The following is reprinted with permission from the Tweed News:
By LACY MEEKS
The Tweed News
Most ground breaking celebrations are nothing more than ceremonial. A group gathers to watch as a dignitary or two gently tosses a shovel full of dirt to commemorate the beginning of a project. This kind of ground breaking celebration, as lovely as it is, would simply not do for a project as complex as the new winery at Potter Settlement Vineyards and Winery.
Instead, vineyard owner Sandor Johnson invited friends, family and neighbours to gather at his Potter Settlement Road location on June 7th, to watch as Frank’s Drilling and Blasting from Napanee, quite literally broke ground in preparation for the construction of a new winery.
With the help of a knowledgeable crew and a little dynamite, the Frank’s Drilling and Blasting team managed to create quite a bang, blowing up a huge section of granite hillside located on the vineyard. Johnson’s young cousins, seven year old Morgyn, and his sister, five year old Danika Moore, were chosen to do the honour of pushing the button to set off the charge for the dynamite. The youngsters were attentive listeners as they received instructions from the blasting team, and were very excited to watch as the ground exploded into a cloud of dusk that rose over the tall tree tops.
The new winery will be built into the granite hillside. The design of the building will ensure that the granite will provide a constant and even temperature of 60 degrees throughout the year. This is the ideal temperature in which to store the wine to maximize the quality of the end product. Like all areas of Potter S e t t l e m e n t Vineyards and Winery, the new winery has been well thought out, with extreme attention to detail.
As a family owned artisan winery and the very first in Hastings County, Potter Settlement Vineyards and Winery is currently growing a variety of grapes and producing an extensive collection of wines. They will offer wines available at the LCBO as well as many that are not available at the LCBO. They want to offer the public the opportunity to purchase the wines that they know and enjoy as well as an opportunity to try new blends.
They will offer red wines including Pinot Nior, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, F r o n t e n a c R o u g e, Marechal Foch, Petite Pearl and Marquette and white wines i n c l u d i n g Muscat, Vidal, Frontenac Blanc and Riesling. In addition, they also produce a lovely pear wine that is sure to please.
Located on property that has been in the Johnson family for generations, Sandor Johnson, first began the long preparation process for his winery in 2000. He and his father spent years excavating the property, leveling it with their own machinery and preparing for the planting of heirloom heritage grapes. As you drive by the winery on Potter Settlement Road it is difficult to see much of anything. It is not until you drive down the laneway and gaze out over the property that you realize just how spectacular Potter Settlement Vineyards and Winery is. The sight that meets you will take your breath away. Every direction you turn offers something amazing to gaze at.
The fields of luscious grapes, the stocked ponds, the gazebo with hand made stained glass and the fountain shipped from Florence, Italy. No expense has been spared to ensure that the end result will be exceptional. And what makes it especially praiseworthy is that all of the work, with the exception of the dynamite blasting, has been complete personally by Johnson himself. With the help of his family he has created a truly admirable property that will be an incredible business in the years to come.
Johnson still has his work cut out for him before he is ready to open to the public. First he must complete the construction of the winery and then he will be ready to wow everyone with the results of his tireless efforts. “You only have one shot at a first impression and I want to get it right,” said Johnson. With this in mind, he is planning for 2013/2014 official opening.