Holland Marsh wine is truly one of a kind

July 3, 2013 · 0 Comments

Norie Nersisyan shows off the vineyards at Holland Marsh Wineries.

By Mark Pavilons

“Wine is bottled poetry.”
Robert Louis Stevenson

Wine-lovers have a lot to choose from these days. But you won’t find a unique King Township blend anywhere but on the edge of the Holland Marsh.
Even for the owners of Holland Marsh Wineries, it’s hard to describe their hand-crafted varieties, blessed by Marsh soil.
The family run operation, located on Keele north of Highway 9, is an oasis – a beautiful park-like setting that’s home to a store, hall facilties and vineyards.
Run largely by Roland and son Norie Nersisyan, Holland Marsh Wineries is still young, running for only a few years now. But the six acres of vineyards are reaching their peak and the Nersisyans are expecting another great crop this year.
Norie pointed out there’s some skepticism that rich Marsh soil is too damp and not appropriate for grapes. But they’re on the edge of the Marsh and they have some sandy soil in the mix. Their crops are doing just fine and attracting attention from far and wide. As well, these same soil conditions come through in the body in the wine, making it truly one-of-a-kind.
Their top priority is making every single bottle of wine the best in quality and taste. They are committed to operating our business in an “earth friendly” manner.
Vines are carefully handpicked from their vineyards, which produce all natural grapes and use practices that are not harmful to the soil, water or people in our surrounding area.
The Nersisyans point to their Armenian heritage as giving them the edge. Archaeologists believe the South Caucasus, which Armenia straddles, are the source of the world’s first cultivated grapevines and neolithic wine production, more than 6,000 years ago.
Roland has been a hands-on producer for decades and knew, when he originally spotted this piece of land, it would become their vineyard. The family did extensive work to the grounds to make it more welcoming to visitors and the results have paid off.
The team at Holland Marsh Wineries is hand-picked by Roland himself, consisting of professionals from different parts of Europe, in a collaborative effort to bring the highest quality of wines and service to every person who walks through their doors.
The wine-making process is definitely a labour of love and Holland Marsh Wineries wants the community to embrace it as a destination, not just a winery.
They focus on quality, not quantity and their wine is only available at the facility. Norie is quick to point out they “craft” their wine, not “produce” it. Customers can choose from varieties of red, white and ice wine.
Everything at the facility and in the process is their own creation.
During this time of the year, the young vines are growing slowly and will reach maturity in time for the harvest, which typically begins in August. From there the blending, oaking and aging processes follow.
They’re quite proud of not only the quality of their product, but showing off their facility. They regularly host tours with visitors coming from all over the world. Many wine-lovers are thrilled to learn about the process from start to finish and enjoy some King Township hospitality.
The winery also offers a private club membership to patrons, who enjoy wine and use of the facilities for parties, events and weddings. The two-storey, 3,000-square-foot hall is rustic and welcoming and blends in well with the facility. The view out towards the vineyards is breathtaking.
Holland Marsh Wineries is truly unique in the boutique winery industry. And all of it reflects the beauty of King Township.
For more, visit hmwineries.ca.