Summer Greetings from Featherstone: Unveiling our 2023 Reserve Stone & Vine

Bougie Boss
6 hours ago
3 min read

Summer Greetings From Featherstone:

Unveiling Our 2023 Reserve Stone & Vine

Dear Friends,

Harvest is just around the corner here at Featherstone, but the true highlight of our season is finally here!

Our 2023 Reserve Stone & Vine is made only when the vintage has been exceptionally rewarding.

We select our finest barrels and allow the wine to rest an extra year in oak. Cabernet Franc lends a bold, savoury character, laced with black pepper and plum. Merlot brings whispers of elegant cherry and a velvety mouthfeel. Cabernet Sauvignon lends complexity and a lasting finish. Combined, they create a wine of remarkable structure.

We are incredibly proud to finally share this vintage with all of you and hope you will share it at your dinner table soon.

Stone & Vine is exclusively available at Featherstone, in-store or on-line.

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From Toronto to the Bench: Why the Future of Wine Belongs to the Bold and the Benevolent

When I first stepped into the world of viticulture as the owner of Featherstone Estate Winery in early 2024, I knew I wasn’t taking the traditional path. I didn’t grow up tending vines in the Niagara Escarpment, nor did I spend decades climbing the ranks of an established estate. Instead, I spent the early years doing what any serious entrepreneur must do: putting my head down and learning the business from the ground up. From the complex logistics of the vineyard to renovations and understanding the nuances of cool-climate microclimates, every season has been a masterclass in grit, patience and the art of exceptional winemaking.

To me, sustainability isn’t just an environmental buzzword, it is a human and community obligation.

True sustainability begins with how we treat the earth and the people who cultivate it. At Featherstone, we pride ourselves on artisanal, small-batch winemaking that respects the land. But we also believe that a business cannot truly thrive if its ecosystem is fractured. That is why one of our proudest milestones has been ensuring that every single member of our staff is paid a true liveable wage. Pouring a premium product loses its luster if the hands that crafted it cannot afford to live with dignity.

Our commitment to giving back is equally non-negotiable. Over the past year alone, Featherstone has donated 20% of its total profits back into the community through various charitable initiatives. This is something that I realize I am fortunate enough to do as someone that does not depend on the winery for my personal livelihood.

For myself, giving is not viewed as a luxury reserved for the end of a prosperous decade; it is my baseline cost of doing business.

While we push boundaries in our business model, we are pushing them even harder in the cellar. Innovation requires investment, and we are putting our money where our values are. Featherstone is proud to be the largest buyer of Canadian Oak barrels, deeply investing in our domestic supply chain. We no longer purchase American Barrels. Furthermore, we are currently the only winery in the country utilizing Ukrainian Oak barrels, bringing a distinct, Old-World complexity to our experimental lots.

We are crafting wines in ultra-small batches, meticulously obsessing over every bottle. For those who believe Ontario cannot compete on the global stage, we invite you to keep an eye on our upcoming in-house releases. We are preparing to debut a spectacular Blanc de Noirs, a Pinot Noir crafted to rival the finest European vintages and a bold, rich vintage specifically engineered to challenge your favorite Amarone. Another wine you cannot miss is our Reserve Merlot. It is a deep, rich and flavour filled experience not to be missed.

We aren't here to just participate in the local wine scene; we are here to elevate it.

Change is uncomfortable, and challenging the status quo will always invite scepticism. But if my time at Featherstone has taught me anything, it’s that the pairing of premium hospitality, cutting-edge viticulture and radical generosity isn't just feasible—it’s the future.

We will continue to host lofty events, we will continue to donate from our proceeds and we will continue to prove that a winery can be both a champion of luxury and a beacon of community support. The wine in your glass tastes all the better when you know it did some good in the world before it reached your table.

Rayla Myhal, the Bougie Boss

Join us for an evening of Latin Jazz and a delicious 3 course, Venezuelan inspired menu, prepared by the Nest Bistro. Space is limited in the Coop Event Space so book your tickets now and help support local charities.

September 26

Eliana Cuevas & Jeremy Ledbetter A captivating fusion of Latin jazz and traditional Venezuelan folk music.