StoneCrop Acres
MORRISBURG, ONT.
Closed Tuesday
Saturday – Thursday
2 P.M.- 6 P.M.
Friday
2 P.M.- 7 P.M.
STONECROPACRES.CA
Arden and Warren Schneckenburger enjoy a tasting with sommelier Norene Hyatt-Gervais
At the newly established Stone Crop Acres Winery and Vineyard, guests can experience world-class wine while catching up on the latest local buzz.
That’s exactly what Norene Hyatt-Gervais wanted to create when she started Stone Crop Acres.
“I wanted to make it a place where everyone could come and get to know each other,” said Hyatt-Gervais.
The former veterinarian has lived on the property with her family for the last 30 years, but within the last 10, planted the grapes that would become Stone Crop Acres.
As a child, she recalls crushing grapes in the basement of her father’s home to make wine.
“He always made wine part of our daily lives,” she said. “He also had a nursery in his greenhouse where I learned about growing plants.”
Hyatt-Gervais was fortunate enough to travel around the world and learn about wines first hand, while graduating the Sommelier course at Algonquin College.
As part of her time traveling the world and growing grapes at home, Hyatt-Gervais learned the art of blending grapes. Combined with her own grapes, she mixes Niagara grapes into her wines to create a unique flavor found only at Stone Crop Acres.
“Blending is a wonderful way to bring out the best quality,” she said. “It’s an art.”
While enjoying a complimentary tasting of any of the four white wines available, guests have the option to purchase a glass of wine and chat with other visitors while overlooking the five acre vineyard.
What makes the spot so relaxing is the cross breeze that is created from having both doors open in the barn style store, while you sit on the deck and enjoy good company and even better wine.
The deck is often occupied by neighbours and friends like Mike Mcinnis, who described the 2016 Frotenac Gris/Vidal as the “best white wine” he’s ever had.
But Hyatt-Gervais explains that her friends and neighbours aren’t just there to relax, but that they’ve also helped build Stone Crop Acres.
“It takes a village to raise a vineyard,” she said.
And that “village” will be there with her in the future as Stone Crop Acres looks to expand with a bigger deck and event hall that will be used for weddings and events.