36
Port-style Fortified Red | Property-grown Frontenac Noir | 17.5% alc. | 375mL
Spicy black raspberry and cassis dominate the nose, layered with red licorice, stewed cherries, dark chocolate, and cedar. Rich, soft, and full in the mouth, with a lingering finish.
2022 Van Alstine White — “A Fan Favourite” · $36
Fortified White | Property-grown Frontenac Blanc | 17.5% alc. | 375mL
Fresh pear, pineapple, passionfruit, apricot, and honey, with subtle rose notes. On the palate: tropical fruits and citrus blend with coconut water and a touch of hazelnut, finishing long and balanced. Ontario’s first and only commercial Frontenac Blanc.
Food Pairings That Bring Out the Taste of Vega White
Our task now is to think about the right vegan meal to bring out the best qualities of our wine. When considering food pairings, it is important to pay attention to Acidity, Fat, and Earthy Aromatics.
1. Handcrafted Vegan Cheeses and Vegan Charcuterie
For the Vega line with such intense mineral notes, nut-based cheeses will go great.
- Ideal Pairing: Cashew cheese, Camembert or almond cheese Brie. These pairings will emphasize the taste characteristics of the vegan cheeses.
- Accompaniments: Vegan marinated olives, tamari-roasted nuts, dried apricots.
2. Earthy Vegetables with Umami
All vegetables containing umami flavors or having a certain degree of natural sweetness harmonize with Vega wines.
- Best Pairing: Roasted Cauliflower with tahini-lemon dressing. The caramelized cauliflower will help to enhance the minerality of the wine.
- Enhancements: Nutritional Yeast or Miso Glazed Parsnips.
3. Dishes Based on Fresh Herbs
Because the Vega line includes two grapes with intense herbaceous notes, it is perfect to use this characteristic when finding vegan food pairings.
- Ideal Pairing: Asparagus and sweet fennel risotto. The herbal notes will emphasize the flavors, and fennel is perfect for Vega.
Why Prince Edward County is Known for Vegan Winemaking
The uniqueness of Prince Edward County (PEC) lies in the type of soil – hillier clay loam over fractured limestone, allowing water to drain freely and minerals to concentrate. It leads to growing grapes with very high acidity and intense fruity aroma. Karlo Estates makes the most of it by adopting sustainable, vegan-friendly vineyard practices.
Thus, the terroir is reflected in the highest possible way in their vegan wines. Thanks to it, Karlo Estates got international recognition in “Top Ten Cutting Edge Wines.”
Karlo Estates Vineyard Tours at Their Famous 1805 Barn
Visiting PEC would be incomplete without seeing their beautiful Karlo Estates barn. It was built in 1805 and is the best place to spend a pleasant evening tasting their wines.
- Speakeasy Lounge: Here visitors will have a chance to sample Vega wines together with the specially selected vegan small plates.
- Vegan Gastronomy Events: The winery hosts vegan gastronomy events with local vegan chefs, proving that vegan food can compete with fine dining.
Vegan-Friendly Food Pairing Suggestions
| Dish Component | Pairing Rationale | Recommended Vegan Ingredient |
|---|---|---|
| Appetizer | Salty & Crunchy | Kettle chips with dairy-free caramelized onion dip |
| Salad | High Acidity | Kale salad with orange-ginger vinaigrette and toasted hemp hearts |
| Pasta | Creamy Texture | Pesto Gnocchi with basil, pine nuts, and vegan parmesan |
| Protein | Umami & Fermented | Pan-seared Tempeh with white wine and garlic reduction |
Combining Gourmet Cuisine and Fine Wines
By following vegan-friendly approaches and using exclusively vegan products in fining, Karlo Estates has achieved amazing results and can reflect Prince Edward Country’s terroir through their vegan wines. If you lead a vegan lifestyle or want to enjoy the pure wine experience, then try the Vega series.
