Stanners Vineyard
Stanners Vineyard is a family venture that began in 2003 with the purchase of a parcel of farmland near the village of Hillier in Prince Edward County. The “terroir”, that is, the soil, terrain and weather, seemed ideal for our quest to produce a Pinot Noir that would be the rival of any in the world. We love Pinot Noir, making this quest a pleasure as well as a challenge. It is believed that the best Pinot Noir is made from grapes grown in the most northerly terroir that can actually produce and ripen the grape. Prince Edward County is indeed a northerly location and the moderating influence of Lake Ontario which surrounds us makes grape growth and ripening possible. It also boasts the calcareous, limestone-riddled soils that are highly reminiscent of those in Burgundy, the home of world-renowned Pinot Noir wines. Our goal, however, is not to imitate Burgundy, but to bring out the best characteristics that our terroir can instill in the wine that it yields.
Ours is a relatively small vineyard and winery and we believe that our artisanal approach in which family members carry out most of the viticultural and winemaking tasks helps to ensure the high quality of the fruit and wine. Our vines are planted at high density and cultivated using organic (but not yet certified organic) practices, in accordance with our conviction that these measures give the highest quality fruit.
We made our first wine from the 2007 harvest and the result was striking: a varietally true Pinot Noir with complex and vibrant fruit tastes that are vital and original. Our 2008 Pinot follows the same pattern but is perhaps even better balanced, as the wine critics who have tasted it agree. Could this represent the terroir-specific character that we were looking for? As the vines mature, the wines will tell.
Our unique winery was built in 2009 using straw bales for the walls of the barrel room, a first for Eastern Canada. Although we do not expect to open fully until the spring of 2011, we will have a limited amount of wine for sale in 2010.