1606 Lescarbot discovers wild grapes
In 1606 Lescarbot writes of discovering wild grapes near Saint John River, NB
Read more1611 First vines planted at Bear River by Louis Hebert
Bear River Historical Society
Read more1633 Vines planted and wine made for mass
Isaac de Razilly (governor of Acadia) planted vines and made wine for mass at Fort-Ste-Marie-de-Grace (now LaHave)
Read more1635 Isaac de Razilly – sacremental wine
Isaac deRazilly writes of sacramental wine made here
Read more1800s (early) Charles Prescott imports
Early 1800s Charles Prescott imports and grows Isabella grapes at Starr’s Point
Read more1827 First Temperance Society
First Canadian Temperance Society founded in Montreal (9)
Read more1800s (mid) Table grapes in NS
Commercial production of table grapes thrives in Annapolis Valley and along South Shore Black Hamburg Muscatel grapes grown in NS
Read more1842 Temperance movement gains momentum
1 person in 10 was a member of a temperance organization (9)
Read more1870 Grapes doing well in NS
Reports that Black Hamburg, Isabella, Hartford Prolific, Diana, Concord, Delaware, and other grapes do “pretty well with us in the open air”
Read more1901 PEI goes dry
Prince Edward Island goes dry and all of Canada has joined by the end of World War I (9)
Read more1913 Agriculture Research Station, Kentville
Agricultural Research Station in Kentville, NS begins to experiment with grapes
Read more1920s Prohibition
“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…
Read more1927 Government control in NB
New Brunswick adopts a system of government sale and control of alcohol (8)
Read more1930 Government control in NS
Nova Scotia adopts a system of government sale and control of alcohol (8)
Read more1933 Prohibition ends in US
Prohibition ends in United States (9)
Read more1941 Chipman’s Apple Products
Chipman’s Apple Products becomes first commercial winery in Nova Scotia producing fruit wines (subsequently becomes Chipman Wines Ltd)
Read more1948 Government control in PEI
Prince Edward Island adopts a system of government sale and control of alcohol (8)
Read more1963 Planting at Bear River
Experimental planting by Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture at Bear River
Read more1965 Truro Winery opened
Truro Winery – now owned by Andrew Peller Ltd – opened
Read more1970s L’Acadie Grape
Roger Dial names L’Acadie grape (1)
Read more1970 Hans Jost
Hans Jost emigrates from Germany with family (1)
Read more1971 Wine grapes are not viable in NS
Researchers at Agriculture Canada (Kentville, NS) determine no wild grapes are viable in Nova Scotia
Read more1978 Grapes planted
Jost plants first vines Dial and Morse plant 3 acres of Michurinetz and Severnyi
Read more1979 Grand Pre Wines Ltd & Sainte Famille
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)
Read more1980s New vineyard and awards
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
Read more1980 Nova Scotia’s 1st commercial vintage
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…
Read more1983 Jost launched, Chipman closed
Jost Winery licensed and opened (1, 2) Andres wine purchases Chipman Wines Ltd (and closes plant)
Read more1984 Grapes – Ollie Brant selection V.53261 sent to NS
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)
Read more1985 First brew pub
Ginger’s (first brew pub East of the Rockies) opens in Halfax (later becomes Granite Brewery) (1)
Read more1986 Jost, Habitant, Farm Winery Policy
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)
Read more1986 Changes at Grand Pre Wines Ltd, Williamsdale Winery, and Bear River Vineyards
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…
Read more1990 Sainte-Famille Wines Ltd
Sainte-Famille Wines Ltd opens (1) and releases its 1st vintage (2)
Read more1992 NS Winegrowers’ Guide
Philip Wamboldt, Dr. Chris Naugler & Bruce Wright publish the Nova Scotia Winegrowers’ Guide
Read more1993 Cottage Winery Policy and Marble Mountain
Cottage Winery Policy passed governing the production of fruit wines (2) John Pratt plants first grape vines in Marble Mountain (3)
Read more1994 Petite Riviere Vineyards and Lunenburg County Winery
Harmon Hill Vineyard (Petite Riviere Vineyards) planted by Philip and Carol Wamboldt (1) Lunenburg County Winery licensed (1); opened (3); releases first vintage (2)
Read more1995 Paddy’s Pub in Kentville
Paddy’s Pub (brew pub) in Kentville opens under brewmaster Randy Lawrence (1)
Read more1996 Vineyard planted at Gaspereau
Vineyard planted at Gaspereau (3)
Read more1997 Plantings, breweries, new release
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)
Read more1998 Rogue’s Roost
Rogue’s Roost opens with Lorne Romano, Brewmaster (1)
Read more1999 Domaine de Grand Pre releases its 1st vintage (2)
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…
Read more2000 Domaine de Grand Pre, Benjamin Bridge, Glenora, Jost
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…
Read more2001 Atlantic Canadian Wine Symposium, Benjamin Bridge, GGANS
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
Read more2002 Winery Association of Nova Scotia (WANS) established and industry progress
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…
Read more2003 Benjamin Bridge, Blomidon Estate, Muir Murray
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…
Read more2004 Growth in sales and value of grape crop
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…
Read more2005 Lobster claw logo adopted by WANS
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…
Read more2006 Bear River Vineyards and Wineries and Wine Country of Nova Scotia
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…
Read more2007 NS Farm Winery Policy, preferential markup
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…
Read more2008 New wineries, releases, and winemakers
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…
Read more2009 Nova Scotia Wine Grape Production Guide published
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…
Read more2010 Luckett Vineyards established
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…
Read more2011 Avondale Sky opens
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…
Read more2012 Atlantic Wine Symposium held, Tidal Bay appellation launched
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…
Read more2013 Canadian Vintners Association releases Economic Impact Study
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…
Read more2014 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Nova Scotia Wines
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…
Read more2015 Vineyard Development and Expansion Program Announced
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…
Read more2017 Lightfoot & Wolfville
Planned Official Opening of Lightfoot & Wolfville
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