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Headline, Industry News
Dan Aykroyd winery is ‘a dream’
Thursday June 14th 2007TORONTO (CP) _ Actor Dan Aykroyd is going from Blues Brother to booze brother and throwing his star power behind a new $12-million winery which aims to pump up the Niagara wine region’s international profile.
The massive facility, to be named the Dan Aykroyd Winery, will be located near the town of Lincoln, Ont., in the heart of the province’s vineyards.
"This is really a dream," Aykroyd said during a news conference Wednesday.
"We joked about doing a Coneheads vodka or something," he said, referring to one of his best-known characters on "Saturday Night Live."
"And I never thought that a line of wines would be a possibility."
Construction begins this fall and is set to be completed in time for the 2008 growing season.
Along with boasting technologies like solar panels and green-friendly waste-water management systems, the winery will showcase mementoes from Aykroyd’s 30-year career.
"I’ll finally have a place to put all that memorabilia and junk that’s collecting in five barns," joked the Ottawa-born actor.
The project, a venture by Toronto-based Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits Ltd., is an attempt to boost the international profile of Ontario wines and also lure more tourists to the region.
"I was a little trepidatious," Aykroyd said. "I like the big, bold monster Bordeauxs, and I asked, ‘How are you going to get that out of Niagara?"’
But after a year of testing and tasting, Aykroyd said the winemakers at Diamond Estates have mastered their craft.
He said the winery’s Merlot can stand up in a taste test next to a 10-year-old Chateau Talbot from the Bordeaux region of France.
"Try them both, and you tell me. I’m not afraid."
The winery will also produce icewines and a Chardonnay which was influenced by Aykroyd’s tastebuds.
"The Chardonnay is a compromise between my almost bitter palette and the chardonnay that Niagara is known for _ and I’m satisfied with it," he said.
Diamond Estates CEO Murray Marshall said he hopes the winery will draw at least 44,000 visitors a year.
"This is part of our continuing commitment to Ontario agri-business and destination tourism," said Marshall, whose company owns four other southern Ontario wineries.
He said the winery will produce everything from mid-range wines, costing from $15 to $25, all the way up to limited releases retailing for more than $100 a bottle.
The announcement comes as Canadians continue to gulp down increasing amounts of Ontario-produced wines, and is timed to coincide with the release of two new wines bearing the Aykroyd name.
About two years ago, Aykroyd invested $1 million in four wineries owned by Ontario companies.
From June 22 to 24, Aykroyd will host the first Niagara Wine Auction, a charity event for the Sick Kids Foundation and the St. Catharines General Hospital’s pediatric division.
Headline, Industry News
Dan Aykroyd winery is ‘a dream’
Thursday June 14th 2007TORONTO (CP) _ Actor Dan Aykroyd is going from Blues Brother to booze brother and throwing his star power behind a new $12-million winery which aims to pump up the Niagara wine region’s international profile.
The massive facility, to be named the Dan Aykroyd Winery, will be located near the town of Lincoln, Ont., in the heart of the province’s vineyards.
"This is really a dream," Aykroyd said during a news conference Wednesday.
"We joked about doing a Coneheads vodka or something," he said, referring to one of his best-known characters on "Saturday Night Live."
"And I never thought that a line of wines would be a possibility."
Construction begins this fall and is set to be completed in time for the 2008 growing season.
Along with boasting technologies like solar panels and green-friendly waste-water management systems, the winery will showcase mementoes from Aykroyd’s 30-year career.
"I’ll finally have a place to put all that memorabilia and junk that’s collecting in five barns," joked the Ottawa-born actor.
The project, a venture by Toronto-based Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits Ltd., is an attempt to boost the international profile of Ontario wines and also lure more tourists to the region.
"I was a little trepidatious," Aykroyd said. "I like the big, bold monster Bordeauxs, and I asked, ‘How are you going to get that out of Niagara?"’
But after a year of testing and tasting, Aykroyd said the winemakers at Diamond Estates have mastered their craft.
He said the winery’s Merlot can stand up in a taste test next to a 10-year-old Chateau Talbot from the Bordeaux region of France.
"Try them both, and you tell me. I’m not afraid."
The winery will also produce icewines and a Chardonnay which was influenced by Aykroyd’s tastebuds.
"The Chardonnay is a compromise between my almost bitter palette and the chardonnay that Niagara is known for _ and I’m satisfied with it," he said.
Diamond Estates CEO Murray Marshall said he hopes the winery will draw at least 44,000 visitors a year.
"This is part of our continuing commitment to Ontario agri-business and destination tourism," said Marshall, whose company owns four other southern Ontario wineries.
He said the winery will produce everything from mid-range wines, costing from $15 to $25, all the way up to limited releases retailing for more than $100 a bottle.
The announcement comes as Canadians continue to gulp down increasing amounts of Ontario-produced wines, and is timed to coincide with the release of two new wines bearing the Aykroyd name.
About two years ago, Aykroyd invested $1 million in four wineries owned by Ontario companies.
From June 22 to 24, Aykroyd will host the first Niagara Wine Auction, a charity event for the Sick Kids Foundation and the St. Catharines General Hospital’s pediatric division.
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Headline, Industry News
Dan Aykroyd winery is ‘a dream’
Thursday June 14th 2007TORONTO (CP) _ Actor Dan Aykroyd is going from Blues Brother to booze brother and throwing his star power behind a new $12-million winery which aims to pump up the Niagara wine region’s international profile.
The massive facility, to be named the Dan Aykroyd Winery, will be located near the town of Lincoln, Ont., in the heart of the province’s vineyards.
"This is really a dream," Aykroyd said during a news conference Wednesday.
"We joked about doing a Coneheads vodka or something," he said, referring to one of his best-known characters on "Saturday Night Live."
"And I never thought that a line of wines would be a possibility."
Construction begins this fall and is set to be completed in time for the 2008 growing season.
Along with boasting technologies like solar panels and green-friendly waste-water management systems, the winery will showcase mementoes from Aykroyd’s 30-year career.
"I’ll finally have a place to put all that memorabilia and junk that’s collecting in five barns," joked the Ottawa-born actor.
The project, a venture by Toronto-based Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits Ltd., is an attempt to boost the international profile of Ontario wines and also lure more tourists to the region.
"I was a little trepidatious," Aykroyd said. "I like the big, bold monster Bordeauxs, and I asked, ‘How are you going to get that out of Niagara?"’
But after a year of testing and tasting, Aykroyd said the winemakers at Diamond Estates have mastered their craft.
He said the winery’s Merlot can stand up in a taste test next to a 10-year-old Chateau Talbot from the Bordeaux region of France.
"Try them both, and you tell me. I’m not afraid."
The winery will also produce icewines and a Chardonnay which was influenced by Aykroyd’s tastebuds.
"The Chardonnay is a compromise between my almost bitter palette and the chardonnay that Niagara is known for _ and I’m satisfied with it," he said.
Diamond Estates CEO Murray Marshall said he hopes the winery will draw at least 44,000 visitors a year.
"This is part of our continuing commitment to Ontario agri-business and destination tourism," said Marshall, whose company owns four other southern Ontario wineries.
He said the winery will produce everything from mid-range wines, costing from $15 to $25, all the way up to limited releases retailing for more than $100 a bottle.
The announcement comes as Canadians continue to gulp down increasing amounts of Ontario-produced wines, and is timed to coincide with the release of two new wines bearing the Aykroyd name.
About two years ago, Aykroyd invested $1 million in four wineries owned by Ontario companies.
From June 22 to 24, Aykroyd will host the first Niagara Wine Auction, a charity event for the Sick Kids Foundation and the St. Catharines General Hospital’s pediatric division.
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