One thing you will hear vineyardists and vintners say about starting up a winery is “it’s hard work”. All of our grapes are safely pressed out into tanks now, culminating a string of 16 – 20 hour days and rushing between Toronto and the County every other day. Energy to do all this came from […]
Lady bug, lady bug, fly away home! This year our vineyards were invaded by Multicoloured Asian Lady Bugs, or MALB. You may know that at crush time the odd insect or two can get crushed along with the grapes. We like to think that adds a bit of complexity. Seriously though, the wine is so
A critical phase of the wine making process at Broken Stone. At harvest this year we dumped a few lugs of grapes into wading pool and did a ceremonial grape stomp. The cool clusters felt wonderful on tired feet. Followed by a foot bath in warm water…luxury. You just can’t get this sort of spa
Stomping the grapes Read More »
We have every reason to be grateful this year; graced with a bountiful Harvest and healthy, happy children. Cheers!
A Pinot Thanksgiving Read More »
As the grapes ripen in the weeks leading up to Harvest, things really start to escalate on the home front with shuttling kids to hockey tournaments and pool training sessions. But we’re still at the winery every weekend to keep our vision alive. One foot in the City, one foot in the County. So this
Harvest Update 2013 Read More »
“What are you doing?” a neighbour asked. “I’m digging a hole for my new sign” I said. “You’re going to need a rod; you can’t dig a hole in the County without a rod” It’s true. Hand digging in Hillier’s soil is a humiliatingly difficult proposition. The limestone rocks jar your bones with every stab
It’s a war zone out in the County these days. Random shrieks and bangs are resounding from our neighbour’s vineyard a mile away, loud enough to make me instinctively duck for cover. Bird control tactics are in full swing as they protect this year’s Harvest from a throng of threats. I toured our vineyard to
Of Mice, Birds, Raccoons, Deer, Voles, Rabbits, Turkeys, Wasps and Men Read More »
Veraison. Just a trickle now, soon a flood of colour will wash through the vineyard, painting the berries purple and gold. Our vines will stop their frantic vegetative growth. Shoots will turn from green to copper. Grapes will soften and sweeten. Hints of Harvest.
People said we need a better sign. We found some leftover cedar planks, nailed them together, and for the cost of a Dremmel tool and a couple of hours on a Saturday morning, we have a new sign! We’ll paint it our logo colours, hang it at the end of the driveway, and see who