Robert Bell's Wines of Canada

Wineries with Unique Names

Hoity Toity Cellars

There are some interesting winery names across the country. Here are some that we like and some we do not! And of course why they chose that name!

B/3 Three Bear Ranch: The wineries name was inspired by the rollicking adventures of three wily bears that live near the vineyards. They produce only three red wines Merlot, Shiraz, and Pinot Noir. Owned by Artisan Wine Co. Located in Osoyoos BC.

Big Head Winery: The name owner Andrzej Lipinski draws from his childhood, a self-deprecating salute to his, well, big head! Located in Beamsville,Ontario.

Blasted Church Winery: The winery selected its name from the history of the land. the winery was built where there once stood a church. The citizens of Okanagan Falls wanted to dismantle the church and bring it closer to town to accomplish this the church was blasted with dynamite sticks inside in order to "loosen the nails". Located near Okanagan Falls BC.

Burning Kiln Winery: The vineyards and winery are located in Norfolk County, just minutes from Port Dover, Simcoe, the sandy beaches of Turkey Point and overlook the UNECSO designated Long Point World Biosphere Reserve. The name recalls the dangers of early tobacco farming and marks the end of this traditional farming activity. From these ashes and traditions is reborn what the early explorers Dollier and Galinee discovered and wrote about in 1669 - great land, great wine and great adventure! Located in ST Williams, Ontario.

Burnt Ship Bay Winery is named after a little bay in the Upper Niagara River, where in 1759, during the Seven Years' War, it became the final resting place for some treasure-laden French ships. Located in Niagara-on-the-Lake,Ontario.

Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery: The winery name celebrates William Baillie-Grohman, a pioneer who arrived in the Creston Valley in 1882 to hunt mountain goats (there is one on the wine labels), and spent the next 30 years diverting rivers, reclaim land and bringing in settlers before retiring in his native Britain. Located in Creston, BC

Bee BoyZZ This is the story of a father and son A father who loved bees and passed his passion on to his son. The company name was born from the “boys” tending the bees, the name just came to them one day around the kitchen table and it stuck. Bee Boyzz. They thought it was catchy and trendy and represented them. Located in Oak Bluff, Manitoba.

Daydreamer Wines: Rachel and Marcus Ansems have both been “Daydreaming” about their own little wine company for forever and a day. They wanted to create a unique and memorable winery where a focus on fine wine is the ultimate goal. Grapes grown without systemic fungicides, herbicides and pesticides, small batch processing, with a sustainable approach is the mandate. Located on the Naramata Bench.

Dirty Laundry Vineyards - great wines but that name. The original name (1978) of the winery was Scherzinger Vineyards after the owners. The winery sold in 2005 and again in 2007. The current owner Bob Campbell wanted a more exciting name. The Marketing company that came up with Blasted Church suggested Dirty Laundry. Back in the 1800’s a former railway builder named Sam Suey decided he’d had enough of the hard labour pounding spikes and laying track, and opened a laundry in Summerland where the labourers could bring their work clothes for washing. While they sat around waiting for the clothes to air dry, the men would play cards and gamble. Soon Suey spotted another opportunity. He converted the floor above the laundry into a gaming hall and bordello.

Edge of Earth Vineyards: Due to the windy country road one has to reach the winery owners Russ and Marnie Niles renamed the winery Edge of the Earth Vineyard. It was formally called Hunting Hawk Vineyards. Located in Spallumcheen, BC.

Elephant Island Orchard Winery: the original owner Miranda Halliday named the winery after Elephant Island where her grand parents retired. The winery is located in the Naramata Bench.

Flying Canoe Cider; The owner Pete Rainville was told a story by his French Canadian grandfather when I was a boy, the Flying Canoe is an interpretation of the French saying and story called“Chasse-Galerie”. It is the story of some lonely Gatineau voyageurs in a remote timber camp centuries ago who make a pact with the Devil to make a run of the "Chasse-Galerie" in a magical Flying Canoe so they can visit their sweethearts and families hundreds of kilometers away during a holiday. They are warned, however, not to blaspheme during the voyage, or touch crosses atop church steeples and they must be back before six o'clock the next morning. If they fail in their mission, they shall lose their souls in the quest. Located in Ottawa. See full story .

Forbidden Fruit Winery: The winery’s name, Forbidden Fruit, is a reflection of both the Story of Creation and the new “Garden of Eden”. The past status of organic products and fruit wines have both been categorized at times, as being only for the hobbyist. However, Like Eve in the garden, once tasted, a new empowerment is realized. Located in Cawston BC.

Frozen in Time

Frozen in Time Is the new name of the historic Rodrigues Winery. Founded in 1993 as Markland Cottage Winery, Rodrigues Winery was Newfoundland's first winery. Its the building that brings out the name. The Markland Cottage Hospital was built in 1935 and was one of 19 cottage hospitals built in Newfoundland and Labrador to serve rural communities. Markland Cottage Hospital was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2007. It was designated a heritage site for its historical, aesthetic and environmental attributes. The building has been preserved as closely as possible to its original state.

Glass House Winery: the original owners came from the Netherlands. The name Glass House pays homage to the family's 60 year history in the greenhouse industry, starting in the Netherlands and continuing in North America. Located in British Columbia's Fraser Valley.

The Good Earth Vineyard and Winery is an expansion of the well-established and popular cooking school of the same name. It all began in 1998 when Nicolette Novak opened her family farm that she had lived in as a child to hold a cooking school which embraced the concept of “slow food" The winery opened in 201. Located in Beamsville, Ontario.

Here's the Thing Vineyards The winery is owned by Jamie and Leah McDowell. They are are hands-on winery owners, doing most of the vineyard work themselves. The winery operates 100% solar powered. The name...I have been in the BC wine business for a long time and often told my staff that we don't so much sell wine as we sell the story of wineries and winery people. Keeping with the "story" theme, we think that many good stories start with "Here's the Thing..." Our back labels all start with "So, here's the thing...and go on to tell a story about that wine. We wanted something casual and fun even though we are very serious about making and drinking good wine.

Hoity Toity Cellars : Because there is nothing fancy about us just hard working farmers. Located in Midmay, Ontario.

Honey Pie Hives and Herbels. It’s a term of affection. Like the Beatles song. Located in PEC, Ontario

Hounds of Erie Winery: Mat and Melissa Vaughan are dog lovers of course and the winery is themed after their former great Dane Rohan. Located in Clear Creek, Ontario.

Krāzē Legz Winery : Owned by a fun lovely couple. Gerry and Susan Thygesen visually differentiated this winery from its peers by adopting a Roaring 1920s theme. The winery’s whimsical name is meant to suggest the “legs” formed on the inside of a wine glass after the wine is swirled.
Laughing Stock Winery: Laughing Stock is a name that will raise an eyebrow or two in the Okanagan Valley. It counters the traditional approach to wine marketing - largely based on elegance, refinement, stature, heritage etc. It also magnifies the vulnerability that the original Cynthia and David must bear. Every morning, they wake up motivated NOT to do anything that would validate their winery name. With a name like Laughing Stock, they have no choice but to produce exceptional wines. Located on the Naramata Bench.

Little Engines: The winery owned by Steve and Nicole French opens in 2016. Their motto is Dreams don’t come true, dreams are made true and so began the journey. Why Little Engine…. because each and everyone one of us has a Little Engine Story; relating to the fable the Little Engine That Could.

Long Dog Winery "I grew up with dachshunds. James gave me a wire-haired dachshund puppy for my 30th birthday and soon was devoted to the breed as well. Otto died suddenly of heart failure in 1998, we were devastated, and we buried his ashes under the first Pinot Noir vine planted in 1999. We’ve always had the dogs since then, the current dachshunds-in-residence being Flora and Fern. Naming the vineyard “Long Dog” made us smile"

Nagging Doubt: "Nagging Doubts are the thoughts we all have - sitting in the backs of our minds, goading us on. Yet, the daily grind always seems to take precedence. Even so, those thoughts persist. Starting this winery has been our Nagging Doubt…a dream we have had for years that has finally come to fruition."

Oliver Twist: The name comes from the town of Oliver and the fact that the winery among the first to use Stelvin 'twist' tops. Chances are you will see an old classic car on site and lots of nostalgic memorabilia inside the wine shop. In fact, they even created a new wine series called "NOSTALGIA" based on this theme featuring fancy hot rods with cute pin up girls on the labels. Visiting Oliver Twist is a trip down memory lane.

Red Bird Estate Winery: The winery is owned by Remi and Shannon Cardinal. Located in Creston BC.

Shrugging Doctor Brewing Company incorporated in April 2016 by two Winnipeggers; Zach Isaacs and Willows Christopher. Shrugging comes from the hard work it takes to get a license. The Doctor of Old. Pushing his cart from town to town, selling ‘Cure All’ Elixirs and Potions. Because at the end of the day, aren’t we at Shrugging Doctor just selling you elixirs and potions that some may argue cure everything ailing you in life? Iconic ‘Doctor’ logo is actually based on a real person – ‘Dr. Brent”, who is actually my father in real life. I don’t think he knew how much he was signing up for when he agreed to his 18 year old son’s crazy plan to take pictures of him in a doctor’s costume.

Tightrope Winery: “It represents the balancing act you go through when you make wine, from decisions in the vineyard, depending on the season, to decisions in the winery and winemaking. All of those variables have to be balanced.” located on the Naramata Bench

The Foreign Affairs Winery: In the early 1990s founders, Len and Marisa Crispino were living as expats in Italy. While there they discovered the wonders of the Amarone wines of Valpolicella in the Veneto region of the country. This style of wine is made using the appassimento process whereby the grapes are dried prior to pressing. The more they learned about this process and grew to love these wines, the more excited they became at the prospect of bringing this incredible craftsmanship back with them to Ontario. And so, they did.

Welcome to Robert Bell's Winesofcanada.com ! This is a personal website. We do not represent the wine industry or any aspect of the Canadian Government. We have been promoting Canada's wines and wineries since 1992. We do not sell or purchase any products. Please enjoy the website. Your comments are welcome.