Features Fruit Production
New regulations for N.S. wine industry

November 19, 2010,
Halifax, NS – Nova Scotia government is helping the province’s wine industry
grow.

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}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 16pt; font-family: Times; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }November 19, 2010,
Halifax, NS – Nova Scotia government is helping the province’s wine industry
grow.

Nova Scotia Agriculture
Minister John MacDonell recently announced new regulations that will encourage
and support the continued growth of this rural-based agricultural sector.

The regulations establish
a minimum Nova Scotia content of 85 per cent for grape wines and 100 per cent
content for non-grape wines such as blueberry and maple.

The regulations also
include administrative structures and requirements such as winery registration
and designation, acreage certification, record keeping, and cellar audits.

"It is a very
exciting growth period for the wine industry in Nova Scotia and the
implementation of these regulations will ensure our unique and distinctive
wines will be produced to the highest quality standards," said Janice
Ruddock, managing director of the Winery Association of Nova Scotia.

The Department of
Agriculture worked with the industry, including the Winery Association of Nova
Scotia, individual wineries, the Grape Growers Association of Nova Scotia and
the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation, to develop the regulations. They reflect
the current Nova Scotia Farm Winery Policy and Nova Scotia Wine Standards used
by the industry.

The Nova Scotia industry,
valued at $10 million, has 17 farm wineries, with another one in development,
and 30 grape growers operating vineyards. There are also about 475 acres of
land in grape production.