ANDREW HANNA In the spring of 1998 Ian and Marit Hanna purchased a 125 acre farm in Cressy, east of Waupoos on PEC. In the spring of 2000 they planted some 12,000 Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc vines on 8 acres, and will be planting an additional 16,000 Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris vines on 8 acres in the spring of 2001. Ian and Marit, along with their crew of able bodied teenagers (Andrew, Matt and Rachel) are lovingly tending their vines and look forward to full production by 2004/2005. EMail Andrew Hanna
DEB AND TOM MARSHALL Debra and Thomas Marshall began preparing for their first planting in the fall of 1999 by working up a half acre of land at Debra's fourth generation family farm on the South shore of East Lake, in Prince Edward COunty. In spring of 2000 approximately 750 vines were planted. With the successful growth of these Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Gamay, Zweigelt, Melon du Bourgogne, Landot Noir and Auxerrois, the Marshalls decided to increase their acreage to just over one and half acres in 2001. The spring of 2002 saw them increase their planting by another 4000 plus vines. With close to 6 acres of vines in the ground, they are gearing up for commercial production next year. The major plantings at their "Robert Thomas Estate Vineyards" are Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Zweigelt. A descendent of P.E.C. United Empire Loyalists, Debra is thrilled return to The County full - time to operate the vineyard business. As one of the few locally born and raised growers, she is thrilled to see so many new faces come to THE County to take part in the grapegrowing industry. She currently is sitting for her second term as secretary on the Board of Directors for the Prince Edward County Winegrowers Association and is the creator and editor of the Association's bi monthly newsletter. Husband Thomas's career requires he be centred in the GTA but cannot be dragged out of the vineyard on weekends on holidays. Farming is a passion of Thomas' and he looks forward to residing in the County full time.
The first harvest of the test plot occurred in 2002, with their Pinot Noir producing a must with a 21.3 brix, 3.22 pH and 7.29 acid. The small harvest was retained for some home winemaking experiments.
Next year The Marshalls will be selling their harvest to local wineries, and anticipate it will be a few more years before they consider opening their own winery. Until then, they are content to study their winemaking skills under other award winning winemakers and learn more about viticulture and nurturing healthy balance vines.
ELIA GALLO Visit this page for his growwine biography.
GEOFF HEINRICKS See the PECWA newsletter below, issue one, for Geoff's profile.Email Geoff Heinricks
JOHN AND SACHA SQUAIR are beginning their first year of planting vines in the County. Their property is located on Fish Lake Rd in Sophiasburgh. They plan to use two fields for their vineyard. The first field is on about a 10% slope to the southeast, while the second field a much shallower slope. They plan to plant St. Laurent and Pinot Noir in the first field, and hybrids in the second such as Baco Noir and Marechal Foch. The farm has not seen any chemical sprays or fertilizers for nearly 10 years and John and Sacha hope to grow their vines using only sustainable agriculture practices.Email John and Sacha
MIKE PEDDLESDEN became interested in growing vines
after a trip to NOTL in 1994. He wondered why no one
in the County had tried to grow vines. After many
phone calls and research, with a partner he
decided to plant 100 test vines in the County. When these were
successful, they planted 2,000 test vines Chardonnay, Cab. Franc,
Riesling, Gamay, Seyval Blanc, Vidal, etc.) just to see
which varieties would over winter well. Unfortunately
they all survived, making selection that much more difficult.
Mike purchased 43 acres of his own land in Hillier last winter and planted 4,000
Chardonnay, 4,000 Cab. Franc, 600 Pinot Gris and 1,400 Riesling this summer.
All are doing very well. With the recent change in LCBO policy, he would
like to open a winery by the spring of 2003. A further profile is in the first PECWA newsletter below. EMail Mike Peddlesden
PAUL WALLACE joined the AWO Pickering Wine Guild
in 1982. He has won many medals since. He has 50
acres on the south shore of Hay Bay (Napanee / Picton area). In 1984 he
ambitiously planted 55 vines (Vidal, Riesling, Gewurtz)
purchased from Paul Bosc at Ch des Charmes. He lost vines
each winter even with hilling. For the first years, he replaced
what he lost each winter. 1986 saw a small crop which
made great riesling. But rot, mildew, hornets, winterkill...the hornets got the crop one year just the day before harvest!!
Nature won over the next 3 years. Paul is still passionate
about joining in with someone else who is planting. He plans to
retire to the county in 2001. EMail Paul Wallace
PETER CHATTERTON is located on Drive-in Rd. at the Beechwood overpass North of Hwy 401 at Napanee.
His 180 vines (visable from #401) face south and are spaced at 4 feet X
6 feet. They run north-south on clay-loam soil with lots of rock. He has collected rocks from other areas, placing them below
the vines. He has not had spring frost damage (No need for Aylmer-style fires here!)... but he may own the Flea beetle capital of Canada!
20 each Vidal, Seyval, Aurora, Cayuga, Chambourcin, New York Muscat, Lucy Kuhlman, Marechal Foch & Baco Noir. The 1999 harvest lasted all of September. 750 pounds of fruit yielded 35 gallons of wine!
Peter wants to learn what each variety requires for the production of the best wine.
Email Peter Chatterton
www.littlefatwino.com