L'Acadie Vineyards Blog
Welcome to the L'Acadie Vineyards blog and winery news
Matching style, variety and soil
20 years of style, variety and soil
This year marks 20 years since we drove across Canada from an established winemaking career in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia to acquire our piece of paradise in Gaspereau, Nova Scotia. Fallow farm land ready for us to plant the province’s first organic vineyard, and our decisions on wine style and variety are standing the test of time.
Time honoured traditions of old world wine regions dictate suitable varieties and wine styles for individual appellations and sub appellations, usually evolving from trial and error of matching them to intrinsically unique soils and microclimates. We made an informed decision, some might call it bold, in 2004 by drawing upon years of sparkling winemaking experience in the Okanagan Valley that the 30 acres in Gaspereau would produce world class sparkling wine. Our palette: uniquely well-drained ancient seabed gravels covered with 15-30 cm loamy top soil tilted 5% towards north west. The industry mantra at that time was “south slope” but I had been making wine from different slopes for years – south for hot-loving reds, north and east for whites, and quite often struggled with grapes planned for sparkling wine production that were ripening too fast, losing fruitiness and freshness. The slope direction seemed like a good fit and it was the soil, schist, sandstone and slate that sealed the idea of suitability for sparkling wine. Wine flavours are influenced by climate and grape variety, and soil comes in a close third. We anticipated minerality nuances, a proven wine characteristic in great wines of the world, and international judges are noticing.
Decanter World Wine Awards 2018, London, England – 92 points, Silver Medal for 2013 Prestige Brut Estate
Judges’ notes, "A floral, apple nose with chalky lemon and creamy pear on the refreshing, mineral palate."
There was risk that the soil would not retain enough moisture compared to the typical rich clay-loam soils around us but even though the young vines struggled during establishment they grew deep roots for resilience to future climate extremes like drought. That coupled with our living soils encouraged with organic farming practice bodes well for climate change resilience. Roots are supported by colonies of fungus living symbiotically, helping water, nutrient....and flavour uptake.
Read more about Climate change resilience and organic farming
On our many visits to Nova Scotia to visit family before we moved back, we got to know the region’s signature grape variety, L’Acadie Blanc, and we’d talk long into the night about whether and how we could make it into a world-class sparkling wine. There wasn’t a bubble in the province at that time but we saw the potential – freshness, apple, citrus, moderate alcohol. Our second bold decision was initially planting 8 acres of exclusively L’Acadie Blanc for sparkling wine at a time when most of the region was planting multiple varieties for blending versatility and more selection of varietal wines. We foresaw traditional method sparkling wine to be the defining style for our region, in particular, L’Acadie Blanc cuvees.
There have been many milestones in the last 20 years that have proven our decisions,
- 2005 – established Nova Scotia’s first organic vineyard
- 2008 – opened sustainable winery with geothermal heating and cooling and insulated concrete construction
- 2008 – released Nova Scotia’s first traditional method sparkling
- 2008 – Nova Scotia’s first appassimento wines. First releases of Alchemy and Passito from our 5-year appassimento research project with Agriculture Canada and collaboration with Italian researchers.
- 2010 – gold and top scoring sparkling for 2007 Prestige Brut at 2010 National Wine Awards. A first for Nova Scotia.
- 2011 – silver medal for 2007 Prestige Brut at 2011 Effervescents du Monde (Dijon, France) First international sparkling award for Nova Scotia.
- 2015 – silver medal for 2010 Prestige Brut zero dosage at 2015 Effervescents du Monde.
- 2021 - Certified to European Biocyclic Vegan standard, the first farm and winery in North America. Read more about our vegan wines, Why we are Biocyclic Vegan
- 2023 – gold medal, 95 points for 2017 Prestige Brut Estate at 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards. First gold medal for Nova Scotia from Decanter, after earning many silver awards and 92-point designations for previous vintages.
Dec 7, 2024 at 8:57 AM
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November Sparkling Wine Club
Sparkling Wine Club wine selections for November 2024
Winemaker Bruce Ewert describes wines that Sparkling Club members will be getting in November.
2021 Blanc de Noirs, 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, 2019 Prestige Brut Estate pre-release, 2022 Vintage Cuvee, 2020 Sparkling Rose small lot, 2022 La Vie en Rose charmat method.
All vegan and organic. Join now - choose from four different clubs.
Nov 9, 2024 at 4:06 AM
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Matilda and the Great Escape
For #WorldVeganDay we are sharing the world premiere of Matilda and the Great Escape narrated by Bella Ramsey. Thought provoking.
Choose veganic wine: no animal inputs, soil to glass, full of flavour and brimming with benefits.
Nov 1, 2024 at 1:48 PM
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Happy World Vegan Day
In 2021, in addition to our long-standing organic wine certification, we became the first certified Biocyclic Vegan farm in North America. This progressive German-based organization has developed a rigorous & holistic standard to which we hold ourselves to. The Biocyclic Vegan ideology goes beyond most vegan wine certifications to include biodiversity, soil vitality, regenerative agriculture & social equity. We have been farming veganically (vegan + organic) for quite some time and were seeking certification to offer consumer transparency for our eco-conscious & plant-based fans. When we discovered the Biocyclic Vegan standard all the stars aligned. We love what they do, we love what we do, and we wouldn’t do it any other way.
Here's a recent interview about why we are Biocyclic Vegan by Priya at Social Herbivore
Oct 31, 2024 at 4:29 AM
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The Biocyclic idea
The Biocyclic Idea
This excerpt from the international Biocyclic Vegan Standard really puts colour and teeth into our ethos - "protect environment, animals, people for healthy cycles of life."
Excerpt from the Biocyclic Vegan Standard:
1 The Biocyclic Idea
1.1 The meaning of the term "biocyclic"
"The form of agriculture that is prevailing today is characterized by a production method which is based on an unclosed system where man uses the resources of nature without providing any compensation in exchange that would guarantee him a durable and unlimited availability of these resources also in the future. In opposition to this non-sustainable approach stands the biocyclic idea the aim of which is the conservation or the rehabilitation of healthy cycles of life (Greek: “bios” = life + “kyklos” = cycle, circle) in a global sense, which means in all areas of the human existence. This concerns the relationship of the human being to his entire natural and connatural world – to humans, animals and also plants – and it requires a responsible interaction with the environment that he uses and influences. All personal and economic activity should thus take place in a holistic context with the goal to make a conscious and sustainable contribution to a development fit for the future also in the area of the agriculture and food industry.
In order to produce natural products issuing from healthy circles, an approach is needed, that starting from a healthy soil and passing by a healthy plant will lead to a healthy human being. Only in such a way the biocyclic “circle of the living substance” (Dr. med. habil. Hans-Peter Rusch) can be seamlessly influenced and enhanced in a sustainable manner and in harmony with the laws of nature. Only an activity that puts a strong emphasis on the cyclic concept will at the same time yield a multiple benefit in different areas such as health, environment, global food supply and animal ethics.
For this reason it is desirable that the biocyclic idea of the integration of human behaviour into vital circles that are in harmony with the laws of nature becomes a fundamental pillar for the activity of each organically working farmer. In this respect the production and supply of nutritious and tasty food issuing from healthy and, if possible, closed circuits, is an essential element. Furthermore, it will be useful if a partnership between producers and consumers comes into place, in the sense of a food production that complies with the social, ethical and global responsibility towards fellow human beings, animals and the environment. "
Read more of the standard,
https://www.biocyclic-vegan.org/partners/the-biocyclic-vegan-standard/
Oct 29, 2024 at 11:15 AM
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2024 Harvest Summary
2024 Harvest Summary via Instagram
A harvest update from winemaker Bruce Ewert for our Gaspereau vineyard in Nova Scotia, Canada. Our estate winery near Wolfville makes certified Biocyclic Vegan and organic sparkling wines and this year we harvested Sauvignon Blanc for a Sancerre-style wine to be released in 2025.
Oct 13, 2024 at 8:24 AM
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2024 Harvest Update
Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc 2024 at L'Acadie Vineyards, Gaspereau, NS
Harvest 2024 is halfway done and quality and freshness are head turning! We started picking September 16, our earliest harvest ever, and it reminds me of 1998 in the Okanagan Valley when I was winemaker at See Ya Later Ranch winery. That was the earliest harvest for British Columbia wineries at that time too and marked beginning signs of climate change. Here at L'Acadie Vineyards near Wolfville we watch acidity (freshness) closely by sampling grape maturity leading up to harvesting vineyard blocks and have always maintained freshness for close to twenty vintages, the benefit of having our Nova Scotia winery in such an ideal cool climate for sparkling wine.
2024 marks a rebound year from the 2023 polar vortex in Nova Scotia. Pictured above is organic & Biocyclic Vegan Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc planted in 2019. These varieties are far more sensitive than other varieties that we grow at our Gaspereau vineyard, so harsh winter weather can have devastating effects. Last year and this year we meticulously trained new trunks and interplanted where vines had died. We are so excited and grateful to have a beautiful small-lot harvest from our estate Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir this year. 🍇✨
Growing grapes on the limits of cool climate viticulture can have risks such as winter damage, but rewards in quality can often surpass world wine standards. Fingers crossed this will be another award winning vintage!
Related blogs,
/blog/Vineyard-Update---Polar-Vortex-Impact
/blog/Update-from-the-Vineyard
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Thanks for supporting farm wineries in Nova Scotia! These are challenging times with government and we appreciate your support. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/wine-grape-growers-tim-houston-vineyards-1.7333355
Sep 29, 2024 at 12:40 PM
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New Joie de Vivre Club
Joie de Vivre: the joy of living
Our newest wine club is finally here! From our Nova Scotia winery, the premier producer of sparkling wine, comes new Joie de Vivre Wine Club for those who love the fresh, creamy effervescence of charmat method sparkling wine.
Charmat Method sparkling wine is made famous by Prosecco of northern Italy, and is a style that complements our Traditional Method sparkling wine portfolio. Perfect for a quiet night in or a celebratory weekend with friends, our Joie de Vivre & La Vie en Rose have become fast favourites for lovers of Canadian wine- certified Biocyclic Vegan wine & organic wine!
If you love sustainable, award winning, 100% Nova Scotia grapes from a farm winery and Nova Scotia sparkling wine, our new Joie de Vivre club is for you! Time to enjoy life through rose coloured glasses, La Vie en Rose! [🍾] [🌸] [✨]
Join before September 30th and receive FREE SHIPPING from our Wolfville winery on your first order! [🥂]
[✨] 3 bottles of Joie de Vivre and/or La Vie en Rose per shipment (Only $75 + tax!)
[✨] Wine order frequency: 4 times a year (May, July, September & November)
[✨] 10% discount on all online & in-store wine purchases
[✨] Complimentary Champagne stopper with your first order (value: $15)
[✨] Available for pick-up or shipping (35% discount on shipping)
[✨] Complimentary glass of Joie de Vivre wine or La Vie en Rose wine for you & a friend when you visit our Gaspereau winery
[✨] Reward points earned on all purchases
Sep 29, 2024 at 4:02 AM
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Meet Wolf and his staff pick
Sep 2, 2024 at 4:46 PM
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