The name Beausoleil, which translates into “beau- tiful sun” in French, is inspired by the beautiful wide-open sky above and amazing views of the agricultural land surrounding the property. “The land has been farmed for over 250 years, so we wanted to pay homage to rich history of the area and the Acadians,” said Melanie. For those that may not know, the Acadians were descendants of the French, who settled in the Annapolis Valley and surrounding area during the 17th and 18th centuries and created the Acadian aboiteau (dyke) system that drained salt marshes and allowed the farming of these lands possible and for the area to become the agriculture center it was then as well as what it is today. The Eelman’s initially converted the north side of what was a five-stall horse barn into a farm stay accommodation that are literally surrounded by a Chardonnay grapes vine and also offers amazing panoramic views of the Annapolis Valley floor and North Mountain. The Farm Stay officially opened to guests on June 15th of 2020 and despite covid and the limitations that were placed on business-
es and travel Melanie says, “To be honest even with Covid we had an absolutely amazing first year as Nova Scotia truly embraced exploring their province taking staycations and with our location in Port Williams, it is roughly an hours drive from metro Halifax making it the perfect getaway.” After the success of the farm stay side of the business the Eelman’s continued to develop the property, converting the south side of the barn into a winery, cidery and boutique. This was always a goal for the property and their business philosophy of combining sustainable farming with cellar experimentation which Melanie says, “We are extremely proud of.” Do not think for a minute that this is some large- scale commercial project. It is an all-in small family farm and business that everyone in the family is active in. The Eelmans each concen- trate on different areas of the business, but as all families do, they help each other out along the way. Jake along with his full-time job with the government guides the work of the eight-
acre vineyard along with their two sons, 15-year- old Samuel and 12-year-old Oliver, who have become very involved in the management and maintenance of the vineyard and are gaining an appreciation for farming and the business and make a huge contribution during the season. Melanie looks after the accommodations and the boutique and of course the creation wines, ciders and their vinous ciders. As with many locally focused businesses, they were pleased to bring on a full-time summer student who is able to help out in all aspects of the business from the growing of the grapes, helping out with the Farm Stay to assisting Melanie in the cellar with wine and cider experimentation as well as helping out in the tasting room and at local farmer’s market. “We are focused on sustainable production prac- tices and sourcing local inputs where possible,” said Melanie. The property has a long farming history and Jake and Melanie continue to be focused on bringing the terroir back to a healthy and sustainable balance. Melanie tells us that it took two years to prep everything to get the grapes in and they continuously test soil and plant tissue samples to make sure that there is a focus on growing healthy plants and are increas- ingly focused on creating the right biodiversity on their property to attract and sustain biologi- cals. “We are mindful of our practices and use minimal intervention to keep a natural approach to farming and the products that we offer,” said Melanie. “We are mindful of our prac- tices and use minimal inter- vention to keep a natural approach to farming and the products that we offer,” Melanie said that at one time, the property was a terraced orchard, and they are excited about some legacy apple trees from that period that they have been working to reclaim and harvest fruit from. “The really cool thing about those trees is that
the varieties that we have, have kind of been lost to time,” Melanie said. They hope to propagate more of the trees to build on that legacy of the history of the farm and continue to focus on sourcing everything that we can locally, starting with their own area in the Annapolis Valley and then within the province and then within the Maritimes and so on.
The whole approach at Beausoleil Farmstead Cidery & Winery is to provide a farm-to-glass experience and to reintroduce and reconnect people with where the things that they eat and drink come from, and to share that experience with others both in and outside of the commu- nity that we live and work in. Melanie added, “We hope that we offer everyone that comes through the door a unique experience to be part of this concept. Whether it is drinking our ciders and wines to coming back and helping during the harvest season giving a truly hands on expe- rience that is so much more than the products and services that they offer.” The Eelman family and the Beausoleil Farmstead Cidery & Winery brand truly wants to make that connection with their customers and the people of their commu- nity and beyond. For more information on tours and tastings or to book a farm stay at the Beausoleil Farmstead accommodation, visit www.beausoleilvineyards. ca.
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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021
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