In the summer of 2001, Harvest Estates Wines was built as an addition to the Harvest Barn Country Market in St. Catharines.  Unique specialty (souvenir) wines and fine giftware are for sale in the new retail shop.  With a vaulted ceiling, a floor to roof stone fireplace, and an open second floor, the store creates a magnificent chalet-like splendour.  On display is the work of a variety of local artists and artisans, which you can enjoy while sampling fine wines at their tasting bar.

As the sister winery of Herdner Estate Wines, Harvest Estates produces Vintners Quality Assurance (VQA) wines, and specialty fruit wines.  They offer an assortment of country fruit delights such as rhubarb and cranberry wine as well as blueberry and pear icewines.

The principle production facility is about three thousand feet to the west, just beyond the 10 acres of vineyard.  The native Canadian vines were replaced in the spring of 2002 with more classic European Vitis vinifera varieties of grapes.  The owner, Fred Hernder, is a major grape farmer in the region.  He has hundreds of acres in current production and all the wines he produces are made from his, or his neighbours, local grapes. As their website says, "The vision of this winery is to capture the essence of Ontario's freshest fruits, (even the occasional vegetable,) and put it into an attractive bottle, to allow it to be enjoyed again."

As Harvest Estate Wines shares its location with the Harvest Barn Country Market, you can also shop for fresh fruit, vegetables and home-made baking in a country-style market setting.  So if you need a hostess gift it's one-stop-shopping for local flowers, produce, baking and a bottle of wine!