Our amazing Thai vineyard crew have arrived, and they have been diligently unburying and tying our vineyard in preparation of the 2019 season. It’s been a great but not insurmountable challenge given the wet weather we have had. We now hold our breath that we don’t have a late May frost like 2015; it is a good possibility with an ominous late full moon looming on May 18th. Winegrowing on the edge, Mark and the team are well prepared with the wind machines serviced and hundreds of wet hay bales ready to burn in the event we have a frost.
Our 2016 Pinot Noir Unfiltered is now available online and in many Vintages sections of the LCBO across the province. The wine epitomizes a classic Old-World Pinot Noir. It is a delicious delicate medium bodied red for those warm summer evenings.  Dr. Jamie Goode, one of England’s top wine critics recently gave us a stunning review for this wine:
“11.2% alcohol. So supple and delicious, with primary red cherry fruit and some spicy structure. Has amazing precision and lovely fruit purity, with a bit of grip under the fruit. There’s a lightness and elegance to this wine that’s delightful, and it should develop well. 94/100 (CA$45)” 
We officially opened the pizza oven last weekend and are currently open Friday-Sunday. We will be open Friday to Monday starting June 17th and then opening 7 days a week (11am-6pm) following the Canada Day long weekend. We have an amazing crew this year including many returning employees from years past. As always, many of our ingredients will be sourced in season from our organic garden planted a mere 100 yards from the oven. Hopefully we will see you on the patio soon.
Over the summer we will be hosting a few Summer Braai Suppers, with our first one being held on the evening of May 19th. The evening will start with a structured tasting of 3 back vintage Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs; a great way to explore vintage differences and how well our wine ages. This will be followed by an older aromatic white served with house smoked fish around the fire while I “braai” locally sourced meat and vegetables over fire. Growing up in Africa, “Braai” style cooking was a huge part of our food culture. All of the food, along with library wines, will be served family style on a large communal table. We are limiting the dinners to only 18 guests per evening.
Please join us for our 1st evening on Sunday May 19 at 6:30pm, click here to book.  Subsequent dates are to be announced in the coming weeks. Please email andi@normanhardie.com to put yourself on our list for the date announcement.
I am pleased to announce that we will soon be releasing our highly coveted Melon de Bourgogne in the coming weeks. Our first release since 2014; this Loire Valley varietal is incredibly vibrant and delicious, and really highlights the limestone soils we grow our wines on in Prince Edward County. The 2017 Melon is one of our lowest production wines with only 70 cases available for sale.
In addition to the Melon, we will also be releasing our 2017 Cuvée Orange Gewurztraminer. After experimenting and refining our skills with skin contact wines in ’13 and ’14, the Cuvée Orange is our first skin contact wine released to the public. This wine spent 30+ days on skins and has a beautiful aromatic quality paired with excellent tannic structure. Less than 50 cases produced. These wines are both $29.20/bottle and available for pre-order now. Please email tyler@normanhardie.com to reserve your bottles that will be available for pickup or delivery to your door in June-July.
As always, we can deliver our wines from the County to your home and office. We offer free delivery for orders of $90 or more in Ontario. Mixed cases are welcomed. Click here to order.
Cheers,
Norm and the team