They say good things come in groups of threes. They do! Matos Estate Winery & Distillery, Newman Estate Winery, and Rossignol Estate Winery are the names of the three wineries found right here on Prince Edward Island! What’s great about them is that each winery is so unique with the wine they produce it’s worth a visit to all three!
By Jackie Herbert, Food & Drink Editor Photos Evan Ceretti
W hat can you expect during a visit to one of the Island wineries? All Island Wineries offer wine sampling, guided tours throughout the vineyard and winery, and you can even enjoy a glass of your favourite while relaxing in their vineyards. Taking advantage of the sunny slopes of St. Catherine’s Matos Winery & Distillery is able to grow vines like Chardonnay, and Gamay. Whereas Rossignol and Newman Estate have been growing more common grape varietals for Atlantic Canada in the Eastern region of PEI like Seyval Blanc, Marechal Foch and Vidal. Winemaker Jim Matos has a knack for assessing PEI’s micro-climates in the Central Coastal Region of the Island and choosing the right grapes varietals for each slope within his vineyard. Inside the cozy winery, wife Heather Matos can be found intriguing her guests with some of their popular wines like the Rosé, Wildberry Gamay or the Strawberry Chardonnay. A portion of the winery includes several distinctive distilled products from sweet flavours of fresh oranges, to the captivating appearance of the sugar magic found in each unique bottle of Anisette. When visiting, ask about their Portuguese- style liqueurs. Further east, down a red dirt road in Murray River, winemaker Mike
Newman concentrates on traditional earth-driven styles of wine-making by upholding the methods of the eastern shore region. Newman Estate Winery is considered a boutique winery, which means guests can only purchase the small batch wines directly at the winery as they are not sold in retail outlets. Newman prefers to operate his winery as a small-run, limited production hand-crafted artisanal winery, which only adds to the charm of his estate. Newman produces off dry and dry white & red wines, often experimenting with blends to create a variety of styles. Further from his wine making training in California, Newman has become comfortable with the environmental factors of Prince Edward Island, and uses that to his advantage when producing his vintages. Gazing out across the endless rows of vines from the top of the winery balcony, is described by many as a romantic experience, not soon forgotten. Located about 15 kilometers away from Newman Estate, on the shores of the Northumberland Strait is the picturesque Rossignol Estate Winery, the oldest winery on Prince Edward Island. Growing a variety of grapes in the vineyard, along with some of the fruit that is used in the fruit wines, winemaker John Rossignol takes great pride in the care he shows the grapes he uses to produce wines like L’Acadie Blanc, High Bank Red, and Marechal
Foch. Inside the apple orchard, found within the Estate, there is an oasis appreciated by small group gatherings under the peaceful canopy of the gazebo. Back inside the winery, it not only serves as a tasting room for over 15 different wines and liqueurs, but as a charming gift shop as well. It features several local artisans’ wares, even small print replicas of the wine bottle labels, which are created by artist and wife of the winemaker, Dagny Rossignol. Like many small operations found throughout Prince Edward Island, the proud owners are active in every step of the process, from planting to pruning to hand harvesting. Prince Edward Island wineries offer an experience that other wine regions don’t. You actually meet the winemaker, the owners, the families. Originally from South Eastern Ontario, Jackie, her husband and teenage son, moved to PEI in 2016. While taking on a rather ambitious home renovation project, she also started a tour operation. HOP|SIP|SWIRL TASTING TOURS is a private winery, brewery & distillery business focusing on the ever growing local artisan beverage industry. She's a true believer that life doesn't get better by chance. It gets better by choice.
We welcome Jackie Herbert to our team as PEI Living's Food & Drink Editor.
SUMMER 2020 www.pei-living.ca
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