The hare wine co.
Experiences, Well Poured
The winery is located in the heart of wine country on some of the most abundant and fertile lands of the Niagara region.
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The Hare Wine Co.
ESTATE
The winery is located in the heart of wine country on some of the most abundant and fertile lands of the Niagara region. The 10 acre farm is mapped inside the Four Mile Creek sub-appellation which is noted for its many creeks that provide natural drainage ideal for premium grape growing. The flat topography allows for maximum sun exposure and ripening of varietals used to craft rich, complex and full bodied table wines. Warm days and cool nights also create a perfect environment for the production of perfectly balanced Icewines. We invite you to taste, relax and reflect on our good fortune in the heart of wine country.
The Land
The Hare Wine Co. acknowledges the land on which we gather is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples, many of whom continue to live and work here today. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and is within the land protected by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum agreement. Today this gathering place is home to many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples and acknowledging reminds us that our great standard of living is directly related to the resources and friendship of Indigenous peoples.
Deep Roots
Rustic and reclaimed materials are used throughout the building, paying homage to the region’s past. The reclaimed bricks used on the exterior of the building are over 100 years old. Over 1300 square feet of reclaimed barn board flooring has been repurposed into shelving throughout the estate. The grand tasting room and retail boutique are designed to resemble a turn-of-the-century factory with high ceilings and industrial elements. The materials paper, wood and metal are used in the overall design and small details throughout the building.
Reclaimation
In the pictures below, you will see old photographs of John’s family and their workers celebrating Saint Trifon the Pruner, Bulgaria’s patron Saint of the vine-growers and winemakers. The village celebrates Saint Trifon on February 14th, by “cutting of the vines” – this is a process known as pruning, where unnecessary branches are trimmed and the vineyards are made ready for spring. Once the days work is done, the workers join together with music and wine to honour Saint Trifon, so that he may bless their vineyards and upcoming vintages with fertility and good fortune.
More About Our Niagara-on-the-Lake Small Batch Winery
John’s family has been in the winemaking industry in Europe since the early 1900s and still owns and operates vineyards in Bulgaria. The Hare Wine Co. in Niagara-on-the-Lake pays tribute to the hard work, perseverance, and dedication the Hare family has put into their bottles of wine for 120+ years. By creating small batches at a time, we can create perfectly balanced premium VQA wine and Icewines. We grow Vidal and Riesling vines over our 10 acres of land and source other grape varieties from three trusted and local vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake. If you’d like to learn more about our vines and our antiquity in the wine scene, ask our staff! We love having our customers show interest and we absolutely love talking about delicious wine!
The Hare Family
John Hare’s family has been in the wine industry in Europe as far back as the early 1900’s. The family still owns and operates 80 acres of vineyards in Kochovo, Bulgaria, supplying quality grapes to the two local wineries in the village.
John Hare continues his deep family tradition for the love of wine at The Hare Wine Co. Our winery pays tribute to John’s family of growers and winemakers back in Europe by harnessing the best of our farm land in Niagara-on-the-Lake, to create perfectly balanced wines and premium varietal Icewines.
Vineyard Practices
Grape growing and winemaking has been tradition in the Niagara Region for over 200 years. A once small industry has grown rapidly and Niagara is continually gaining more and more recognition world wide as a premiere wine destination. Early settlers experimented with native grapes such as Vitis labrusca and Vitis riparia. During the 1970’s Canadian wineries began to successfully grow European Vitis vinifera and found that high quality wines could be produced if these vines were grown with the proper techniques and management. The vines planted on our property are Vidal and Riesling which are used in our premium white blends as well as our dessert wines. All of our other grape varieties come from three carefully sourced and selected vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake.