Nova Scotia Wine & Beverage Timeline

In 1606 Lescarbot writes of discovering wild grapes near Saint John River, NB

Bear River Historical Society

Isaac de Razilly (governor of Acadia) planted vines and made wine for mass at Fort-Ste-Marie-de-Grace (now LaHave)

Isaac deRazilly writes of sacramental wine made here

Early 1800s Charles Prescott imports and grows Isabella grapes at Starr’s Point

First Canadian Temperance Society founded in Montreal (9)

Commercial production of table grapes thrives in Annapolis Valley and along South Shore Black Hamburg Muscatel grapes grown in NS

1 person in 10 was a member of a temperance organization (9)

Reports that Black Hamburg, Isabella, Hartford Prolific, Diana, Concord, Delaware, and other grapes do “pretty well with us in the open air”

Prince Edward Island goes dry and all of Canada has joined by the end of World War I (9)

Agricultural Research Station in Kentville, NS begins to experiment with grapes

“Prohibition is widespread in Canada but alcohol can still be sold through the government for industrial, scientific, mechanical, artistic and medical uses, and often outside of the province. Illegal drinking…

New Brunswick adopts a system of government sale and control of alcohol (8)

Nova Scotia adopts a system of government sale and control of alcohol (8)

Prohibition ends in United States (9)

Chipman’s Apple Products becomes first commercial winery in Nova Scotia producing fruit wines (subsequently becomes Chipman Wines Ltd)

Prince Edward Island adopts a system of government sale and control of alcohol (8)

Experimental planting by Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture at Bear River

Truro Winery – now owned by Andrew Peller Ltd – opened

Roger Dial names L’Acadie grape (1)

Hans Jost emigrates from Germany with family (1)

Researchers at Agriculture Canada (Kentville, NS) determine no wild grapes are viable in Nova Scotia

Jost plants first vines Dial and Morse plant 3 acres of Michurinetz and Severnyi

Dial & Morse form Grand Pre Wines Ltd Dial and Morse plant Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer (lost during the following harsh winter) Sainte Famille plants first vineyard (3)

Avondale Sky vineyard begins production Dial’s Michurinetz-based Cuvee d’Amur wins gold at International Wine & Spirits Competition, NY and silver at competition in Bristol, England

Nova Scotia’s 1st commercial  vintage released from Roger Dial’s operation at Grand Pre, NS (2) Sainte Famille established with 1 acre of vines (st-famille.com) Dan and Heather Sanft buy 100…

Jost Winery licensed and opened (1, 2) Andres wine purchases Chipman Wines Ltd (and closes plant)

Helen Fisher supplies cuttings of Ollie Brand selection V.53261 (later named L’Acadie) to be avaluated by Dr. Don Craig at Kentville Research Station (3)

Ginger’s (first brew pub East of the Rockies) opens in Halfax (later becomes Granite Brewery) (1)

Jost wine store opens First vineyards planted at Habitant (later becomes Blomidon Estate Winery) (blomidonwine.ca) Farm Winery Policy passed allowing Nova Scotia wineries to sell directly to consumers (2)

Roger Dial closes Grand Pre Wines Ltd Williamsdale Winery (Williamsdale, NS) is established, specializing in making wines from the blueberries grown in Northern Nova Scotia (3) Chris Hawes begins growing…

Sainte-Famille Wines Ltd opens (1) and releases its 1st vintage (2)

Philip Wamboldt, Dr. Chris Naugler & Bruce Wright publish the Nova Scotia Winegrowers’ Guide

Cottage Winery Policy passed governing the production of fruit wines (2) John Pratt plants first grape vines in Marble Mountain (3)

Harmon Hill Vineyard (Petite Riviere Vineyards) planted by Philip and Carol Wamboldt (1) Lunenburg County Winery licensed (1); opened (3); releases first vintage (2)

Paddy’s Pub (brew pub) in Kentville opens under brewmaster Randy Lawrence (1)

Vineyard planted at Gaspereau (3)

First plantings at Gaspereau Vineyards Propeller Brewery launched by John Allen Garrison Brewery launched by Brian Titus Blomidon Estate Winery (formerly Habitant Vineyards) releases its first vintage (2)

Rogue’s Roost opens with Lorne Romano, Brewmaster (1)

Jurg Stutz begins producing wines as Domaine de Grand Pre releases its 1st vintage (2) St. Mary’s Vineyard (Petite Riviere Vineyards) planted Gerry McConnell and Dara Gordon purchase 60 acres…

Domaine de Grand Pre reopens to the public Benjamin Bridge begins producing Methode Traditionelle sparkling wine Benjamin Bridge engages Peter J. Gamble and Ann Sperling as consultants Glenora Distillery releases…

Atlantic Canadian Wine Symposium held (coordinated by Sean Wood) Benjamin Bridge plants first 5 acres (4 blocks) and invites Raphael Brisbois to tour ACOA Project with GGANS (Wine Symposium) $12,000

Winery Association of Nova Scotia (WANS) established (2) Habitant Vineyards becomes Blomidon Estate Winery (blomidonwine.ca) Brisbois agrees to consult with Benjamin Bridge Benjamin Bridge makes 7 experimental sparkling cuvees Industry…

Benjamin Bridge installs temperature logs and makes more experimental cuvees Wes Lowery moves from ON to NS (Blomidon Estate Winery) (1) Dr. Jonathan Murray and Lesley Murray buy 80 acres…

Retail sales estimates (NS wine) range from $5 to $8 million (2) Value of grape crop: $640,000 (2) Publication of The Tangled Vine: Winegrowing in Nova Scotia by Naugler, Wright…

Lobster claw indicates 100% NS-grown grapes for wineries with membership in WANS Nova Scotia Wine Standards (identified by logo; minimum 85% NS content) (Wood, 2006) Valley Wine Tours (Mark DeWolf…

Bear River Vineyards opens and releases first wines for sale (Wood, 2006) Wines of Nova Scotia officially launched to the public (Grape Growers Association of Nova Scotia, 2009) Publication of…

Nova Scotia Farm Winery policy enstated Blomidon Estate Winery purchased from Creekside Estate Winery (Niagara) by the Ramey family Benjamin Bridge Classic Method sparkling debuts at Michael Howell’s Taste of…

Annapolis Highland Vineyards established (annapolishighlandvineyards.com) L’Acadie Vineyards release first traditional method sparkling wine Ben Swetnam joins Avondale Sky as winemaker Jean-Benoit Delauriers selected as winemaker at Benjamin Bridge Beaver Creek…

Avondale Sky begins producing wine Simon Rafuse joins Blomidon Estate Winery as winemaker Jonathan Murray opens Muir Murray Estate Winery after 6 years of development Tom Stevenson selects early-disgorged Benjamin…

Luckett Vineyards established Benjamin Bridge 2004 Brut Reserve and 2004 Blanc de Noirs Methode Classique sparkling wines released John McLarity and Lisa Law purchase farm from Alan and June Woodworth…

Avondale Sky opens to the public and begins selling wine Vineyard planted at Planters Ridge Carl and Donna Sparkes found Devonian Coast Wineries L’Acadie Vineyards Prestige Brut only Canadian wine…

Atlantic Wine Symposium held in Halifax, NS Atlantic Wine Institute announced Jost/Gaspereau Vineyards purchased by Carl Sparkes Benjamin Bridge 2008 Methode Classique Rose selected for inclusion at Best Canadian wine…

Canadian Vintners Association (CVA) – sponsored Economic Impact Study released Jost Winery redesigned Nick Jennery resigns as CEO of Winery Association of Nova Scotia Devonian Coast Wineries acquires Muir Murray…

Inaugural Award: Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Nova Scotia Wines Gaspereau Vineyards plants additional 14 acres of vines DCW International (wholly-owned subsidiary of Devonian Coast Wineries Ltd) founded Gerry…

Vineyard Development and Expansion Program Announced Go North Tours becomes Uncork Nova Scotia with departures from Halifax, Windsor & Wolfville L’Acadie Vineyards 2010 Prestige Brut Estate Zero Dosage awarded Silver…

Planned Official Opening of Lightfoot & Wolfville