About The County Cider Company
The County Cider Company is a family cidery in Waupoos, at the eastern end of Prince Edward County. Grant Howes left a finance career and came home to the family orchard in the early 1990s, and in 1995 he opened what the company calls Ontario's first licensed cidery. He won a provincial agri-food innovation award in 2009 for his work on Ontario ice cider and was inducted into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2024, after his death in 2017.
The lineup includes County Apple, County Pear, County Peach, Blackberry Peach, County Blood Orange, County Feral, Tortured Path, Waupoos Premium and a Prince Edward County ice cider. The guided tasting costs $16 per person (2026 listing) for four 5 oz ciders of your choice. A cider ambassador explains the apples and how the ciders are made. You can sit inside or outdoors overlooking the vineyard, the orchard and Lake Ontario.
The patio restaurant serves wood-fired pizza on weekends. Guests can also reserve a gazebo or a restaurant table, and the cidery hosts private events. The farm calls itself family and dog friendly. Staff will not over-serve guests, whether or not they are driving.
Violet Hill Lavender, an organically grown lavender farm, is also near Waupoos, about 15 minutes west toward Picton. That makes it easy to pair a lavender stop with a late lunch and a tasting here on a summer weekend.
What to do
- Book a guided tasting of four 5 oz ciders ($16 per person, 2026)
- Try the Prince Edward County ice cider and fruit ciders such as Blackberry Peach
- Have wood-fired pizza on the patio, Saturday and Sunday 11–4
- Reserve the gazebo for a small group
- Take in the orchard and Lake Ontario views from the outdoor tasting area
Season, hours and prices
- Hours
- As listed on their website in October 2026: bottle shop and tasting room Mon–Thu 11–5, Sat–Sun 11–6; patio restaurant Sat–Sun 11–4
- Admission
- Free to visit; guided cider tasting $16 per person (2026)
Good to know
- Age
- 21 or older to taste or drink alcohol
- Dogs
- Allowed
- Reservations
- Recommended
- Payment
- Tastings can be prepaid on their website
Tips for your visit
- Pre-booking the tasting is recommended, and refunds need 48 hours' notice
- Friday is not listed in the posted hours, so check their website before a Friday visit
- Pizza is served on weekends only
- Plan a designated driver if your group is tasting
Pair it with a lavender farm
Violet Hill Lavender · about 15 minutes away
Violet Hill Lavender is also on the Waupoos side of the county, about 15 minutes away, so a lavender visit and a cider tasting fit easily into one afternoon.
Getting there
Questions
How much is a cider tasting?
$16 per person for four 5 oz ciders of your choice, guided by a cider ambassador (2026 price).
Is there food?
Yes. The patio restaurant serves wood-fired pizza on Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 4.
Can I bring my dog?
The cidery describes itself as family and dog friendly.
When did the cidery open?
In 1995; the company calls it Ontario's first licensed cidery.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Prince Edward County, Ontario
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
