Like the aging of a good wine, one local man’s dream is slowly about to come
to fruition with the opening of Bruce County’s first winery.
Gary Fischer has been planning and working on the eventual opening of
Carrick Wines for more than three-and-a-half years; but on July 30, it will
be time to uncork some bottles with the grand opening at his family
homestead on Highway 9 between Walkerton and Mildmay.
“I just want people to enjoy the experience,” Fischer said of his small
winery. “Enjoy the wines of Bruce.”
Before he could receive approval, Fisher had to have at least five acres of
grapes in production. Last fall he picked 2.5 tonnes and began the process
of pressing and fermenting the grapes.
He has approximately 20 tanks of various sizes on site of his newly created
winery building where he does all the lab work himself checking for the
beverages’ sugar levels and acidity.
Because of Bruce County’s colder winters than what is typical in Ontario’s
Niagara region – where grapes and wineries have become big business –
Fischer selected a second generation hybrid of a new hardy northern variety
of grape. It can withstand temperatures of between -35° and -40°C whereas
the common vinifera grapes can only handle temperatures in the -21° to -23°C
range.
And the grapes love the soil on his property. “They grew vigorously,”
Fischer said, noting that usually you have to wait until the fourth year to
get a good harvest. He was able to pick in his third year.
Carrick Wines will start off with a small selection offering ŒThe Back
Forty’ – a strong bodied, dry white wine; ŒThe Winegrower’s Tale’ a rosé;
and ŒPartridge Eye’ an off-dry white (blush) wine. But there will also be
cider made from Bruce County apples.
“We’ll have more cider in the beginning than wine,” he explained, adding
that ciders, a low alcohol kind of wine, has become very popular in the
area.
“Basically I want to determine what people’s tastes are.
He’s now up to 10 acres of grapes in production and has recently planted two
rows of apple trees.
Fischer has also built a small sampling area and retail area.
“It’s all about the experience,” he said. “I want people to come and enjoy
their time here.”
Fischer also owns Walker House Fine Wines where customers can make their
own, but Carrick Wines is a complete and separate business from that. “The
two are not connected in any way,” he explained.
The winery will be opened Thursday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and
Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.
Tours are available. For more information, visit them on the Web at:
www.carrickwines.ca.