Spring has been exceptionally cold and long for which this year I am very grateful. Bud break is at least 15 days late. We’re fortunate that the spring is late as our magnificent field workers from Thailand have yet to arrive due to government bureaucracy at its worst. After hundreds of emails and phone calls to immigration, our field workers should arrive in a couple weeks (approx. 4-6 weeks late).

As a result of the delay in Thai visas we are in DESPERATE need of many hands to create light work in the vineyard. The 2022 Harvest is in peril and there is the possibility of irreparable damage to many of the vines that have been in the ground for 18 years or more (just starting to hit maturity). We hope you can come out to beautiful Prince Edward County on Saturday to enjoy some fresh County air (sunny forecast) and help us pull canes for a few hours (anyone can do it, no knee bends required). #SaveTheVineyard   

After helping in the field you can enjoy wood-fired pizza, in-house-smoked trout and a glass or two of delicious County wine. We are needing as many people as we can for 3 to 4 hours of light vineyard work. For those who have helped pick grapes this is a lot easier and will get us in a position where we are not falling behind nor lose the crop/vineyard. Details for sign-up below.

We had our soft-opening of the pizza oven last weekend and are now open 7 days a week. The pizza oven and oyster bar will be open 11am to 3pm Monday through Thursday, and 11am to 6pm Friday through Sunday. Tastings are available daily from 10am to 6pm. We look forward to welcoming you back to beautiful Prince Edward County this summer.  

Our lineup of wines online has never been stronger. A couple of great suggestions this summer: 

  • ✴ Our 2017 Riesling is just coming into its own and to quote revered wine journalist Michael Vaughan: “Buy a case today. If you have just 2 bottles a year, by the time you finish you will regret not buying four times as much. The 2017 is best Riesling he has produced yet.” We call it our “breakfast lunch and dinner” wine.
  • ✴ Both our County Chardonnay and County Pinot Noir from 2018 are drinking very well and many of our returning customers have remarked how with every vintage our wines become more complex and ethereal.
  • ✴ The 2017 John Bil Cuvée is a great seafood wine that was created in honour of our wonderful friend John Bil. John was Canada’s seafood authority and spent many Sundays over the years shucking and regaling customers with great oyster stories. Click here to read our ode to John. 

Hopefully we’ll see you this weekend and if not then this summer. As always if you can’t make it here we can bring a little bit of the County right to your door via our online store. Free shipping is available on all Ontario orders $90 or more, and on orders $200 or more to Quebec and the rest of Canada. Mixed cases are welcomed! Thank you for your incredible support.

Cheers,

Norm