A Wine Lover's Guide to Atlantic Canada showcases growing industry

Atlantic Canada's burgeoning wine industry has made strides in recent years, but the authors of a new book about the business say running a vineyard is no walk in the park.

Moira Joan Peters writes about wine and runs Unwined, which hosts wine-tasting parties. She wrote A Wine Lover`s Guide to Atlantic Canada with co-author Craig Pinhey and photographer Jessica Emin.

Peters told CBC's Information Morning that the wine industry exemplifies the challenges facing many communities in Atlantic Canada.

"It's drawing attention to a lot of things that this region needs," she said, identifying rural development and environmental stewardship as important areas in which the wine industry is having an impact.

'Mostly just cleaning'

But even as the industry grows, it faces challenges. Emin said photographing vineyards exposed her to the realities of the business. 

"Being a wine maker and working in a vineyard is mostly just cleaning and dirty work," she said. "But it's nice to look at the vineyards."

Few people do the dirty work of growing grapes full-time, said Peters — one of the revelations that surprised her most in the course of writing the book.

Few full-time farmers

"There might be two or three grape farmers proper, people who don't have a day job," she said. "What surprised me most was how difficult it is to make money as a grape grower in our region."

Peters said natural difficulties such as winter conditions, as well as the threats posed by disease, insects and animals all present challenges for Atlantic Canadian wine growers.

In the meantime, Emin said Atlantic Canadian wine growers should focus on what the region does best, including aromatic white wines and traditional method sparkling wine.

Pinhey said playing to the region's strengths could help Atlantic Canadian wines find their place on the world stage. 

"It's great to see us competing nationally," he said. "And hey, maybe internationally eventually." 

A Wine Lover`s Guide to Atlantic Canada will be released on Aug. 24, with a public reception from 7 p.m to 9 p.m. at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.