Photo: Dr. Hilary Rodrigues. 
Markland Cottage Winery is located 
in the former Whitbourne Cottage 
Hospital.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Winston Jennings 
Weil Winery Ltd. 

Weil Winery is located in a former 
schoolhouse in Twillingate

 

 

Brew-pubs and Restaurants

Fog City, established in 1997, currently produces Fog City Classic Ale, Wheat Ale, Red Ale and Brown Ale. The products are only sold at the Company’s restaurant/pub in St. John’s.

Duke of Duckworth established in 1989, started beer production in 1997. They produce one product, Duke’s Own, for sale at the Company’s pub in downtown St. John’s.

WINE-MAKING AND MICRO-BREWING

The Province’s pristine natural environment and abundance of fresh water and wild berries make it an ideal location for producing regionally unique and cultural beverages. At present, nine producers are registered to commercially manufacture alcoholic beverages.

The demand for specialty alcoholic beverages is growing as changing consumer tastes, among baby boomers in particular, are influencing industry trends. This population group tends to be more health conscious and enjoys specialty products designed for consumption with meals. As tourists, this group, seeks regionally unique and cultured products such as wines made from locally grown and native berries. Specialty wine and beer producers in the Province have identified and are taking advantage of opportunities in the wine-making and micro-brewing industry. They are focusing their efforts, for the most part, on niche markets in the tourism sector, and in the local market’s desire for pure and preservative-free products.

Wineries
Three companies currently produce and sell specialty small fruit and rhubarb wines in the Province. Last year, combined production was estimated at 330,000 bottles. The outlook appears to be bright for the industry with expanding product lines and all producers expecting increased production for 2000.

Markland Cottage Winery was the forerunner in this industry in the Province––it began making blueberry wine in 1993 at Whitbourne. The Company has since expanded its product line to include a dry blueberry wine as well as partridgeberry, barrens blend (a partridgeberry and blueberry combination), bakeapple, plum, strawberry, and pear wines. The Company sells its products nationally and internationally under the trade name Rodrigues. All Rodrigues wines are Kosher/Pareve certified which enables the Company to target Jewish communities in Toronto and New York. There are only two other wineries in North America that have this certification.

Weil Winery Limited, in Twillingate, began operations in 1998. Its first vintage, strawberry wine, was produced from locally farmed berries. The Company has since expanded and now produces 10 different wines including: cherry, blueberry, damson, dogberry, partridgeberry and rhubarb. The product sells under the trade name Notre Dame Wines and is marketed locally and in Ontario. The Company plans to expand its market within Canada and internationally.

Flynn’s Winery of Shoal Harbour, which opened in 1997, produces blueberry and rhubarb wine. The product, which sells under the trade name Flynn Winery, is sold in local markets. This year the Company plans to expand into the Maritimes.

Micro-Breweries
Six companies produce and sell beer in the Province. While Molson Breweries and Labatt Breweries are the largest producers, four micro-breweries have started production in recent years. Last year, micro-breweries produced the equivalent of 1.3 million bottles in Newfoundland. Production is expected to increase in 2000. Micro-brewing is becoming increasingly popular across the country. In 1998, there were 54 micro-breweries in Canada, more than double the number a decade earlier. Some produce and sell through retail outlets while others brew products for sale through their pubs and restaurants.

Quidi Vidi Brewing Company opened in 1996 in a restored fish processing plant in St. John’s. Products now include 1892 Ale, Northern Lite, Northern Lager, Krick Cherry, Hibernia, and Mummers’ Christmas beer. The Company markets its products locally and produces special brews for local restaurants.

STORM BREWING in Newfoundland Ltd. was founded in 1995. The craft brewery produces traditional British style and specialty ales including: Kyle Mild, Killick Pale and Hemp Ale. The Company cites the tourist trade and the vibrant pub scene in St. John’s as the key markets for its products. STORM BREWING in Newfoundland Ltd. has garnered international attention in its efforts to become North America’s first ecobrewery.

Iceberg Vodka
Iceberg vodka is produced by the Newfoundland Liquor Corporation, and is marketed nationally and internationally by the Canadian Iceberg Vodka Corporation. This is the only vodka produced using iceberg water. The icebergs are 12,000 years old and the water is the purest and clearest available. In 1995, the Canadian Iceberg Vodka Corporation was the first firm in the Province to receive EDGE status. Canadian Iceberg Vodka was awarded the gold medal at the International Beverage Tasting Institute’s 1998 World Spirits Championships.


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