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circa 1988 |
In
July of 1985,
Stoney Ridge Cellars became the 18th licensed
winery in the fledgling Ontario wine industry.
The winery had inauspicious beginnings at
the Weylie farm on Ridge Road in Stoney Creek,
consisting of a small barn and garage that
served as a retail boutique. Under the direction
of Winemaker Jim Warren and his two business
partners, Stoney Ridge's first vintage consisted
of 500 cases of 11 different wines, produced
entirely by hand. Stoney Ridge Cellars had
a commitment to "make small amounts of the
very best wine possible from Ontario Grapes."
Four
years later, Stoney Ridge Cellars had increased
production to 4,000 cases annually. With the
uncertain beginnings of Free Trade and its
effects on the young Ontario wine industry,
the government came to grape growers with
'The Pull-Out Program', providing wine grape
growers a financial remuneration to remove
all of their vines. Jim's partner agreed to
the government's offer and removed his grape
vines, replacing them with Christmas Trees.
Jim realized he needed a new partner/grower
more committed to Ontario wine.
circa 1995 |
In
1989 Jim formed a new partnership with a Winnona
grape and tender fruit farmer Murray Puddicombe.
The new facility was upgraded with more sophisticated
winemaking equipment and was located just
below the escarpment from the original location.
With greater access to a wider selection of
grapes, a new bottling line and more tanks
and barrels, the Stoney Ridge wine portfolio
grew by leaps and bounds. By 1997 production
was at 26,000 cases annually with over 60
different wine products. Stoney Ridge developed
a reputation for having unique and exotic
wines that all possessed the inimitable style
that was a signature of winemaker Jim Warren.
Jim and Stoney Ridge became very well known
by wine writers and enthusiasts alike, garnering
more awards than any other Canadian winery.
Innovative products such as Canada's first
Unoaked Chardonnay and Cranberry Fruit wine
captured the attention of the public while
award winning classic varietals such as Chardonnay,
Pinot Noir, Riesling and Cabernet Franc boosted
the winery's industry status. Jim's efforts
were officially recognized when he was awarded
Winemaker of the Year in 1997. Although tremendously
successful, the partnership between the two
owners dissolved as the two decided to singularly
re-direct their respective business practices.
circa 1997 |
Stoney
Ridge's third phase was generated by a new
partnership with an Ottawa-based investment
group and a re-location to the heart of the
wine industry, Vineland Ontario. A small operation
called Wines of Woods End merged with Stoney
Ridge to lend their marketing expertise. The
winery continued to produce benchmark wines
winning international acclaim such as the
Civart Trophy in Bordeaux France. Jim made
the decision to sell his ownership portion
of the winery to better focus on winemaking.
In the spring of 1999, Jim announced plans
for his retirement from Stoney Ridge, and
began to mentor assistant winemaker Liubomir
Popovici to take over his role. Liubomir was
the former chief winemaker for Romania's largest
wine and spirits producer, and brought excellent
credentials to his role, making a smooth transition
in 2000.
As a business, Stoney Ridge Cellars entered
a tumultuous time for the remaining owners
had differing views of the company's direction.
All was resolved in April of 2002 as Stoney
Ridge began refocusing the winery towards
the craft production of premium Niagara wine.
With the edition of a Pinot Noir vineyard
to the winery property, the winery name was
changed to Stoney Ridge Estate Winery. This
decision reflected the commitment to continue
the Stoney Ridge tradition of honouring viticultural
excellence and winemaking expertise begun
by Jim in 1985, while maintaining its strict
quality-controlled output of 40,000 cases
of VQA wines.
circa 2003 |
Today,
Stoney Ridge Estate Winery produces a wide
array of 100% Niagara wines, featuring more
than 30 products that include a full complement
of VQA varietals, ports, and Icewines. In
addition Stoney Ridge continues to produce
one of its trademark products - the popular
Cranberry Wine. In a unique return to his
winemaking roots, Jim Warren will create a
new Founder's Signature Collection for Stoney
Ridge. Representing a creative partnership
between Liubomir and Jim, this unique bottling
will reflect Jim's personal winemaking philosophy
of producing the best wine possible from the
best grapes grown.
In October of 2002 the Stoney Ridge Wine Library
was unveiled, a unique collection of limited
edition wines and back vintages previously
unreleased to the public. The library is a
unique window into the history of winemaking
at Stoney Ridge and of the Ontario Wine Industry
as well.
The Stoney Ridge name has always been synonymous
with quality and outstanding vintages. With
Liubomir's passion and talent Stoney Ridge
continues to receive accolades, recognized
for the uncompromising commitment to quality.
The discovery and opening of the Stoney Ridge
Wine Library is testament to that continuing
quest for quality, proof of Niagara's depth
and winemaking expertise, and the development
and maturation of the Ontario wine Industry.
Stoney Ridge will play a key role in this
continuing evolution. |
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