Welcome to the Club - Fall 2021

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569 BROADWAY ST, WYOMING • 519-845-1613
SALON
571 ERIE ST, WYOMING
519-845-3596
635 Broadway Street
WYOMING
226-307-0772
Mike Daamen
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As reported by
In 2005, Marc Alton and Anne
Kurtz-Alton purchased a 90-acre farm
in Plympton-Wyoming to make their
dream of starting a winery a reality.
“When we came to look at the farm,
everything was blooming, the wind
was warm, the smell was amazing,
and we fell in love,” shares Kurtz-Alton.
The Altons hand-planted a test acre in
2006 with more than fifteen different
varieties of grape, including Cabernet
Sauvignon, Chardonnay and some
hybrid cold-temperature varieties. In
2007, they planted a second test acre
with even more varieties, including
Shiraz and Baco Noir. The vineyard
was then thoughtfully planned out,
with an additional acre hand-planted
in each of the next five years.
The vines took three to five years to
mature before the Altons could harvest
the grapes. During that time, they
frequently visited the Niagara wine
region. “I would book us into bed and
breakfasts attached to wineries. We
www.hashtaglocal.com
Alton Farms Estate Winery
developed a number of friendships
and learned so much about vines
and the wine-making process.” Even
though they couldn’t harvest the
grapes, they still needed to look after
the vines, which includes pinching
off the buds, controlling disease and
insects, pruning and trellising the
vines, and deleafing, all of which is
done by hand.
In 2013, Alton Farms Estate
Winery, located at 5547 Aberarder
Line, opened their store with 2,000
litres of wine ready for purchase.
In 2019, their seven acres of vines,
supplemented with grapes from
Niagara Region, produced 20,000
litres of wine. “We typically have
between 13 and 18 different wines
each year.” Alton Farms Estate Winery
is housed in a century-old drive shed.
In 2016, a barrel room was added, and
in 2018, their tasting room and wine
store was expanded. “A lot of people
are skeptical about Ontario wines
because they envision them
being sweet, but our wines are
dry, which is why we encourage
people to come for a tasting.”
The Altons try to be sustainable
in all their practices. “We use
our herd of sheep instead of
chemicals to keep the vineyard
weeds under control, we don’t
irrigate which keeps our wine
quality up and reduces our water
use, and we use repurposed items as
much as we can.” The Altons are also
thankful for their many friends who
volunteer to help hand-pick grapes
each year during harvest season.
“They also help with bottling, labeling
and events that we host.” Their wines
are processed, bottled, corked, and
labeled by hand. Alton Farm Estate
wines can be purchased at their onsite
store and at select LCBOs.
Alton Farms Estate Winery
supports a number of local non
profits by donating wine baskets and
gift certificates, but their favorite
fundraisers are hosted on their
property. This year marks their 5th
Annual Grape Stomp for Bluewater
Raptors Rehabilitation and their 4th
Annual Aberarder Weinfest (German
for wine festival) for Heaven’s Wildlife
Rescue. “We appreciate the support
we’ve received, so it’s wonderful to be
able to support other organizations.
We are really proud to be the pioneer
estate winery and vineyard in this
emerging wine region.”
Read more stories like this at
www.hashtaglocal.com
Photos by Kaoss Studios
663 Broadway Street
Wyoming, ON N0N 1T0
519-845-3212
beth@bethhackettins.ca
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