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Before
launching their new Cranberry wine this past September
Murray and Wendy Johnston of Johnston's Cranberry Marsh
weren't even sure they would have a place to sell it. For
the past year they have been developing their newest
venture, the Muskoka Lakes Winery, but ran into some last
minute problems with the AGCO, (Alcohol and Gaming Commision
of Ontario).
"They wanted us to move the winery," says Murray,
owner of the farm and winery. "They reviewed our plans,
inspected the facilty and granted us a manufacturer's
licence." He continues. "But when we applied for a
retail licence they said we had to move the winery." He
explains, "For a retail licence they want five acres of
fruit, the winery and the store to be located on the same
premises. We thought that was no problem, but the AGCO
decided that Cranberry Road divided the farm in two. We had
cranberries on both sides of the road but the winery was on
one side of the road and the store was on the other. So we
had to move the winery," he states matter-of-factly.
Once that was worked out, however, they were in business,
and successfully launched their new cranberry wine on
September 21/01.
Located outside of Bala in Muskoka, Johnston's Cranberry
Marsh was started back in 1952 by Murray's father, Orville.
Orville died on the Cranberry Festival weekend in 1992 in a
tragic car accident. But he is remembered in this new
venture -- the cranberries used to produce the new Muskoka
Lakes wine were harvested off the vines Orville planted
almost 50 years old ago.
The art work of David Dawson was also on display during the
launch. "Since we are the only winery in Muskoka and
our mandate is to feature native fruit," says Wendy,
" we wanted to have a local artist do the artwork for
the labels. We love the colours and vibrancy of David's
work. He's done three paintings of the farm for the three
wines we're introducing this year, and they're
spectacular."
The wines will only be available at the farm. "We're
too small to market to the LCBO," says Murray,
"but we're harvesting now and we have a licence, so
people can pick up their cranberries and some wine at the
same time."
"We're definitely a first in Muskoka," says
Murray. The Johnstons have their 2000 Cranberry Wine
available at the farm now. "Grapes don't grow in
Muskoka but cranberries do," says Wendy, "so it
makes sense to for us to specialize in cranberry wines. By
Christmas we'll have a Cranberry Blueberry wine as well as a
White Cranberry Wine."
More information is available at their website at www.cranberry.ca
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