It has been a challenging viticulture season with a summer full of lots of rain and humidity. This ugly weather pattern finally broke on September 1st. We have been blessed with ideal dry conditions for the critical ripening cycle of the grapes. Similar to Burgundy everything is ripening at the same time. The next two weeks will feel like Grand Central in the cellar.
Our much sought-after 2022 Melon de Bourgogne is finally ready for release. This amazing variety that originates in the Loire Valley was fermented in old 500L French oak barrels. While the old barrels impart no oak flavours, they do allow for a very high lees to juice ratio which gives the wine amazing texture. The barrels also breathe allowing the wine to get a tiny amount of oxygen which has a huge positive impact on the quality of aging. This beautiful mineral-driven wine will disappear fast. Click here to order yours now.
We have just finished picking Chardonnay for our very first BUBBLES. Be patient as we are following strict traditional Champagne protocol to ensure the wine is of the highest quality. The wine will be released 4-6 years from now. We will start harvesting County Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for still wines next week.
Next Thanksgiving Sunday, October 8th, for the 20th year in a row we will be hosting our much sought-after annual communal Harvest (see below for details). If you’d like to join us please email joey@normanhardie.com to let us know so we can confirm your spot. Joining us for harvest may allow you to escape any dreaded family gatherings by explaining that you will be celebrating a true Thanksgiving (thankful for the harvest). Email Joey (joey@normanhardie.com) and he will add you to our sign up list for updates.
Our tasting bar remains open daily from 10am to 6pm and our pizza oven is open for lunch Monday-Thursday from 11am to 3:30pm, and Friday-Sunday from 11am to 6pm. If you can’t make it to the County to pick up our local wines for Thanksgiving, we are always delighted to ship directly to your door. Free shipping is available for Ontario orders $90+, Quebec orders $200+, and orders to the rest of Canada $300+. Mixed cases are welcome! Click here to order.
Cheers from beautiful Prince Edward County,
Norm and the Winery team
HARVEST INFO
Each year since opening we have had a communal pick day. We kindly suggest you to please bring your own picnic chairs/blankets to enjoy your well-deserved post-harvest lunch comfortably. We recommend layering and dressing appropriately for cool, crisp weather, with shoes suitable for outdoor, slightly muddy work.
Harvesting will start at 10:30am, and we will serve the meal in the early afternoon. There will be meal options for vegans, vegetarians, and pescatarians to enjoy. For others, we will still be roasting a 120 lb pig as is our tradition.
To confirm your spot in the communal harvest pick, please email Joey (joey@normanhardie.com) with your name, and the number of people who will be in your group. Please check your email prior to arriving. If it rains, we will need to cancel the harvest. We will only email you if we need to cancel.
This is a family affair, and as always, children are very welcome; however, we advise against bringing dogs, as you will have a large vet bill 24 hours after your dog has consumed a few ounces of grapes! Picking requires many knee bends and spending lots of time close to the ground. If you feel your knees are not up for this, please still join us as we have many important tasks in the winery and field that do not require significant knee bends. For those participating in grape picking, please come prepared with sunglasses/protective eyewear, comfortable farm shoes, a water bottle, and your energy & enthusiasm. You are also welcomed to bring work gloves and a stool to sit on.
