Winegarden Estate was the first fruit wine-distillery in Atlantic Canada. Forging a new industry where none existed before is not easy, but through tenacity and perseverance, the owners of Winegarden Estate paved the way for future growth of agri-tourism in New Brunswick and opened doors previously closed to the cottage wine industry. New Brunswick is now a proud of the high quality fruit and grape wines, fruit liqueurs and spirits produced here.

TRADITION

Originally from Endingen, Germany, Werner and Roswitha Rosswog and their family emigrated to the Baie Verte area in 1983. The Rosswogs brought with them a long family history in the distillery business. Great-grandfather, Johann Ziegler Sr., a vine-grower in the province of Baden, Germany, began distilling grapes, cherries, plums, pears and apples in 1860 and subsequent generations continued the tradition.

Shortly after moving to New Brunswick, Werner Rosswog realized the province possessed the qualities and climate to become a grape-growing region and wondered why this important industry had not been developed. He began to explore the idea of using the traditional family expertise to start utilizing the abundant supplies of fruit.

VISION

Werner quickly found out he was breaking totally new ground. Since there were no laws in place for private distilleries and he had to abide by the same rules as the big manufacturers - pay the same licensing fees, utilize the same distribution channels and be subjected to the same mark-up. This meant extremely large start-up costs, hefty annual fees and very small profit margins.

But he was determined. Werner's vision was an industry that enabled the small operator, such as himself, to sell directly from his farm, thus realizing enough profit from his product to sustain the business.

Tenacity and perseverance finally paid off. The Rosswog family received a federal licence to operate Atlantic Canada's first private distillery in 1991, which was quickly followed by a provincial license in February 1992. This allowed them to begin production of New Brunswick's first fruit liquors. With apples from Bourgeois Farms in St. Joseph, a 40% alcohol/volume Johnny Ziegler Apple Schnaps was the first product to emerge from the new distillery. The Rosswog's Apple Schnaps is the traditional German product, clear and strong, and the first bottle is still on display in the family museum at the wine shop.

Gradually, the family expanded their product line to include fruit liqueurs made from plentiful New Brunswick produce. It was good for the fruit producers, who now had another market for their fruit; it was good for the Rosswogs, as they were able to diversify their product line.

In 1997, they received a license to operate a farm-winery, and began to develop fruit wines, also made from New Brunswick's fruit resources, this makes Winegarden the oldest winery in New Brunswick.

INNOVATION

Werner's persistence proved to be instrumental in the development of New Brunswick's first Cottage Winery-Distillery Policy in 1998. For the first time, commercial fruit growers were given the opportunity to sell a value-added product directly from their own farm, realizing more profit for themselves. The new policy allowed that a Farmer could apply for a license to operate a winery and sell from the door if the product was manufactured on site and 90% of the product content was produced on the farm. A separate facility - such as Winegarden Estate - could process the product, providing a co-operative arrangement had been developed between the farm on which the product was grown and the production facility.

Now several local fruit growers supply the product, Winegarden Estate ferments it and gives it back, or bottles it under the farm label. Along with the Rosswogs, some of the co-op members have also joined resources to create New Brunswick's first winery Route and provincial laws now allow for cottage wineries to sell their products at farmers markets.

In 2001, the family produced the first New Brunswick estate grape wine on the market - a Red Cuvee.

TODAY

Today, Winegarden Estate has grown from its modest beginnings to encompass a wine store with tasting facilities and viewing window, the winery-distillery and a cooling room for storage of the finished product shop, small museum and events barn. Their wines are also available at Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John Farmer's Markets.

Winegarden is still a family business, although Werner Rosswog has retired and son Steffen is now Master Winemaker and production manager. Daughter Elke is Company President and handles the finances and sales for the family business. Roswitha is the Distill-Master, overseeing the creation of spirits and liqueurs.

They are proud to have something for every taste and palate. By using local maple syrup, blueberries, apples, cranberries, wild cherries, blackberries, elderberries, currant, raspberries, grape, honey and pears, the Rosswogs have created a smorgasbord of New Brunswick, and made great inroads into the province's agri-tourism marketplace. Cheers!

Werner Rosswog documented the long journey from idea to reality.  You can download his version in .pdf form in either English or German.