Going with the Tidal Bay: 14 wineries producing N.S.’s signature wine this year

Simon Rafuse says there’s no thriller as to why an increasing number of Nova Scotia wineries produce Tidal Bay wines and an increasing number of individuals drink them. 

“They’re good as a result of they’re made out of grapes that do very well right here, and so they’re made in a particular manner that accentuates the attributes of our vineyards and our province,” stated Rafuse, the winemaker at Blomidon Winery. 

This yr, 14 wineries are producing a Tidal Bay, Nova Scotia’s appellation wine. (Appellation means a wine produced by quite a few wineries inside agreed upon parameters. Suppose prosecco, for instance.) 

“To have an industry-led effort, an appellation resembling Tidal Bay, is exclusive in North America,” stated Haley Brown, government director of Wine Growers Nova Scotia. 

“We’re very happy with it.” 

The primary Tidal Bays had been launched by six wineries from the 2010 classic. From the primary yr, the wines have needed to be authorized by an impartial tasting panel in a blind style take a look at earlier than the label can go on. 

“The impartial tasting panels begin in December and the final one tends to be in March,” stated Brown. 

“This yr was an unbelievable classic and a whole lot of them had been submitted in December. I feel there have been two that had been rejected out of the 14 submissions, and so they had been resubmitted at a later date and authorized.” 

“To have an industry-led effort, an appellation resembling Tidal Bay, is exclusive in North America. We’re very happy with it.” 

– Haley Brown, government director of Wine Growers Nova Scotia 

At Blomidon, Tidal Bay is among the vineyard’s high two sellers. Rafuse doesn’t attempt to make it precisely the identical annually however does goal for “seasonal consistency.” 

“We’re blissful to let the classic dictate it a bit however the mix has been the identical since inception; the chances change a bit bit, relying on the way it seems,” he stated. 

“However our Tidal Bay is fairly constant yr to yr, a mix of Seyval Blanc, L’acadie Blanc and New York Muscat. 

“We decide particularly for it. In a rising season sometimes what’s going to occur, our glowing stuff is available in first after which we transfer proper into Tidal Bay. It’s not like we make a complete bunch of wine after which mix one thing collectively on the finish, it’s made with intention from the winery.” 

Gross sales of Tidal Bay elevated by 40 per cent from 2020 to 2021, and a brand new wrinkle this yr goals to develop gross sales much more. 

“We’ve determined as an {industry} to permit the canning of Tidal Bay, so there’ll be an official launch this yr with the 250 millilitre format  . . . which is extra accessible for individuals who wish to attempt completely different Tidal Bays.”

– Haley Brown, government director of Wine Growers Nova Scotia 

“We’ve determined as an {industry} to permit the canning of Tidal Bay, so there’ll be an official launch this yr with the 250 millilitre format  . . . which is extra accessible for individuals who wish to attempt completely different Tidal Bays,” Brown stated. 

“From an environmental standpoint it’s nice and gives shoppers one other choice to get pleasure from Nova Scotia wine.” 

Luckett Vineyards, Benjamin Bridge, Lightfoot & Wolfville, Avondale Sky, Grand Pre, Jost, Gaspereau and Mercator will provide the wine in cans. 

One other change will see Tidal Bay’s annual launch held at venues throughout the province over a number of days as a substitute of at one giant gathering in a Halifax lodge. 

“We nonetheless felt that individuals needed to watch out, and there’s nonetheless some hesitation on the market about giant group gatherings, particularly indoors,” stated Brown. 

“We’re an agriculture product however we’re additionally very a lot within the tourism {industry} as nicely, and we wish individuals to get pleasure from wine nation, come out to go to the wineries. So, we thought it will be a very good alternative to pivot and construct one thing all through wine nation, benefit from the meals, benefit from the wine tradition.” 

The Grand Banker restaurant in Lunenburg will host a Tidal Bay occasion, as will a number of wineries, and Ambassatours will provide it to passengers on its harbour cruises. 

Wine Growers Nova Scotia has been invited to participate in a U.S. convention in July on establishing an appellation. Conde Nast Traveller lately showcased Nova Scotia wines, and representatives from three wineries — Benjamin Bridge, Lightfoot& Wolfville and Blomidon — are going to the U.Ok. subsequent month to participate in a Canada Home occasion, with at the least one in all them bringing alongside its Tidal Bay.