About Us
Low Intervention Winemaking & Sustainable Viticulture Since 2004
Norman Hardie Winery is situated in idyllic Prince Edward County, Canada. Opened in 2004 by winemaker and owner Norman Hardie. His wines are now poured in over 40 Michelin Star restaurants across Europe, the U.K. and Japan.
Since his inaugural vintage in 2004, Norm’s wines have received stellar accolades from leading international wine critics. His 2013 County Chardonnay was selected by Matt Kramer among his “Three Most Exciting Wines of the 21st Century”. His wines are featured in Jancis Robinson’s Oxford Encyclopedia of Wine. They consistently attain scores that Grand Cru Burgundy producers aspire to. In Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book, Norman Hardie Winery is heralded as an “Iconic Prince Edward County pioneer.”
Norman’s philosophy is that great wine starts in the vineyard. He practices viticulture raisonné and no herbicides have ever been used on the property. His winemaking approach has been low-intervention since 2004. Norm is a firm believer in using natural yeasts, full lees contact, and an extended two-year elèvage for his Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays (similar to Grand Cru Burgundy). The wines truly speak of the magnificent terroir we have here in Prince Edward County & Niagara.
Norman Hardie
On a clay limestone hill in Prince Edward County, my passion for fine wine is put to the ultimate test. I have chosen select sites in Prince Edward County and Niagara with a magical combination of clay and limestone. These mineral driven sites are ideal and allow me to craft Pinot noir, Chardonnay and other cool climate varieties of exceptional quality and elegance. My wines tell a story of place developed from my passion and experience.

My Journey
In my early twenties I earned my sommelier certification from the esteemed wine program at the University of Dijon in Burgundy and then put my skills to work as a sommelier for Four Seasons Hotels for seven years. In 1996 I traded in my Hugo Boss and Armani suits for farm clothes, work boots and a backpack. My insatiable thirst to master the art of winemaking led me on a six year journey apprenticing for the very best producers/winemakers of cool climate varieties in Burgundy, South Africa, Oregon, New Zealand and California. In 2003 I put roots down in Prince Edward County by planting 12,000 Pinot Noir vines and in 2004 planted an additional 3,000 Chardonnay and 2,000 Pinot Gris vines.

Our Terroir
The sites we’ve chosen have enormous potential. It’s up to us to look after and care for our land and vines to see that these sights realize their potential. We spend an inordinate amount of money and time on our vineyards to ensure perfect fruit. Our vineyard crew are fastidious, understand and embrace the concept that great wine can only be made in the vineyard. Once the fruit is ripe, we hand pick and hand sort every cluster. This is to ensure only perfect fruit make it into the fermentations.

Our Approach in the Cellar
In the cellar, we take a low-intervention approach to gently guide our wines through fermentation and ageing. We are not tempted to use an arsenal of quick-fixes for easy non-distinctive ferments available through numerous laboratories. Instead, our approach is to use very few modern techniques in the cellar. This low-intervention approach entails using absolute minimal amounts of sulphur, natural yeasts from the vineyard, extended fermentation on the skins for the reds, lots of lees contact for the whites, and natural malolactic fermentation in the spring. It takes tremendous experience and guts to take this natural approach. However, we do it because of our dedication and desire to create wines that taste of a sense of place, or "Vins de Terroir."

Our Team
The full potential of the soils can only be realized with a team of tireless, dedicated and enthusiastic individuals who embrace my vision. Each member of my team brings with them a rich knowledge base and a thirst to learn more and create something special. I simply feel we have the best employees in Prince Edward County.
Read more about our incredible team.

Accolades
Right from our inaugural vintage in 2004, our goal has been to produce wines of the highest quality that taste of a place. Every year to raise the bar on quality, and we’ve quickly developed a strong international clientele who appreciate our Old World, handcrafted style. Almost immediately upon opening, the winery received phenomenal accolades from top wine critics. Matt Kramer (Wine Spectator), chose the 2008 County Chardonnay as one of his wines of the year.
Outstanding reviews have come from international wine critics, such as Stephen Spurrier (Decanter), Jamie Goode (wineanorak.com), Tim Atkin MS, and Jancis Robinson (jancisrobinson.com and the Oxford Companion to Wine), including some top local critics such as Tony Aspler, John Szabo MS, Michael Godel, David Lawrason, and many others.
I was 6,000km from the Côte d’Or, but this glass of Pinot and the mental image I retained of its vineyard insisted on some sort of comparison
- Rated 4 stars (out of 4) in Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book in 2019 and 2020
- Jancis Robinson – Ontario’s Burgundian Ambition
- Wine Align – Norman Hardie County Chardonnay Unfiltered 2016
- 2019 National Wine Awards of Canada Gold Medal
- 2019 Texsom International Wine Awards Judges’ Selection Medal
- John Szabo – Norman Hardie County Pinot Noir Unfiltered 2017
- John Szabo – Norman Hardie County Chardonnay Unfiltered 2017
- 2020 Texsom International Wine Awards Gold Medal
- Jamie Goode – Exploring the wines of Ontario, Canada
- Matt Kramer (Wine Spectator) – My Wines of the Year 2013:
The Chardonnays emerging from Hardie’s small vineyard in Prince Edward County are laser-etched with acidity, minerality and the sort of originality that we all once thought only Burgundy could deliver.
- The Wall Street Journal
- Jamie Goode – The wines of Norman Hardie, Prince Edward County, Catching up With Norman Hardie
- The World of Fine Wine 2013 -Top rated North American Chardonnay
- The World of Fine Wine 2014 -Top ten North American Pinot Noir
- Jancis Robinson – From Bottom to Top – Canada’s Wines
- Jancis Robinson – Some lovely reviews and excerpts from Canada Shows Off in London
- Stuart Pigott’s Rockstars of Wine America