CLAYTON SHUTTLE FIELD GUIDE
Island Vines: The Two‑Hour Shuttle from Canoe Point to Grindstone’s Family Winery
A short shuttle from Canoe Point delivers visitors to a family‑run winery on Grindstone Island—home to more than 2,000 vines, a tasting room with local pours, and a summer calendar of live music and events.
Island Vines: The Two‑Hour Shuttle from Canoe Point to Grindstone’s Family Winery.
A two‑hour outing that begins at Canoe Point and lands in the heart of Grindstone Island, this shuttle brings you to a family‑owned winery nestled on a 3½‑acre hillside where over 2,000 vines produce Baco Noir, Prairie Star, Frontenac, Marquette and La Crescent; the tasting room pairs those wines with local beers, snacks and seasonal events that echo the island’s layered history and community spirit.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
A 3½‑acre hillside of over 2,000 vines
The winery tends more than 2,000 vines across a compact hillside, growing a focused set of cold‑climate varieties and aging wines in American and French oak before additional bottle aging—an intimate, estate‑scale operation that shapes the tasting experience.
Local pours, snacks and a community hub
The tasting room serves flights, glasses and bottles of the winery’s handcrafted wines alongside local craft beer, non‑alcoholic options and cheese boards; it also functions as a gathering place for live music, wood‑fired pizza nights and seasonal events.
Grindstone’s landscape and living history
Grindstone Island—one of the largest islands in the St. Lawrence—pairs beaches, working farms and preserved tracts with a long human history; roughly 40% is managed by the Thousand Islands Land Trust, and the island’s seasonal community swells dramatically in summer months.
What the day feels like
What the two‑hour outing feels like
The experience is compact and convivial: a short water shuttle from Canoe Point sets the tone, leading to a hillside tasting room where wine, local beer and seasonal snacks are laid out in a communal setting; afternoons can include live music or special events, making the visit equal parts tasting and island social hour.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this shuttle suits — and who should reconsider.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The outing is planned as a two‑hour experience that begins at Canoe Point and returns after visiting the winery and nearby island features.
No specialized gear is required; consider beachwear if you plan to visit island beaches, and check the winery’s events page or social channels for special‑event details.
The tasting room offers wine tastings, glasses and bottles of wine, local craft beer and non‑alcoholic options, paired with local cheese boards and seasonal snacks.
Live music, wood‑fired pizza nights and other special events appear on the winery’s events page and social media—check those channels for dates that may coincide with your visit.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the shuttle experience?
The outing is approximately two hours in duration.
Where does the shuttle depart?
The shuttle departs from Canoe Point and takes visitors to Grindstone Island Winery.
What can I expect at the winery?
Expect wine tastings, glasses and bottles of wine, local craft beer, non‑alcoholic options and seasonal snacks served in a community‑oriented tasting room.
Are events and live music part of the visit?
Yes—live music and special events such as wood‑fired pizza nights occur seasonally; check the winery’s events page and social media for current listings.
What is special about Grindstone Island?
Grindstone Island is one of the larger Thousand Islands, with beaches, working farms and preserved land; about 40% is owned by the Thousand Islands Land Trust and the island supports a seasonal community that grows dramatically in summer.
What grape varieties does the winery grow?
The winery cultivates Baco Noir, Prairie Star, Frontenac, Marquette and La Crescent on its hillside plantings.
How are the wines aged?
Wines are barrel‑aged for one to three years in American and French oak, then bottle aged for an additional two to three months.