Our Name

Our name, Keint-he Winery & Vineyards, is derived from a native word. Keint-he was the name of one of the four Seneca villages in this part of eastern Ontario. The Senecas were one of the five tribes of the Iroquois. The word Keint-he was later francocized into, Quinte and used in English names such as, the Bay of Quinte.

Our Label

The painting used on our label is called, Canoes in a Fog, Lake Superior. The piece was done by Canadian artist, Frances Anne Hopkins (1838 – 1919). Below is some context and interpretation for the painting.

While Hopkins was in England she worked on her sketches and memories of Canada in a studio where the majority of her paintings were in oil and watercolour. Hopkins experiences were documented in sketchbooks at the time of her travels and are the major subject of her paintings. Canoes in a Fog, Lake Superior is a beautiful painting and is an image of tranquillity in the backwoods of nature, as the Canoes disappear into the fog. Hopkins combines realistic clear detail with a lyrical passionate style inspired by her love of nature.

Hopkins painted herself and her husband in the center of the nearest canoe and she is holding a sketchbook in Canoes in a Fog, Lake Superior. She placed herself in the painting to represent a memory of when she was in that canoe on Lake Superior. Hopkins had chosen the viewpoint of the canoe as if she was traveling behind in another Canoe (possible the canoe could mean traveling along her past experiences). Canoes in a Fog, Lake Superior by Hopkins presents three North canoes entering the mist. North canoes were used by fur traders and were about twenty-five feet long and had a crew of eight or nine.

Frances Anne Hopkins contribution to Canadian history was accurately capturing on canvas the country’s first major cargo transportation system and the type of people who traveled on it. Her work is described as a historical illustration rather than high art. Hopkins skillfully captured a practice of transporting pelts by canoe which was being replaced by the industrial railways. Many contemporary critics find the painting interesting because of the canoes used were the types of canoes used in the original fur trading.

Canoes in a Fog, Lake Superior portrays three canoes drifting in a diagonal line away from the observer. The ripples in the water behind the canoe suggest that the canoe is moving through the still water. The fog and surrounding water of Lake Superior seems to be absorbing the canoes as to represent an adventure into the unknown. The two canoes ahead have disappeared and the third canoe has a portion of it disappearing as it enters into the mist. In the summer, fog is common along the north and east shores of the lake and the fog dissolves in the morning sunlight (allowing more realism to Hopkins painting).

Our Vineyards

Ever aware of the Burgundian vineyards we are trying to emulate, all of our vineyards were selected based on soil type, topography and sun exposure. These subtle differences are partly responsible for creating fruit that results in wine with superior style and quality. For this reason, we have three distinct satellite vineyards, each with their own unique personalities and characteristics.

Big Lake Vineyard: Big Lake vineyard is located at our winery location at 49 Hubbs Creek Rd. This vineyard consists of pinot noir and chardonnay varieties. The terroir is Brighton gravely sand with high density planting. Fronting on Lake Ontario (a Big Lake), the vines benefit from the cool breezes coming off the lake.

Little Creek Vineyard: Little Creek is actually made up of two vineyards separated by a small woods and a creek … Little Creek. Both north and south sections are used to grow pinot noir.The terroir is Hillier clay loam with high density planting on southern slopes. The vines at Little Creek are some of the oldest we have, with many being over ten years old.

Foxtail Vineyard: Foxtail is home to a number of different varietals, including Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, St. Laurent and Pinot Gris. The terroir is Hillier clay loam with high density planting. Many of the vines at this vineyard are over eight years old.

Our Winery

Our winery and new tasting room are located at:

Keint-he Winery & Vineyards
49 Hubbs Creek Rd.
Wellington, ON
K0K 3L0
(613) 399-5308

Hours of Operation:

April to November

Thursday through Monday (by appointment only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays) – 11am – 4pm.

December to March – by appointment only.

Our recently completed tasting room will be open in August, 2009. With views of the vineyard and Lake Ontario as a backdrop, it’s easy to unwind and soak up the County. An indoor/outdoor fireplace, patio coupled with an overall rustic charm only add to the experience of drinking a well crafted, Burgundian style, boutique wine.

Our Tractors

Burgundy. Our Burgundian approach to viticulture and winemaking has even influenced our choice in tractors. Due to the 4′ spacing of high-density plantings, normal tractors are too wide for the rows. For decades, the French have been using a tractor that straddles the row of vines instead of passing between rows of vines. The result is a tractor that lets you sit up high and work the rows in high-density plantings.

Our Team

The core team at Keint-he Winery and Vineyards consists of; Ron Rogers, Jay Johnston and Bryan Rogers.

BRYAN ROGERS

After obtaining masters degrees in both the sciences and the arts, Bryan worked in the media and film industries before tackling his role as general manager at Keint-he. Bryan is also the one who peddles our wares.

JAY JOHNSTON

Jay comes to us from Hidden Bench Vineyards & Winery in the Niagara viticultural region.  He chooses to focus on super-premium wines stemming from precision viticulture and terroir winemaking.  Jay has also applied his, no compromise, approach to quality at wineries such as Peller, Le Clos Jordanne, Stratus and Cave Springs.  Jay focusses on Burgundian varietals and methods to express the new terroirs of Prince Edward County.

RON ROGERS

Ron is a retired banker with over 35 years experience in the financial sector. Ron has had a passion for wine his whole life. After retiring he wanted to cross apply his business skills in an entirely different arena. Due to his love of premium wine; viticulture and oenology seemed a natural fit.

MARK GILBERT & CHRIS HENDRY

Mark and Chris are “County boys”, born and raised. Both have worked on farms and vineyards their entire lives. Together they supervise all vineyard labour. Also, if something is broken, they can fix it or invent something entirely new. They are the blood and sweat of our operation.

“Wine in itself is an excellent thing.”

Pope Pius XII Airen