Karlo Estates Winery is set in Wellington, the heart of the Prince Edward County wine country.

We visit this winery at least 4 times a year and living here in Prince Edward County makes it easy.

Even though there are so many wineries in the county, not all of them stand out.

In fact, most of them look the same with their carefully manicured gardens, vines growing on trellises, and tasting rooms that double as gift shops.

When you’ve seen one winery, you’ve seen them all right? Wrong!

There are a few wineries that stand out from the rest and Karlo Estates Winery is one of them in my opinion.

There’s so much more to this winery than meets the eye. It has something that other wineries don’t.

For example, the only winery with a dry stone bridge, 23 gold medal scores in 2021. Also, they produce a whopping 7,000 cases a year, or 84,000 bottles.

All of this is from a restored post and beam barn that was built in 1805 by retired Loyalist ship-builders turned farmers.

Lots of really cool decor that are as beautiful as they are unique. Let’s take a deeper look at why this winery is one of the must-visit destinations for wine lovers…

Why Visit Karlo Estates Winery?

There are many reasons why you should visit Karlo Estates Winery. The first and most obvious one is the wine BUT the dry stone bridge has become a wine tour attraction so I thought I better mention it.

Dry Stone Bridge

This bridge is something you won’t find in any other winery in the county. It was built in 2007 by Richard Karlo a Civil Engineering and the winemaker. If you are a photography enthusiast, you will love the beautiful images that can be captured at the bridge. I’ve seen many people grab a glass of wine and walk through the property to the bridge just for pictures.

Wine Tasting at Karlo Estates Winery

There are three types of tastings that you can do at Karlo Estates Winery. The regular tasting like we always do, the premium tasting, and the private tasting. There is also a wine shop on the premises, where you can purchase bottles of your favorite wines.

The wine shop also stocks other merchandise, including wine-themed clothing and souvenirs. The regular tasting costs $20, the premium tasting costs $25, and the private tasting costs $60.

There is also the option of Design Your Own Tasting, where you can customize your tasting experience. The wine shop at Karlo Estates Winery is open all year round. The only exceptions are on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day in case you’re wondering.

Karlo Premium and Private Tastings

The premium and private tastings, so I’ve been told, are definitely worth visiting the winery for. You can try out a wide range of wines, including premium wines that are only available at Karlo Estates Winery.

They offer wine tastings and tours of the property, as well as a retail store selling Karlo Estates wines, merchandise, and local products.

Karlo Estates is committed to sustainable viticulture and producing high-quality wines using traditional methods.

The winery’s tasting room is open daily from 11 am to 5 pm, and wine tastings are offered for a fee of $10 per person. Karlo Estates also offers private wine tastings and tours by appointment.

If this is something you’re interested in, you can visit the Karlo Estates website or contact the winery directly. And of course, there is the company of other wine lovers, which adds a sense of community to the whole experience.

Gold Medal Tasting

If you are interested in something like this, I can share what it is, although it’s not something we have done personally. As mentioned earlier Karlo Estates achieved 23 gold medal scores in 2021 for their wines.

The Gold metal tasting gives you a chance to sample 9 different wines. Also a pairing with some dairy-free cheese and plant-based charcuterie board on the Vintner’s Deck the Karlo VIP Wine Lounge.

The Karlo Estates Property

There’s also the rest of the property, which is very nice. There’s also the premium architecture and design of the winery itself, which is worth admiring.

The place has an inviting ambiance, and the architecture is an example of old heritage design at its finest. So when all is said and done, you will find plenty of reasons to visit Karlo Estates Winery.

On one of the first wine tours we stopped at Karlo Estates for lunch. We ate in the large, covered area in the back and we were able to buy wine with lunch of course.

Also, we had the option to do a wine tasting as well right after lunch.

If your considering a wedding I suggest you read this post about the 6 reasons to choose a Prince Edward County Wedding Venue.

I’ve seen that many bachelorette parties in PEC stop by this winery for a picture.

First Vegan Winery in the World

Did you know Karlo estates was the first certified vegan wine in the world, thus reducing the carbon impact.

The winery offers a variety of vegan wine tastings and tours, as well as a retail store selling local vegan products.

Karlo Estates was founded in 2010 by Richard Karlo and Sherry Karlo, who was inspired by the local wine movement in Prince Edward County.

The couple decided to open a vegan winery after a little research.

Karlo Estates’ first vintage was produced in 2012, and the couple now produces a range of red, white, and sparkling wines using grapes sourced from local vineyards. Karlo Estates is committed to producing high-quality vegan wines that are sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Since they have received acclaim from both vegans and non-vegans alike and have been featured in major publications such as The Globe and Mail and The Toronto Star.

If you’re looking for a unique wine-tasting experience, be sure to check out Karlo Estates and ask about the vegan experience!

The Music of Karlo Estates Winery

If you ever have a chance to catch a piece of live music even it’s worth it. The Winery has performances from local artists every weekend. Catch a dinner and show from some great musical talent.

We were able to enjoy a Dinner and a Show Tasting with Chris Bonham-Carter.

In my opinion, the dinner and a show tasting are to be a really cool intimate affair, with only 20 guests in attendance.

We really enjoyed a five-course meal paired with Karlo Estates’ award-winning wines.

While Chris Bonham-Carter provided some light commentary on the wine and gave us some live music tunes at the same time.

This is a rare opportunity to experience Karlo Estates’ dinner, music, and wines.

Final Words

Karlo Estates Winery is a must-visit destination for wine lovers and music lovers.

There are also tastings of premium wines at Karlo Estates Winery.

Things to remember before visiting Karlo Estates Winery are, If you are using your car, make sure that you park in such a way it’s easy to get out as it does get very busy.

If you are on a wine tour, make sure that you know what direction to walk to get back out as things can get a little blurry at times. If you are not in the mood for wine, don’t worry.

Many wineries also stock some beer and many have a food truck on weekends.

If you’re looking for a fun, unique wine-tasting experience, Karlo Estates Winery is the place for you. With live music and vegan wines, it’s sure to be an afternoon (or evening) you won’t forget.

And if you do happen to visit, be sure to share your photos and experiences with us on social media – we love hearing from our readers!

Be sure to stop by if you’re in the area! Have you been to Karlo Estates Winery? What did you think?

Hope to see you there sometime.