Transplanting Tradition
(A visit to the Rosswog farm winery-distillery in Baie-Verte, New Brunswick)
“Welcome to Winegarden Estates,” says Werner Rosswog, founder of Atlantic Canada’s first farm winery-distillery.
In the cool, attractive farm store, decorated with colourful tole paintings by Werner’s wife, Roswitha, dark shelves are lined with graceful bottles. The gleaming ruby, garnet and gold liquids within embody the essence of New Brunswick orchards, vineyards and berry farms: apple, blueberry, cranberry, raspberry, and many more – even maple! Tasting is encouraged – in moderation — under the friendly gaze of a wooden statue of St. Urban, patron saint of winegrowers.
When Werner and Roswitha Rosswog emigrated from Germany to New Brunswick in the 1980s, they left behind a centuries-old family tradition of excellence in the making of fine wines and fruit-based spirits.
“We were planning an early retirement, not a new career,” says Roswitha with a smile.
Old skills resurfaced when they discovered an abundance of quality fruit in their adopted homeland. By 1991, the enterprising couple had distilled their first batch of Johnny Ziegler’s Black Forest style Apple Schnaps, named in honour of Werner’s great-grandfather Johann Ziegler.
“Today,” Werner states proudly, “we produce close to 70 different wines and spirits.”
Wine lovers will discover many pleasing new taste sensations among these local products – ripe fruits and skillful blends of organically-grown grape varieties hardy enough to withstand New Brunswick winters yet still produce mouth-filling flavours. The house labels – Estate, Cuvée, and l’Acadie – present three satisfying styles of wine in red, white, and rosé.
A tour of Winegarden Estates doesn’t end at the store. You’ll want to see the towering wine vats and visit the distillery. In season, two gleaming copper pot stills condense thousands of litres of fermented fruit juice into hundreds of litres of concentrated, aromatic alcohol. “We watch the stills 10 or 12 hours a day,” says Roswitha, mistress of the distillery, explaining the process of balancing strength, taste, and aroma to make flawless liqueurs and brandies.
“Come now to our wine museum.” Werner’s invitation introduces a unique display of photographs, documents, souvenir bottles, and tools of the vintner’s and distiller’s trades dating back to the time when the Grand Duke of Baden granted the right to distill spirits to Johnny Ziegler and his heirs, more than 150 years ago.
“I am the fourth generation to work in this craft,” says Werner. “The fifth is represented by our daughter Elke, the company’s president, and our son Steffen, who directs technical operations. Now, even a grandson is learning the business.”
“We are open from March to December,” says Elke, “but one special day is our annual Winefest.” The festival, on the second Sunday of August, features tastings, traditional German food, and a live brass band.
Ask Werner what pleases him most and he replies, “When we came here, there were no farm wineries. Today, the province has a world-class standard for this industry and visitors can travel the New Brunswick wine route to 10 farm wineries. We showed it could be done.”
WERNER ROSSWOG
Vintner/Distiller
WINEGARDEN ESTATES
851 Route 970
Baie-Verte
506-538-7405
www.winegardenestate.com