After 18 years of growing grapes in the County I thought I had seen everything. This year has been particularly challenging, especially with immigration and acquiring visas for our irreplaceable and highly-skilled Thai field workers. After hundreds of hours on the phone, emails, and chasing down government officials, our Thai field workers finally arrived Monday night, 8 weeks late.
Given their late arrival, we were fortunate with a very cold spring (late bud break) and being able to find (very expensive) crews from Niagara. Hats off to Lou Della Civita for finding/directing the crews who have kept the vineyard alive, unburying and tying the vines and assuring us of a crop this year.
I’ve just returned from 10 days in Europe pouring for the media, buyers and sommeliers at both Canada House in the UK and ProWein in Dusseldorf. The reception for our wines was incredible, particularly for our Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. The resounding feedback I received was what great value these wines were compared to similar quality Burgundy (twice to three times the price). All I could say is that “I have some of the most beautiful soils and climate in the world to create these Old-World style wines which true Chardonnay and Pinot Noir lovers appreciate.”
As always the pizza oven and our wine tastings are available on a first come first served basis when visiting the winery. We’re also offering a 1-hour in-depth tour and tasting for $50/person. These can be booked ahead online or on the same day. The wines you will be tasting include both current releases and some back-vintage library wines. Participants will also receive an etched Norman Hardie Riedel wine glass to take home and first access to a table for lunch after the tasting (if desired). We’ve just started a few weeks and spots are filling up very quickly for this summer.
We have a wonderful range of great summer wines available online including the sleeping giant, our 2017 Riesling (93 points, Michael Vaughan). With fishing season on the East Coast now open we have a delightful seafood-friendly East Coast Atlantic-inspired 6-pack (that’s 6-pack of wine, not beer). Click here to order online.
Looking forward to welcoming you to the County this summer. Our tasting bar is open daily from 10am, and our pizza oven is open daily from 11am. Each year we try and raise the bar. Our first highlighted raise is serving Cascumpec Bay oysters from PEI. Delivered three times a week minimum, you won’t get fresher oysters or more friendly staff outside of PEI.
Cheers and thank you for supporting all of us at the winery,
Norm and the best team of employees in Prince Edward County