Discover the Wines of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is quickly earning a place for itself on the list of great wine-making regions in Canada and it is doing all it can to ensure that people associate the area with high standards.
The Winery Association of Nova Scotia has adopted new quality standards -- the Nova Scotia Wine Standards. The association has introduced a new symbol to identify wines that are made from 100 per cent 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 was held at the annual Taste of Nova Scotia Dinner in Halifax on Tuesday, May 9.
"Nine wineries in the province make a variety of wines from 100 per cent Nova Scotia grown grapes and fruit, and we have several new wineries opening in the next few years," said Ron Chisholm, Minister of Agriculture. "The Winery Association of Nova Scotia has created a symbol of quality that recognizes our growing wine region."
Dating back to the 1600s, Nova Scotia has had a long and rich tradition of growing grapes for wine because of its cooler climate. In 2003, more than one million pounds of grapes were grown on more than 120 hectres (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 the Wine Association of Nova Scotia and owner of Grand Pré 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."
Several distinct regions in Nova Scotia have proven suitable for grape growing and producing wine: the Annapolis Valley, Malagash Peninsula and the LaHave River Valley. Other regions are also now proving suitable for grape growing.
"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," said Mr. Stutz.
The Wine Association of Nova Scotia 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 new Wines of Nova Scotia symbol, the association has created a Discover Nova Scotia Wines passport. Consumers can win one of three wine experience vacations and get discounts on wine when they visit at least five of Nova Scotia's eight wineries. Passports can be obtained at the wineries, at various events throughout the summer and fall, or by contacting the Winery Association of Nova Scotia.
Hans Christian Jost, president of the Wine Association of Nova Scotia and owner or Jost Vineyards, is looking forward to the new visitors that this promotion will bring to his winery in Malagash, Cumberland County.
"More than 40,000 people from around the world visit our vineyards every year," said Mr. Jost. "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. For more information on the Winery Association of Nova Scotia, see the website at www.nswines.ca