Ontario & federal governments invest in Hardie Wines

To celebrate Ontario Wine Week, which takes place June 12 to 18, the Ontario government and the Government of Canada have announced an investment in Prince Edward County, Ont.’s Hardie Wines Limited as part of a larger $856,000 investment to help Ontario wineries to expand production, grow brand recognition and leverage new economic opportunities.

Also known as Norman Hardie Winery, the Prince Edward County winery has received more than $43,000 under the Growing Forward 2 initiative to purchase a state-of-the-art wine press with specialized oak barrels from France that will store high-quality product, and to implement a stackable wine tank system to increase productivity and reduce operating costs.

“We welcome the government support to increase the efficiency of our winery and contribute to its growth. We are proud to produce wines that are a favorite locally and internationally. This investment will help us to continue to craft high quality wines straight from Prince Edward County to the glasses of wine lovers,” says Norman Hardie, owner, Hardie Wines Limited.

Norman Hardie Winery is one of 20 wineries in Ontario that will benefit from this federal and provincial government support through Growing Forward 2 — a federal-provincial-territorial initiative that supports programs aimed at improving innovation, competitiveness, market development, adaptability and industry sustainability in Canada’s agri-food and agri-products sectors.

“Ontario’s wine makers consistently demonstrate their ability to develop and deliver a range of premium quality wines. As we celebrate this year’s Ontario Wine Week, we are pleased to announce our support towards the continued growth of Ontario’s wineries with the funds needed for key investments in their businesses,” says Lawrence MacAulay, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

“Ontario has grown into an internationally recognized wine region producing award-winning, high-quality wines. With their passion and commitment, wine makers and grape growers are continuously working to improve their products, increase production and grow a thriving industry. I invite the people of Ontario to join me in celebrating our province’s wine industry this Wine Week by visiting one of the Ontario’s wine regions to sample some of these wines or picking up a bottle of Ontario wine from your local LCBO or farmers’ market,” adds Jeff Leal, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.