Potter Settlement Artisan Winery is a boutique winery located in Tweed, Ontario, known for its award-winning wines and rich historical roots. founded by Sandor Johnson, along with his parents Ken and Maureen Johnson, and brother Robin in the year 2000. The winery sits on land that has been in the Johnson family since the early 1800s, making it a deeply rooted, multi-generational endeavor.

The winery is considered a hidden gem in Ontario and has received glowing reviews for its ambiance and storytelling from the owner. Potter Settlement” refers to a small rural community or hamlet that once existed in the area. These settlements were often named after early settlers or prominent families.

Sandor began making wine in 1999, inspired by historical accounts from his ancestor Henry Gaun, who settled in Tweed after participating in the 1850 McClure Arctic Expedition. His passion and persistence helped transform a once-skeptical region into a celebrated wine destination.

Sandor Johnson

Sandor Johnson as the Quinte-ssential Renaissance man of Hastings County.  Born in Hornpayne, Ontario, Mr. Johnson has started the only winery in Hastings County with his brother Robin.  His background is in journalism where he worked in television as a news reporter and a financial correspondent for CNN news in Tokyo, Japan.  Sandor is also a much sought after model who has done promotional campaigns for Versace, Armani and others . He also has a recurring role on the soap opera All My Children . He has also been a Special Assistant to the Executive of the Arcus Foundation which promotes harmony between people and the natural world.  He lives between New York City and Tweed.

We’re at the edge of the Canadian Shield and our organic grapes are like nothing else in the world, so it is worth your time to swing by and visit us. Our sustainably-grown grapes offer a charming selection of highly mineral, delicious and intensely flavourful wines that are winning major international awards.

Sandor described his own journey to become a wine maker that included trying several varieties of grapes which all died. He settled on a variety of grape from the Pyrenees which grows well in the cold climate of Quebec. He has been working with and aging his wine for ten years before he sold a bottle. The wine he produces is called Marguette.

Potter Settlement consists of 10 planted acres of VQA-recognized French vinera. They  promote our organic farming, solar and geothermal energy usage. The grapes include Chambourcin, Cabernet, Marquette and Cordova.

Portàge is a unique fortified wine. Winner of 7 international gold medals.

Potter Settlement has created this fortified wine from a lost receipt over 200 years old. Created first during the McClure Arctic Expedition when barrels of port were frozen on the ice below -20C knocking out the wine’s bitter acidity and making it “remarkably smooth” according to the diaries of the explorers. The Midnight Sun maderized the port and created a “new style of port that we found fit for the finest dining tables of our Queen Victoria.” Potter Settlement is the first to re-create this lost recipe in almost 200 years!

The wine’s name honors the 1850 McClure Arctic Expedition, where barrels of port wine froze in the extreme cold. This accidental aging process removed acidity and transformed the wine’s character. The crew called it “fit for Queen Victoria,” and the name Portàge pays tribute to this journey—both literal and metaphorical

Among their many awards they have won Gold at the Challenge Du Vin in France and The London International Wine Competition.

Named winery of the Year at the New York International Wine Competition. Awarded for standout wines like Marquette (red) and Sauvage (red blend), with Sauvage scoring 95 points out of 1,400 entries.

Ontario Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation - Recognized for pioneering the planting of unique grape varieties in Canada.

The food service is limited to a  offer a high-end charcuterie (think quail eggs, elk terrine, bison terrine, truffle-fed boar sausage, fresh bread made with our grapes, edible flowers in season stuffed with water buffalo cheese, international and local cheese selections, sea asparagus, and chocolate wine truffles.

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