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Annapolis Valley

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Seasonal rhythms for the palate

Beyond the well‑known apple orchards, the valley’s agricultural calendar offers a subtle cue for travellers seeking authentic flavour. Late summer sees the vineyards in full swing, and many family‑run wineries open their cellars for informal tastings that coincide with harvest festivals. In early autumn, the cooler breezes coax a second wave of produce—root vegetables and heritage grains—onto farmers’ markets, where the stalls double as informal cooking demos. Timing a visit to intersect with these cycles lets you sample the region’s bounty at its most vibrant, and often you’ll be invited to join a farmer’s table where recipes are still being refined in front of you.

Navigating the valley without a car

While the Annapolis Valley sprawls across three counties, its towns are linked by a surprisingly dense network of bike paths and seasonal shuttle services. Renting a gravel bike in Wolfville gives you direct access to the historic Fundy Trail, where coastal cliffs and inland farms blur together in a single ride. On Tuesdays, a free community bus loops between Bridgetown, Middleton and Kentville, stopping at local art studios and heritage sites that are often omitted from standard tours. By combining these modest public options with occasional rideshares, visitors can experience the region’s character without the logistics of a rental car.

A quiet rivalry: wineries versus breweries

The valley’s reputation for wine has grown steadily, yet its craft beer scene is quietly vying for attention. Small breweries tucked into reclaimed farm buildings experiment with barley sourced from nearby fields, creating a dialogue between the two industries. A comparative tasting in the town of Annapolis Royal—wine on one side, locally brewed ale on the other—reveals how the same terroir can influence both grape and hop profiles. This nuanced rivalry offers a lens on the valley’s broader ethos: a commitment to place‑based production that respects tradition while embracing contemporary craft.

Introduction

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Annapolis Valley" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Economic region in Nova Scotia, CanadaAnnapolis ValleyEconomic regionThe Annapolis Valley region as defined by Statistics CanadaCountryCanadaProvince Nova ScotiaCountiesAnnapolis CountyKings CountyHants CountyArea • Land8,367.78 km2 (3,230.82 sq mi)Population (2021) • Total129,306 • Density15.5/km2 (40/sq mi) • Change 2016–214.5%Time zoneUTC-4 (AST) • Summer (DST)UTC-3 (ADT)Area code902Dwellings62,284 The Annapolis Valley is a valley and region in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is located in the western part of the Nova Scotia peninsula, formed by a trough between two parallel mountain ranges along the shore of the Bay of Fundy. Statistics Canada defines the Annapolis Valley as an economic region, composed of Annapolis County, Kings County, and Hants County.

Geography

[edit] This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message) The valley measures approximately 126 kilometres (78 mi) in length from Annapolis Royal and the Annapolis Basin in the west to Wolfville and the Minas Basin in the east, spanning the counties of Digby, Annapolis and Kings. Some also include the western part of Hants County, including the towns of Hantsport and Windsor even further to the east, but geographically speaking they are part of the Avon River valley. The steep face of basaltic North Mountain shelters the valley from the adjacent Bay of Fundy and rises over 260 metres (850 ft) in elevation near Lawrencetown. The granitic South Mountain rises to a somewhat higher elevation and shelters the valley from the climate of the Atlantic Ocean approximately 100 kilometres further south on the province's South Shore. The shelter provided by these two mountainous ridges has produced a microclimate which provides relatively mild temperatures for the region and, coupled with the fertile glacial sedimentary soils on the valley floor, the region is conducive to growing vegetable and fruit crops. Particularly famous for its apple crop, the valley hosts in excess of 1,000 farms of various types, the majority being relatively small family-owned operations. Within the valley itself are two major rivers, the Annapolis River which flows west from Caribou Bog in the central part of the valley into Annapolis Basin, and the Cornwallis River which flows east from Caribou Bog into Minas Basin. The North Mountain ridge forms the north side of the Annapolis Valley. Also flowing east, in two smaller valleys north of the Cornwallis River, are the Canard River and the Habitant River, both of which also flow into the Minas Basin.

History

[edit] Annapolis Valley from North Mountain in Valleyview Provincial Park, north of Bridgetown Eastern End, with the Minas Basin to the right Eastern end looking southeast across Annapolis Valley from "The Lookoff", North Mountain Long settled by the Mi'kmaq nation, the valley experienced French settlement at the Habitation at Port-Royal, near modern-day Annapolis Royal in the western part of the valley, beginning in 1605. From there, the Acadians spread throughout the Valley, in various communities, building dykes to claim the tidal lands along the Annapolis and Cornwallis Rivers. They continued throughout the Annapolis Valley until the British-ordered expulsion of Acadians in 1755 which is memorialized at Grand-Pré in the eastern part of the valley. New England Planters moved in to occupy the abandoned Acadian farming areas and the region also saw subsequent settlement by Loyalist refugees of the American Revolutionary War, as well as foreign Protestants. These were followed by significant numbers of freed Africans in the War of 1812, Irish immigrants in the mid-19th century and Dutch immigrants after World War II. Agriculture in the Annapolis valley boomed in the late 19th century with the arrival of the Windsor and Annapolis Railway, later the Dominion Atlantic Railway, which developed large export markets for Annapolis Valley apples. The Annapolis Valley Regional Library was established in 1949. It was the first regional library system in Nova Scotia.

Economy

[edit] Central Valley, looking west southwest across farms in Clarence Western Valley, overlooking narrowest part of Annapolis Valley towards Bridgetown Eastern end, overlooking Wolfville, Nova Scotia Western end, at Port-Royal habitation, where Annapolis River widens to form the Annapolis Basin Corn at Grafton Lawrencetown Exhibition The Valley has traditionally been built on a diversified agricultural industry, with a wide range of output ranging from livestock to fruit trees and berries. The last quarter-century has also seen the development of a wine industry, with such notable wineries as Gaspereau Vineyards winning national and international awards for their produce. Today, the Valley is still largely dominated by agriculture but also has a growing diversity in its economies, partly aided by the importance of post-secondary education centres provided by Acadia University in Wolfville, and the Nova Scotia Community College campuses located in Kentville, Middleton, Lawrencetown, and Digby. Michelin has an important truck tire manufacturing plant in Waterville and the Department of National Defence has its largest air force base in Atlantic Canada located at CFB Greenwood along with an important training facility at Camp Aldershot, near Kentville. Tourism is also an important industry and the Annapolis Valley is known for its scenic farmland, although today some is threatened with suburban development in the eastern end, and a great deal has been abandoned. The valley also struggles with pollution from farm runoffs and residential sewers in its two major rivers, the Annapolis River and the Cornwallis River. The Annapolis Valley additionally has become home to the majority of Nova Scotia wineries, located in either the Gaspereau Valley or in the Canning, Grand Pré, or Bear River areas. The Valley is home to the annual Apple Blossom Festival, held in late spring. In July is the annual Steer Bar-B-Que in Kingston, and Heart of the Valley Festival in Middleton. August sees Mud Creek Days in Wolfville and the Annapolis Valley Exhibition in Lawrencetown. Bridgetown's Cider Festival comes in mid-September. The Canadian Deep Roots Music Festival is held each year at the end of September in Wolfville, a community-based festival, supported by both the Town of Wolfville and Acadia University and built by over 100 volunteers, and on in-kind and financial support from virtually all sectors of the Valley community. Late October sees Wolfville and Kings County play host to Devour! The Food Film Fest, an annual international film festival celebrating all things culinary. Farmers markets in Annapolis Royal, Bridgetown, Middleton, Kentville, Kingsport, Berwick and Wolfville bring a produce and other goods to the public every week. In the fall, there is the Pumpkin People in Kentville.