2016-2017 PEILCC Annual Report

Murray River, PEI

FEATURED PRODUCER

How did Rossignol Winery get started?

What’s your signature product?

In 1990, I sailed from Ontario to PEI looking for a change in lifestyle. At that time, this land was a potato field and the Liquor Commission didn’t have regulations in place to allow a winery in PEI. After four years, we had built a house, workshop and barn, planted grapevines and worked with the Provincial Government to develop a Winery Act.

The one that has won the most medals is the Wild Blueberry. It is a fruit wine that is often served as an aperitif.

Do you use other local products?

Yes, our products are made using 100% local products. For example, we have been buying strawberries from Nabuurs’ Gardens in Montague since we opened to make our strawberry wine. We have also partnered with local farmers to make Cassis using black currants and Wild Rose Liqueur using PEI rosehips.

In the Summer of 1996, the winery opened and we were the first local product on the shelves in the PEI liquor stores!

Why did you choose this location?

Do you do tours of the winery?

Beyond the beauty of the location, this is considered the “Banana Belt” in PEI and was where the heat-loving tobacco plants were grown in the past. So, after doing some research with the Department of Agriculture, we realized that this location would be ideal for growing grapes and it also provides amazing views for those wanting to do winery tours.

Yes, our tasting room is open from May to October for tastings and tours. Over the past few years, tours have been quite popular and we’ve been welcoming a lot of guests including bus tours from visiting cruise ships.

What products do you make at the winery?

Where can people find your products?

We started off making fruit wines, then started making traditional red and white wines when our vines started producing and now make wine liqueurs that are sweeter dessert wines.

Our products are available at all PEI Liquor stores or people can come to the winery from May to October for tours, a walk around the vineyard, tastings and to buy our products.

Read more in PEI Liquor’s Celebrate E-Flyer . Subscribe to receive our E-Flyer via email and stay up to date with our latest products, recipes, food pairings and promotions.

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PEILCC 2016-2017 Annual Report