WWW.SMOKIESGRAPES.COM
A short drive from Ottawa, Smokie Ridge Vineyard is a local family owned and operated winery specializing in northern varietal grapes. We were established in 2007 and have raised over 10,000 vines from infancy within 40 miles of one of the world's coldest capital cities. These hearty "Cold World" varietals include Frontenac, Sabrevois, Louise Swenson, St. Pepin and Marquette and can be tasted in our 2010 to 2015 vintages, our sm'Oaked Collection and our recently launched Dessert Wine.
Summer memories start at
Smokie Ridge Vineyard!
2018 Opening Weekend Special
Saturday 12 May and Sunday 13 May
- $10.00 per person (plus tax)
- Tour of vineyard and winery
- 3 wines (2 oz of each wine per guest)
- chocolate and cheese bites
De-Vine Afternoon Packages
Spend the afternoon relaxing on the patio,
strolling the vineyard and enjoying some wine time
Tasting for 2
- $20.00 plus tax
- 2 glasses of wine (6 oz / person)
- cheese and crackers
Tasting for 4
- $40.00 plus tax
- bottle of wine
- cheese and crackers
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We hope you love drinking our wines as much as we love making them!
Our search for a retirement property began with a search for enough acres to accomplish our dreams of having horses and growing some grapes. Our realtor brought us to this property and after 3 years, our search came to an end. This spot had everything we needed and more – it actually enhanced and grew our dreams to fit its potential.
The origins of the name for Smokie Ridge Vineyard comes from myself and my father who are nicknamed Smokie. Over the course of my military career, this nickname stuck. Although we first wanted to name the vineyard and winery to be Mountain Ridge Vineyard to underscore the name of our town, my boys (also owners) insisted that we call it Smokie Ridge Vineyard. This idea was fully entrenched the day we woke to a picturesque mist across the rows of newly planted vines giving a smoky feel to the ridge where they’re planted. This name seemed even more appropriate when some of the wines we first produced had a smoky flavor to them.
The two values behind our winemaking are “Craftsmanship and Innovation”. A great wine is a balance of art, science and alchemy, both in the vineyard and the winery. We at SRV have raised over 10,000 vines from infancy within 40 miles of one of the world’s coldest capital cities. These hearty “Cold World” varietals – namely Frontenac, Sabrevois, St-Pepin, Louise Swenson, and Marquette – are relatively new to the wine making community and demand a high degree of craftsmanship to ensure the final wine captures the very best characteristics of these grapes.
We truly believe that the hybrid grapes developed for cool Climates – or “Cold World” grapes as we call them, offer a new palette of tastes to the wine industry that should not be overlooked adding to the existing vinifera. These will in future, much like the new world wines of California, begin to challenge the flavours and colours that we have come to expect from more traditional wines. Notwithstanding, we continue to learn and shape the flavours of our wines by using and experimenting with traditional wine making techniques for stabilization, acidity, fermentation, oaking and barreling.
Above all, these values are at the core of ensuring that we deliver the highest quality product and develop personal and meaningful relationships with our customers built on trust and integrity.
Our History and Hopeful Future
I retired from the military in 2006 after 32 years of service with the dream of growing grapes. We purchased the property in Mountain Ontario the same year. One year later, we planted our first 6,000 vines in our upper field. The following year we planted 2,500 additional vines in our lower field – affectionately referred to as “Claude’s field”, where an acre has been severed to allow our son to build a house. In 2009, we broke ground on our winery, store and cellaring facilities and a year later, picked our first harvest and welcomed our first grandchild, Nathan.
In 2011 we bottled our first vintage which very pleasantly exceeded even our expectations.
In August this year we opened our retail store’s doors, and have been delighted with the visitors we have had the pleasure in serving.
We are building a legacy. Our plan has evolved since the first iteration of our business plan. We will always remain family owned and operated, over time adding a Microbrewery, employ some full time staff, open year round and ultimately begin promoting and reaching a wider audience in Canada who enjoy the merits of Cold World Wines.
We also have plans to add a stable, lodging, and a destination venue for special events, continuing to enhance the leisure industry in this area and provide a unique and beautiful attraction for Ottawa and surrounding communities. Over the next ten years, our wine operations will focus on entrenching our wines, in additional retail and sales arenas.
In the longer term, Debbie and I plan on entrusting the operations solely to our capable children, nieces and nephews. On the road to this goal, we’ll begin promoting our wines outside of Ontario.
Smokie Ridge Vineyard owes its success to the people who are involved. What began as a family business has remained that way – and has grown to include extended family and a wonderful close knit group of enthusiasts. On any given Saturday we have a parade of family and friends with no end of talent and passion coming through our doors to lend a hand. The start of our legacy began with these people – and so did our wines. Our first ever wine is dedicated to these folks – Unexpected Guest.
Smokie Ridge Vineyard is pleased to offer our select 2010 to 2016 vintages
All our wines are 100% Vegan
Smokie’s le Blanc - Estate White - 2011 - $15.95 This lovely blend of Frontenac Gris and Louise Swenson grapes has a splash of Vidal to add some warm weather sweetness to the cold world dry. Our winemaker’s forte is knowing what each grape needs to bring out its strengths and here he has produced a clear bright wine with a slightly darker hue. With hints of apple, spices and honey on the nose, it tastes of sweet apples with some gooseberry and citrus notes, ending in a lush well balanced dry, fruity finish. This wine would pair wonderfully with sole almondine or chicken breasts stuffed with brie and caramelized leeks. Serve chilled.
Soldier's Pride White - 2011 - $15.95 With more than 75 years of service to their country, three generations of LeBlancs are now bringing you the best that cold world grapes have to offer. The Louise Swenson grapes needed a heck of a lot more care and nurturing to get to fighting strength, after their seven years of basic training, these little guys are standing on guard. This clear and bright wine, with a light golden hue has aromas of sweet apples when still. With a quick swirl, the nose opens to offer elegant memories of fruit, spice and orange blossom. Balanced by a bright acidity, with hints of peach on the tongue, this light to medium bodied wine will serve wonderfully with Italian inspired meat dishes or French inspired seafood.
Over The Ridge Chardonnay - 2012 - $17.95 A few of our more seasoned veterans got together to blend this vintage. The final result, they decided was so good that it was "Over The Ridge". We thought this was very appropriate given the vintage of the blenders! Pale straw yellow in colour with a light amber hue, this wine is clear and bright. With appealing aromas of white fruit, citrus and apricot. The palate is reminiscent of the nose with ripe fruit and citrusy undertones. There is good fruit, acid, alcohol balance giving it a lingering and harmonious finish. Try fresh lightly cooked shellfish, or a 4 cheese and mushroom lasagna. Properly cellar 2 to 3 years or more.
Rosie Cheeks - Rosé - 2012 - $16.95 For a third year, our Rosie Cheeks is yet again a shining example of the delicate flavours and easy drinking taste "Cold World" grapes deliver. This year's edition brings back to your table a hint of our 2010 Oaked Frontenac Noir to give our signature rosé its colour reminiscent of our 1st vintage. Clear and bright with a pinkish salmon hue, the cherry and floral nose complement this wine's lively and tangy berry flavour. Its medium to long fruit acid finish is great with oven roasted trout or smoked salmon. This powerhouse will also hold its own when paired with a strong vinaigrette like pomegranate balsamic.
Cabernet de Montagne - 2012 - $15.95 The Frontenac grape is smaller than an average wine grape with loads of acid and sugar. These little guys are as cold hardy as it gets and allow us to produce our signature wine year on year. The grapes give the wine its ruby red colour with a beautiful purple hue. The aromas of cherries, strawberries and plums are there in the taste. It has a lovely fruit taste on the palate and a balanced acidity produces a long even finish. You can spice it up with this cold hardy gem, as it will happily hold its own with a variety of spicy foods from chilies to wood-fired pizzas. Our 2012 vintage is more than ready to drink now, or can be laid down for a couple of years.
Take Me a Whey - Estate Red - 2012 - $15.95 Like a marriage, fine wine with an ideal partner, is a joy to behold. As we release this wine, our owners Smokie and Debbie celebrate their Ruby Anniversary. It is a truly unique thing to behold - when two unique flavours come together to strengthen, uplift and complement each other. Our 2nd edition Take Me A Whey is no different and this year's vintage retains its distinct quality of partnering beautifully with cheese. This deep ruby red wine bursts with spiced cherry and plums with a rich medium to long finish.
Soldier's Pride Battle Born Red - 2013 - $15.95 With more than 75 years of service to their country, our Soldier's Pride exemplifies what three generations of LeBlancs can do to showcase all that cold world grapes have to offer. Our 2013 Soldier's Pride contains some of our finest oaked collection from 2010 and locally grown Sabrevois grapes. Rich with cherry and plum aromas and a nose accented with spice and flint, this medium bodied wine has soft tannins that are lined with dark cherry, ripe plum and mineral flavours. The medium to long fruit driven finish is anchored by soft mineral notes and means it pairs beautifully with roast lamb and herbs, osso bucco or rich stews.
Entre Deux Montagnes - 2013 - $15.95 This wine earns its name from our winery's location nestled between the towns of South Mountain and Mountain. This vintage, a return of a 2010 favorite blend, makes a beautiful addition to any table, thanks to its deep plum hue with a light red cherry rim. Cherry, strawberry and plum scents with a hint of spice and earthy notes predominate from start to finish. A rich luscious fruit palate underlined with carefully crafted layers of earthy tannins give this wine a long well balanced fruity acidity. Grab the gusto of this wine and drink it with game meat dishes or herb crusted roasted leg of lamb.
sm'Oaked Collection
Sabrevois - 2010 - $29.95 Deep in the Smokie Ridge vault lurk some of our finest wines. Cellared below the frost line and aged in oak barrels for at least 2 winters, our northern varietals have had plenty of time to mature. Smokie has created a deep purple wine exuding sweet vanilla and dark cherry aromas. On the palate you can easily discern the rich flavours of coffee and leather, underpinned by a hint of vanilla and spice. A medium to long fruit driven finish with well integrated tannins, this wine is the perfect compliment to rich velvety sauces or a classic steak et frites.
Chardonnay - 2012 - $24.95 Each year Smokie likes to turn his hand to something new. Using traditional French barrels, Smokie oak fermented and aged a lovely Chardonnay grape from Niagara to produce this lovely and lemony liquid gold. It starts off with inviting aromas of apples and butterscotch with a slight hint of vanilla and tobacco. Reminiscent of the nose, the palate has rich fruit and hints of smoke rounded off with a medium to long fruit acid finish. The perfect guest at any backyard BBQ, this wine pairs beautifully with baby back ribs and pulled pork sliders. Drink now or lie down 2 to 3 years.
Dessert Wine
Polar Vortex - 2013 - $29.95 Introducing a new phenomenon in dessert wine made 40 miles from the world's 2nd coldest capital city.
Chill and enjoy chilled.
Please Contact us to learn more about our wines, tours of our vineyard and events.
