Michael and Jocelyn started Lightfoot & Wolfville initially with the intention to grow grapes and make some wine. “We were attracted to the pursuit as a way to diversify our family’s farm. Growing grapes on our ancestral land – land with great history – and in return, offering the resulting wines to the world. The building itself grew over time with years of planning, as we better understood the popularity of the wines and the site’s potential, all situated in a very favourable location with stunning and intimate views of Cape Blomidon.”
Family owned and operated by eighth-generation farmers, Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards is a Demeter certified biodynamic farm-winery located in the heart of the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada. With close proximity to the Bay of Fundy and the world’s highest tides, coastal breezes and excellent temperature moderation help create wines with great distinction. The focus is on terroir-driven, cool-climate wines including traditional method sparklings, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and aromatic whites such as Riesling.
At a current annual production of 10,000 cases, Lightfoot & Wolfville’s winemaking program is about a return from modern, large-scale methods to classic, artisanal viticulture and enology: 100 per cent hand-harvesting, traditional basket press production, indigenous wild yeast fermentations, and single-vineyard bottlings. Opened in 2017, the state-of-the-art Lightfoot & Wolfville winery facility features modern-barn architecture, a farm-to-table culinary program, and operates as a bespoke event venue.
About the Winemaker
Josh Horton, a native Nova Scotian, grew up mere steps from Lightfoot & Wolfville’s Oak Island Vineyard in Avonport. Agriculture is in his blood and has shaped his life tremendously. Several summers spent in the family garden and on his Grandfather’s farm gave him the foundations for an early career in horticulture and later viticulture. After nearly a decade in the landscaping industry, Josh helped the Lightfoot family plant their first vineyard in 2008. Shortly thereafter, with a burgeoning passion for a career in grapes and wine, Josh completed the Winery & Viticulture Technician program at Niagara College, completing several vintages in Niagara and back home in Nova Scotia. Returning to Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards full time in 2014, Josh is now the Head Winemaker. A true farmer, meticulous viticulturist, and passionate “winegrower”, Josh believes great fruit is necessary to create fine wine: “We embrace our cool climate and long growing season even In the challenging years... We have strong viticulture sites that showcase the fruits’ best potential.”