Vineland, Ontario, is a charming unincorporated community nestled within the Town of Lincoln in the Niagara Region. Bordered by the Twenty Mile Creek and Jordan to the east, Lake Ontario to the north, Beamsville to the west, and Pelham to the south, Vineland is a hub of agricultural activity and a popular destination for tourists.
Vineland's location between the southern shore of Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment provides a moderate climate with mild winters, making it an ideal location for agriculture. Known across Canada for its orchards, vineyards, wineries, and restaurants that feature local produce and wines, Vineland is primarily an agricultural community.
The area is home to a large number of greenhouses and farms, which serve as a major economic driver. Vineland's fruit crops include cherries, peaches, apples, and pears, and the area is recognized as Canada's premier tender fruit region. The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre is at the heart of research on growing tender fruits in Canada.
Every Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, Vineland hosts a large craft fair on the Twenty Valley Public School grounds. Craft stalls are set up on the school grounds, the main street, Victoria Avenue, and at the Ball's Falls Conservation Area. The festival also extends into the ballpark in the neighboring town of Jordan, with a portion of the funds going towards maintaining the school.
The First Mennonite Church in Vineland, organized in 1801, is the oldest Mennonite congregation in Canada. Located adjacent to the cemetery at the corner of Regional Road 81 (former Highway 8) and Martin Road, it is a significant historical landmark. Vineland is also known for its local fruit markets and roadside stands, supplying locally grown produce.
Vineland's climate is classified as humid continental (Köppen borderline Dfa/Dfb). However, it can be considered a unique micro-climate due to the influences that Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Jordan Harbour, and the Niagara Escarpment have on sheltering the area from harsh weather. These bodies of water have a moderating effect on the local weather, keeping Vineland cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
The area is known in Canada for its orchards, vineyards, wineries, and restaurants that feature local produce and wines. Fruit crops grown in Vineland include cherries, peaches, apples, strawberries, and pears. During the summer, the orchards and fields attract many tourists from all over Ontario, particularly Toronto.
