Vankleek Hill Vineyard, located in Vankleek Hill, Ontario, is a place where both great wine and great memories are made. It’s an inviting vineyard where all feel welcome, and you get the sense that once you come the first time, you’ll be coming back again…and again.
I was excited to be heading to Vankleek Hill Vineyard for a couple of different reasons. Firstly, as a site and brand, Ultimate Ontario aims to keep tabs on bright, emerging businesses in this province, largely because these businesses aren’t just the lifeblood of tourism in Ontario, but really of Ontario itself.
Secondly, this was another chance for me to get up close and personal with the famous pop silos in Prescott-Russel, a striking array of giant artworks painted on farm silos throughout the community. The piece on the Vankleek Hill property, “Kruk” by the artist OMEN, features a bold looking raven, with elms, maples, and oaks in the background — all trees that can be found on this 55-acre property that boasts over 27,000 mature trees.
The owners of Vankleek, Scott Lambert and Teresa Bressan, in a statement that I would later learn was rather emblematic of their infectious positivity and eye towards community building, noted that when it came to the Popsilos they were “excited to meet everyone, to share good wine and good relationships that come from good collaborations,” and felt that “the Popsilos circuit is a great way to bring it all together.”
However, before we focus too much on today, I feel it’s worth backing things up to talk about the unique journey that Scott and Teresa have been on to get Vankleek to where it is at the present moment.
Scott, Teresa, and Vankleek Hill Vineyard: A Match Made in Heaven
When I arrived, Teresa welcomed me like an old friend. This wasn’t something set aside for me as a media member, I assure you. Every customer who walked in the door seemed to have a relationship with Teresa or Scott — an attestation to the idea that they aren’t just doing this to make great wine (something they do remarkably well), they’re doing this to also build a little home away from home for locals and visitors.
When I visited their website not long after I visited their vineyard, I was none too surprised to see the that their motto is “Family. Community. Wine.”
For years, Scott and Teresa were involved in a number of business enterprises, most notably flipping houses for the 6 years before they stumbled upon Vankleek Hill. Teresa told me that they were actually looking for a little farm that they could settle on and retire, and had even put in an offer on one place — but then they saw a sign noting a vineyard for sale.
They asked themselves, “okay, what is it we really want to do?”
They strolled around the vineyard as it was back then, and realized there was enormous potential here. I got the sense that they realized that taking this on would be the exact opposite of retirement, but they were also forced to consider how fulfilling this venture could be if they did it right.
Their offer was accepted in 2018, and in 2019 they became the new owners. They started off making pinot noir and chardonnay, but admitted that “they scrapped their business plan every two months” as they learned the ins and outs of the industry.
Over time, they found their groove, and when I asked what that looked like, Teresa didn’t miss a beat in painting a picture of “up to 300 people sitting outside in the summer, with live music 2-3 times a week.” All of a sudden, they were a go-to place for people not only to come and blow off some steam, but now they also had a staff, and were supporting local artists and initiatives.
“We have people calling it THEIR vineyard. It has become a whole community. A really, really nice place for people to unwind.”
The Wonderful Wine at Vankleek Hill Vineyard
Before I get into more specifics, I need to stop for a moment to say that I’ve visited a lot of wineries in Ontario, and a lot of wineries around the world, and, for better or worse, I’ve developed some strong preferences for how I feel different varieties can and should be made. Bri, my partner, will tell you that it’s bold reds that truly steal my heart, and I must say that what I tasted here was utterly exceptional.
Teresa and Scott are humble, but in their hearts, I know they know what I know – that they make very, very good wine.
On their property, they have 5 acres of vines, largely cold climate grapes (frontenac and marquette, namely), and they carefully source the rest of their grapes from Niagara. I had a long conversation with Scott about this, and my goodness does he have a clear picture of what they’re looking for in grapes. They may have been changing their business plan and trajectory every two months at the beginning of this journey, but they have a crystal clear, enduring picture of what they’re after now.
They operate as a micro-vineyard and winery, and since they sell out constantly, they felt the LCBO wasn’t the way to go, so if you’re looking to sip on some Vankleek Hill wines, you’re going to have to head in their direction. That’s easier said than done considering how close they are to the highway (though it feels world’s away from any highway), and their location roughly situated between Montreal and Ottawa.
The Wine
Their approach to wine is a little different. They focus on creating one-of-a-kind vintages, selling it until they’ve run out, then moving on to the next one. “We don’t have names, we have projects. Each vintage is going to be a unique experience,” Teresa told me.
At the time of writing, they’re up to “Project 34,” which happens to be a marvellous Syrah. I’d recommend heading to this page on their site to see what they’ve got in stock, but can tell you that everything that I sipped on was excellent, but I’ve got a particularly big soft spot for the Meritage (Project 27), their Cabernet Franc (Project 33), and the aforementioned Syrah (Project 34).
The reality is that these were just the most recent “projects,” so you’re best to arrive, see what they have available in terms of projects, then go from there. If you’re a big white wine drinker, for example, then you can note that Project 28 is a Riesling, and Project 32 is a Chardonnay, and you can taste or purchase those wines.
Don’t be weary though – I’ve seen the process and care on the production side of things, so whatever you’re ordering, you’re getting quality.
If you want to stay in the know about news releases, events, and special promotions, by the way, I’d recommend signing up for the Vankleek Hill Vineyard Cellar Club. Nowadays, they’re producing something like 30,000 bottles of wine a year, so it’ll be worth staying in the know.
They also do food, I should add. They have a food cellar with an array of products (90% sourced from Ontario & Quebec), but also do charcuterie, as well as artisanal pizza.
What Else Do You Need to Know About Vignoble Vankleek Hill?
- They have a lot of ideas in the works. Teresa had mentioned that they were playing with idea of offering overnights and getaways with a Mongolian Yurt on the property, for example.
- In the warmer months, it’s all about “Music in the Vines,” and you can learn more about that here.
- They can accommodate sizeable private events.
- Guided tastings are also available, and feature 5 wines personally selected over an hour period.
- The vineyard is dog-friendly, though they do ask that they are on leashes as their own personal pets (dogs, cats, and chickens) tend to be roaming around.
- Children are welcome as they “are all about family.”
- If you’ve got further questions, you can contact them at [email protected].
Its interesting because I never got the sense this venture had anything to do with making money, as much as making memories. The new initiatives all seem to relate to making the experience better for the people that have believed in them from the onset.
I remember towards the end of my visit, bringing this idea up to Teresa, and she smiled, and noted, “our intention is not to grow bigger. We’ve reached where we want to be.”
And I’m here to tell you that Vankleek Hill Vineyard, dear reader, is where you want to be.
We want to thank to Attractions Ontario and the United Counties of Prescott Russell for hosting us as media. All opinions are our own.
Christopher Mitchell is the Cofounder of Ultimate Ontario. He’s visited over 80 countries, and has lived on 4 continents, but now has his eyes set squarely on exploring this incredible province, and helping others do the same.