Hastings County is joining the push to have a certain grape be added to the list of wine varieties that can be sold without certain provincial controlling regulations.
The Marquette grape is one that can survive the colder growing conditions in Hastings County.
Sandor Johnson of Potter Settlement Vineyards and Artisan Winery has been a pioneer in growing this grape and winning medals internationally for the red wine. It won the gold award at the international competition in San Francisco last December.
Johnson tells Quinte News the Marquette was invented by scientists in Minnesota who created the Honey Crisp apple.
“They basically took a French wine like Pinot Noir and married that with a Quebec grape so it’s cold resistant to minus 35C and it also is disease resistant so I don’t have to spray fungicides or systemic poison on my crop, which makes my wines organic.”
From left: Sandor Johnson of Potter Settlement Vineyards and Artisan Winery with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when the winery won the Premier’s Award for Innovation 2018. (Photo: Submitted)
Johnson continued, “At Potter Settlement we are the first to take part in the planting of this grape in Ontario. We won the Premier’s Award for innovation for that. It’s high time the VQA (Vinters Quality Alliance) recognized the quality of this grape.”
Johnson tells Quinte News there is no need to bury the vines in winter as growers in Prince Edward County do.
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He pointed out how the Marquette grape has influenced wine growing in Hastings county.
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Hastings County council recently decided to have Warden Rick Phillips write to the province in support of having Marquette wines allowed in LCBO stores, and Ontario bars, without the present 58% tax, and other regulations.
