Halifax, Nova Scotia—With 23 wineries and 94 grape producers, the province of Nova Scotia is not one of North America`s largest wine regions. But Nova Scotia has an international reputation for its ice wines and a very supportive provincial government led by Stephen McNeil, premier of the Canadian province.

The level of that support became very clear early this month, when Nova Scotia`s Department of Agriculture made two simultaneous announcements. Agriculture minister Keith Colwell in Halifax and MLA (member of the legislative assembly) Keith Irving at Domaine de Grand Pré Wines in Grand Pré both announced that a $3.5 million investment in Nova Scotia`s wine industry would be included in the 2016-17 budget. These funds will be a part of a four-year, $12 million investment in the province’s wine and grape industry that will be made through the Vineyard and Wineries Investment Program.

Hanspeter Stutz, owner of Domaine de Grand Pré Wines, told Wines & Vines, `A big part of the money is going toward grapegrowing and supporting growers who are willing to take the risk and put grapes in the ground. There`s some money for marketing, and we will need to address the issue of quality standards with a program similar to the Vintner`s Quality Alliance systems in Ontario and British Columbia.` Stutz also noted that prospective growers can`t just put grapes in the ground. In order to qualify for vineyard funding, a grower must either be part of a winery or have a signed contract with a winery for the grapes that will be planted.

This new funding will be the second round of funding for grape growers, as the province provided $1 million in 2015 for vineyard development. Gillian Mainguy, manager of the Winery Association of Nova Scotia, commented that the new funds `are the first real funding for the wine industry. The $3.5 million in this year`s budget will support the second year of vineyard planting, but the rest of it will support marketing, research and quality standards.`

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