From crops to vines
Diversification key to success for Wolfville farmer who took on grape growing, established winery
When it comes to farming, Michael Lightfoot knows it’s best not to put all of his eggs — or grapes — in one basket.
The owner of Lightfoot and Wolfville Vineyards said that when grape growing started taking off in the Annapolis Valley, there were very few people involved who could say they were farmers first. He said farming is in his blood.
Lightfoot, a member of the Nova Scotia Grape Growers Association, said they were into other agricultural commodities before diversifying into grape growing and establishing Lightfoot and Wolfville Vineyards. He is a fourth-generation farmer on the same land and a seventh-generation farmer overall.
He said his grandfather was growing apples in the 1960s on land now occupied by one of Lightfoot’s vineyards. This was the only commodity his grandfather was involved with but there was a downturn in the industry and they were forced to sell a good portion of the farm. The family seized the opportunity to buy the land back about a decade ago.
“We planted our first vines in 2009 and we’ve been at it just under 10 years now,” Lightfoot said. “We’ve come a long way in 10 years but what the lesson that happened back in the 60s taught me was diversification was important on the farm.”
He learned that, if possible, it’s better to spread the risk out by investing in multiple commodities. They now have cattle, sheep, poultry and organic and biodynamic vineyards and feel that, overall, the farm is healthier because of this.
Lightfoot said the diversification into grapes and the winery was a sort of insurance policy and it was also about succession, as he has adult children who are working in the industry and who have a strong interest in it.
Initially, they grew grapes and shipped them to Benjamin Bridge winery. Lightfoot said that having put so much time, effort and love into growing the fruit, it was difficult seeing it leave the farm, even though they knew it was in very good hands. They wanted to have ultimate control of the product, right to the point where quality, award-winning wine is bottled and sold.
“We wanted also to create an atmosphere where people could come and enjoy this very particular piece of land,” Lightfoot said. “You can see the view and the proximity to the Town of Wolfville. We thought it was very important to be able to taste our wines in the area where they were produced.”
Lightfoot and Wolfville has 40 acres of estate spread over three vineyards and an eclectic variety of grapes, including Vinifera, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, L’Acadie Blanc and others. He said they have a big store and they like to concentrate on different varieties of wine so they can offer a wide portfolio to their customers — wines that can be appreciated by anyone.
Lightfoot said grapes are more sensitive to the cold than some other crops.