jost vineyards - The Canadian Business Journal

JOST VINEYARDS
www.jostwine.com
Jost Vi
2
Exceptional q
of east coast
ineyards
quality a mainstay
t wine industry
CB
FOOD & DRINK
Two hours north of Halifax, due south of Charlottetown, P.E.I. (across the
Northumberland Strait) lies the two-storey, welcoming headquarters of Jost
Vineyards. On the northern shores of Nova Scotia, Jost Vineyards has been
making award-winning wines built on a 300-year winemaking heritage.
Beginning of the journey
Jost Vineyards’ story begins when Hans Wilhelm Jost moved his family from the Rhine
region of Germany to Nova Scotia in the early 1970s, bringing with his a 300-year family tradition of winemaking. Hans Wilhelm did just what he had planned to do, buying a
700-acre farm, selling beef and hogs, grains, straw and corn.
“No grapes,” says Hans Christian Jost, son of Hans Wilhelm, recollecting the early days.
“My dad was trained as a wine maker but he wanted to farm. My family had been making
wine in Germany since 1640, but we moved here to do everything except grow grapes.”
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FOOD & DRINK • Jost Vineyards
SEPTEMBER 2011 • The Canadian Business Journal
Producers of Quality Grape Vines
Ph: (905) 468-0822 morivines@sympatico.ca
Mori Vines Inc. is located in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, Canada. For over 50
years Mori’s has supplied quality grown grapevines – grafting premium vinifera and
French hybrid vines for the grape and wine industry in North America.
Our focus on custom grafting has made us a leader in meeting our customers’
demands, with the quality and selection they can rely on.
Jost Vineyards’ story took an important turn
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All our vines are Canadian made!
Many different clones are
available. Rootstocks available are
Riparia, S04 and 3309.
to go to the liquor centre again, we thought. In
the day Dr. Donald Craig, a prominent research
1981, we had planted 4,000 vines. The realiza-
scientist with Agricultural Canada, met Hans
tion that we could not drink it all ourselves was
Wilhelm. Craig was involved with research, and
the first step towards being a winery.”
couldn’t pass on working with the highly-trained,
experienced wine-making farmer. Eventually,
Winery opens
Hans Wilhelm agreed to work with Craig, and
In November 1983, Jost Vineyards was officially
was gifted five vines for his troubles.
born when the Josts’ received a license to turn
Evidently, Hans Wilhelm couldn’t ignore that
the garage of the family house into a winery, fol-
wine making was in his blood, and it wasn’t long
lowed by the construction of the operations that
before those five vines turned to 400.
summer. Hans Wilhelm lived to see the winery’s
“The grapes were used for wines that were
mostly for home consumption—we will never have
opening and his son take its helm.
Through the years, Jost Vineyards have
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FOOD & DRINK • Jost Vineyards
grown in both size and accolades. As a leader
in Canada’s east coast, and fastest growing, wine region, Jost Vineyards has won over
200 national and international medals and
awards, notably winning the 1999 All-Canadian Wine of the Year award, the first winner
outside of Ontario and B.C. from 594 entries.
Jost Vineyards has also been served to Bill
Clinton, George Bush Sr., John Major, even Her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth herself, who enjoyed
three varieties of Jost Vineyards wines, but not
all in one sitting, Hans Christian notes.
Today, Jost Vineyards grows its own grapes
SEPTEMBER 2011 • The Canadian Business Journal
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Jane's Packaging Inc.
205 Torbay Road, Unit 2 and 3
Markham, Ontario, Canada L3R 3W4
Tel: 905 480 0203, 416 875 3966
Fax: 905 477 7130
www.janespackaging.com
info@janespackaging.com
Supplying quality products and services
As a primary importer & exporter in the wine industry,
our company specializes in wholesale of glassware and
wine accessories across North America.
on 95 acres and purchases from other growers,
expansion to other Canadian markets is eminent,
contributing to the growth of this burgeoning
Jost Vineyards enjoys success most companies
vine region.
can only dream of. Since the 1980s, the vineyard
The Nova Scotia industry has really developed
in the last few years in a big way,” Hans Christian
says. “There are 5,000 to 6,000 acres in total, and
has grown every year, and welcomes 40,000
tourists every year.
Good things are growing in Nova Scotia. From
around 150 and 160 wineries open to the public,
Marechal Foch, Baco Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon,
whereas 10 years ago there were only three.
to Chardonnay, Seyval Blanc and fruit and spe-
“We are most proud of the quality of wine
that we make and the quality of wine our com-
cialty wines, Jost Vineyards is making exceptional
quality wines a mainstay of the east coast. CB
petitors make.”
Producing over 60,000 cases of wine annually, sold mostly in Atlantic Canada, although
www.jostwine.com
AS SEEN IN THE SEPTEMBER 2011 ISSUE
OF THE CANADIAN BUSINESS JOURNAL