Nova Scotia

Located in the beautiful Bear River Valley near the south western end of the Annapolis Basin. The winery owned by Chris Hawes became the only Licensed Cottage Winery in the province of NS Feb. 2006. Chris claims to be the smallest winery with only 3.6 acres planted over the last 12 years. Chris began growing grapes in 1987.

According to Author Chris Naugler , vines were first planted on this site in 1611. The farm house beside the vineyard was built in 1784. Our winery building was built in 1883 and the first experimental planting by the NS Dept. of Agriculture was in 1963.

The vineyard environment and aspect in Bear River ripens eight varieties of vinifera. Well drained glacial soil and steeply sloping rows, warmed by the inland flow of the sea creates an ideal vineyard climate.
Wines produced include Chardonnay Pinot, Gris, Baco Noir and Pinot Noir.

Winemaker: Chris Hawes

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Located in Canning, Nova Scotia, in the heart of the Annapolis Valley on Minas Basin, home to the world's highest tides. Officially known as Blomidon Estate Winery at Habitant Vineyards. The winery is named after Blomidon Provincial Park located near by.

The original vines were planted in 1986 as part of an experimental vineyard and later sold to Jost Winery;
They opened the winery in 1997. In 2008 it was sold to the Ramey family. Marilyn Ramey is predident

The unique climate of the Minas Basin allows for the grapes to thrive, tides influence the temperature and air movement. Gentle south-facing slopes allow for great drainage and maximal sun exposure. The sandy soil is also beneficial. All of which contributes to the production of award winning wines, most recently award winning wines, most recently  a silver medal for the Estate 2007 L'Acadie at the All Canadian Wine Championships 2008

Blomidon Estate Winery and its estate vineyards (25 acres)are located on the north shore of the Bay of Fundy. The land's gentle slope and sandy soil provides the vines with good drainage while the south facing slope of the vineyard allows the grapes maximum sun exposure. Most importantly, the inlets to the bay have the highest tides in the world, up to 16 meters. This truly unique tidal motion creates an extraordinarily unique environment for grape growing. The high tides of the region protect vines from freezing temperatures and frost by ensuring air movement and moderating temperatures year round.

This year (2008) winemaker Bruce Ewert will introduce  Blomindon's first icewine a 2007 Vidal

Winemaker: Bruce Ewert
Winemaking Philosophy: is to work with varieties that thrive in this climate, while continually pushing the envelope with new experimental varieties as well.

signature wines are 100% Nova Scotia Chardonnay, L'Acadie Blanc, Baco Noir, Seyval

 

 

website / wine sold by glass / icewine

Located in the beautiful Gaspereau Valley seven miles from Wolfville.
Once an apple orchard the vineyard was planted in 1996 on the ideal south facing slope followed by a successful harvest in 1999 . The winery opened in 2004

At Gaspereau Vineyards, Jost planted Chardonnay, Riesling, Ortega and Vidal on the warmer upper part of a vineyard and varieties such as De Chaunac, L'Acadie, New York Muscat and Kuhlmann further down what is a fairly continual slope. “Chardonnay always makes it through the winter and it produces a decent wine,” Jost says. “But I like L'Acadie,” referring to the most widely planted white variety in Nova Scotia . In the Gaspereau site, the variety yields a wine that the wine shop staff describe as “dangerously drinkable.” The wine shows sweet, zesty citrus flavours with a dry finish.

winemaker: Gina Haverstock

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Icewines

The winery was founded in 1978; the first winery in Nova Scotia

In 1993, Swiss businessman, Hanspeter Stutz, bought Grand Pré. Stutz was undaunted by the challenge of purchasing and restoring the vineyard. Now, with his vision and determination, Mr. Stutz has successfully established Domaine de Grand Pré as a proud and viable winery

The winery includes a restaurant named Le Caveau; built in the original 1828 house

The primary wine varieties at Grand Pré are Marechal Foch and Leon Millot for red. The whites are New York Muscat and L'Acade for whites . Quality Ice wines are made from Vidal and New York Muscat

Winemaker: Juerg Stutz
Domaine de Grand Pré has a unique approach to winemaking. Unlike most New World wineries producing Old World wines, such as Chardonnay, Hanspeter believes wine producers should develop distinct varieties, styles and vineyard practices based on particular soils and climates. To achieve this, Domaine de Grand Pré has partnered with the Agriculture Canada Station in Kentville, Nova Scotia to develop unique Nova Scotian varieties.

Domaine de Grand Pré wines are exclusively available at the facility's wine shop and at its restaurant

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Jost Vineyards, situated on the northern shores of Nova Scotia, combines more than 300 years of grape growing and wine making traditions with a long warm, frost free season. Jost Vineyards history begins with Hans Wilhelm Jost and family in the Rhine region of Germany. The Christinenhof was a successful family-run vineyard and cellar, highly praised for its wine quality.

In 1970, in search of vast lands and new freedoms, the Jost family, Hans, Erna and children, Hans Christian and Ellen, immigrated to Nova Scotia. It was not until 1978 that the Jost's returned to the family tradition and began experimenting with grapes. With the success of these grapevines, more vineyards were planted and a use for the resulting harvest required. Jost Vineyards became a licensed winery in November 1983 and the first cellar was built in 1984.

The winery has over 75 acres located in the Malagash and Gaspereau Valley. The most common varieties are Marechal Foch, L'Acadie Blanc, Muscat, Leon Millot, Geisenheim, Seyval Blanc, Vidal Blanc, Mischurnitz and Severnyi

. The Vintage Loft operates during the summer and is a charming gift store filled with local crafts, books and unique gift ideas. The Charity Grape Stomp in September is always a great time and enjoyment is almost a guarantee.

Winemakers: Hans Christian Jost and & David Beardsall

Their philosophy "produce crisp,clean wines. The flavor of the wine should come from the fermentation of clean grapes and juice".

Jost believes the long,gentle growing season in Nova Scotia brings forth unique characteristics to the wine. Wine is created in the vineyard.

Their 1999 Vidal Icewine from Jost Vineyards of Malagash beat 594 other entries in the All-Canadian Wine Championships on May 13.

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Located in the center of the in the warm Gaspereau Valley of Nova Scotia. Owners Bruce Ewert and his wife Pauline Scott plan to organically grow L'Acadie grapes and craft them into premium traditionally bottle fermented sparkling wines and table wines. L'Acadie is a flavourful grape variety well suited to our unique cool climate growing conditions and also refers to the rich farming heritage in the valley

Bruce brings with him a wealth of winemaking experience from his days in the Okanagan California and Australia.  They selected their location in Gaspereau Valley because it is the center of wine country in NS providing soilwhich is well drained, rocky slate with about a 5 % slope for cold air drainage.

Winery will open May 2008

Winemaker: Bruce Ewert
Philosophy: Wines that show their terroir

 

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Located on the South Shore on a 100 Acre Commercial Blueberry Farm. The farm is nestled on a drumlin, surrounded by Acadian forest,in a county dotted by lakes. Our vineyards and acres of blueberries land other soft fruits are within a mile of the LaHave River (North Branch). The winery opened in 1994.

They have 24 fruit wines made from only 100% NS grown fruit and 4 grape wines also made from 100% NS grapes. Their award winning wines include Apple, Cranberry, Blueberry and the noted Montbeliard Pear*.
They also produce two maple flavoured wines Oxbells & Fireflies and Kejimkujik Maple.

Winemaker: Winemaker Daniel Sanft

Signature wines: Montbeliard Pear, Blueberry, New York Muscat

*Heather Sanft winemakers wife was born in Halifax, NS a 8th generation Nova Scotian who family arrived in 1753 from Montbeliard, France.

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The winery opened in 2004 Owned by Philip and Carol Wamboldt. This is the first winery on the North Shore
in the LaHave River valley. Here they grow some Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier,Chardonnay,and Zwiigelt.
The majority of their two vineyards are planted with hybrids, Seyval Blanc,L'Acadie,Leon millot, baco noir,Triomphre d'Alsace and Kuhlmann.

In 2002 , together with Drs. Chris Naugler and Bruce Wright , they published the Nova Scotia Winegrower's Guide . It was seen as quite a coup that this very timely little book, a landmark for the industry as a whole, should originate from a virtually unknown upstart region.

Philip passed away in a car accident Carol Wamboldt along with Ben Swetnam, the first Nova Scotia graduate of the Niagara College viticulture program in Ontario operate the winery.

Winemaker :

website

Located in the Avon River Valley the gateway to the Annapolis Valley. The winery sits on a south facing slope over looking the valley.

Owned and operated by Suzanne and Doug Corkum. The Winery takes it's name the land where they build the winery. In 1680 the Acadian village known as la Paroisee Sainte Famille was founded here.

Ste. Femille first planted their vineyard in 1979.

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Icewines/ Harvest Fest / Tours (may1-Oct31)

 

Telder Berry winery is no longer operating.

Established in 1987, this producer has specialized in making wines from the blueberries grown in northern Nova Scotia . During the tourist season, Williamsdale also sells a variety of other food products incorporating berries, and offers farm tours.

Winemaker: D. Carter

Tours: yes; Tasting: no