New Brunswick wines are ripe for the picking, bringing flavours fresh from the orchards and farmer’s fields to table and patio.
Soft fruit seasons are sweet, but short. Now thanks to the province’s cottage wineries we can enjoy the delights of strawberry, blueberry, pear, rhubarb and other fruits year-round. Through a blend of European tradition, Acadian heritage and contemporary entrepreneurship the fruits of the earth are transformed into a distinctive taste of New Brunswick. Dana Glendenning, President and CEO of Alcool NB Liquor says: “New Brunswick is fortunate to have the perfect climate for growing fruit.”
From Moncton east to Bouctouche, south to Alma and west to Gagetown and Belleisle Valley, area residents and visitors will find acres of tranquil farmland and orchards where families work together, committed to producing fine wines in the tradition of their forefathers, restoring historic properties to house new wines and winning accolades for the fine wines they craft.
All wineries offer tastings and are happy to talk about the process; many offer tours. Check with individual locations for opening times throughout the year.
 Magnetic Hill Winery is situated in an 1870 heritage homestead offering extensive views over the city of Moncton. From fruit growing on their farm the Everett family has created a selection of dry to dessert wines. Bay of Fundy Blue, made from wild blueberries, is a dry medium bodied red with a hint of oak. Illusions, named for the Hill’s optical illusion, owes its crisp refreshing finish to rhubarb, while the Chocolate River Strawberry, Raspberry and Blueberry will complement chocolate desserts.
The winery was selected 2008 Co-winners of the Best of Show Wines at the N.B. Savour Food and Wine Show.
You can tour the winery, see production, sample the wines and buy local cheeses. With savoury crackers, also for sale, and a bottle of wine, you are set for a picnic on the patio.
Contact Phone: 506-385-9463
A short drive east to the beautiful Memramcook Valley brings you to two family-owned wineries.
 Belliveau Orchards and Bourgeois Farms is an old Acadian settlement. The orchards began in 1932, flourished under the care of local priest Father Masse and have been owned by the Bourgeois family for many years.
The Acadians brought their traditions from France continue these in this fertile area. Robert Bourgeois has created an eco-museum complete with a history of the apple-growing industry and traditional equipment. The winery’s selection includes apple, cherry and pear wines, sparkling apple wine and ice wine.
Seasonal tours are fun for all the family. During the fall harvest a hayride through the orchards reveals the many varieties of apples being grown and you can purchase delicious home-made pies from the bakery.
Contact Phone: 506-758-0295; www.fermebourgeoisfarms.ca
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Paul Boudreau knew exactly what he wanted to do when in 1998 he bought a sandpit in Memramcook. “We’re in a warm area in a cold climate,” he says. “With water on three sides we have the perfect micro climate for growing wine.” At harvest time friends join in the gathering of the grapes for another vintage.
La Cave a Vin Boudreau now produces seven wines from French and American hybrid grapes, including Seyval, Marechal Foch, Bonsoleil, a Baco Noir and a Vidal dessert wine. “We make traditional wine with modern technology,” says Boudreau. Tours of the vineyard are available by appointment.
Contact Phone: 506-871-6553; pboudreau@nb.sympatico.ca
A drive down the winding, scenic Fundy Trail brings you to Albert County’s first cottage winery.
 Waterside Winery specialises in blueberry wines, a dry and an oak aged, but also produces an outstanding sparkling rhubarb wine. Opened in 2006 by Linda and Ed Mantel, the winery ferments, filters and bottles its wines on site. “Blueberry wines are an excellent substitute for red grape wine and are high in anti-oxidants, so they are healthier,” says Linda.
Ed’s parents had a vineyard in Austria, giving him an early introduction to venting skills.
Waterside now offers shipping within New Brunswick.
Contact Phone: 506-887-2058; www.watersidewinery.ca; watersidewinery@gmail.ca.
In the 1860s Johann Ziegler Sr., a vine grower and master carpenter received the right from the Grand Duke of Baden, Germany, to distil fruit. His descendants emigrated to Baie Verte in 1983 and his expertise became the foundation for the first fruit distillery in Atlantic Canada.
Today Winegarden Estate Ltd. is still a family operation, producing more than 75 products on 300 acres of farmland, which includes six acres of cultivated vineyard. Among the offerings are grape and fruit wines, fruit liqueurs, German-style Eau de Vie, Brandy and Bitters, all made from New Brunswick produce.
You can sample at the store, visit the wine cellar and heritage centre, stroll through the vineyard and enjoy a picnic. The annual Winefest is held on August 10. Full information about this and other events on the website
Contact Phone: 506-538-7405; www.winegardenestate.com; srosswog@nbnet.nb.ca
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 La Ferme Maury (‘Les vins de l’Acadie), is located close to the Irving Eco-Centre, la Dune de Bouctouche and Le pays de la Sagouine, making it a special tourist destination.
Serge Maury, originally from France, and Denise Boucher run the first co-operative cottage winery in the province and the most northerly vineyard in Canada. They transform elderberries into Vin de la Baie, the winery’s speciality, also producing a dry blueberry and a sweet strawberry wine. Cuvee St-Edouard is a dry red wine made from the vineyard’s grapes. The Maurys press their own juice but fermentation is done at Winegarden Estate.
Located with a spectacular view of the Northumberland Strait and nearby sandy beaches, camping facilities are available A barn displays winery artifacts and guided tours are available.
Harvest in mid-October is a community event, with local residents vying for the opportunity to help. The day ends with a supper and dancing.
Contact Phone: 506-743-5347; www.fermemaury.com; fermemaury@hotmail.com
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 Gagetown Cider Company, located on the banks of the Saint John River near Fredericton, was the province’s first licenced farm cider/winery. Blair and Brenda Stirling have developed the historic Cossar Fram to include a tasting room and retail sales area for their products which in addition to ciders include a wide variety of fruit wines such as apple/cranberry, raspberry, northern kiwi and crabapple.
Contact Phone: 506-488-2147; www.appleman.ca; blair@appleman.ca
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 At Belleisle Vineyards in the lower Saint John River watershed, the Gillis family concentrate on producing three grape varieties. Tours and tastings are available and visitors can meet the vineyard donkey and picnic on the grounds.
Contact Phone: 506-485-8846; www.gillisofbelleisle.com; infor@gillisofbelleisle.com
With a launch planned for the fall of 2008 Dana Glendenning says Alcool NB Liquor is currently in discussions with many of the cottage wineries to have their products available in three liquor stores in the province. These will be in Dieppe, Fredericton and Saint John.
Great news for wineries and wine lovers, but visiting the vineyards and tasting the produce close to the earth where it was grown, is a very special experience.
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