Industry growth has been fast, furious

French settler Louis Hebert planted a small vineyard in Bear River, Nova Scotia in 1611. Three centuries later, the Agricultural Research Station in Kentville examines the suitability of grape-growing in the province and concludes that only a few varieties are viable. In 1980, Roger Dial’s Grand-Pre operation turned out Nova Scotia’s first commercial vintage.

Fast forward to 2008 and consider recent figures that show commercial grape production here has doubled since the year 2000 and farm and cottage wineries are expected to double to 20 by 2015.

Indeed, Nova Scotia’s wine industry is growing fast and furiously. Tenacious pioneers like Dial and Hans Christian Jost, who founded the province’s second winery – Jost Vineyards in 1983 – kickstarted a new industry that has grown to the point where it’s now recognized to have immense potential for growth and development, based on domestic and international sales.

A few years ago the Winery Association of Nova Scotia was launched and has since adopted a set of quality standards and introduced a symbol to identify wines made from 100 per cent Nova Scotia-grown grapes. It also serves as a marketing collective for the province’s eight grape wineries and two fruit wineries.

There’s little doubt the association is working hard to propel an already vivacious industry and putting this province on the map as an important, albeit fledgling, wine region.

Last weekend the province’s first annual Ice Wine Festival had droves of people out sampling not only ice wine – that deliciously sweet and relatively pricy beverage which requires exacting conditions and handling – but other products made by an ever-increasing number of local wineries. Will we see more of such events tied to wineries in the province? You bet.

Currently valued at over $5 million, Nova Scotia’s wine industry has little to hold it back. Climate, cheap land and unbridled entrepreneurial enthusiasm is not only a lure for local business, it’s bringing grape growers and winemakers from out west and abroad.

Industry insiders say the way it’s going, the industry will have a huge impact on the Valley’s economy in the years ahead: it will draw tourists, create jobs and entice people to settle permanently in this area.

However, if there’s a downside -- and the silver lining always has a cloud -- it’s this: what of the average person in the Wolfville/Gaspereau area, where the majority of new wineries are expected to be built? Will such expansion alter forever the demographic and social landscape?

And what about young adults just starting out who hope to own their own home or rent suitable housing? Will they be excluded from their dream as property taxes and real estate values rise along with the wine industry?

Yes, the growth is impressive and a boon to our economy, but only time will tell if Nova Scotia’s affordable lifestyle will change irrevocably as a result.