| Winery to donate a percentage of sales to 1812 events BY PENNY COLES Niagara Advance The Palatine HIlls Estate Winery is built on history. So it's not surprising that as Niagara-on-the-Lake prepares to celebrate its history, the winery has stepped in to help. John Neufeld, grape grower and winery owner, says he chose the name for his winery after discovering Palatine Hills was the original name for an old gristmill in the area that dated from 1777. Then, while converting the farmland from fruit trees to grape vines, he discovered a old musket balls, both American and British, and other remnants that indicate the area was the site of 1812 skirmishes. Interested in history and wanting to be involved in the bicentennial celebrations, Neufeld and his associate Terry Gibson have developed and introduced an 1812 brand of wines that has been labelled the "official" wines of the upcoming 1812 celebrations. Their contribution is welcome by NOTL Bicentennial Committee volunteers organizing commemorative events with limited resources. So far upper levels of government have not been forthcoming with funding for local events, leaving volunteers to raise money from individuals and corporations. |
Tony Chisholm has taken on the task of leading the fundraising committee for local events, seeking local sponsorship while hoping to hear some positive news from upper levels of government.
At the Niagara Historical Museum Monday for the announcement of the 1812 official wine, he thanked Palatine Hills for coming forward with an offer of support. "There was no hitting anyone over the head with big sticks" for their help, he said. Neufeld said he saw an opportunity to help the community with 1812 celebrations, while also helping his winery. The red and white 1812 wines, a chardonnay and a merlot cabernet, were developed with a goal of being approachable, affordable and appealing—they were not aimed at the wine connoisseur, he said. They are VQA wines, made from grapes grown on the Palatine Hills vineyards, said Neufeld. They will be available at the winery, retail outlets, some restaurants and 65 LCBO stores. He also hopes to attract the US market in areas planning bicentennial celebrations. A percentage of the proceeds will go to the local bicentennial committee, while in other areas where Palatine wine is sold, such as Amherstburg, the Windsor Sarnia area and Toronto, some of the proceeds will go to support their 1812 events. |
It's offical. Palatine Hills Estate Winery offers 1812 wines
