The Nova Scotia government’s plan is to double grape production in the province and is giving grape growers a cash incentive to make it happen.
Grape growers with a minimum of five acres can apply for up to $6,550 in support for each additional acre planted.
Domain de Grand Pre’s winemaker, Jurg Stutz said this is exactly what the industry needs to grow beyond Canada’s borders.
“I know quite a few wineries that are considering exporting, not only to other provinces, but outside the county,” said Stutz.
“We have started slowly to export to China, Switzerland and the U.K., but it takes time.”
New and smaller producers can also apply for funding to expand up to the 5-acre minimum.
Stutz said he knows of people who’ve been waiting for this incentive to get their businesses off the ground.
“I don’t see it as competition, but a boost for our industry to get noticed and help to meet growing demand for locally produced wine,” said Stutz.
Nova Scotia’s wineries produce about 1.8 million litres of wine annually and had sales of $15.4 million in 2014.
Stutz adds, this is a positive step forward that will create jobs.
“For every acre that’s planted, it creates 1.1 jobs for Nova Scotia. And that’s not just in the vineyards because you need more than just winemakers. We need people in retail in the stores and so on and so forth.”
Small and new wineries can also apply for the funding to expand their businesses up to the five acre minimum.
Nova Scotia’s wineries produce about 1.8 million litres of wine annually and had sales of $15.4 million in 2014.
