Rosewood Winery

**” Viticulture and sustainable beekeeping ” in the Niagara wine country**

Rosewood Winery is a small family winery in the Niagara Region (Ontario – Canada) that produces wines from grapes but also from honey.

It all began 25 years ago when Eugene Roman , beekeeper , went on honeymoon with his wife Renata at Niagara Falls . They Fell in love with the area, soils and loving wine, Eugene Roman promised that one day they will found together a vineyard in the region.

The promise began to take shape in 2000 with the purchase of land in Beamsville Bench appellation. Gradually the dream of the love of the terroir of Niagara took shape and finally was concreted in 2008 with the opening to the public of Rosewood Winery.

Today the property is spread over 40 acres is a little over 16 hectares and produces wine from grapes but also honey wine. Rosewood Winery is also one of the pioneers properties for ” mead ” ( also called honey wine mead ). Eugene Roman drink product since 2010 as a tribute to his father.

Already a beekeeper in his time, he wanted the early 60’s produce mead. But he could not do because of multiple failures to obtain the production license.

Currently bee hives are nestled in the vineyard but also on the surrounding hills of the property. Those hills are ranked as World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

What is honey wine (Mead)?

The honey wine is also often called mead (noun). It is obtained by mixing honey, water and yeast that will trigger the fermentation. Some meads benefit, like wine, a passage in barrels. As for the development of grape wine, honey wine can also benefit from a second fermentation in the bottle, allowing it to become sparkling (Champagne method).

Is Mead a dry beverage? Soft? Or Sweet?

It depends. There are, like in the wine, mead with different levels of residual sugar. Some (rare) have less than 10 g / L and will be considered as “dry” , others between 10 and 20 g / L and will be classified as ” semi-dry “. If mead is between 20 and 40g / L of residual sugar will be called ” soft.” Above 40 g / L (maximum 60 g / L) mead is classified as ” sweet.”

Mead and history

This drink has long been regarded as the ” drink of the gods.” Indeed, the Greeks (for them it was called ” ambrosia “) as our ancestors the Gauls saw this drink as a symbol of strength and joy. They regularly offered to the gods during ceremonies.

With the Christianization of Europe, mead lost its symbolic divine characteristic but is still evocative of strength and virility. It was especially given to drink young couple during the first moon after the wedding. This is also how we derived the term ” honeymoon “!

What is look for, every year for making Rosewood wines?

” The wine terroir, with rich and intense aromas (nose and mouth), and able to keep a mediaum aging. For that we bring great importance to the quality of the grapes on the vine to their meanings are made. We try to combine philosophy / work using traditional techniques and new technologies, including the cellar. Two things are important to us: the consistency in the quality and the preservation of our land “(Sonia Vitali – Sale Resp.) .

How to recognize wines Rosewood Winery?

Personally I would say that these wines are characterized by a good balance, well controlled power (not running a ” bodybuilder ” wine), very ripe fruit (not green but not overripe either). Of terroir wines that are not on -wood, which often have a freshness and roundness in the mid-palate.

Side anecdote: “Tasting for Charity at Rosewood” or how to help associations sipping wine

Since 2012 all the tips and fresh tasting (not selling wine) obtained tasting room (tasting room) are donated to charity. Not wishing to promote an association over another, the team chose to donate the earnings to a different organization each month. And since 2012 more than $ 12,000 were donated to organizations such as “Weekend to End Women’s Cancers“, “Coast to Coast against Cancer Foundation“, “Heart & Stroke Foundation” etc. . A good system to combine fun and good deeds.

Always story side but on a different subject: arriving at the winery you will hear the sound of rifle shots. Do not panic! They will not shoot you! (Even if the moment is relatively) This is simply the dissemination of fire by loudspeakers to scare birds. This is to ensure that they are pecking the berries.