Discover the Wineries of Nova Scotia

Here you will find the following (click to jump to these sections):

We hope the information provided below will help you plan your vacation or travel in Nova Scotia. We appreciate any comments you may have on this information and we can be contacted through this form.

Tours to Nova Scotia Wineries and Vineyards

We offer the following scheduled tours. We can also customize a wine tour with your specific needs.

Epicurean Wine Tour - Daily Departures - Guaranteed to depart on Wednesdays
Wine Enthusiast Tour - Daily Departures - Guaranteed to depart on Saturdays

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Nova Scotia Winery Association - Discover the Wines of Nova Scotia

When you think of great wine-making regions in Canada, Nova Scotia is quickly earning a place for itself on that list.

The Winery Association of Nova Scotia (WANS) has adopted a set of quality standards - the Nova Scotia Wine Standards, and is introducing a new symbol of quality to identify wines that are made from 100% Nova Scotia grown grapes and fruit and meet the criteria set out in these new standards. The official launch of premium quality Nova Scotia wines is being uncorked May 9, 2006 at the annual Taste of Nova Scotia Dinner at the Prince George Hotel in Halifax.

"There are nine wineries in the province that make a variety of wines from 100 per cent Nova Scotia-grown grapes and fruit, and we have several new wineries preparing to open in the next few years," said Ron Chisholm, Minister of Agriculture. "The Winery Association of Nova Scotia has created a symbol of quality that celebrates the growing wine region in our province."

Situated on one of the cooler climate limits for vines, Nova Scotia has had a long and rich tradition for growing grapes for wine dating back to the 1600's.

In 2003, more than one million pounds of grapes were grown on more than 300 acres of property in nine counties in Nova Scotia. The crop was valued at $640,000.

"Nova Scotia grape growers and wineries have built a world class reputation through the quality of the products they sell," said Hanspeter Stutz, Treasurer of WANS and owner of Grand Pre Wines. "Our long fall allows our grapes to ripen slowly increasing their flavour intensity. Our wineries are winning international awards for their efforts and beautiful wines."

For more than 25 years wineries have differentiated themselves into several very distinct regions: The Annapolis Valley, Malagash Peninsula, LaHave River Valley, plus other regions that are now proving suitable for grape growing giving us very distinctive and beautiful wines to choose from.

Stutz says, "Our customers now know that they have the absolute best that this land has to offer when they see bottles that carry our new 'Wines of Nova Scotia' symbol." WANS has created a playful logo of a lobster claw holding a tilting glass of wine that captures the distinctive, eclectic and unpretentious character of premium wines from Nova Scotia.

In celebration of the newly launched Wines of Nova Scotia symbol, the Association has created a "Discover Nova Scotia Wines" passport whereby visiting at least five of the eight Nova Scotia wineries gives the consumer an opportunity to win one of 3 exciting wine experience vacations and to get discounts on wine when they visit the wineries.

Passports can be obtained by visiting one of the wineries, at various events throughout the summer and fall or by contacting the Winery Association of Nova Scotia (www.winesofnovascotia.ca).

Hans Christian Jost, President of WANS and owner or Jost Vineyards is looking forward to the new visitors that this promotion will bring to his winery in Malagash. "More than 40,000 people from all around the world visit our vineyards every year", Jost says. "They enjoy award-winning wines and drink in the glorious views of the province's landscapes. I expect that more people will discover our wineries because of this marketing initiative."

As any wine connoisseur will tell you, a great glass of wine is the result of a rare combination of the fruit, the land, the climate and the people. Nova Scotia is an award winning combination. The new symbol of quality was created with these elements in mind so you are invited to raise your glass with confidence and pride as you discover the Wines of Nova Scotia.

For more information on the Winery Association of Nova Scotia, please visit http://www.winesofnovascotia.ca/

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History and facts of the Nova Scotia wine industry

Here is a brief history and facts of the Nova Scotia Wine Industry (from the Winery Association of Nova Scotia, 2006)

Size
- 9 wineries – 2 fruit wineries, 7 grape wineries
- 40 to 50 vineyards scattered throughout the province ranging from 2 acres to 60 acres
- Several grape growing regions evolving:
  - Annapolis Valley, including the Gaspereau Valley
  - South Shore (LaHave River Valley)
  - Bear River Valley
  - Avon River Valley
- 350 acres are under vine (planted) and close to 300 acres in production.
- Value of crop (2004) $640,000
- Retail Sales estimates range from $5 to $8 million (2004)
Climate and Grape Varieties
- Nova Scotia’s soil and climate conditions are very suitable for growing French Hybrids, “grape varieties bred primarily in France to combine the natural hardiness and disease resistance of the North American vines with Vinifera wine quality. With careful management together with oenological and viticultural skills, Nova Scotia winemakers are developing a reputation for producing beautiful wines from these unique grapes. Some of the more popular French Hybrids include: Baco Noir, Leon Millot, Luci Kuhlman and Marechal Foch that produce red wines, and L’Acadie Blanc, Muscat, Seyval Blanc and Vidal that produce white wines. In fact, Vidal is used to make Ice wines, for which Canada has become famous. Jost Vineyards’ 1999 Vidal Icewine won ‘Canada’s Wine of the Year’ at the All Canadian Championships.
- Winemakers are continuing to experiment with a variety of other grape varieties and are beginning to see exciting results with Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
- The length of the growing season and the total ‘heat units’ accumulation determine which varieties will ripen in a particular location. Heat units are the sum of average temperatures above a baseline over the growing season. An average of 900 heat units is considered a minimum for ripening the early vinifera varieties...many (vineyards) in Nova Scotia have long-term averages above this level comparing favourably with some northern European areas...Chablis (950), Loire (950-1100), Mosel (950-1150), Eastern Switzerland (850-1000).” (Wambolt, Philip et. al. Nova Scotia Winegrower’s Guide, 2002 Edition. Bridgewater, NS, Blue Frog Inc., 2002. Pages 11-13, 19-20)

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Links to the Wineries of Nova Scotia

	Bear River Vineyards Chris Hawes, Owner 133 Chute Road Bear River, NS Tel – 902 467-4156 Website: www.wine.travel	Click on the image for more pictures
	Blomidon Estate Winery Janet Woodworth, Manager 10318, Hwy 221 Canning, NS Tel – 902 582-7565 Website: www.blomidonwine.com	Click on the image for more pictures
	Domaine de Grand Pre Hanspeter Stutz, Owner 11611, Hwy 1 Grand Pre, NS Tel – 902-542-1753 Website: www.grandprewines.ca	Click on the image for more pictures
	Gaspereau Vineyards Kim Strickland, Manager 2239 White Rock Road Gaspereau, NS Tel – 902 542-1455 Website: www.gaspereauwine.com
	Jost Vineyards Hans Christian Jost, Owner 48 Vintage Lane Malagash, NS Tel - 902 257 2636 Website: www.jostwine.com
	Lunenburg County Winery Heather Sanft, President Hwy 103, Exit 11 RR #3, Mahone Bay Newburne, NS Tel - 902 644 2415 Website: www.canada-wine.com	Click on the image for more pictures
	Petite Riviere Vineyards Carol Slack-Wamboldt 1300 Italy Cross Road (Hwy 103, Exit 15) Crousetown, NS Tel - 902 693-3033 Website: www.petiterivierewines.ca	Click on the image for more pictures
	Sainte-Famille Wines Suzanne and Doug Corkum, Owners Dyke Road and Dudley Park Lane (Hwy 101, Exit 7) Falmouth, NS Tel - 902 798-8311 Website: www.st-famille.com	Click on the image for more pictures

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